Juha Ahoniemi

Chuck, are You travelling in Holland right now? This sounds familiar? http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/12/04/dutch.bomb.reut/index.html And for the record, We deny any involvement to that dreaded brand. "Credits" goes to Swedes about that... :cool:

LOL!!! I love that, "support group" it is! And so it begins... (whining, trashing, excuse-making, crying, namecalling and usual chaos) Beware, Yanks. Even though You have invaded my country with McDonalds, that won't help You now. Prepare to be boarded, resistance is futile, Alaaaaarm, demarcation!!!!! [and there comes my nurse with medication]

Tsk tsk, tabpub. Just checked the scoresheet with medians! Remember the Nabla scoring system...It seems that in out group the median for allies was 32.75 so I'd say You still got somefink to prove :cool: Ahh so You have to rely on Finnish technology? Don't worry, You are not alone. You might also have NOKIA cellphone too... ps. You saw what I can do with PIAT. Wait until I get a schreck! [ December 04, 2002, 02:53 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Tb155: As I made the first suggestion, I can only reply in one way - YES PLEASE! If my memory is correct (not always guaranteed), there were no major delays in our section back in ROWI. So in our case the time zone wasn't a big deal (Well, all the others are Yanks...) I'm sure we would have a great time again. Nobody isn't newbie any more (at least in CMBO ), some are even finalist material already (some pressure to perform for You guys ) And we all have some scores to settle I believe. So without any loudmouthing I am eager to show what pissed off überFinn can do! ps. You better check out Chicago area tapwater. there seems to be some strange chemicals. Or knowing that, people there are drinking something entirely different - all the time! :eek: -Juha

Attention Spanish Bombs and TABPUB!!! As You both may remember we were in the same section in ROWI and You guys were equipped with excellent sense of humour. We were planning to take rematch some day, and I actually considered to drop emails to both of You about that not so long ago. So, what do You say? Should we ask Treeburst155 for heart-warming reunion of Wreck's Bitches? I certainly feel that I have a bone to pick with You two! The gauntlet is thrown. Pick it up You stinkin' Yanks! -Juha *edited - still can't spell* [ December 03, 2002, 02:00 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Email sent - I'm reporting to duty again. Looking forward to get spanked

Hi TB155! I will certainly play both games. I still have something to prove for myself in CMBO. Juha

Current format is fine. It gives You a touch of reality, You cannot usually know in real life combat exactly what You are up against. I vote for the current system. I've had fun with it. -Juha

Uhh, it's kind of funny to see how a thread meant to enlighten the origin of the use of swastika in Finland turns into world championship event of mud-slinging We will never know who draw the first swastika, and it is irrelevant IMO. My purpose was to eliminate possible ideas of wide-spread nazism in finland during WWII, which I think are possible if You don't know that the swastika was used here long before the nazis adopted it. -Juha

Since there is not even Finnish swastikas in the CDV version I'm afraid that someone may have a wrong idea of why it was used in Finland. The following text is from a Tank Museum of Parola here in Finland and I thought it coud serve as one of educational means of this board : The swastika in Finland The swastika has been in use as ornament on ancient Finnish wood artefacts. Also in Fenno-Ugric textile handicraft you will find swastikas up to this day. as national recognition mark to Finnish Military the swastika was adopted in 1918, when the Swedish flight pioneer, Count Eric von Rosen donated the first airplane to the Finnish Army. The swastika was a part of the von Rosen coat-of-arms. Hence, the swastika was the official mark of the Finnish Air Force until 1945, when the present blue-white cockade was adopted. The armoured cars that were embargoed by the Finnish white troops during the independence War 1918 were painted with a swastika. Also the armoured trains carried this symbol before WWII and and on to 1945. The Finnish tanks did not carry a national emblem at all during the years 1919-1940. During the period between the Winter War and what we call "the Continuation War" the tanks were painted with a broad blue-white stripe on the turret. Then, the swastika - in its Finnish version - was adopted and in use from 1941 to 1945 when the blue-white cockade was prescribed as for the Air Force. The Swastika is used in many Finnish medals, as e.g. in the Mannerheim Cross and the Liberty Cross. It is still in use. The very first Finnish medal with a swastika seems to have been the memorial medal of the battle of the city of Kuopio, which took place the 8th February 1918. The Order of the Liberation Cross for distinguished service was constituted the 4th March 1918. Initially, only the order ribbons were bestowed, the first actual Liberation Crosses were given in 1919. The ceremonial chain of the State President of Finland was made up of swastikas. President Urho Kekkonen changed that, too, so that the chain today consists of fir twigs. In the tank Museum those tanks that were in use in the years 1941-1945 carry the Finnish swastika. -Juha

