Month: April 2013

Per Rule 41G3d-NTO Scenario: End to Russo-Finnish War, “at the start of each Soviet initial phase beginning with the Feb I 40 Soviet turn, the Soviet player checks to see if his war with Finland ends. The war ends if Finland has at least 25 demoralization points [DPs]….” The Finnish DP tally is now 28: 10 for Soviet-owned Finnish point cities (one point each), 6 for Soviet-owned Mannerheim Lines (two points each), 2 for the two presently on-map Finnish inf cadres (one point each), and 10 for the Soviet-owned dot city of Viipuri.

With the Winter War thus ended, “…both sides tally their Finnish and Soviet victory points,” presumably using the untitled Victory Point charts on p. 70 (back page) of the SoS Scenario Rules booklet. Since the DP tally and consequential “war ending” is done at the start of the Soviet initial phase, the subsequent VP tally is done prior to the Soviet replacement substep of their initial phase, and so the Soviet side cannot do any last minute rebuilding of lost forces. This war gamer tallies a total of 21 VPs for the Finnish side and 72 VPs for the Soviet side.

“All Finnish And Soviet forces are then removed from play.” Also, “if the Russo-Finnish war ends before any Allied or Axis Intervention occurs, the scenario ends at that point.” This is the situation in the current SoS NTO Scenario Study. War gamers are referred to Rule 24-Victory, for the NTO Scenario Victory Conditions. Here we are assured that “if your VP total is greater than your opponent’s VP total, then you are in a better military position than your opponent.” In the final analysis per the Victory rule, “the player with the higher VP total…is the victor.”

There will possibly be a finishing SoS NTO Scenario Study EA posting about some SoS NTO scenario game play/rules/revision issues and discussing certain features of the Winter War and Finland in Europa war gaming in a 1939-41 historical context.

Perhaps sometimes in both war and crisis diplomacy a country’s present actions are cut out for them by the circumstances; their course is set on rails that can go only one way. In the current war game, simulating now the Russo-Finnish Winter War at its climax, it seems to me the Finns this turn have only one option, or issue: Can they or can they not retake Viipuri? Otherwise this game certainly ends on the Mar II 40 Soviet initial phase, per Rule 41G3d-NTO Scenario: End to Russo-Finnish War.

The Soviets have in Viipuri (4517) a total of 24 def factors and one pos flk unit. They can certainly add to this up to 2 factored def factors of DAS (using also the surviving DB-3t), for a likely grand total of 26 def factors against the Finnish counterattack. An enormous Soviet air arsenal is at hand based at nearby Leningrad/Kronshtadt. However, Viipuri is one of the rare clear terrain hexes in Finland; so finally, after all these game turns, the Finns maybe actually have a chance of counterattacking in the Winter War with a modified +1 attack die roll, using the +2 die roll modifier enjoyed by the Finnish Regular Army units and RVV Finnish Foreign Volunteer (FV) units, per rule 14I-Winterization, to offset the -1 TEC attack die roll modifier for attacking in Winter (Snow) weather.

As far as I can tell, the best the valiant Finns can do now is to attack Russian held Viipuri in the combat phase from four hex sides at 1 to 1 +1 odds, with the Soviets having a pltcl pol III in the hex, which would alter a DR into an EX. If the Finns wish, they can block with their ZOC’s any Soviet combat retreat avenues, which at best would eliminate the three retreating Soviet 1-6 inf cadres of the three flipped 5-6 inf XXs. But a counterattack at Viipuri is the only “reasonable” simulation option for the Finns in the war game at this time, excluding conceding the game in their initial phase, as if simulating a negotiated settlement done deliberately prior to the risky and frankly probably dangerous (both militarily and diplomatically) impending counterattack. Those interested can study the CRT and ponder the military and diplomatic implications of the current Finnish turn.

A Finnish counterattack at Viipuri requires the Finns to muster a giant attacking ground force in the Isthmus of probably at least 26 ground attack factors, and will require stripping the already paper thin Ladogan Karelia front of the stout 4-6 Inf XX 1, will require stripping to the bone what’s left that’s holding the remnant of the eastern segment of the Mannerheim Line, and will require almost all the turn’s available inf RPs to rebuild a needed 3-4-6 inf XX to throw into the battle.

Of course a Finnish victory resulting from a successful counterattack at Viipuri on the Mar I 40 turn would likely electrify the Western Allies and perhaps even neutral Sweden and Norway, assuming there were Finnish survivors after the 1 to 1 attack to occupy and take control of the Viipuri hex.

In the initial phase the Finns place the 0-1-6 Inf X Sisu (FV) and the pos flk unit, both Foreign Aid via Sea, at the ice free minor port of Hanko (4530). The Blen 1 A type air unit is brought on at Kotka (4521) and the MS.406 F type air unit is placed at the at start 3-cap permanent airfield at Lappeenranta (4318), along with the C.X A type and Glad F type air units already there. Per the SoS Errata Sheet 18 Jan 1999 the Finns receive 2 ARPs as production on the Mar I 40 air cycle. They spend one ARP to bring back on-map the aborted D.XXI F type air unit and place it at their 1-cap temporary airfield at 4518.

The Finns begin their turn with a new total of 2 ½ accumulated inf replacement points (RPs), and receive 1 inf RP as a reinforcement, for a total of 3 ½ inf RPs. The Finns replace the *3-4-6 Inf XX 9 and place it at Helsinki, with ½ inf RPs pocketed for later.

Prior to the reinforcement segment of their initial phase the Finns remove from the map the dummy guerrilla unit at forest road hex 2512 (just north of Soumussalmi), which they can do “at any time” per Rule 39D-Dummy Guerrilla Units. Then, in the reinforcement segment of their initial phase the Finns bring on-map the conditional reinforcement 1-8 Ski X Lapin guerrilla in combat mode and place it at woods s. rail terminus hex 2613, adjacent to the now black U-1 Soviet 4-6 Inf XX 81 occupying recently captured Soumussalmi (woods road junction hex 2612). Afterwards the Finns place at forest hex 2713 (just south of Soumussalmi) the dummy guerrilla unit they had just removed from the game map a little earlier in their initial phase.

