 |
| Dawn 11 December 1939. Finnattacks go in. View of Suomussalmi, looking south |
As the 163rd (Moscow) Division settled in and around Suomussalmi town for the miserably frozen night of 10-11 December, 1939, they were already aware that the whole operation had run into trouble. Finnish columns were operating along the north road whence the Russians had come; who knew what lay on the eastern, more direct road to the Soviet frontier.
Even so, they were perhaps surprised by the concentric dawn attacks that at once severed the roads north and east. One-six-three Rifle Division was cut off, alone, frozen, and under heavy assault.
 |
| Situation Map: 11 December 1939 |
 |
| Soviet 759th Rgt under heavy assault. |
To begin with, the Finns enjoyed considerable success, knocking holes in the III Battalions of the rifle regiments, and reducing the 163 Recce Unit to a line of smoking vehicles. Yet the four SP loss inflicted upon the Russians cost the Finns nine. At this rate it was already problematic whether the attackers had the strength completely to wipe out this Russian Division before any relief arrived.
 |
| Soviet 81st Rgt Under attack. PPP6 has been forced out of the fight. |
More worrying for the attackers was that the middle of the day passed without any further success. The Finns rolled 18 dice for attack, seeking 6s to hit, and scored precisely... squat. Nothing. Not one hit. The three that could reasonably have been expected, even just two, might have constituted considerable progress. Meanwhile, the Russian defence continued to erode the Finns' attacking resources. The PPP6 column drew back up the north road in an exhausted state, as did II/ 27 battalion back across the frozen Haukipera lake southeast of Suomussalmi.
 |
| Repulse of II/27 (Finn) Battalion |
As the 11 December evening drew in, the Finns managed some further success, but there was no doubt that it had been a day at least as hard for them as it had the Soviets. True, III/ 759 had been broken and destroyed, as had 163rd Recce - 4 SP (strength points) irrecoverably lost. But the cost! The effort had cost 27th Regiment 14 out of 18 SP, and Pravola's column had also been reduced to one-third of its strength.
 |
| 27th (Finn) Rgt has taken very heavy casualties... |
On the other side of the town, the scratch 'militia' columns had as discouraging a measure of success. They drove III/ 81st Battalion onto the Kiantajarvi lake, but the Soviet battalion was not completely destroyed, and even then its 2SP loss had taken a 5SP toll of the Finns.
 |
| ... as have the militia columns. |
This might have been enough to end the game - the action - right there, but there remained the matter of gathering in stragglers overnight. The Soviets were less fortunate in this regard, as two of their units were a total loss, but III/ 81 were able to recruit some of their lost strength, and were even able to reoccupy the ground lost during the day. For their part, the Finns were able to regather 11 of the 21SPs lost during the day. The battle could resume.
On the 12th, the Pravola column moved over to the small ridge between the Haukipera and the small Kuomosjarvi lakes as a flank guard watching the east road. A partially restored 27th Regiment resumed its attacks along the east road, against II/ 759th Battalion and the Divisional gun line.
 |
| 27th Infantry regathers its strength... |
 |
| ... and go in once more. |
The scratch columns also resumed their attacks, enfeebled though they were. Once more III/ 81 was driven onto the lake and destroyed as the PPP6 column followed up.
Right from the beginning of the action, Lt Col Fagernas had led his battalion against II/81 Battalion with scant success, but by the middle of 12 December had reduced the Russians to half strength. The Finnish columns were themselves down to 60% strength overall. Still, between them surely II/81 could be brushed aside to permit an attack on the town itself?
 |
| The militias also resume their assault. |
 |
| One battalion of 81st Rgt destroyed - but at a high cost |
 |
| General view of the action around Suomussalmi - looking west.along the Raate road. |
During the early daylight hours of 12 December, 27th regiment enjoyed a rare moment of good fortune. For negligible loss (0SP), III Battalion attacking up the road, and II Bn across the lake smashed II/759th, drove the remnants out of the settlement there, and onto the Kiantasjarvi ice. There the II/759th met its end. Few stragglers ever saw their homeland again.
 |
| The Finns make progress east of the town. |
After the considerable success of the morning, once more, the Finns found further progress difficult to achieve. The exiguous survivors of II/81 Rifle Regiment simply refused to yield ground or to die. At the end of the day the militia columns had reached almost the end of their tether - just 40% of their strength remaining as night drew in.