I think they translate about like this: POIS: take away, decrease LISÄÄ: more, increase -Juha

Hehe, we just HAD TO show for everyone Olduvai's hot chick: I hope this isn't invasion of his privacy

According to Helge Seppälä (Suomi hyökkääjänä 1941)German planes used Finnish airfields.German planes delivered infantry to Viena canal to destroy it - from Finnish soil. German planes were continuously fueles at Utti. Seppälä has marked as source about that Mauno Jokipii's "Ilmatoiminta suomessa välittömästi ennen vatkosotaa"s.242 -Juha

Steve, I must admit that Your knowledge is better about those wars than average Finns! And You are right, all due respect to Tero, his way of...presenting things is quite black and white. Or should I say white and red ? His knowledge seems to be very broad however, better than mine. Some war era Russian stories say this and some war era Finnish stories say that. I believe that the truth is somewhere in the middle. I am currently reading Helge Seppälä's "Suomi hyökkääjänä 1941" (=Finland as an attacker 1941) and I recommend that to anyone with überFinn-complex. There are sharp analysis about which led to continuation war, preparations, political and military issues and so on. There is some strong critique about many militaly decisions during the attack phase of continuatuin war. Some delays, which were totally vain, costed hundreds of men as casualties as Russians had all that extra time to fortify their positions. There are many interesting facts which I haven't read before. Very educational. But after that I just had to read about the real überFinns, the Knights of Mannerheim Cross. I'm convinced that there actally were 191 überFinns! -Juha

Steve summed up winter war quite good Winter war and continuation war since summer -44 are kind of alike. Let's think those as CM battles: Russian assault vs Finland defence When turns run out, there is massive damage done, but the defender still holds majority of flags. Turns running out simulates the political situation of the world. Timeframe to totally conquer Finland and destroy its forces has ended. Losser are bad. But there was no auto-surrender! What bothers me is that many non-Finns seems to believe that we Finns believe we were/are über and thus should get über artillery, infantry and so on. Finns were good soldiers, sure. BUT THEY WEREN'T WINNING ALL THE TIME! There were losses, bad ones. But in the end, after looking at odds in those wars, it was a great accomplisment to stop the red juggernaut and let it have about 10% of Finnish soil among all other things to maintain independency. Finns went after those lands lost in winter war, but ended up with losing some more. But Finnish army wasn't destroyed like was planned. -Juha

Well You can always try ! Seriusly, I hope You don't think that we are ungrateful, that is not the case. And wasn't it supposed to be Your Finnish partners to do all the background checking (for example that StuG thing)? So You are not to blame about those. But this community has so many different people with different attitudes and knowledge that these kind of conversations tend to heat up at some point. I myself am keen on asking for landsverk anti vehicle since I served as a driver on modern Flak-tank, and have done some reading how they (landsverk anti)did manage in WWII. Some guys who served as FO of course are interested in arty - availability, modelling correctly and so on. I guess that makes us humans -Juha

Please explain. We already have told two "baddies" to BFC: StuGs will be available later than they are now. And Pzkf IV never saw action against the Russians. One might say that they are in just for what if-scenarios though(like ISIII). But Finns were those who informed that. Free feel list any "baddies" I don't "thump my chest" without evidence. As I alredy have stated in this thread, there will be pictures of "korjausmuunnin" by monday for grogs to see. I am not arty expert. I just happen to saw document/read about that thingie. It was decisive factor at Tali-Ihantala battle concerning Finnish arty accuracy and speed to change target for multiple tubes by single command. I only wanted to save You the trouble of reading and getting pissed of about something You don't like. That may be bad for Your blood pressure. Therefore I suggested something more pleasant for You to read. That is hardly dictating, eh? Then You quoted my text: "Or is it so hard to swallow that Finland isn't part of Sweden any more? " But You mister, left the off and accused me for "narrowminded nationalistic argument." Do You not know what stands for? One more friendly advice: grow thicker skin, dear neighbour -Juha

