INITIAL FORCES, DEC I 39
All forces are Soviet Regulars unless indicated as:
(f) Soviet Foreign Contingent
(w) Winter-capable
(NKVD) (internal security forces)
* Supported
^ Unsupported
(^) One less strength point
Initial Conditions:
Fortifications: Place in hex 35:4813:
1x0-3-0* Fort X Kar (UR22)
Rail Capacity: 15 REs.
Airfields: Place 1 permanent airfield each at Petrozavodsk (35:4305) and (35:4608). Place 1 permanent airstrip each at Kanalaksha (35:1504), Loukhi (35:2104), Ukhta (35:2508), Belomorsk (35:2902), and Medvezhyegoesk (35:3704).
Naval Bases: Major Nava Bases: Leningrad (35:4915). Minor Naval Bases: Kronshtadt (35:4916), Murmansk (35:0701), and Polyarnyy (35:0501).
Production:
Resource Points: 2
Infantry: None.
Armor: None.
Artillery: None.
Special Conditions:
Soviet Mobility: 1) C/M units may not move in the Exploitation Phase if in an enemy ZOC; 2) may not move in the Exploitation Phase if an attack was made in the preceding Combat Phase; 3) may only move up to half its MPs in the Exploitation Phase.
Soviet Combat Restrictions: 1) apply a -1 die modifier when resolving combat (+/-1); 2) a unit is disrupted following the resolving of a combat (remove disruption marker during the next friendly Initial Phase). Exception: Light and Mountain units.
Initial Forces:
Soviet Armed Forces
Northwest Front.
Seventh Army. Place in the Soviet Union within three hexes of the Finnish border from 35:4915 to 35:4713:
1x 5 Army HQ 7IndA
2x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 19C, 50C
1x5-6-8 Rifle XX 138 (w)
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 70Pet
5x5-6-6 Rifle XX 24, 43, 49, 90, 123
1x4-5-6* Rifle XX 142 (w)
1x4-3-5 hv Tank X 20Hv {T-28}
Note: Three tank btns. The 217th was also attached until 18Feb40.
1x5-4-6 Tank X 40
1x5-4-6 Tank X (^) 35
1x1-0-6 Tank II 217Sep
1x1-0-6 Flam Tank II 210
2x3-2-6 Art III 124(10A) 165(1A), 01(23A)
3x1-2-6 Art III 320(OrdVO), 455(28), 320
2x2-6 Art III 301, 378 (RGVK)
2x2-1-6 Art III 21hv(27), 207hv
2x2-1-6 Siege III 24(50), 492
2x2-1-6 hv Siege II 316hv, 317hv.
2x0-1-6 Bdr III 4, 6 (NKVD)
1x1-6 hv AA III AA=2 474
1x0-1-6 lt AA [III] AA=1 7A
1x1-6 Eng [III] 7A
1x0-5 Cons [III] 7A
2 AS
DN: The 492 art is converted to152s(gap) later (40/41) and assigned to the 152 Div (FEM).
Group Grendal (Thirteenth Army). Place in any hexes of Leningrad:
1x10-9-6^ Tank XXX 10
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 50Pet (w)
1x1-0-8* Cav III 1 {?}
Leningrad Military District Reserves. Stack with any units of the Northwest Front:
1x1-3-4 Res X 1Len {31&32; 6Feb40>>35}
[+res regts=38,111,112,113,114,339,346,435,615,653,
654,656,657,658,845]
1x0-1-R Art II 9
1x0-6 RR Eng III 1
1x 8 TC III (1 RE) 91
Northern Front.
Eight Army. Place in the Soviet Union within three hexes of the Finnish border from 35:4509 to 35:3608:
1x 5 Army HQ 8A
2x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 1C, 56C
4x5-6-6 Rifle XX 18, 56, 139, 155
1x3-4-5* Rifle XX 168 (w)
1x1-2-6 Art III 73(10)
1x2-1-6 hv Siege II 315hv(5A)
1x4-3-7 Tank X 34Lt
1x1-6 Tank II 35
3x0-1-6 Bdr III 1, 7, 8 (NKVD)
1x0-1-6 hv AA [III] AA=1 8A
1x0-5 Cons [III] 8A
1 SP
DN: Ex: The 155th Div had 14,128 men, 22 tanks, & 100 guns (art & AT). The 139th Div had 15,876 men, 20 tanks, & 138 guns. The 56th Div had 15,876 men, 100 tanks [410btn: 20 T-37 & 14 T-26; 112/35TkB btn: 54 T-26 & 4 T-26ch].