Attempting to follow up their early morning success, 27th Regiment found the Soviet artillery well served and defended with determination. All three battalions took considerable losses even just reducing the batteries. There was no time to overrun the silent guns. The Soviet artillery remained in being overnight, and some batteries were back in action on the 13th.
That misfortune committed the battered 27th regiment to resume its enfeebled attacks the following day. This time the combined attacks of II and III Battalions sufficed to overrun the Soviet gun line, and I Battalion even contrived to assault Suomussalmi itself and inflict losses upon I/759 Battalion.
Greatly daring, the remains of the militia columns north and west of the town also resumed their attacks, but II/81 Battalion was not to be shifted. Exhausted as they now were, the order went out: henceforth, stand on the defensive. At least the Russians were not to be permitted to break out along the north road.
By this time the 44th Division was approaching up the east road, though still some distance off. About the middle of the day the lead elements had made contact with Captain Pravola's road block.
[A couple of remarks are due here.
First off, historically, the road block of two companies under a Captain Makinen had been drawn from 27th Regiment. Captain Pravola's column had in fact crossed the Kiantasjarvi lake ice to join the other column attacking the west of the Suomussalmi.
The other is the lack of photos of the approaching column of the 44th. In fact I had taken several, and the 'day' was ending, before I found I had placed them crossing the bridge, that is to say, on the wrong road! At the end of the 'day' I placed them on the right road and carried on as if nothing had happened It made no difference to the day's action, but would during the subsequent days.]
Nothing more to be expected from the militias and border troop, the last attacks had perforce to be mounted by 27th Regiment. At the end of the day, I/27 Battalion broke into the town, dispersing the last battalion of 759th Regiment in the process. General Zelentzov suddenly found himself in the front line.
Attempting to follow up their early morning success, 27th Regiment found the Soviet artillery well served and defended with determination. All three battalions took considerable losses even just reducing the batteries. There was no time to overrun the silent guns. The Soviet artillery remained in being overnight, and some batteries were back in action on the 13th.
 |
| The Finns reach the Soviet gun line. |
 |
| The view looking north |
 |
| General Zelentsov find himself in the front line. The dissolution of 183 looks imminent, but the Finns are much weakened. |
 |
| The militias have just about reached the end of their tether. |
[A couple of remarks are due here.
First off, historically, the road block of two companies under a Captain Makinen had been drawn from 27th Regiment. Captain Pravola's column had in fact crossed the Kiantasjarvi lake ice to join the other column attacking the west of the Suomussalmi.
The other is the lack of photos of the approaching column of the 44th. In fact I had taken several, and the 'day' was ending, before I found I had placed them crossing the bridge, that is to say, on the wrong road! At the end of the 'day' I placed them on the right road and carried on as if nothing had happened It made no difference to the day's action, but would during the subsequent days.]
 |
| Those three Finnish columns had begun with 10SPs at dawn three days back. |
 |
| 27th Infantry started with 17 SP |
Sitting behind their road block on their little ridge, Capt. Pravola's little command probably felt much as Major-General D.H. Hill did, in an an analogous position on South Mountain, watching the entire Union Army of the Potomac coming straight for him. They were not going round - not as road bound as they were. As the day ended Pravola was still barely hanging on against the lead two battalions of the 25th Rifle Regiment, 44th Division. Poised for the breakthrough were the rest of the 25th, and the 312th Independent Tank Battalion. Off into the murky eastern distance stretched a long column of Soviet - Ukraine - infantry.
Recognising that Pravola was unlikely to hold out indefinitely, Col Makiniemi ordered his III/27 Battalion to form a line north of the small Kuomasjarvi lake beside Pravola's position, and II Battalion to for a backstop on the road, where he joined them with his own Regimental HQ. I Battalion was left alone to contain what was left of 163 Division within the burned out precincts of Suomussalmi. Unable to break out, 163 Division would have to wait for the 44th to break in.
Another historical aside seems to be called for here. It appears that this pretty much followed, though in abbreviated form, the actual events. Unable to destroy 163rd Division, the Finns were reduced to blockading the Russians whilst the main action devolved upon 64th Regiment, and events along the Raate road.