Add landsverk anti to that list and I'm happy too. As noted before, those babies saw frontline action as much as the rest of the armoured forces in general. -Juha

Geier: Perhaps You should play Europa Universalis where You can play Swedes. Just wait over the week-end that we can put some pictures of that Finnish invention, "korjausmuunnin". We Finns just want to have the goodies what Finnish army REALLY had. Accept that or just go bitching some other thread. You don't have to read this one, You know. Or is it so hard to swallow that Finland isn't part of Sweden any more?

A Finnish task force will be launched to Artillery museum of Hämeenlinna at saturday (tomorrow). Pictures of "korjausmuunnin" will be available some time after that for everyone to see. Maybe the grogs can then identify the system and tell if there has been similar ones in other armies, and if so, since when. -Juha [ October 18, 2002, 04:59 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Yep, all safes had to be opened for the allied (=in this case, Russians) according the peace treaty. Unfortunately I don't have pictures about "korjausmuunnin" placed in artillery museum of Hämeenlinna http://www.hameenlinna.fi/artillery/ But there is one for You to see. Seeing where this conversation is going to, maybe I have to go there to take some pictures. -Juha

Ok, now while we are at it : how about that landsverk anti- issue? We discussed it at thread http://www.battlefront.com/cgi-bin/bbs/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000969 The fact is that they were in frontline action, and in important role to fend off russian planes. And took out some ground obstacles too (bunkers). They were part of Finnish armored forces. Yes they were few in numbers but their role was documented and important, as discussed in that thread. -Juha