Ninth Army. Place in the Soviet Union within three hexes of the Finnish border from 35:3509 to 35:1108:
1x 5 Army HQ 9SplA
2x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 47, Spl
1x4-5-7* Mtn Rifle XX 54 (w)
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 122 (w)
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 163
1x1-6* Mtn Rifle III 273/104 (w)
3x0-1-6 Bdr III 2, 3, 5 (NKVD)
1x1-6 Eng [III] 9A
1x0-5 Cons [III] 9A
1 SP
DN: The 54th Div was stationed at Kandalaksha pre-war and was considered the best div in the LVO.
Fourteenth Army. Place in the Soviet Union within five hexes of Murmansk (35:0701):
1x 6 Army HQ 14A (w)
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 3 (w)
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 14
2x1-2-7* Mtn Rifle III 217/104, 242/104 (w)
1x0-1-8 Ski [III] Ark {41&43} (w)
2x3-2-8 Art III 104(14A), 310
1x3-2-6 Art III 302
1x0-1-6 lt AA [III] AA=1 14A
1x0-1-7 Mtn Bdr III 101 (w)
2x0-1-6 Bdr III 72, 82 (NKVD)
1 SP
Murmansk (35:0701):
1x0-3-0^ Static [XX] AA=1 Mur
Breakdown Box.
1x4-5-7 Mtn Rifle XX 104 (w)
10th Tank Corps:
1x2-8* MG X 15
2x4-3-7 Tank X 1Lt, 13Lt
Soviet Air Force
Up to three air units may be placed at any airbases in Estonia (no more than three air units may base in Estonia). Place all remaining air units at any airbases in the Soviet Union:
2x 4F3 0/5 I-16/10 (VVS)
3x 3F4 0/5 I-16/5 (VVS)
4x 3F3 0/9 I-153 (VVS)
2x 2A2 1/6 I-15bis (VMF)
1x 2B3 1-5/30 DB-3B (VVS)
1x 2B3 1-2/V/21 DB-3T (VMF)
2x 2B2 1-2/18 SB-2bis (VVS)
2x 2B2 1-1/S/12 SB-2 (VMF)
1x 1A2 1/13 R-10 (VVS)
1x 1A2 1/10 R-5Sh (VVS)
1x 1T2/34 1-3/20 TB-3 (VVS)
1x 1T1 0/11 G-1 (VVS)
1x 0T2 0/26 G-2 (VVS)
4x 4 hv pos AA
2nd PVO Div (air defenses). Place at any Soviet-owned airbase:
5x0-1-4 hv AA III AA=1 169/2PVO,
180/2PVO,189/2PVO,192/2PVO,
194/2PVO
1x0-1-4 MG III AA=1 2p
Soviet Navy (VMF)
Naval Units:
Baltic Fleet.
Baltic Sea. Place at any Soviet-owned naval base:
2x 5BB/4 TF AA=1 Marat, Okt. Rev
1x 2CA/2 TF AA=+1 Kirov
1x 1CL/1TF AA=0 Auroa
5x 2DD/1M Flot AA=1 BF-2, BF-3, BF-4,
BF-5, BF-6
1x 1DE/0M Flot AA=0 BF-1 (VMF)
1x 2MW/M Flot BF
1x 1Aux Flot IceBkr (-) {x8}
6x NTP (C1) NTP-1 thru NTP-6
Kronstadt (35:4619):
1x0-1-2* Fort Cadre (2-4-4*) Kron
Any Soviet-owned port, or any river hexside or port:
Lake Ladoga (Ladozh):
2x 2-pt River Flot (C2) AA=2 Ladozh-1, Ladozh-2
DN: The two RFs were mobilized for the war.
Northern Fleet.
Arctic Sea. Place at Murmansk (35:0701):
1x 2DD/1M Flot AA=1 NF-1 (-)
1x1MW/M Flot NF (-)
1x NTP (C1) NTP-11 (-)
Ground Units.
1x3-6* Mar X Mar (VMF)
1x4-2-8 Art [X] BF (VMF) <71g>
1x2-1-R Siege Art [II] BF (VMF) <6g>
Breakdown Box.
