WARGAMESOSD

A Winter War (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finnish Order of Battle

Initial Forces , Dec I 39

All forces are Finnish unless indicated as: (FV) Foreign Volunteers

Initial Conditions:
Capital: Place in Helsinki (35:4526).
Factory: Place in Tampere (35:3825).
Forts: 35:4613, 35:4614, 35:4615, 35:4616, and
35:4717.
Rail Capacity: 5 REs per turn.
Airfields: Place 1 permanent airfield at Lappeenranta (35:4318). Place 1 permanent airstrip at Joensuu (35:3613).

Finnish Armed Forces

Kannaksen Army. Place in Finland within three hexes of the Soviet border from 35:4815 to 35:4714.
5x 4-5-6 Rifle XX 4, 5, 8, 10, 11
1x 1-2-8 Ski X Rv
3x 2-6* Rifle X 1, 2, 3
1x 1-6* Rifle X 4
2x 1-8 Ski III 1-2 J, 3-4 J
3x 0-1-6 Rifle III MLR, RR, UR
1x2-6 Art 111 2
1x1-6 Art 111 3
1x 0-1-5 Cons III Kan
1x 0-6 Lt Arm 11 1
Place the following unit in hex 35:4717. 1x 0-1-0 Art II SHRT

4th Army Corps. Place in Finland within three hexes
of the Soviet border from 35:4510 to 35:3511.
2x 3-4-6* Rifle XX 12, 13
1x 1-2-6 Ski III 1/KR
1x 1-6* Ski III 2/KR
1x 0-1-5 Cons III Kar

Northern Finland Defense Area (later 5th Army
Corps). Place in Finland within three hexes of the
Soviet border from 35:3411 to 35:0304.
1x 1-2-6 Ski III 1/PKR
2x 1-6* Ski III 2/LR, 2/PKR
1x 1-6 Ski III 1/LR

Coastal Defense Command. Place in Finland in any
coastal hexes along the Gulf of Finland.
1x 1-6 Rifle III A
3x 0-1-6 Rifle III HL, HaL, KL
1x 0-1-8 Cycle III VL

Note: All units of the Finnish Coastal Defense Command may not move until the Dec II 39 turn. (They are guarding the coast against Soviet amphibious landings which never materialize.)

Aland Islands Garrison. Place in the Aland Islands Holding Box.
1x 0-1-8 Cycle III TL

High Command Reserves. Place in any hexes in Finland.
1x 4-5-6 Rifle XX 6
2x 1-6 Ski III A, 41
1x 1-2-6 Rifle III A
1x 0-6 RR Eng III Yhd 5 pts position AA (4 MPs)

Available Corps HQs.6x Rifle XXX HQ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Available Replacements.
2 Infantry
Finnish Air Force Place at any airbases in Finland.
1 x C.X 1A3 1/8
1 x D.XXI 3F4 0/6

Finnish Navy
Naval Units.
Place at Turku (35:4230).
BD Ilmar.
BD Vaina.
Place in the Aland Islands Holding Box.
1x 1 pt River Flotilla AA=1 Sisa.

Reinforcements

Conditional Reinforcements

Emergency Replacements. Finland may call up its home training forces and civic guards, receiving them as infantry RPs. Once this option is used, all further Finnish regular reinforcements and replacements called for on the OB are forfeited. (Note that this Gallup does not affect foreign aid or conversions.) For each Finnish dot city that is enemy-owned when these replacements are called up, subtract 1 infantry RP from the allotment. Additionally, if Helsinki is enemy-owned when these replacements are called up, subtract 2 infantry RPs from the allotment. The number of infantry RPs received is variable. Initially, the allotment is 15 infantry RPs, but this decreases as the training establishment is transformed into active units. The Regular Reinforcements schedule lists the number of RPs available for any given turn under the heading "Available Emergency Replacements."