Heh, reading that Von Lucke, I have to post my AAR. So they weren't reinforcements on (my) left? You set them up there :eek: ? In that case You will enjoy this: ROWII:The Boots & Tracks Brawl Tournament 1, section 4 Polish push - AAR by Juha Ahoniemi Von Lucke(allied) vs. Juha Ahoniemi (Axis) Ach. Das krieg seemz to komm kaputt...Nein! My orders are not to let the Poles drive trough St.Martin Bogace. Some of my men are unexperienced, and the enemy will put a lot of pressure on their fragile shoulders. I guess the Poles got little pissed off for us when we drove through Poland with panzers on our little sightseeing tour. The task at hand will be a difficult one: there are two big VLs to defend, one on the left and one on the right. I have one anti-tank and two anti-personel minefields at my disposal. I also have a roadblock. I put the roadblock to crossroads on the left. Near that I put the AT-minefield (Yep, at this point I confess that I totally forgot/didn't consider that allied tanks may cut their way through a hedge, if I had considered that the placement of that minefield would have been a different one). The anti-personel minefields were easy to place: the first one I placed to scattered trees in front-left. It is the only cover to seek if enemy rushes through that hole in the bogace. The second minefield goes to extreme right flank to scattered trees. Welcome, any edge-hugger. The 75 mmPaK40 remains near to its original place in scattered woods. It covers the main road through the town. I place a green HMG42 close to it too. I have two panzerschrecks - first is hiding in rough terrain close to supposed enemy route. The second one is in a building on the left. Rest of my troops are scattered, but my principle is that they will not face the enemy alone and always have some other unit to support them. Of course all are within the command range, too. My two mortars are placed on the right, behind a two-floored building where is a HQ unit placed to command the firing. The range is a problem however, there is no good LOS position far enough and the enemy may come quickly inside the shortest range . The enemy begins by firing smoke. A lots of smoke. Fortunately my mechanized squad have a good firepower to close ranges and it greets the arrivals (who by the way runs over that extreme-right placed minefied...hehehe) causing several casualties. Then all the hell breaks loose: I back off my squad as the enemy outnumbers them, and keeps pushing towards the VL on the right. Two enemy tanks begins to fire the buildings, destroying the building my squad just fled. Phew! The church is also under fire. Enemy keeps coming, but takes severe casualties in the process. Apparently a HQ unit falls under HMG fire and one depleted squad runs over the edge, scared by small-arms fire and my mortars. My screck-in-the-rubble misses his first shot (being a veteran and under one point combat bonus. typical...). But at this point my reinforcements, two StuGs, arrive - and they will tip the balance to my favor. Drawing courage from that, my one-man schreck, under cromwell's fire manages to kill the bastard. Hooray! his family will get his Cross of Iron because unfortunately he didn't survive to receive it... Another enemy squad, depleted down to two men, flees over the map's edge. A lone cromwell challenges my two StuGs - resulting one KO'ed StuG, and one destroyed Cromwell. There is a bloodbath on the right. I shoot the enemy with everything I got. I even reveal my AT-gun to fire area fire near to pinned enemy squad (no LOS). I have spotted some perverse peeping-tom near the front hedge. Me thinks he is arty spotter and order some mortar fire there. Hehehe the peeper backs off... Soon another cromwell speed towards my...PaK? Eh, ok, my guys thinks as they figure this must be a some kind of bonus round and puts a shot right through that cromwell's "wind screen". And meanwhile another cromwell drives between two buldings, giving a hard time for my squad in the opposite house. My new reinforcements are rushing to help their komrades, and a fresh schreck have a duel with that cromwell. A miss. Cromwell shoots. Schreck is nervous, but manages to hit the beast...but it just get crippled to immobilized status. Later that damned green cripple manages to kill my StuG as the smokescreen clears (BTW my opponent used smoke to max!) and it had a fast turret againt my turretless panzer. Scheisse scheisse scheisse, mein panzerwagen! Meanwhile on the left Polish reinforcements catches me while my pants are down. I am bent over and the Poles are pushing. I had relocated some men from the left to the right to keep that precious VL. But I thought his reinforcements will come from the same route as the first guys. How gullible fool was I. (Note to scenario designer:You are some sadistic git). The rest of the game goes the same old pattern: My schreck hits that newest cromwell, penetrates it with no effect. Sheesh. I am frustrated. All others "brilliant" and brave efforts to KO at least one of those remaining tanks backfires miserably. I can't even get to scare that handicapped green cromwell to throw up it's human interior. I just end up to sacrifice more of my scarce resources. The enemy slowly but surely twists the left flag from the dead stiff hands of my men. In the end, however, I have the other flag. Watching the map after the firing have ceased I notice that The enemy would have rolled over my remaining forces with ease if he had chosen to do so. Fortunately for me perhaps the early setbacks made him wary. Allied Attacker 103 casualties (30KIA) 1 mortar destroyed 3 vehicles knocked out Men OK: 82 Score: 49 Axis Defender 108 casualties (22KIA) 1 gun destroyed 2 vehicles knocked out Men OK: 48 Score: 51 DRAW Notes to desingner: It seems that this was quite well balanced. At least I can't imagine how it would be possible to take major beating from either side. But did You HAVE to make those Poles come from the left...?!? I have a bone to pick with You... [ October 07, 2002, 02:04 PM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