By the end of the movement phase the dispositions of the Finnish ground units north of the A weather line are as follows:

Kemijarvi (wooded swamp s. rail terminus hex 1514): 1-6 Ski III 41, never moved

Woods road hex 2114: *1-6 Ski III 2/LR: never moved

Woods s. rail terminus hex 2613: dummy guerrilla unit, from 2713

Woods s. rail hex 2614: 1-8 Ski X Lapin guerrilla unit in combat mode, from 2613

Woods road hex 2913 right on the A weather line: 1-2-8 ski X Rv, never moved.

At woods hex 4213, in southern Ladogan Karelia near its junction with the Karelian Isthmus, the 4-6 Inf XX 1 breaks down into its two component *2-6 Inf Xs 2 and 3 at the beginning of the movement phase. Later in the movement phase both *2-6 inf Xs move one hex southwestwards to rail hex 4314 and from there rail to hex 4416.

By the end of the movement phase the dispositions of the Finnish ground units in the vast Ladogan Karelia south of the A weather line and north of Lake Ladoga are as follows:

Forest hex 3113: dummy guerrilla unit, from 3213

Woods rail hex 3114, second dummy guerrilla unit from 3213

Woods rail hex 3212: *1-6 Inf X 4, from 3313

Forest L. Pielinen coast hex 3413: 1-8 Ski X Kraj guerrilla unit in combat mode, from 3514

Forest L. Hoytianen coast hex 3514: 1-6 Ski X Kymen guerrilla unit in combat mode, from 3413

Joensuu (woods rail junction hex 3613): *3-4-6 Inf XX 12, never moved

Woods s. rail/road junction hex 3614: 1-0-8 Arm II 1, never moved

Woods L. Ori coast hex 3714: 1-6 Ski III 1/LR, never moved

Wooded intermittent lake hex 3814 w/ a frozen all lake narrow straits hexside: 1-8 Ski III 1-2 J, regular moved from 4213

Forest hex 3914: *3-4-6 Inf XX 13, never moved

Forest L. Pyha coast hex 4013: *1-2-6 Inf III A, never moved

Forest L. Pyha coast hex 4114: *1-2-6 Inf III A, never moved

Woods hex 4213: *1-6 Ski III 2/KR, from 4313

Forest rail L. Simpele coast hex 4214: *1-6 Inf III A, from 4313. Note: Quite earlier in the game when the 4-5-6 Inf XX 6 was broken down into the component supported IIIs of the “A” Inf XX, the *1-6 Inf III A breakdown component was picked in error rather than the correct *1-6 Ski III A breakdown component. It’s too late now to fix this probably minor error.

Woods rail junction L. Simpele coast hex 4314: 3-4-6 Inf XX 21 and 0-1-5 Const III Kar, both from 4213.

In the Karelian Isthmus, at M.L. woods Lake Ladoga coast hex 4613, the 4-5-6 Inf XX 10 breaks down into its three supported component IIIs at the beginning of the movement phase. At G. of Finland coast hex 4518 the 0-1-5 Const III Kan spends 3 MPs to upgrade the 1-cap temp. airfield there to a 2-cap temp. airfield, adding to the 1 MP already expended the previous turn.

By the end of the movement phase, the dispositions of the Finnish ground units in the Karelian Isthmus are as follows:

M.L. woods Lake Ladoga coast hex 4613: *1-2-6 Inf III B, never moved

M.L. wooded intermittent swamp rail/lake causeway hex 4614: *1-2-6 Inf III B, from 4613

Woods hex 4515: 2-6 Art III 2 and 0-1-6 Inf III 66, both from 5614; 0-1-6 Inf III HaL, from 4613

Kakisalmi (wooded intermittent lake Ladoga coast hex 4514): 0-1-8 Cycle III VL, from 4614

Forest rail hex 4316: pos flk unit, admin moved from Kakisalmi

Woods rail hex 4445: *1-6 Ski III B, from 4613

Woods hex 4516: 4-5-6 Inf XX 8, two 1-6 Inf IIIs 22/63 and 22/64, all three never moved; 1-2-6 Inf III 22/65, from 4416; 1-8 Ski III 3-4 J, from 4515

Wooded intermittent lake rail hex 4416: 4-5-6 Inf XX 4, *1-2-6 Inf Cadre 11, and 1-2-6 Ski III 1/KR, all three never moved; 3-4-6 Inf XX 9, repl railed in from Helsinki; *3-8 Ski X RVV/1, from 4213; 4-6 Inf XX 1, reassembled here at the end of the movement phase from the two railed in *2-6 Inf Xs 2 and 3

Woods rail/sea causeway hex 4417: *1-2-6 Inf Cadre 5, from 4518; pos flk unit, never moved

G. of Finland coast hex 4518: *3-4-6 Inf XX 23 and 1-6 Art III 3, both from 4417; 0-1-5 Const III Kan w/ 2-cap temp. airfield, never moved

Lappeenranta (woods rail hex 4318 w/ an at start 3-cap permanent airfield): pos flk unit, from 4417; MS.406 and Glad F type air units, C.X A type air unit, all three never moved

Forest hex 4418: 0-6 RR Eng III Yhd, from 4417

Imatra (woods rail hex 4317): pos flk unit, from 4417.

Near the end of the initial phase the Finns send the D.XXI F type air unit from the temp. airfield at 4518 on the CAP mission over the Viipuri hex. Immediately afterwards the non-phasing Soviets send the two I-153 F type air units based at Leningrad on the CAP mission over the Viipuri hex; the Finns refuse to intercept the two I-153 air units with their fighter also on the CAP mission in the same hex.