Example: Finland calls up its emergency replacements on the Dec II 39 turn. Helsinki and all Finnish dot cities are Finnish owned. Finland receives the 21/60 and 22/64 Rifle Regiments as reinforcements and adds 12 infantry RPs to its replacement point total. Finland receives no further regular reinforcements or replacements for the rest of the game.

Partisans. On the "I" turn of each month Finland receives one partisan unit if there are any enemy units inside Finland. Also, for each partisan unit received, the Finnish player may deploy one dummy partisan unit, if any are available. Partisan units (including dummies) are deployed in any hex in Finland that is: a) enemy-owned, b) not occupied by an enemy unit, c) not in an enemy APZOC, and d) not adjacent to a Finnish non-partisan unit. If no such hex is available, the reinforcement is forfeited. Partisans available for deployment:
3x 1-8 Partisan/Ski X Karj, Lapin, Savon
6x 1-6 Partisan/Ski X KS, Kymen, Pohj,
SH, Turun, Uuden 3x Dummy Partisan Units

Regular Reinforcements

When reinforcements are received, place them in any cities (except point cities) in Finland, no more than 1 unit per city and no more than 1 unit in the Arctic.

Dec I 1939
Reinforcements:
1x 6* Rifle HQ A
1x 1-2-6 Rifle III 22/65
1x 1-6 Rifle 111 40

Place the following unit in the 'A' divisional box on the Finnish breakdown chart.
1x 3-4-6* Rifle XX 9
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 13 Infantry

Dec II 1939
Reinforcements:
1x 1-2-6 Rifle III 21/60
1x 1-6 Rifle III 22/64
Place the following unit in its box on the Finnish breakdown chart.
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 1
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 11 Infantry

Jan I 1940
Reinforcements:
lx 1-2-6 Rifle III 23/67
2x 1-6 Rifle III 21/61, 22/63
Foreign Aid, via Sweden:
1 pt position AA (4 MPs) (from Sweden)
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 8 Infantry

Jan II 1940
Reinforcements:
1x 6* Rifle HQ 21
1x 1-6 Rifle 111 21/62
Place the following unit in its box on the Finnish breakdown chart.
1x 3-4-6* Rifle XX 21
Foreign Aid, via Sweden:
1x 3-8* Ski X RVV/1 (FV) (from Sweden)
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 7 Infantry

Feb I 1940
Reinforcements:
1x 6* Rifle HQ 23
2x 1-6 Rifle III 23/68, 23/69
Place the following unit in its box on the Finnish breakdown chart.
1x 3-4-6* Rifle XX 23
Convert: 1x 0-6 Lt Arm II 1 to:1x 1-0-8 Arm II 1
Foreign Aid, via Sweden (Air Reinforcement):
1x Glad 3F3 0/8 (from Britain)
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 5 Infantry

Feb II 1940
Discretionary Reinforcement:
1x 0-1-5 NvI Trps III Aalt
Note: The Finnish player may take this unit as a reinforcement or forgo it, at his discretion. If this unit is taken, the BD Ilmar. and the BD Vaina. may not use their gunnery strengths for the rest of the game. They may continue to fire AA.
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 5 Infantry

Mar I 1940
Foreign Aid, via Sea:
1x 0-1-6 Inf X Sisu (FV) (from several countries)
1 pt position AA (4 MPs) (from Britain)
Foreign Aid, via Sweden (Air Reinforcements):
1x Blen 1 3A2 1/14
(from Britain)
1x MS.406 4F5 0/8
(from France)
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 5 Infantry

Mar II 1940
Reinforcements:
1x 6* Rifle HQ 22
1x 1-6 Art II RaskT
Place the following unit in its box on the Finnish breakdown chart.
1x 3-4-6* Rifle XX 22
Foreign Aid, via Sea:
1x 2-3-6 Inf X UVV (FV)
(from Hungary)
1x 1-2-6 Inf X LVV (FV)
(from Britain and USA)
Foreign Aid, via Sweden: Convert: 1x Glad to:
1x G.50 3F3 0/8
Note: If the Glad has been eliminated, the G.50 is received as an air replacement.
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 5 Infantry