ROWII:The Boots & Tracks Brawl Tournament 1, section 4 St Mere Eglise - AAR by Juha Ahoniemi Juha Ahoniemi (allied) vs. Diceman (Axis) This one is interesting, basing on reality. On the negative side, it gives me somekind of pressure to not rewrite history and let those goddamn krauts take this town. It won't be easy since enemy will have BIG guns. Lots of them! As I examine the map, it seems to favor my defenders. Enemy tanks will have a hard time since there is a big risk to bog and get immobilized because of the wet ground. There are four VL's which of one is big 300 point flag.It is located in the middle of the town. The rest, little 100 point flags are located nearer to the front, two on the left (from my point of view) and one on the right. I set up quite flexible defense: on the left MG's, sharpshooter and some HQ's in buildings and squads in woods and foxholes. All are, and will be hiding until they can smell bad enemy breath. Only some decoys will try to draw some arty and panzer fire. There is a great place in the middle to defend: heavy buildings attached to each other. That means no-go for panzers (buildings and woods leave very little room to manouver) and infantry must come through open ground. My troops can also run quickly in cover to possible critical points of the front. Later my reinforcements did just that as I moved those glider squads to the middle area too. Without them I might have been in trouble in middle-left. The right side might be under heavy push, and I considered that when I made my setup: Again, the front buildings will get only "skeleton" crew, to stall the enemy and draw fire. Main defending force is behind the front buildings, and they will eventually withdraw to the big heavy building near the VL. The outer right flank is defended by some MG's and a couple of squads, in flexible places to withdraw if necessary. If the enemy is going to try to sneak in the edge he's gonna have a nasty surprise. I don't like edge-huggers! One more thing that must be mentioned: the leaders. Wow! I used them to max - every single guy of my force was in command range and gained significant boosts! I also placed my mortars in the front-middle, where one HQ served as their eyes - upstairs. The key was to hide - and show up when it was most unpleasant for the attacker. First minutes were silent as enemy was approaching cautiously. I welcomed him with my sharpshooters. In the beginning I made a mistake - My AT-guns were hiding but had ambush markers. So the middle-one of them killed a HT and showed itself. It was destroyed pretty soon, and immediately I canceled other ambushes. Let the tanks come closer, I will get certain - and more costing for my enemy - kills. My "baits" seemed to work on the left: very heavy arty started to fall. First the arty landed in the middle-right however. Enemy used those big craters as foxholes and made I performed some cotrolled stalling. Then the big guns turned their eyes to left (apparently my mg and sharpshooters were annoying ) It took its toll, of course, but my losses weren't dramatical. On the middle-left enemy was testing my defences. A few squads and a panzerschreck rushed towards my hidden paratroopers. They got near the wall and were butchered like cattle. Ugly. My men maintained their positions for a while and then withdrawed to safety to the building behind them. On the right was maybe my "finest hour": Stalling enemy enough to get my guys into that big heavy building (in which I brought my .50 reinforcement, too). Not a single enemy was able even to think running across the open ground leading to that building (and VL) . My men were in good cover and panzers trying to approach via the road were KO'ed by zook and my AT-gun which showed itself when the kill was certain. That gun survived to the very end of the battle. Heavy casualties for enemy at this sector. In the middle the enemy apparently had forgot/didn't know that when buildings are attached to each other, You can't move directly from house to house. His HQ unit came running from the house and came to open ground and then headed to next house - and died. His attack from the middle was done! But inthe middle-left were the most vicious firefights. Many sturmgruppes and other squads were pushing hard. But they were up against the leader that could be compared to higher spiritual beings - Lieutenant Colonel Ed Krause! He gave to my men unbeliavable bonuses, my AT-gun including. But even with those (believe me I took the full advantage of those bonuses!) I had to reinforce those guys with glider squads from the middle where I had first positioned them after their arrival as reinforcements, and with some men which survived from the heavy arty on the left. The left sector was a quiet one. My mg's and sharpshooters were enough to defend this sector and I was able to send help where it was needed most. Several enemy tanks were immobilized in the wet ground - But I don't know which one they would have served more, my enemy's war efforts or my point total! As a defender there wasn't room to make any brilliant manouvers, but good placing and decent effort brought victory for me in this battle. AFTER ACTION REPORT: Axis Attacker: 226 casualties (69KIA) 6 vehicles knocked out Men ok:221 Score:35 Allied Defender: 171 casualties (47KIA) 2 guns destroyed 1 vehicle knocked out Men OK:162 Score: 65 Allied tactical victory. Note to designer - I think this was well balanced scenario although the wet ground was a ramdom factor. 3 of my enemy's StuGs and one StuH were immobilized, the StuH was able to take part to combat before that though. I thin I would have enjoyed more as the attacker.