In the combat phase the Soviets send seven SB-3bis’, two SB-2’s, the R-10, and the R-5Sh on the DAS mission over the Viipuri hex with three I-16’s, two I-16/t10’s, and the I-16/t17 as escort, all from the Leningrad/Kronshtadt zone. The two Soviet I-153 air units flying CAP over the hex decline to switch to the escort mission. The Finnish MS.406 and the Glad from Lappeenranta, and the D.XXI flying CAP over Viipuri all intercept the Soviet DAS mission.

In random drawings an I-16 pairs with the MS.406 and aborts it; the formidable French fighter misses. An I-16/t17 aborts the Glad and the British biplane misses on its roll. An I-16/t10 pairs up with the D.XXI, but both F types roll misses. This time Luck flies with the Soviet fighters.

The Finns, perhaps having a fill of bad luck this turn with aerial combat and just wanting to get on with the Viipuri counterattack, decline to send any GS to the Viipuri hex.

The Soviets add two SB-2bis’ tac factors and the DB-3t’s tac factor (raw total of 4), modified by poor weather to 2 def factors, to the 24 def factors of their ground units defending Viipuri for a grand total of 26 def factors. The Finns throw in everything they’ve got into the counterattack, minus a GS attempt, and attack Viipuri with 26 attack factors from all four hexes 4516, 4416, 4417 and 4518, with inf XX ZOCs coming from the two important encroaching hexes 4516 and 4518, at 1 to 1 +1 and roll a 4, which modifies to a 5: AS.

From here on the polished diplomats again take charge to quickly put and end to what’s so far taken place this winter in snow covered Scandinavia. Perhaps we can imagine scenes at the Viipuri sea causeway transportation line hexside at hexes 4417/4517 similar to the pictures on pp. 148-151 of Richard Condon’s The Winter War: Russia Against Finland, showing the Finnish diplomatic delegation crossing the Karelian Isthmus front line under the truce flag, as if phantoms from a bygone era wanting to make the former world come back again. Perhaps back at Helsinki the brave internationalists of the 0-1-6 Inf X Sisu (FV), who along with the reinf pos flk unit admin moved from Hanko into the Finnish capital, will still have a chance to proudly march down its streets, as if attempting to convince all Europe that this recently borne and still juvenile and immature continental conflict is, after all, just a kind of enlarged Spanish Civil War embroilment that will run its course and eventually sputter out, and not at all a preliminary troubled sleep interlude transitioning into the incredible total war nightmare of WW II.

All the above in no way intends to disparage the Finnish effort in the Winter War. The Finns, I believe, fought for their national sovereignty and dignity and the best intentions of the prewar Versailles peace paradigm. Keep in mind the Soviets in March of 1940 probably wanted peace quickly as much as the Finns, and then had no intentions of fighting on to Helsinki. They treated with the bourgeois Finnish government, forgot all about their puppet Finnish National government, insisted their occupation of Hanko was temporary, harped mightily on the defense of Leningrad aspects of their territorial demands, and on their own initiative gave back to the Finns Petsamo.

Having said all that, I’ll spare the EA the rebasing details of the various air units involved in the Viipuri counterattack, or the interesting fact of the large number of forward Soviet ground units in the Ladogan Karelia in Finland between hexes 3812 and 3212 inclusive that become black U-1 in the Finnish initial phase due to advancing beyond their supply line back to the Murmansk railway, or the fact that the recently arrived Blen 1 air unit at Kotka does a transfer to Kuopio (3417) in the exploitation phase.

The Soviets roll a 1 for the weather die roll, so it’s Snow everywhere on map 35; eg., in weather zones A and B. To be sure, if we were playing the NTO scenario with all the SoS maps on this turn, it’d be Mud in weather zone C and N in weather zone D, which I believe would mean Winter weather there. In any event, there are on this turn rough seas in the Arctic Ocean and the sea in calm in the Baltic.

The Soviets have 2/5 accumulated special inf replacement points for their losses incurred the last Feb II 40 Soviet turn. In the Soviet replacement box are a 3-2-8 art X, a 1-6 eng III, the 2-1-8 lt arm X, and an eliminated I-153. Per the SoS Errata Sheet 18 Jan 1999 the Soviets get 10 new ARPs for this turn’s new air cycle and they accumulate one additional ARP from the previous pool, giving them a total of 11 ARPs. In the initial phase they spend 2 of these 11 ARPs to replace the eliminated I-153, and place it at SE Leningrad hex 5114.

In the Mar I 40 Soviet initial phase the Finnish demoralization point (DP) tally is currently 14: 8 for captured Finnish point cities (1 point each), 4 for two “owned” Mannerheim Line hexes (2 points each), and 2 for the two Finnish *1-2-6 inf cadres on the map (1 point each).

By the end of the Soviet movement phase the dispositions of the Soviet forces north of the A weather line are as follows:

Petsamo (rough terrain Arctic Ocean minor port hex 0304): winterized 4-6 Inf XX 104, never moved; fulfills a garrison requirement

Murmansk (rough terrain Arctic Ocean major port and rail terminal hex 0701): 3-6 Inf XX 49, pos flk unit, an I-15 and I-152 F type air unit, and the 1-pt DD TF Flotilla-1, all forces never moved; the inf XX fulfills a garrison requirement

Salla (woods road junction hex 1510): 4-6 Inf XX 14, never moved; functions as a garrison

Wooded rough road hex 1509: winterized 1-2-6 Inf X Dol, never moved

Allakurtti (wooded rough road border hex 1508 inside Finland): 3-6 Inf XX, admin moved from 1604; functions as a garrison

Wooded rough road border hex 1507 inside the USSR: 1-8 Pltcl Pol III 4, admin moved from Loukhi (2104)