Apr I 1940
Upgrade: 1x 1-6* Ski III any, 1x 1-6 Ski III 41, and 1x 1-6 Rifle III 40 (1 inf RP) to:
1 x 4-5-6 Rifle XX 14
Foreign Aid, via Sea:
1 pt position AA (4 MPs) (from Italy)
Foreign Aid, via Sweden:
1x 3-8* Lt Inf X RVV/2 (FV) (from Sweden)
Convert: 1x G.50 to:
1 x F2A-1 4F3 0/11
Note: If the G.50 has been eliminated, the F2A-1 is received as an air replacement.
Place the following unit in its box on the Finnish breakdown chart.
1x 7-8 Lt Inf XX RVV (FV)
Replacements: 1 Infantry
Available Emergency Replacements: 5 Infantry

Western Intervention Force
Order of Battle

Nationalities are as follows:
(Br) British Empire
(Fr) Metropolitan French
(LE) Legion Etrangere
[French Foreign Legion]

Force Pool
Ground Units.
2x 8-8 Inf XX
2x 7-8 Inf XX
1x 3-8* Inf X
6x 2-8 Mtn III 2 CA, 5 CA, 24 CA, 27 CA, 140, 141 (F r)
1x 2-1-8 Lt Inf III 13 LE
2x 1-8 Art III 301, 302 (Fr)
1x 0-2-8 Hv AA III AA=5, 6 (Br)
1x 1-8 Ski II 5 SGds (Br)
1x 0-8 Hv AA II AA=1, 82 (Br)

1 Can, 5 (Br)
42, 44 (Br) 24 Gds (Br)

Available for Breakdown (all Br).
4x 8 Inf HQs 1 Can, 5, 42, 44
2x 3-8 Inf X 1 Can, 13
10x 2-8 Inf X 2 Can, 3 Can, 15, 17, 125, 126, 127, 131, 132, 133
Air Units (both Br).
1x Glad 3F3 0/8
1x Blen 1 3B3 1-2/16
Available Corps HQs.
2x Inf XXX HQs A, B (Br)
1x Mtn XXX HQ CEFS (Fr)

WESTERN INTERVENTION FORCE UNIT IDs:

Names and Abbreviations

British:
Blen Blenheim
Can Canadian
Gds Guards
Glad Gladiator
SGds Scots Guards

French:
CA Chasseurs Alpins [Alpine Light Infantry]
CEFS Corps Expeditionnaire Francais en Scandinavie [French Expeditionary Corps in Scandinavia]


The Mannerheim Line and Leningrad to the south. The Seventh Army of the Northwest Front with Group
Grendal (later Thirteenth Army) in Leningrad


Soviet divisions with Border Guard regimements penetrate
deep into Finnish territory, with Finnish Reserve Army
lying in defensive positions on the main highways


A wider view of the battle for Sortavala showing the
strategic importance of capturing the town and
attacking the Mannerheim Line from the rear


Progress of the game, the Finnish player's Corps and
Breakdown charts. Note the Finnish losses on the
second game-chart above
Orders of Battle

The A Winter War Finnish, Western Intervention Force, and Soviet orders of battle are used to play the game.

Four further Europa orders of battle are not shown below, and are for future scenarios, and for eventual use in Europa, they are:

· The 1939-45 order of battle for Finland details all Finnish forces during the Second World War. Note that the order of battle calls for more Finnish counters than are provided in A Winter War. The remainder of these counters appear in Fire in the East and Scorched Earth.

· The 1939-40 orders of battle for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania detail all the forces of the Baltic countries for the years 1939 and 1940. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania came under increasing Soviet control from October, 1939 on, and were finally absorbed into the Soviet Union in June, 1940.