2x1-5 Mar III 1Mar/BF, 2Mar/BF (VMF)
1x0-1-6 Art II Mar (VMF)
Strategic Reserve:
Place in Strategic Reserve Box:
Stavka Reserve:
1x3-2-8 Art III 311
2x3-2-6 Art III 47, 375
2x2-6 Art III 36, 49(44)
1x2-1-6 Art III 116 {13A}
2x3-1-6 Siege Art III 136, 168
1x1-0-8* Cav III 28/4
Arkhangelsk MD:
Arkhangelsk:
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 88Ark (w)
Leningrad MD:
1x3-4-8* Mot Rifle XX 42
1x6-4-8* Mech Cav XX 25M
Estonian Border:
1x6-7-6 Rifle XX AA=1 16
Pskov:
1x3-4-5* Rifle XX 11Sve
Kalinin MD:
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 164
[JAN 40; 494 HAR art III]
Moskva MD:
2x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 17, 84
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 136
1x4-3-7 Tank X 34Lt
Byelorussian MD:
2x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 10C, 23C
3x4-5-6 Rifle XX 4, 8, 113
1x4-3-8* Mech Cav XX 24M
Kiev MD:
1x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 15C
2x4-5-6 Rifle XX 62, 80
5x3-4-5* Rifle XX 7, 60, 87, 97
Odessa MD:
1x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 8C
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 95
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 51
Volga MD:
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 86Kaz
1x3-4-8* Rifle XX 173M
Ural MD:
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 128Tur
Siberian MD:
1x3-4-8* Rifle XX 37M
Other:
7x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 1C, 8C, 14C, 28C,
34C, 47C, 56C
1x 8 Cav Corps 3C
1x6-7-8 Rifle XX AA=1 8M
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 44
1x4-5-7 Mtn Rifle XX 72 (w)
1x3-4-7* Mtn Rifle XX 77Ord
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 59 (w)
6x5-6-6 Rifle XX 41, 52, 75, 81, 100,150
3x4-5-6 Rifle XX 33, 53, 70
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 40 (w)
1x3-4-8* Rifle XX 91M (w)
5x5-4-6 Tank X 28, 31, 32, 33, 39Lt
DN: 39Lt is equipped with T-26 type tanks instead of BT-5 & 7s.
2x4-3-7 Tank X 24Lt, 29Lt
4x2-1-6 Tank III 22/173M, 28, 62, 63
1x2-1-6 Tank Rem (5-4-6) 51
1x1-5 hv Tank II 14hv {T-28M}
4x1-0-6 Tank II 17, 38, 41, 81
3x1-0-6 Flam Tank II 201, 204, 218
3x1-2-5 Para X 201, 204, 214 (w)
2x1-2-6 Rifle X BOS, Dol (w)
1x1-6 Rifle [III] 8A
DN: The 5th & 6th Ski btn.
1x0-1-8 Ski [III] Ark
DN: The 42 & 43 Ski btns from Arkhangelsk - trained.
3x1-0-8* Cav III 5/9, 28/4,102/36,
116 {33}
2x1-6 lt AA III AA=1 13A, 15A
2x1-6 Eng [III] 13A. 15A
2x0-5 Cons [III] 13A, 15A
1x 2B4 1-5/33 DB-3F (VVS)
1x 4F4 0/7 I-16/18 (VVS)
2x 5F3 1/4 I-16/17 (VVS)
1x 2A2 1/6 I-15bis (VVS)
1x 1A2 1/10 R-5h (VVS)
OB Notes:
1-Tank brigades have a REM or remnant side (a cadre).
2-Ignore Bold print units.
Special Note (naval): Using the Marat above, ship entries are read as, 5=naval gunnery; BB=battleship; /4=naval gunfire support; TF=task force; AA=anti-aircraft; then the name of unit.
REINFORCEMENTS
Note: All units released from the Strategic Reserve, and all Replaced units are placed at any hexes of Leningrad.
Comments:
Bold Not in play
5/9 regiment/division
49(44) regiment(corps)
DEC I 39
WEST RUSSIA:
Strategic Reserve, Release:
1x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 10C
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 44 <9Dec39>
4x5-6-6 Rifle XX 4, 52, 75,150
1x1-6 Rifle [III] 8A (w)
1x1-0-6 Tank II 17
2x1-0-6 Tank II 97/39Lt, 88/34Lt
[These two units were detached from their parent bdes.]