Wooded rough road hex 1606: 1-6 Inf III 19, from Allakrurrti

Kandalaksha (wooded rough Murmansk railway White Sea standard port hex 1504 w/ a 1-cap permanent airstrip): 0-1-5 Const X 7, admin moved from 1507

Kuusamo (woods road junction hex 2010): 4-6 Inf XX 163, never moved; functions as a garrison

Wooded rough road border hex 2109 inside Finland: 1-6 Inf III 529, never moved

Kestenga (wooded swamp s. rail terminus/road hex 2107 w/ a 1-cap permanent airstrip): winterized 1- 2-6 Inf X BOS, never moved; I-152, air transferred in from Loukhi during the movement phase

Loukhi (woods Murmansk rail junction hex 2104 w/ 1-cap permanent airstrip): 3-6 Inf XX 42 reinf railed in from the Leningrad central city hex 5014

Wooded swamp road border hex 2611 inside Finland: 4-6 Inf XX 81, never moved; black U-1, but in special supply by 3 supply points two hexes away at the temp. airfield at 2510 that were delivered there on the Feb II Soviet turn; 4-6 Inf XX 54, from 2510

Woods road border hex 2510 inside the USSR w/ a 1-cap temp. airfield at the start of the turn: 0-5 Const III 9, never moved; spends 5 MPs to complete the build of a 2-cap temp. airfield here (1 MP needed) and does an initial 4 MP spend on the next cap level build; 3-6 Inf XX 51, admin moved from 2308

Woods road hex 2509: 3-6 Inf XX 33, never moved

Ukhta (woods road junction hex 2508 w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield): winterized 1-6 Inf III 8 A, never moved;TB-3, G-1, and G-2 T type air units. All three air transports air transport six supply points to the friendly temp. airfield at 3010, then return to base at Ukhta.

Kuhmo (woods road hex 2912): winterized 1-6 Inf III 88/273 and the 2-6 Art X 45, never moved, both are black U-4; at least one RE acts as a garrison

Forest/woods road hex 3011: 1-8 Pltcl Pol III 5, from 3209

Wooded swamp border hex 3010 inside Finland: 0-5 Const III 8, never moved; spends 5 MPs to complete the build of a 1-cap temp. airfield here (2 MPs needed) and does an initial 3 MP spend on the next cap level build; 1-2-6 MG X 7 A, black U-1, from 3011

Forest Border hex 3112 inside Finland and right on the A weather line: winterized 4-6 Inf XX 3, black U-2, from 3211

Forest border hex 3211 inside USSR and right on the A weather line: 3-6 Inf XX 16, from 3111.

In the combat phase the two 4-6 Inf XXs 54 and 81 at hex 2611 attack the Finnish 1-2-6 Ski III 1/PKR at Soumussalmi, at woods road junction hex 2612, at 8 to 1 -2 and roll a 6: DE. After combat the 4-6 Inf XX 81 enters and occupies Soumussalmi.

At the end of the movement phase the dispositions of the Soviet forces in the vast Ladogan Karelia on or south of the A weather line and north and east of Lake Ladoga are as follows:

Forest border hex 3311 in the USSR and right on the A weather line: winterized 3-6 Inf XX 142, black U-1, never moved

Wooded intermittent lake border hex 3410 inside the USSR: 3-6 Inf XX 122, black U-1, from 3411

Wooded intermittent lake border hex 3411 inside Finland: 4-6 Inf XX 50, from 3511; 3-6 Inf XX 60, from 3510; 1-6 Lt AA III 8, from 3611

Forest/woods rail hex 3512: 3-6 Inf XX 113, from 3611

Woods border hex 3510 inside Finland: 1-2-6 Para-Inf X 201, from Ilomantsi (3711)

Forest hex 3611: 4-8 Mot Inf XX 44, black U-1, from 3512

Forest hex 3612: 4-6 Inf XX 18, from 3712

Forest/woods road hex 3712: 3-6 Inf XX 128, admin moved from 3707

Ilomantsi (woods road hex 3711): 1-8 Pltcl Pol III 6, admin moved from Pitkaranta (4310)

Wooded swamp road hex 3707: winterized 3-6 Inf XX 91 and 3-6 Inf XX 173, both reinfs railed from SE Leningrad hex 5114 and then admin moved in

Woods rail/road junction hex 3812: 3-6 Inf XX 155, black U-1, from 3713

Woods hex 3813: 3-6 Inf XX 62, from 3912

Woods rail hex 3912: 3-6 Inf XX 86, from 4111; 3-6 Inf XX 1 FNA, from 3811

Woods L. Janis coast hex 4010: 1-2-8 Para-Inf X 204, never moved

Woods L. Pyha coast hex 4012: 4-6 Inf XX 11 and 3-2-8 Arm X 34, never moved

Woods L. Pyha coast hex 4113: 3-6 Inf XX 139, from 4211; two 3-2-8 Arm X 13 and 20, both from 4112

Woods rail junction hex 4112: 3-2-8 Arm X 28, from 4012

Woods rail L. Ladoga coast hex 4212: winterized 4-6 Inf XX 168, from 4112; 3-6 Inf XX 72 and 2-6 Art X 56, both from 4211

Sortavala (clear terrain L. Ladoga coast rail hex 4211): 3-2-8 Art X 8, never moved

W. End of Valamo Island hex 4312: 3-6 Inf XX 136, never moved

Pitkaranta (woods s. rail terminus/road L. Ladoga coast hex 4310): 1-8 Cav III 102, from 4410

Wooded swamp L. Ladoga coast road border hex 4510 inside Finland: 2-3-6 Inf XX 3 FNA, never moved

Wooded swamp L. Ladoga coast road hex 4608 w/ an at start 3-cap permanent airfield: two SB-2bis and the R-10 air units, never moved

Wooded swamp L. Ladoga coast Murmansk railway hex 4908: 1-8 Cav III 116, admin moved from the Leningrad central city hex 5014.