T-26 light tanks and Komsomolets armored tractors of the Soviet 8th Army, during advance into Finland, 2 December 1939.
Soviet Order of Battle

Initial Forces Dec I 1939

All forces are Soviet Regulars unless indicated as:
(f) Soviet Foreign Contingent
(w) Winter-Capable
(NKVD) NKVD

Initial Conditions:
Fortifications: Place in hex 35:4813. 1 x 0-3-0* FAX Kar Rail Capacity: 15 REs per turn.
Airfields: Place 1 permanent airfield each at Petrozavodsk (35:4305) and 35:4608. Place one permanent airstrip each at Kandalaksha (35:1504), Loukhi (35:2104), Ukhta (35:2508), Belomorsk (35:2902), and Medvezhyegorsk (35:3704).

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.
2x 5-6 Rifle XX 24, 70
4x 4-6 Rifle XX 43, 90, 123, 138
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 142 (w)
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 49
2x 3-2-8 Tank X 13, 20
2x 3-2-6 Tank X 35, 40
1x 1-2-8* Mot MG X 50
1x 1-6 Rifle 111 19
2x 0-1-8 Bdr III 4, 6 (NKVD)
1 x 3-2-8 Art X 7
2x 2-6 Art X 19,50
1x 0-1-5 Cons X 7
1x 1-6 Lt AA III AA=2 7
1x 1-6 Eng III 7

Group Grendal (later Thirteenth Army). Place in any hexes of Leningrad.
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 50
1x 2-1-8 Lt Tank X 1
1x1-8Cav111 1
Leningrad Military District Reserves. Stack with any units of the Northwest Front.
1 x 4-2-8 Art X LVO
1x 2-0-6 Siege Art X LVO
I
Northern Front.
Eight Army. Place in the Soviet Union within three hexes of the Finnish border from 35:4509 to 35:3608.
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 168 (w)
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 18
3x 3-6 Rifle XX 56, 139, 155
1x 3-2-8 Tank X 34
1x 0-1-8 Bdr III 1 (NKVD)
1 x 3-2-8 Art X 8
1 x 1-6 Lt AA III AA=2 8
1x 1-6 Eng 111 8
1x 0-5 Cons 111 8

Ninth Army. Place in the Soviet Union within three hexes of the Finnish border from 35:3509 to 35:1108.
1 x 4-8 Mot XX 44
2x 4-6 Rifle XX 54, 163
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 122
1x 1-6 Rifle III 88/273 (w)
1x 1-6 Rifle III 529
3x 0-1-8 Bdr III 2, 3, 5 (NKVD)
1x 2-6 Art X 45
1x 1-6 Eng III 9
1x 0-5 Cons III 9

Fourteenth Army. Place in the Soviet Union within five hexes of Murmansk (35:0701).
2x 4-6 Rifle XX 3, 104 (w)
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 14
Available Corps HQs (All at their reduced stacking sides).
10x Rifle XXX HQ 1, 3, 15, 19, 23, 34, 40, 45, 50, 56

Soviet Air Force
Up to three air units may be placed at any airbases in Estonia. Place all remaining air units at any airbases in the Soviet Union.
1x DB-3b 2133 1-2/39
1 x D B-3t 2B3 2-2/39
1 x G-1 1T1 0/11
1 x G-2 OT2 0/26
2x 1-152 3F2 0/6
4x 1-153 3F3 0/6
3x 1-16 3F3 0/9
2x I-16/t10 4F3 0/9
2x SB-2 2A2 1-1/16
8x SB-2bis 2A2 1-2/18
1x R-10 1A2 1/12
1x R-5Sh 1A2 1/10
1x TB-3 1T2 1-3/26
Place at any airbases in Estonia or the Soviet Union. 5 pts position AA (4 MPs)