DEC II 39
WEST RUSSIA:
Strategic Reserve, Release:
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 88Ark (w)
2x5-6-6 Rifle XX 41,100
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 136
1x4-3-7 Tank X 39Lt
1x3-2-8 Art III 311(13A)
1x3-2-6 Art III 47
2x2-6 Art IIII 36, 49(44)
1x2-1-6 Art III 116(13A)
1x1-5 hv Tank II 14 {T-28M}
1x1-0-6 Tank II 38Sep
1x1-0-6 Flam Tank II 204
1x1-0-8* Cav III 5/9
1x1-6 Eng [III] 13A
Petrozavodsk (35:4305), Full:
1x3-6* Rifle XX 1FNA (f)
Upgrade: 1x0-1-6 Bdr III…1 (NKVD) to:
1x0-1-8 Pltcl Pol III 1 (NKVD)
JAN I 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Special Note: “The I-16 tip 20 [late ‘39] was a version of the tip 18 that could carry 20.5 gallon auxiliary fuel tanks under the wings, extending its endurance by up to one hour. From January 1940 all new versions of the I-16 were able to carry the drop tanks.”
[rg=700km (59g) +44% w/drop tanks (26g)]
Strategic Reserve, Release:
2x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 15C, 18C
1x6-4-8* Mech Cav XX AA=1 25M
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 17
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 52
3x4-5-6 Rifle XX 33, 62, 70
1x3-4-8* Rifle XX 131M
1x3-4-5* Rifle XX 11Sve
1x5-3-6 Tank X 28
1x1-0-8* Cav III 28/4
1x3-2-6 Art III 375
1x3-1-6 Siege Art III 136
2x 5F3 1/4 I-16/17 (VVS)
1x 2A2 1/6 I-15bis (VVS)
1x 2B4 1-5/33 DB-3F (VVS)
1x 1A2 1/10 R-5h (VVS)
Petrozavodsk (35:4305), Full:
1x2-3-6* Rifle XX 3FNA (f)
Convert: 1x I-153 to:
1x 4F4 1/7 I-16/24
Convert: 1x5-6-7* Mtn Rifle XX…54 (w) to:
1x5-6-6*Lt Rifle XX 54
Upgrade: 2x0-1-6 Bdr III…2, 3 to:
2x0-1-8 Plctl Pol III 2, 3 (NKVD)
Available for Assembly.
1x9-6 Art [XX] 1br
Note: Artillery Marker: Holds up to 4 REs of artillery units (4x2-6/2-1-6). It is not a separate unit. Place the artillery units off-map when in use.
JAN II 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Strategic Reserve, Release:
1x6-7-8 Rifle XX AA=1 8M
1x6-7-6 Rifle XX AA=1 16
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 81
3x4-5-6 Rifle XX 72, 85,113
1x3-4-8* Rifle XX 173M
2x3-4-5* Rifle XX 60, 97
1x4-3-7 Tank X 24Lt
1x2-1-6 Tank III 22/173M
2x1-0-6 Tank II 41Sep, 81Sep
2x1-2-6 Rifle X BOSS,Dol (w)
1x3-1-6 Siege Art III 168
1x2-6 Art III 495/123
Convert: 1x I-153 to:
1x 5F3 1/4 I-16/17
Convert: 1x SB-2bis to:
1x 2B3 1-5/38 DB-3M
Convert: 1x10-9-6^ Tank XXX…10c to:
1x2-8* MG X 15
2x4-3-7 Tank X 1Lt, 13Lt
Remove:
1x10-9-6^ Tank Corps 10
Upgrade: 2x0-1-6 Bdr III…4, 5 (NKVD) to:
2x0-1-8 Pltcl Pol III 4, 5 (NKVD)
FEB I 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Receive:
4 inf
2 arm
2 air
3 resource pts
3 attack supply
Strategic Reserve, Release:
4x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 14C, 23C, 34C, 56C
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 84
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 51
3x1-2-5 Para X 201, 204, 214 (w)
3x5-4-6 Tank X 32, 33
1x2-1-6 Tank Rem (5-4-6) 51
2x1-0-6 Flam Tank II 201, 218
1x1-6 lt AA III AA=1 13A
1x0-5 Cons [III] 13A
Convert: 1x 5 Rifle Corps HQ…Grendal to:
1x 5 Army HQ 13A
Upgrade: 1x0-1-6 Bdr III…6 (NKVD) to:
1x0-1-8 Pltcl Pol III 6 (NKVD)
FEB II 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
1x 5 Rifle Corps HQ Grp K. Pavlov
Strategic Reserve, Release:
1x 5 Army HQ 15A
2x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 86Kaz, 128Tur
1x4-5-7* Mtn Rifle XX 72 (w)
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 80
1x3-4-8* Rifle XX 37M
1x3-4-7* Mtn Rifle XX 77Ord (w)
3x2-1-6 Tank III 28, 62, 63
2x1-0-8* Cav III 102/36,116 {33}
Note: The 28th & 62nd tank regts were attached to the 70th & 86Kaz divs, respectively.