In the combat phase the 3-6 Inf XX 60 at 3411 attacks the dummy guerrilla unit at Lieksa (3312). The dummy guerrilla unit automatically retreats before combat to forest hex 3212 right on the A weather line and stacks with the dummy guerrilla unit already there. After combat the 3-6 Inf XX 60 advances into Lieksa.

The 3-6 Inf XX 16 at 3211 then attacks the two dummy guerrilla units stacked at 3212. Both dummy guerrilla units automatically retreat before combat to 3213, and the Soviet inf XX advances after combat into hex 3212.

Then the Soviet 4-6 Inf XX 50 and the 1-6 Lt AA III 8 stacked together at hex 3411 attack the Finnish 1-6 Ski Kymen guerrilla unit in combat mode at 3412. The guerrilla ski unit attempts to retreat before combat and rolls a 6 on the Success Table, and thereby successfully retreats before combat westwards across the frozen full lake hexside of Lake Pielinen to forest hex 3413. The 4-6 Inf XX 50 advances after combat into hex 3412.

The 1-8 Ski X Kraj guerrilla unit in combat mode is then attacked by the 4-6 Inf XX 18 at hex 3612 and the 3-6 Inf XX 113 at hex 3512 across the rail causeway crossing the frozen full lake hexside of Lake Pielinen. The guerrilla ski unit attempts to retreat before combat but rolls a Failure on the Success Table. The Soviets roll a 2 on their 9 to 1 -3 combat attack die roll: DR. The 1-8 Ski X Karj guerrilla unit retreats westwards to hex 3514 across the frozen full lake hexside of Lake Hoytianen. The 3-6 Inf XX 113 advances after combat across the rail causeway across Lake Pielinen to hex 3513.

The Soviets also attack the *1-6 Ski III 2/PKR at hex 3913 from four hexes: 4012, 3912, 3812, and 3813 at 9 to 1 -3 odds. The Finnish ski III attempts to retreat before combat, but rolls a Failure. It’s an automatic Elim for these Finns due to the high odds and the enemy ZOCs blocking retreat. The 3-6 Inf XX 86 advances into hex 3913 after the combat, leaving the 3-6 Inf XX 1 FNA it was stacked with in hex 3912 to block the hex from guerrilla placement next turn.

In the exploitation phase the 4-8 Mot Inf XX 44, currently black U-1, moves into hex 3512 to block that hex from guerrilla placement next turn. This will certainly make it black U-2 the next Finnish initial phase.

By the end of the movement phase the dispositions of the Soviet ground units in the important Karelian Isthmus zone are as follows:

Clear terrain G. of Finland coast hex 4617:

three 5-6 Inf XXs 24, 70, and 100; all three never moved

three 3-2-8 Arm Xs 32, 39, and 51; all three never moved

4-2-8 Art X LVO, never moved

3-2-8 Art X 13, never moved

Woods rail hex 4616:

three 4-6 Inf XXs, 77 and 84 never moved; 43 from 4716

two 3-2-6 [Heavy] Arm Xs, 35 and 40, railed in from 4714

1-8 Pltcl Pol III 3, railed in from 4714

3-2-8 Art X 9, from 4716

3-2-8 Art X 15, reinf railed in from NW Leningrad hex 4915

pos flk unit, from 4617

Wooded intermittent lake G. of Finland coast hex 4717:

4-8 Mot Inf XX 25, from 4816

4-8 Mot Inf XX 95, reinf admin moved from NW Leningrad hex 4915

3-2-8 Arm X 24, from 4815

3-2-8 Arm X 33, admin moved from 4814

2-6 Art X 50, never moved

Woods rail hex 4716:

9-6 Art XX 1, never moved

4-6 Inf XX 41, never moved

4-6 Inf XX 17, from 4813

2-1-8 Eng Tank III LVO, never moved

two 2-6 Art Xs 1 and 40, both never moved

Woods hex 4715:

Note: This turn the Soviet corps marker here flips to its regular stacking side per Rule 38H2a-Reduced Stacking.

two 4-6 Inf XX 4 and 75, both never moved

1-6 Eng III 13, from 4716

2-6 Art X 3, never moved

2-6 Art X 23, from 4714

Woods rail hex 4714:

three 4-6 Inf XXs 52, 123, and 138; all three never moved

2-6 Art X 34, never moved

Clear terrain L. Ladoga coast hex 4713:

Note: This turn the Soviet corps marker here flips to its regular stacking side per Rule 38H2a-Reduced Stacking.

4-6 Inf XX 41, never moved

4-6 Inf XX 17, from 4813

two 2-6 Art Xs 1 and 40, both never moved

Clear terrain G. of Finland coast hex 4816:

winterized *2-6 Marine X VMF/5, from 4715

*1-2-8 Mot MG X 50, never moved

3-2-8 Arm X 31, reinf from NW Leningrad hex 4915

Clear terrain G. of Finland coast hex 4815:

1-8 Pltcl Pol III 2, from 4715

Woods hex 4814:

4-6 Inf XX 37, from 4816

Woods rail hex 4813:

*0-1-0 FA X Kar, never moved

1-8 Pltcl Pol III 1, from 4713

2-0-6 Siege Art X LVO, from 4713

pos flk unit, from 4714

Isle of Kronshtadt (4916):

5-pt BB TF Marat

5-pt TF O. Rev

two 1-6 Lt AA IIIs 7 and 14, never moved

1-6 Lt AA III 15, reinf from NW Leningrad hex 4915

NW Leningrad hex 4915:

1-6 Eng III 7, from 4717

NE Leningrad hex 4914:

1-6 Eng III 8, admin moved from 4717

Leningrad central city hex 5014:

reinf 0-5 Const III 15, never moved

resource point

SE Leningrad hex 5114:

0-5 Const III 13, never moved

Near the end of the initial phase the Soviet player sends on the CAP mission over the Viipuri hex (4517) the replacement I-153 based at the SE Leningrad hex 5114. The Finns refuse to intercept with either of their two fighters based at Viipuri.

