After two weeks of delaying actions and counterattacks, Finnish forces had now reached the prepared main defense works known as the Mannerheim Line. However, the defenses at Kirvesmäki, consisted of little more than barbed wire and a few old concrete strongpoints. Having taken up the front line positions at Kirvesmäki three days earlier, 1st Battalion, Infantry Regiment 30 prepared to meet the Soviet attacks without any anti-tank weapons except mines, Molotovs, and explosives. On 15 December, after a three hour artillery preparation, the Soviets attacked with an infantry regiment supported by 30 tanks.
Attacker: Russian (49th and 150th Infantry Divisions, and 39th Armored Battalion)
The Russian infantry advanced on a broad front with about half of them coming across the ice. The Finnish defence got off to an atrocious start. Both LMGs were eliminated by boxcars. The units manning the HMG broke and were removed by casualty reduction respectively. The Russians got HOB at least five times and this resulted in four battle hardening results and one berserker who was already in the protective cover of a trench. The four MGs among them destroyed no tanks and broke on Russian squad. After that, it was backs to the wall all the way. The Russians got two tanks through the trenches. The balance of the VPs came from infantry. Despite the MG disasters, the Finns held out until the penultimate turn and it was not straightforward for the Russians to get the win. Fun game which turned out to be much closer than it looked after the first two turns.
2023-04-22
(A) Shane Pask
vs
Finnish win
The tanks are the key for the Russians. I lost 2 to MG fire (the Finnish HMG was devastating all game), 2 to recall and 1 refused to move. The FT did not get off a shot. I had some success with the Human Wave killing the 10-0 and claiming their MMG but lost my 9-1 in the process. In the end there were too many disrupted conscripts for the remaining leaders to rally and not enough troops in range to exit (may have been if that ^$#$#% M32 would move). Final tally 14 VP .
Next time I think I will send all infantry down the ice and risk the long range shots.
2023-03-16
(D) Shaun Andrews
vs
Peter Dunn
Russian win
My opponent got off to a rough start with the loss of his OT-26 LTv to a lucky Snake Eyes. This was followed up with a 16 MMC Human Wave that resulted in only a Commissar and one squad making it to their destination. Despite these setbacks my opponent was able to capitalize on my poor placement of SW in trenches via VBM making them virtually useless in stopping the remainder of his forces. I managed to take out another AFV making it look competitive at the end but it was too little too late.
I commend my opponent for his tenacity early on in the game. Things did not look good however he pulled through with the win.
2022-11-10
(D) Jeff B
vs
John Fedoriw
Russian win
5.75 hrs
My opponent setup heavy west for a push across the ice. When I kindly pointed out to him that ice was Level 0 by SSR he shifted to a strong eastern approach. My HMG went on a rate tear Turn 1, killing a squad, breaking another, and leaving three more disrupted. But with 6 tanks and 25 squads vs. 9 for the Finns the Russians could afford a few setbacks. In retrospect I probably should've tried to kill the tanks instead of the infantry, especially the FT tank, but with 3-5 TK#s and so many troops approaching I felt I should go for the weaker link. From here it was a highly boring game, with the Russian tanks driving forward just enough to set a new line for the men to creep forward. The commissar was brained on Turn 2 by a sniper, but the majority of my men were too far away to do any real damage, and the prospects of repositioning were slim. Turn 3 saw the Russian tanks start to flex their might, with the FT taking out my HMG and manning crew, while John showed me just how easy it is to create TBs through AT minefields. The Russians were on the fringe of the woodsline, and once they reached this there would be few good shots, with only the chance of bodies to block them. A brave crew and my 10-0 with little to do survived charging the trailing Russian MMG squad in the rubble, but when they overheated it trying to mow me down the only useful remnant was causing some rout problems for the Russians. But without their commissar anyone breaking was most likely not returning to the fight anyway. On Turn 4 my reinforcements where much needed to try and shore up the eastern defense, but my 10-0 was gunned down trying to accomplish more heroic deeds and, more importantly, I lost a full squad to a KIA. I just didn't have the manpower needed to hold off the advance, and on Turn 6 he was able to eliminate most of the Finnish defenders in the woods through a combination of tank bookends and a mass of infantry. Still, the game would come down to the very end. I was able to pin or break four conscripts making a break for the exit, with only one managing to make it off. But his few 447s and their extra 1MF gave him a chance for victory. He would need 2/3 of them to run the gauntlet. The first one made it, the second one pinned, and the third one made it on the last move to grant him the victory. Like most of the HazMo scenarios I've played, a game that went down to the bitter end. But, just like them, an easily predictable and rather unenjoyable process in attaining it.
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