Soviet Navy
Naval Units. Place at Kronshtadt (35:4916).
1x BB Okt. Rev. 1x BB Marat
1 x CA Ki rov
1x CL Aurora
Place at Murmansk (35:0701). 1x DD-Flot.
Ground Units. Place at Kronshtadt (35:4916).
2x 1-6 Marine III VMF/A, VMF/B (w)
The Strategic Reserve
Place in the Strategic Reserve Holding Box.
2x 4-8 Mot XX 25,95
1x 5-6 Rifle XX 40 (w)
1x 5-6 Rifle XX 100
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 59 (w)
12x 4-6 Rifle XX 4, 11, 17, 37, 41,
52, 53, 75, 77, 81, 84, 97
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 91 (w)
14x 3-6 Rifle XX 16, 33, 42, 51, 60,62, 72, 80, 86,113, 128,136, 150, 173
1x 9-6 Art XX 1
7x 3-2-8 Tank X 24, 28, 31, 32, 33,39,51
13x 1-2-8 Para-Inf X 201, 204, 214
2x 1-2-6 Rifle X BOS, Dol (w)
3x 3-2-8 Art X 9, 13, 15
7x 2-6 Art X 1, 3, 15, 23, 34, 40,56
1x 2-1-8 Eng Tank III LVO
1x 1-6 Rifle III 8 A (w)
3x 1-8 Cav III 5, 102, 116
2x 1-6 Lt AA I11 AA=2 13, 15
2x 1-6 Eng III 13, 15
2x 0-5 Cons III 13, 15
1x DB-3m 2B3 1-4/34
1x 1-15 2F2 0/6
1x 1-152 3F2 0/6
2x I-16/t17 4F3 0/9
1x R-5Sh 1A2 1/10

Reinforcements: Conditional Reinforcements
Karelian Fortified Area. The following conversion may take place in the Soviet initial phase in any turn that hex 35:4714 is Soviet-owned.
Convert:
1x 0-3-0* FA X Kar to:
1x1-2-6MGX 7A
1x 0-1-0* FA X Kar

Regular Reinforcements
All units released from the Strategic Reserve and all replaced units are placed at any hexes of Leningrad.

Dec I 1939
Released from the Strategic Reserve.
2x 4-6 Rifle XX 4,75
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 150
1x 1-2-8 Para-Inf X 201
1x 1-6 Rifle III 8 A (w)

Dec II 1939
Released from the Strategic Reserve.
1x 5-6 Rifle XX 100
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 41
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 136
1 x 3-2-8 Tank X 39
2x 1-2-8 Para-Inf X 204, 214
2x 2-6 Art X 34, 56
1x1-8 Cav111 5
1x 1-6 Eng III 13
Place at Petrozavodsk (35:4305).1x 3-6 Rifle XX 1 FNA (f)
Convert: lx 0-1-8 Bdr III 1 (NKVD) to:
1x 1-8 PItcI Pol III 1 (NKVD)

Jan I 1940
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Released from the Strategic Reserve.
1x 4-8 Mot XX 25
3x 4-6 Rifle XX 11, 17, 52
2x 3-6 Rifle XX 33,62
1 x 9-6 Art XX 1
1x 3-2-8 Tank X 28
2x2-6ArtX 1,3
1x DB-3m 2133 1-4/34
1x I-15 2F2 0/6
1 x I-152 3F2 0/6
2x I-16/t17 4F3 0/9
1x R-5Sh 1A2 1/10
Place at Petrozavodsk (35:4305).
1x 2-3-6 Rifle XX 3 FNA (f)
Convert: 2x 0-1-8 Bdr III 2, 3 (NKVD) to:
2x 1-8 Pltcl Pol III 2, 3 (NKVD)
Convert: 1x 1-153 to:
1x I-16/t18 4F3 0/7