Early in the combat phase, when it’s time for the non-phasing player to fly DAS missions, the Finns send up the C.X A type on the DAS mission over Viipuri with the Glad F type as escort. The Soviets intercept with all seven F type air units in range from their airbases at Kronshtadt (4916) and the NW Leningrad hex (4915), both 4 hexes away from Viipuri. That’s three I-16’s, two I-16/t10’s, and two I-16/t17’s. All 7 intercepting Soviet fighters opt to bypass the Finnish Glad fighter. The I-153 performing the CAP mission in the Viipuri hex declines to participate and remains on its CAP mission. A random drawing pits the Glad against an I-16/t17 and the Finns roll a 4, which modifies to a 3 and per the SoS Air CRT: a Kill. Then the six remaining Soviet I-16’s (of various model types) close in on the C.X A type performing the DAS mission. The very first Soviet fighter randomly picked to intercept, an I-16/t10, rolls a 6 and Returns the C.X A type. The A type rolls a 9 for no effect. At the end of the air op the Soviet fighters return to base at Leningrad and Kronshtadt and the Finnish Glad and C.X air units return to base at the nearby at start 3-cap permanent airfield at Lapenranta (4318).

Then the Soviets send no less than 16 of their A and B type air units (eg., the whole available lot in the game) based at Leningrad and the permanent airfield at hex 4608 on the GS mission to Viipuri, with the other I-153 based at NE Leningrad hex 4914 as escort. That’s seven SB-2bis’, two SB-2’s, two R-5Sh’s, the R-10, two DB-3m’s, the DB-3t, and the DB-3b air units. At the last hex of the mission movement step the I-153 performing the CAP mission over Viipuri switches to the escort mission over the hex. The Finnish D.XXI F type air unit based at Viipuri intercepts the entire Soviet air op over the Viipuri mission hex and attempts to bypass the two escorting I-153s. The first I-153 rolls high and misses; but the second one rolls a 4: an Abort for the Finnish D.XXI F type air unit.

Then the 16 Soviet A and B type air units performing the GS mission must run the gauntlet of the 3 Finnish pos flk factors at Viipuri. The dice rolls of the SoS Antiaircraft Fire Table return two SB-2bis’, the R-10, and the DB-3b. The AA rolls also abort an R-5Sh and both DB-3m’s. Of the 9 remaining A and B (just one, the DB-3t) type Soviet air units, only 5 (owning player’s choice) can contribute their factored tac factors (due to poor weather) as GS to the upcoming battle, per Rule 20G2b-Ground Support. The Soviets pick the DB-3t and three of their SB-2bis’ (raw tac factor total of 5) for a factored GS total of 2 ½ to add to the combat attack for Viipuri. The Soviets attack Finnish held Viipuri with 31 attack factors from hex 4617, 25 attack factors from 4616, including a pltcl pol III, and the 2 ½ factored GS factors for a total of 58 ½ to 19, which equates to 3 to 1 -1 for Winter (Snow) weather. The Soviets roll the die and get a 5, which factors to a 4: DR.

The three Finnish pos flk units, the *3-4-6 Inf XX 23, the *3-8 Ski X RVV/1, and the 1-6 Art III 3 retreat to hex 4417, where the 0-6 RR Eng III Yhd is. The 4-5-6 Inf XX 4, the 1-2-6 Inf III 22/65, the 1-2-6 Ski III 1/KR, and the *1-2-6 Inf Cadre 11 all retreat to hex 4416.

The Soviets advance into Viipuri the three 5-6 Inf XXs 24, 70, and 100, the two [Heavy] Arm Xs 35 and 40, the 1-8 Pltcl Pol III 3, the two 3-2-8 Art Xs 9 and 15, and the pos flk unit.

The surviving Soviet air units participating in the battle for Viipuri return to base at Leningrad.

But the Soviets aren’t done just yet in their combat phase. They then attack the Finnish *3-4-6 Inf XX 9 at the central M.L. wooded intermittent lake hex 4615 from hexes 4715 and 4716 at 9 to 1 -2. They attack with 1/7th combat engineer capability (one combat eng capable type III in each hex) and the 9-6 Art XX 1 at hex 4716. They roll a 4, which modifies to a 2: DE. After combat the Soviets advance into hex 4615 the two 4-6 Inf XXs 90 and 97.

In the exploitation phase the Soviets advance the 4-8 Mot Inf XX 25 and the 3-2-8 Arm X 33 into hex 4617, the 4-8 Mot Inf XX 95 into hex 4615, and two 3-2-8 Arm Xs, the 24th and 31st, into hex 4616. The 1-2-8 Mot MG X 50 exploits into hex 3717.

At the end of the exploitation phase the dispositions of the Soviet air units based in the Leningrad/Kronshtadt zone are as follows:

Kronshtadt: three I-16, one 1-16/t10

NW L. hex 4915: I-153, I-16/t10, I-16/t17

NE L. hex 4914: two SB-2, I-153

L central city hex 5014: R-5Sh, SB-2bis, DB-3t

Eastern L. hex 5013: R-10, two SB-2bis

SW L. hex 5115: two SB-2bis, DB-3b

SE L. hex 5114: two SB-2bis

The 3-6 Inf XX 150, currently black U-3, lingers perhaps miserably on the north end of the Isle of Suur (4621) in the frozen G. of Finland. At its rear the 1-8 Cav III 5 watches out for Finnish guerrillas on the small Isle of Tatar (4820).