As it transpired, Pravola's little command proved as resilient in defence as the Russian 81st Regiment had shown. II/25th Battalion exhausted itself in fruitless attacks, and I/25th was in little better case.
All the while, the column waited, stalled, upon the road. Snowladen and sodden, the ground would not permit the ski-less Soviet troops stray from the road (see previous posting for the special rules about this), so it was a case of hurry up and wait.
At daybreak of the 14th, the attacks resumed. Unable to regain the road, II/25th dissolved and I/25th fell back to reform. III Battalion took up the struggle with tank support The latter at last effecting the breakthrough, the riflemen were able to follow up and carry the ridge. Pravola's column was no more.
 |
| Evening, 13 December. Soviet 44th Division encounter the Pravoli road block. There is no going round it. |
 |
| A final assault takes out General Zelentsov's Div HQ |
As it transpired, Pravola's little command proved as resilient in defence as the Russian 81st Regiment had shown. II/25th Battalion exhausted itself in fruitless attacks, and I/25th was in little better case.
 |
| Pravoli's gallant band repulses the first Soviet attacks. |
 |
| The 44th Div column along the Suomussalmi-Raate road. |
At daybreak of the 14th, the attacks resumed. Unable to regain the road, II/25th dissolved and I/25th fell back to reform. III Battalion took up the struggle with tank support The latter at last effecting the breakthrough, the riflemen were able to follow up and carry the ridge. Pravola's column was no more. |
| Collapse of Pravoli's defence. |
It was too late now for 44th Division. Since arriving in the area, it had taken more than two days to force the passage between the lakes in the early daylight hours of 15th December.
By this time the HQ 9th Infantry Division had taken over conduct of the battle. The 64th Infantry Regiment had arrived, together with badly needed and much missed artillery. As the Soviet infantry swept over Pravola's ridge line, the Finns were already close by.
In the middle of the day, the Finnish attacks went in. Coming up the main South-east road, I and II Battalions attacked the heads of the road column before they could follow up the breakthough. [For the first time you will observe the 'priority chits laid down. Until now, the 163 passive defence, followed by 27th Infantry's abandoning its attacking role, there was no real need for them. But now both sides are on the move, so prioritising was critical.]
As I Battalion attacked the light tanks, II Battalion join in against I/25 Battalion, already badly mauled in earlier fighting. Meanwhile, III/64th had its objective the column as it passed through the Raate village.
Before night fell, I/64th Battalion had severed the road, leaving III/ 25th and I/ 146th Battalions cut off as they were attacking the II/27th Finnish Battalion to the west. In close attendance, II/64th could help to sustain the blockade.
Meanwhile, the I/64 Battalion attacks, alone and unsupported, met with no substantial success. Striking the rear battalion (III) of 305 Rifle Regiment, I/64 lost 40% of its strength making not the slightest impression.
In Suomussalmi itself, I/27th rather exceeded its orders attacking General Zelentsov's headquarters and supply column (That is to say, I took a chance). The elimination of the 163 Divisional command ensured that 81st Rifle regiment would be going nowhere for the duration.
As the 44th prepared, at daybreak of the 17th, to try and force the passage west, two battalions of the 305th Rifle regiment were detailed to drive off the single Finn battalion menacing Raate. For their part, the Finns went over to a temporary defensive ('S' stance), hoping, if the enemy sufficiently weakened himself, they could resume the attack to create a third road block.
The Soviet attacks were always going to be problematic, with low SPs and no artillery support - the guns still far down the road to the rear (and hence, not yet on the table).
The lead battalion of 146th Rifle Regiment continued trying to batter its way westward. Here I think the Soviet decision making (i.e. mine) fell a little short. At least III/25 ought to have regained the road in the behind the 64th Regiment road block, but better yet would have been for the I/146th to lend its weight to the clearance attempt, and bring what was left of III/25 onto the road to confront 27th Regiment. The chances of success weren't great, but would have been much improved by such a move.
 |
| Arrival of 64th Infantry. |
 |
| I/64th Infantry vs 312 Tank Battalion 3-nil. |
In the middle of the day, the Finnish attacks went in. Coming up the main South-east road, I and II Battalions attacked the heads of the road column before they could follow up the breakthough. [For the first time you will observe the 'priority chits laid down. Until now, the 163 passive defence, followed by 27th Infantry's abandoning its attacking role, there was no real need for them. But now both sides are on the move, so prioritising was critical.]As I Battalion attacked the light tanks, II Battalion join in against I/25 Battalion, already badly mauled in earlier fighting. Meanwhile, III/64th had its objective the column as it passed through the Raate village.