MAR I 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Receive:
4 inf
3 arm
3 air
3 resource pts
3 attack supply
Strategic Reserve, Release:
1x 5/6 Rifle Corps HQ 28C
1x 8 Cav Corps HQ 3C
Note: The Cav 3C allows normal stacking for cavalry units only at any time - reduced stacking for non-cavalry units.
1x6-4-8* Mech Cav XX AA=1 24M
1x4-5-8 Mot Rifle XX 95
1x3-4-8* Mot Rifle XX 42
1x3-4-8* Rifle XX 91M (w)
3x3-4-8* Rifle XX 119M, 144M, 172M
2x4-2-8* Cav XX 7, 36
1x5-4-6 Tank X 31
1x4-3-7 Tank X 29Lt
2x2-1-6 Tank III 61, 82
1x1-2-6 Art III 108
1x1-6 lt AA [III] AA=1 15A
1x0-5 Cons [III] 15A
MAR II 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Arrive:
8x-0-8 Ski II 102, 103, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121
3x0-8 Ski I 40, 56, 75
Strategic Reserve, Release:
1x5-6-6 Rifle XX 59 (w)
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 40 (w)
1x4-5-6 Rifle XX 53
1x1-6 Eng [III] 15A
Petrozavodsk (35:4305), Full:
1x2-6* Rifle XX 4FNA (f)
APR I 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Receive:
4 inf
2 arm
2 air
3 resource pts
3 attack supply
APR II 40
WESTERN RUSSIA:
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Mobilize:
2x1-2-6 Art III 343/8Br, 491/54
[from 24RD; from 40 Res Art III]
Convert: 1x4-5-7* Mtn Rifle XX…104 to:
1x4-5-6* Lt Rifle XX 104
Convert: 1x5-6-6* Lt Rifle XX…54 & 1x1-2-6 Art III…491/54 to:
1x6-7-6 Rifle XX 54
Optional: Convert: 1x3-6 Rifle X…8Sep & 1x1-2-6 Art III…343/8Br to:
1x4-8 Rifle [XX] 8Sepbr
DN: The 8th Brigade is listed as having 14,000 men and a number of trucks by the Soviet archives. Its artillery operated separately. It’s possible the number of men includes other support assets assigned to the brigade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SOVIET UNIT IDs.
Names and Abbreviations:
Armed Forces:
A Armiya [Army]
BF Baltic Fleet
BOS Brigada Osobeya [Special Brigade]?
Dol Dolins [commader’s name]?
Flot Flotillas
FNA Finlyandya Natsionalaya Armiya [Finland National Army]
Kar Karelsk [Karelian]
LVO Leningradskogo Voennoyo Okruga [Leningrad Military District]
M Partially motorized
NF Northern Fleet
NKVD Narodnyi Kommissarist Vnutrenniki Del [People’s Commissarist for Internal Forces/Security]
Okt Rev
Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya [October Revolution]
OrdVO Odessa Military District
PVO air defense forces/command
VMF Voenno-Morskogo Flota [Military Marine Fleet; Soviet Navy]
Special Note:
Ski Battalions:
7A,
*56,60,61,63,64,109,110,111,112,113 {Grp Komkora Pavlov}; 65,99.
8A.
*2,7,8,11,12,22,23,36,38,39,44,71 & 72 (Komosomolsky); 77 & 78(f. 38 regt); 106,107,115,116,117,118,119,121.
*Ski Sqns (BOVO):5,6,7,8,20,21,22,23,24,25,35,36, 37,38.
9A.
*3,9,13,17,18,19,34,35,40,45,46,62,75,102,103, 120,123.
[1x0-1-6 Rifle [II]…ValleyBr-9,13,34 btns/9A]
*Ski Sqns:
(COVO) 1,2,3,4,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,
1819.
13A.
*27,67,97,98.
14A.
*41,43. {from Arkhangelsk}
15A (8A).
*1,4,5,6,10,37,70(Komosomolsky),73,74,105,124, 125,126,127,128,130,131. {5,6 =8A III}
Bibliography
Irincheev, AvBair. War of the White Death: Finland Against the Soviet Union, 1939-40. (paperback, U.S.) Stackpole Books, 2012.
<ISBN-10: 0811710882>
[First published UK, Pen & Sword Limited, 2011.]
{Order# Amazon, 112-2222059-3246668}
Download the revised Soviet OB as PDF:
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