At Tallinn (4826) only the pos flk unit remains. At the end of the exploitation phase the I-16/t18 and I-16/t17 F type air units based there since the start of the turn do an air transfer mission to Soviet occupied Viipuri.

The Finns begin their turn with ¾ accumulated inf replacement points (RPs). They get 1 ½ special inf RPs for unisolated non-guerrilla losses incurred the last Soviet turn along with 1 reinf inf RP per the AWW Finnish OB. With this they rebuild the *1-2-6 Inf Cadre 11 and the 1-6 Ski III 1/LR from the replacement pool and place them at Helsinki. This leaves them 1 ¼ inf RPs for use the next Finnish turn. Of course it’s tempting to spend the third RP now, but maybe saving it would be good, too, if it might help rebuild say, a whole inf XX on the Mar I turn.

All Finnish ground and air units are in supply in the initial phase.

Per the AWW Finnish OB, the Finns receive as a ground reinforcement this turn only the “Discretionary Reinforcement” 0-1-5 Nvl Trps III Aalt, in the original game taken from the old AWW BD Ilmar and BD Vaina naval units. Presumably in SoS NTO scenarios this unit can be “taken” from the new SoS 2-pt BD TF Ilmar naval unit (see the SoS Orders of Battle booklet, pp. 11-12), in this game presently anchored at the port of Turku (4320) along with the RF Sisa (AA=1). If the AWW nvl trps III discretionary reinforcement is taken in the SoS NTO game, I’m assuming the Ilmar TF may not use it gunnery strength for the rest of the game, though may continue to fire its AA (AA=1) and also perhaps move.

The Finns start their turn with 2 ARPs. Initially the Finns consider spending only 1 ARP to move the C.X A type air unit from the eliminated box to the abort box. This would frugally leave them 1 ARP left over to carry over into the Mar I air cycle next turn. Doing this might give them an extra ARP to spend on replacing fighter unit losses late in the game, which at first thought by the Finns seems to be a wise move for these times. However, a hard look at the situation in the Karelian Isthmus zone, and in particular at Viipuri, makes them then think that the hour of decision is at hand, and so they opt to spend their remaining 2 ARPs to rebuild the C.X A type air unit and bring it on-map.

As a ruse to hopefully deceive the Soviet side as to what their real air strategy intentions are, which an alert Soviet side could likely frustrate, in their initial phase the Finns bring on the C.X A type at the reference city of Kotka (4521), as if gamely and quaintly attempting to perhaps defend some peripheral hexes. Perhaps even then too busy mulling over their likely big attack against Viipuri next turn, the Soviets never think about sending up any non-phasing CAP missions at the end of the initial phase, after the Finnish reinforcement/replacement step is done. Then, having evidently caught the Soviets off-guard, the very first thing the Finns do in their movement phase is to announce they’re doing a large air op to a particular target hex, per Rule 16D-Air Operations Sequence and Rule 18-Movement of Air Units. Then the Finns pick up the C.X A type at Kotka and also the two F type Finnish fighter air units at Helsinki and fly them eastwards.

Although the non-phasing Soviets cannot right now initiate any CAP missions, their I-16/t17 and I-16/t18 fighters based at Tallinn (4826) gamely announce patrol missions against the two Finnish fighters taking off from Helsinki (4526). Unfortunately for the USSR, each of the Soviet patrol attack die rolls are low: both No Effect, and in the end all three Finnish air units successfully complete their air transfer mission to Viipuri (4517).

By the end of the movement phase the dispositions of the Finnish ground units both north of the A weather line and also in the Ladogan Karelia region between the A weather line and the north shores of Lake Ladoga are as follows:

Kemijarvi (wooded swamp road hex 1514): 1-6 Ski III 41, never moved

Woods road hex 2114: *1-6 Ski III 2/LR, never moved

Forest road hex 2512: dummy guerrilla unit, never moved

Soumussalmi (woods road junction hex 2612): 1-2-6 ski III 1/PKR, never moved

Woods road hex 2913, right on the A weather line: 1-2-8 Ski X Rv, never moved

Forest hex 3212: dummy guerrilla unit: from Lieksa (3312)

Woods rail L. Pielinen coast hex 3313: *1-6 Inf X 4, railed in from M.L. hex 4614 in the Karelian Isthmus

Lieksa (woods rail hex 3312): dummy guerrilla unit, from 3412

Woods rail L. Pielinen coast hex 3412; 1-6 Ski X Kymen guerrilla unit in combat mode, from Lieksa

Forest rail/causeway hex 3513: 1-8 Ski X Kraj guerrilla unit in combat mode, from 3412

Joensuu (woods rail junction hex 3613): *3-4-6 Inf XX 12, from 3612

Woods s. rail hex 3614: 1-0-8 Arm II 1, from Jeonsuu

Woods L. Ori coast hex 3714: 1-6 Ski III 1/LR, repl railed from Helsinki at double cost, then moved in

Forest hex 3913: *1-6 Ski III 2/PKR, never moved

Forest hex 3914: *3-4-6 Inf XX 13, from 3913

Forest L. Pyha coast hex 4013: *1-2-6 Inf III A, never moved

Forest L. Pyha coast hex 4114: *1-2-6 Inf III A, from 4113

Woods hex 4213: 4-6 Inf XX 1 and the 0-1-5 Const III Kar, both from 4212; 1-8 Ski III 1-2 J, regular moved from Viipuri

Clear terrain L. Ladoga coast rail hex 4313: *3-4-6 Inf XX 21, from 4113; *1-6 Ski III 2/KR and *1-6 Inf III A, both never moved.