 |
| 64th infantry severs the road, and cuts off the head of the Soviet road column. |
Supported as they were by artillery, and the Soviets lacking time for any but the hastiest of devefences ('M' must switch to 'S' before it may dig in for 'D' mode.) The Finns had good reason to be confident of success in their attacks near the lakes. I/25th were easily overrun. Though 312 Tank Battalion fell back to the road, that unit, too, succumbed to a determined Finnish follow-up.
 |
That being as it may, a whole multi-decker sandwich now existed along the Raate-Suomussalmi road, with the Soviets struggling to break through, to the rescue the remnants of 163 Division.
The reason why I/146 Battalion ought to have returned is shown in the picture to the right. Though Soviet losses averaged 50%, I/64 had been knocked about by the attacks and reduced to 60%. Further losses might have made a breakthrough a realistic proposition, bearing in mind that II/64 was close by to take up the cudgels.
As it was, the Soviet strength was ebbing faster than had the Finns' around Suomussalmi. A strong counterattack by II and III/305 Battalions failed by nightfall 17 December to force III/64th back from the Raate road; the remainder of 64th Infantry were not getting out of the Soviets' way any time soon, and two surviving lead battalions of 44th Division were themselves cut off. The besieged remains of 81st Division were as far from rescue as ever.
 |
| Situation map 17 December. 1939. |
At this point, I called it. Both sides were pretty much exhausted. On the Finnish side, not much remained of 27th Infantry or the 'militia' and border police columns that had attacked Suomussalmi from the West. Column Pravola had been destroyed. Even 64th Regiment had over the last two days taken serious losses - a good 40% from its infantry strength.
The Soviets were in even worse case: barely half 81st Regiment survived of the whole 163rd Division; of the 44th Divisional troops that had been able to enter the action, over 50% (16/30SP) had been lost. Yet, perhaps surprisingly, overall Soviet losses in this action did not much exceed the Finns' - 29SP to 27. The forces engaged had been equal overall, as well.
Having said that, the result still had to be a Finnish victory, if perhaps less overwhelming than it was historically. The 44th Division support elements and ambulances were unlikely ever to get onto the table (though it was not impossible), and a breakthrough was certainly out of court. The Soviets were never going to get more than a draw out of the action: the total loss of 163rd Division, and a very badly battered 44th. More of the 44th would probably have survived than did historically, though it was equally possible that the Finns should manage to recreate the string of 'Motti' that proved so fatal to thousands of Ukraine soldiers.
Still not quite perfect - I actually made a couple of annoying errors in the play - I thought this action went extremely well. It was certainly nowhere near as one-sided as might have been indicated by all the handicaps I placed upon the unlucky Red Army. One unlooked for outcome from thinking about it: a 'stacking' rule that might resolve some of the outstanding issues I have had with my own version(s) of the Megablitz/Hexblitz/NQM game systems.
The Soviets were in even worse case: barely half 81st Regiment survived of the whole 163rd Division; of the 44th Divisional troops that had been able to enter the action, over 50% (16/30SP) had been lost. Yet, perhaps surprisingly, overall Soviet losses in this action did not much exceed the Finns' - 29SP to 27. The forces engaged had been equal overall, as well.
Having said that, the result still had to be a Finnish victory, if perhaps less overwhelming than it was historically. The 44th Division support elements and ambulances were unlikely ever to get onto the table (though it was not impossible), and a breakthrough was certainly out of court. The Soviets were never going to get more than a draw out of the action: the total loss of 163rd Division, and a very badly battered 44th. More of the 44th would probably have survived than did historically, though it was equally possible that the Finns should manage to recreate the string of 'Motti' that proved so fatal to thousands of Ukraine soldiers.
Still not quite perfect - I actually made a couple of annoying errors in the play - I thought this action went extremely well. It was certainly nowhere near as one-sided as might have been indicated by all the handicaps I placed upon the unlucky Red Army. One unlooked for outcome from thinking about it: a 'stacking' rule that might resolve some of the outstanding issues I have had with my own version(s) of the Megablitz/Hexblitz/NQM game systems.