Jan II 1940
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Released from the Strategic Reserve.
2x 4-6 Rifle XX 81,97
5x 3-6 Rifle XX 16, 60, 72, 86, 113
1x 3-2-8 Tank X 24
1x 1-2-6 Rifle X2x 3-2-8 Art X Dol (w)9, 13
2x 2-6 Art X 15, 23
Convert:
2x 1-6 Marine III VMF/A, VMF/B (w) to:
1x 2-6* Marine X VMF/5 (w)to:4, 5 (NKVD)
Convert:
2x 0-1-8 Bdr III 4, 5 (NKVD)
2x 1-8 PItcI Pol IIIConvert: 1x 1-153 to:
1x l-16/t17 4F3 0/9
Convert:
1x SB-2bis to:1x DB-3m 2B3 1-4/34

Feb I 1940
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Released from the Strategic Reserve.
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 84
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 51
3x 3-2-8 Tank X 32, 33, 51
1 x 2-6 Art X 40
1x 1-2-6 Rifle X BOS (w)
1x 2-1-8 Eng Tank III LVO
1x 1-6 Lt AA III AA=2 13
1x 0-5 Cons III 13
Convert:
1x 0-1-8 Bdr 111 6 (NKVD) to:
1x 1-8 PItcI Pol III 6 (NKVD)

Feb II 1940
Note: Flip any one Corps HQ to its regular stacking side.
Released from the Strategic Reserve.
2x 4-6 Rifle XX 37,77
2x 3-6 Rifle XX 80, 128
2x 1-8 Cav 111 102, 116

Mar I 1940
Note: Flip any two stacking sides. Released from the
Corps HQ to their regular
Strategic Reserve.
1 x 4-8 Mot XX 95
1x 3-6 Rifle XX 91 (w)
2x 3-6 Rifle XX 42, 173
1x 3-2-8 Tank X 31
1 x 3-2-8 Art X 15
1 x 1-6 Lt AA 111 AA=2 15
1x 0-5 Cons III 15

Mar II 1940
Note: Flip any two Corps HQ to their regular stacking sides.
Released from the Strategic Reserve.
1x 5-6 Rifle XX 40 (w)
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 53
1x 4-6 Rifle XX 59 (w)
1x 1-6 Eng III 15
Place at Petrozavodsk (35:4305).
1x 2-6 Rifle XX 4 FNA (f)

Apr I 1940
Note: Flip any two Corps HQ to their regular stacking side

Optional Order of Battle Modifications
Ski Units.
When using Optional Rule 36C1, modify the Strategic Reserve order of battle as follows: Substitute: for 2x 1-2-6 Rifle X BOS, Dol (w):
2x 1-2-6 Ski X BOS, Dol (w)
Substitute: for 1x 1-6 Rifle 111 8 A (w):
1x 1-6 Ski III 8 A (w)

10th Tank Corps.
When using Optional Rule 36C3, modify the Soviet initial forces for Seventh Army as follows:
Substitute: for 2x 3-2-8 Tank X 13, 20 and 1x 1-2-8* Mot MG X 50:
1x 7-5-8 Tank XXX 10

Airborne Units.
When using Optional Rule 36D, modify the Strategic Reserve order of battle as follows:
Substitute: for 3x 1-2-8 Para-Inf X 201, 204, 214:
3x 1-2-5 Pa ra X 201, 204, 214

SOVIET UNIT IDs:

Names and Abbreviations
Armed Forces:
A Armiya [Army]
BOS Brigada Osobaya [Special Brigade]
DD-Flot. Destroyer Flotilla
Dol Dolins [commander's name]
FNA Finlyandiya Natsionalaya Armiya
[Finnish National Army]
Kar Karelsk [Karelian]
LVO Leningradskogo Voennoyo Okruga
[Leningrad Military District]
NKVD NKVD, Narodnyi Kommissariat Vnutrennikh Del
[People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, Soviet internal security forces]
Okt. Rev. Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya [October Revolution]
VMF Voenno-Morskogo Flota [Soviet Navy]



In February 1940 the Red Army having failed to dislodge
the Finns mounted a renewed attack and broke the
Mannerheim Line (note also divisional markers used)