In the Finnish initial phase several Soviet ground units north of the A weather line get back into regular or special supply and in the Ladogan Karelia at least five Soviet units are now either black U-1 or U-2, having moved or lingered beyond their regular supply line hex limit. The following list shows the dispositions and current status of those Soviet ground units with affected supply status changes in the Finnish initial phase:

Wooded rough road border hex 2109 inside Finland: 1-6 Inf III 529, back in regular supply, the red U- 1 marker removed

Wooded swamp road border hex 2611 inside Finland (adjacent to Finnish held Soumussalmi): 4-6 Inf XX 81, becomes black U-1 this turn, but is in special supply because it can trace an overland supply line to three of the four friendly supply points delivered to the Soviet 1-cap temp. airfield two road hexes away at 2510

Kumo (woods road hex 2912): winterized 1-6 Inf III 88/273 and 2-6 Art X 45, both units are still black U-4

Forest/woods road hex 3011: 1-2-6 MG X 7 A, becomes black U-1 this turn

Forest border hex 3211 inside the USSR and right on the A weather line: winterized 4-6 Inf XX 3, becomes black U-2 this turn

Forest/woods road hex 3209: 1-8 Pltcl Pol III 5, back in regular supply, black U-2 marker removed

Forest border hex 3311 inside the USSR and right on the A weather line: winterized 3-6 Inf XX 142, becomes black U-1 this turn

Wooded intermittent lake border hex 3411 inside Finland: 3-6 Inf XX 122, becomes black U-1 this turn

Forest rail hex 3512: 4-8 Mot Inf XX 44, becomes black U-1 this turn

Woods road/rail junction hex 3713: 3-6 Inf XX 155, becomes black U-1 this turn

By the end of the movement phase the dispositions of the Finnish ground units in the important Karelian Isthmus zone are as follows:

M.L. woods L. Ladoga coast hex 4613:

4-5-6 Inf XX 10, never moved

0-1-6 Inf III HaL, from 4614

M.L. Vouksa Lake/Causeway woods rail hex 4614:

0-1-8 Cycle III VL, from 4615

0-1-6 Inf III RR, never moved

2-6 Art III 2, never moved

Central M.L. wooded intermittent lake hex 4615:

*3-4-6 Inf XX 9, never moved

Woods hex 4516:

4-5-6 Inf XX 8, from 4615

two 1-6 Inf IIIs 22/63 and 22/64, both from Viipuri

Woods hex 4515:

1-8 Ski III 3-4 J, from Viipuri

Kakisalmi (wooded intermittent lake Ladoga coast rail hex 4514):

pos flk unit, never moved

Viipuri (clear terrain G. of Finland coast rail junction hex 4517):

4-5-6 Inf XX 4, from 4615

*3-4-6 Inf X 23, never moved

3-6 Ski X RVV/1, from 4615

1-2-6 Inf III 22/85, never moved

*1-2-6 Inf Cadre 11, repl railed in from Helsinki

1-2-8 Ski III 1/KR, regular moved from 4212

1-6 Art III 3, never moved

two pos flk uits, never moved

pos flk unit, from 4516

Glad and D.XXI F types, and also the C.X A type air units, all air transferred in this turn

Clear terrain G. of Finland coast multiple narrow straits hex 4518:

*1-2-6 Inf Cadre 5, never moved

0-1-5 Const III Kan, never moved

Woods rail G. of Finland coast hex 4417:

0-6 RR Eng III Yhd, never moved

The 0-1-5 Const III Kan at clear terrain G. of Finland coast hex 4518 spends 4 MPs to build there a 1-cap temp.airfield.

In the movement phase the reinf 0-1-5 Nvl Trps III Aalt brought on at Turku rails and then moves into clear terrain G. of Finland coast hex 4522, adjacent to Kotka, just in case the now black U-3 Soviet 3-6 Inf XX 150 across the frozen full sea hexside at the northern end of Suur Island (4621) attempts to cross over to this hex and invade the Finnish mainland. The 0-1-6 Inf III KL continues to defend Kotka.

At Helsinki are the two pos flk units and the Finnish govt marker.

The Finnish factory still functions at Tampere (3825).

In the Feb II 40 Soviet turn combat phase, for the second time in the game, the perhaps exuberant Soviets have advanced after combat the 9-6 Art XX 1, which is not allowed per Rule 38H5a-The Soviet Artillery Division. Accordingly, to comply with this SoS game rule, the Soviets remove their 9-6 art XX from the attacked hex 4616 that it moved into after combat and place it back where it attacked from, which is hex 4716. Except for the 9-6 art XX, all other Soviet ground units in hexes 4616 and 4716 remain the same as posted in the SoS NTO Scenario Study: Feb II 40 Soviet Turn game report to the EA.

Finally, near the end of the Finnish exploitation phase the Soviets, having considered that the Finns have prepared for them what appears to be a bloody clash for Viipuri next turn, do a big non-phasing air unit transfer reshuffle in preparation for the upcoming battle and in pursuit to an end to the Winter War. The affected airfield rebasing dispositions are as follows:

Kronshtadt airfield hex 4916:

I-16/t10, from 1914

I-16, from Petrozavodsk (4305)

I-16, from Medvezhyegorsk (3704)

I-16, from Kestenga (2107)

NW Leningrad airfield hex 4915:

I-16/t17, never moved

I-16/t17, from 4608

I-16/t10, from 4608

NE Leningrad airfield hex 4914:

two SB-2bis, never moved

I-153, from Kronshtadt

Central Leningrad city airfield hex 5014:

SB-2bis, never moved

SB-2, from 4915

DB-3m, never moved

Eastern Leningrad airfield hex 5013 SB-2bis, never moved

SB-2, from 4915

DB-3m, never moved

SW Leningrad airfield hex 5115:

R-5Sh, from 4916

DB-3b, never moved

SB-2bis, from 4916

SE Leningrad airfield hex 5114:

R-5Sh, from 4916

DB-3t, never moved

Wooded swamp L. Ladoga coast road hex 4608 w/ an at start 3-cap permanent airfield:

R-10, never moved

two SB-2bis, from Medvezhyegorsk (3704)