Here is a sad story for You to read: ROWII:The Boots & Tracks Brawl Tournament 1, section 4 Head for the hills - AAR by Juha Ahoniemi Juha Ahoniemi(allied) vs. SaPort (Axis) Alrighty then, I am ordered to take those damn hills. The briefing didn't promise nice little picknick - I will be facing a lot of guns and some infantry. My forces are already late, I should start immediately. The map seems a bit nasty for me as an attacker: I have a good amount of arty, but there won't be any LOS available to those hills because of the woods. So I can bury my hopes of precise shelling of kraut butt. Terrain is...forest, mostly. That doesn't invite to drive my tanks there, to get shot into pieces by german infantry. And those hills form a valley (in which the village is placed) which looks like a shooting gallery to me. I start by shelling the nearest hill, of course totally random. Then I switch to smoke and start my cautious approach. I add smoke by firing it by my shermans too. All that shelling and smoke - in vain. My men are rushing from cover of smoke to woods. They run into some green volksturm, who are hidind in their foxholes, and they don't need to see my men until they can see their eyes. So the smoke is pointless as the enemy is in woods, and I find them only by stumbling on them. And, my friends, it is costly. I manage to overrun the hill, but I also suffer bad casualties during that. I don't have too much men so I decide not go "combimg" the entire area near the hill, I just leave some depleted units to early warning if the enemy shows himself as my main force approaches the village. I am shelling the village heavily with arty and tanks. Meanwhile my "early warning" troops back at the hill didn't even saw what slaughtered them. Later I found out that they were veteran SS troops. Great. I spot no resistance from vilage and start approaching it confident. Then a gun shows itself far away. I engage it with two shermans. They miss. The gun doesn't. My remaining sherman is easy prey to stalking panzerschreck which has managed to avoid the eyes of my closing infantry. I guess my guys had very dark sunglasses or somefink. Then enemy arty starts fall in that village and I am paying the price. Enemy SS also harasses my panicking troops which I thought were safe in the woods near the village. They weren't. The rest of the game near the village is as follows: Enemy arty falls. More enemy guns reveales themselves. My arty and mortars tries to kill the enemy guns with some succeess. But the enemy is clever: he doesn't show his all assets at once. And seeing what it takes from me to kill a single gun, he can punish my infantry near the village with his guns without a fear. His guns seems to be überguns - they don't give a damn even if a BIG shell lands on top of their heads. Unbelievable. My reinforcements that arrived to the left of my starting force are also approaching cautiously. I manage to kill almost everything that I find, some manage to escape unfortunately. But my guys are suffering some casualties, too. My finest moment at that part of the front comes when my flamethrower is having a barbeque with some krauts...ahhh I can almost smell the burning flesh! So, tired to my casualties, about 200 meters before I reach the little VL up on that hill I decide stop my men and give a hell of a arty barrage there with heavy guns. It goes on a few turns, and then I charge - only to found out as soon as my troops have secured the VL that a strong enemy force is charging towards. This is what have happened : My heavy arty barrage goes to waste (some squirrels maybe crapped on their feet) as the hill is unmanned. Enemy reinforcements (a **** load of vet SS) is just approaching the hill. I manage to cause heavy casualties to the enemy force but in the end my remaining guys flee in panic and I can't even contest that flag. Typical to this scenario. It seems that I have run out almost all of my luck. Now to my thoughs of this scenario in my point of view: IT SUCKS! Why? well... 1. the map. Woods and hills. No LOS for spotters. Ideal to defend. Nightmare to attack. Excellent places for enemy to place his guns. The valley, and anything that can be seen from those far hills, is a kill zone. When the German player places his guns wisely, and keeps them hiding as long as possible (as my opponent did, kudos to him) it is impossible task for the allied player. 2. the forces. The allied player should be assaulting - against forces of infantry almost as big as allied! Ok many were green but they were in foxholes in woods for god's sake! Hello man?!? And those guns - veteran FLAK 88 - good HE, Excellent AP. Ask my tanks. Ask my troops. And they seem to endure even my largest shells nearby. And what the hell I was supposed to do with that armor? 3. Length. Too long to keep up interest when things aren't going decently. And then note to myself: Do not seek help from the pub. After things went wrong, I made a couple of turns after some beers. That didn't help either. AAR Allied Attecker: 397 casualties (130KIA) 6 captured 3 mortars destroyed 1 gun destroyed 5 vehicles knocked out men OK 54 Score 34 Axis Defender: 255 casualties (54KIA) 3 guns destroyed 1 vehicle knocked out Men OK 123 Score 58 AXIS MINOR VICTORY