The battle for Sortavala at the north of Lake Ladoga, a 4-8
motorized infantry division (Ninth Army) and a 3-2-8 tank brigade from the Strategic Reserve in the Jan I 1940 turn


Strong Finnish forces watch as decoy Soviet border guards
approach. However, note that Finnish Partisan elements
(P6's) now occupy junctions on the main highway


The Soviet Corps marker and Breakdown charts, note that
this player has faired better in comparison to his Finnish
companion, contrary to the historical facts
wargames.wilkey.org.uk
First battles on the Karelian Isthmus

The Finnish main defensive line, which soon became known as the Mannerheim Line, was located on the Karelian Isthmus about 30 to 75 kilometres (19 to 47 miles) distant from the old Soviet/Finnish border. Red Army soldiers on the Isthmus numbered 250,000, against which were matched 130,000 Finns. The Finnish command had deployed covering forces of about 21,000 men into the area in front of the Mannerheim Line in order to delay and damage the Red Army before it reached the Mannerheim Line. In combat, the biggest cause of confusion among Finnish soldiers were Soviet tanks. The Finns had few anti-tank weapons and insufficient training in modern anti-tank tactics. However, the favored Soviet armored tactic was a simple frontal charge, the weaknesses of which could be exploited. The Finns learned that at close range, tanks could be dealt with in many ways; for example, logs and crowbars jammed into the bogie wheels would often immobilize a tank. Soon, Finns fielded a better ad hoc weapon, the Molotov Cocktail. It contained a bottled blend of gasoline, kerosene, tar and chloride with an ampule of sulfuric acid taped to the bottle's neck. Molotov cocktails were eventually mass-produced by the Finnish Alko corporation and bundled with matches with which to light them. Eighty Soviet tanks were destroyed in the border-zone fighting.

By 6 December, all the Finnish covering forces had withdrawn to the Mannerheim Line. The Soviets began their first major attack against the Line in Taipale – the area between the shore of Lake Ladoga, the Taipale river and the Suvanto waterway. Along the Suvanto sector, the Finns had a slight advantage of elevation and dry ground to dig into. The Finnish artillery had also scouted the area and made fire plans in advance, anticipating a Soviet assault. The Battle of Taipale began with a heavy Soviet artillery preparation. After a forty-hour barrage, the Red infantry attacked in open ground, but was repulsed with heavy casualties. From 6–12 December the Red Army continued trying to engage using only one division. The Red Army next strengthened its artillery and brought tanks and the 10th Rifle Division to the Taipale front. On 14 December, the bolstered Soviet forces launched a new attack, but were pushed back again. A third Soviet division entered the fight, but performed poorly and panicked under shell fire. The assaults continued without success and the Red Army suffered heavy losses. One typical Soviet attack during the battle lasted just an hour, but left 1,000 dead and twenty-seven tanks strewn on the ice.

North of Lake Ladoga, on the Ladoga Karelia front, the defending Finnish units relied on the terrain. Ladoga Karelia, as a large forest wilderness, did not have road networks for the modern Red Army. However, the Soviet Eighth Army had extended a new railroad line to the border, which could double the supply capability on the front. But on 12 December, the advancing Soviet 139th Rifle Division, supported by the 56th Rifle Division, was defeated by a much smaller Finnish force under Paavo Talvela in the Tolvajärvi, the first Finnish victory of the war.

In central and northern Finland, roads were few and the terrain hostile. The Finns did not expect large-scale Soviet attacks but the Soviets sent eight divisions, heavily supported by armor and artillery. The 155th Rifle Division attacked at Lieksa and further north, the 44th attacked at Kuhmo. The Soviets deployed the 163rd Rifle Division at Suomussalmi, charged with cutting Finland in half by marching the Raate Road. In Finnish Lapland, the Soviet 88th and 122nd Rifle Divisions attacked at Salla. The arctic port of Petsamo was attacked by the 104th Mountain Rifle Division by sea and land, supported by naval gunfire.

More information can be found at: Wikipedia