Juha Ahoniemi

Spanish Bombs and Combined Arms, congratulations. Keep up the fame of "Wreck's Bitches" ! As You can see I couldn't tackle a former finalist The Capt from his seat, but our section really was the with lesser differences in scores. Damn, so close. But next time...oh what the hell, my snipers are already lurking around The Capt's house... Thank You Treeburst155 once again. These tournaments really ARE educational as You can see my overall performance comparing that to previous tournaments. Learning curve is hard. Well I can always comfort myself with the fact that I took some points away from The Capt I'm looking forward to play the final scenarios. Treeburst, how do You make the rest of the schedule? Do we get new enemies too? -Juha [ October 06, 2002, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Pass the pipe Jim! The Eastern bunker was locked, but the one in "rear" was not. You could move it ti the setup area. -Juha

ROWII:The Boots & Tracks Brawl Tournament 1, section 4 Fire on the mountain - AAR by Juha Ahoniemi The_Capt (allied) vs. Juha Ahoniemi (Axis) There are not enough superlatives to describe this map - it is a masterpiece. It is art. Briefing is inspiring (although in general briefing was mentioned that gebirgsjägers surrendered in this very month! Not very encouraging...) and makes me almost drool to wait that convoy to get ambushed. As I study the map and VLs , I draw few conclusions: A road leads to my main VL, Sesto san Giovanni. That may leave it vulnerable to quick mechanised attack. My solution is that I leave a platoon that was placed there in that location. I am not going to risk 300 point VL to some desperate gambit. I also place three of my onboard arty so that they have a LOS to the road. Also my mortars and 81mm mtr spotter have LOS to that road. My mortars are in woods in a hill (with some gebirgsjägers to protect them) South-West to hill 249 where is small 100 point VL - not worth of the possible cost of blood if I try to take it right away. No, that hill 249 will be the last target for me. Then there is the "Lucio-setup zone". My attacking force is hiding mainly in rough and in scattered trees. I place a couple of MG's to woods, to open fire whatever may show itself in Lucio and draw some enemy arty (which they do - in great success!). Rest of my forces are in ambush duty (although one platoon is placed a little higher, to keep the "flexibility" to plan and manouver as battle evolves). I must mention my 81mm mortar spotter, I found a really sweet spot for him. He is located in tall pines slope near the "locked" HMG42 (which I order to move away - I dont want any lucky shot that is aimed to MG to kill my spotter!) and the LOS is phenomenal: almost every key location on the map! My "task force Lucio" sneaks towards it's target and some men are assigned as scouts to get the enemy to show himself. My assault begins with bombardment by onmap guns&recoilles rifles and with 120mm offmap mortar and 81 mm offmap mortars. Then the 81mm fires a smokescreen as my attack pours in Lucio with full force. Casualtes are taken and given, but I manage to gain a foothold. Meanwhile, my ambush isn't very succesful and four HT's and some trucks manage to slip away driving at full speed. Trucks meets their destiny by my HMG42s from a long distance as they are climbing towards Ville du Schalburg. Those escaped three HTs are coming to Lucio, bringing some squads. All three gets slain by my panzerfausts.(The remaining one will come to Lucio later and is knocked out with SS-HMG42 near the end) Those green teams are running away and the last thing that they hear is a cold and grim sound of schmeisser drillind bullets into their backs. War is hell... On the ambush zone I manage to KO some vehicles that remained there. Some squads manage to escape to woods, and I have not enough forces to pursue them. Enemy air force is a pest. first bombing to Lucio doesn't cause any harm, but then they bomb my "flexible" platoon near the ambush zone with catastrophical results. Later they harass my men in Sesto san Giovanni, too. Briefing told that I must secure the area of Lucio that SS may come safely in turn 15. Well, Lucio was mine, but some tanks were rolling closer so I made a smokescreen to cover LOS to expected place. SS came, and so did enemy aircraft again! Verdammt! Another squad routed... Of course my smoke screen vanished a bit too soon - the flak gun was destroyed by a sherman. Oh, but I had some nebelwerfers, too. As I studied the map I saw no alternative but use them as ordered - Ville du Schalberg took some pain! To use those things enywhere else would have been a huge risk to blow my own troops to kingdom come. As the action diminished at the ambush zone I decided to take a look at Ville du Schalburg...but there were not enough time to get there. My main purpose was to get some truck crews killed near Ville, no try to invade it. Not time for that, either. But near the end I turned my eye on hill 249. I had fired some randow area MG fire there to see if anyone shoots back or something. (by this point all my onmap arty was kaputt) Task force contained almost in tact platoon plus company HQ. A couple of MGs could give some support. And I had some 20 rounds left with my 81 mm mortar spotter. There was not much troops to kill, so the conquering was easy - but keeping was hard! Enemy onboard arty&tanks routed almost my whole task force, but some managed to hide behind the wall and my goal was accomplished. VL was mine. So was at Lucio. Very heavy casualties there on both sides, But I managed to keep that VL, too. With the convoy badly damaged and Ville du Schalburg damaged by nebelwerfers, my mission was succesful. AFTER ACTION REPORT: Axis Attacker: 136 casualties (27KIA) 1 mortar destroyed 6 guns destroyed Men ok: 285 Score: 63 Allied Defender: 270 casualties (89KIA) 5 mortars destroyed 1 gun destroyed 16 vehicles knocked out Men ok: 299 Score: 37 Axis Minor Victory End of report. Note to designers: I enjoyed this scenario very much. Keep up the good work! (maybe less that goddamn air power!) [ October 03, 2002, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Goddamned double post... [ October 03, 2002, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Ok, I played against JonS and he posted his AAR. Here is mine to see things from my point of view. DISCLAIMER: Poor grammar due too many yers since English lessons... ROWII:The Boots & Tracks Brawl Tournament 1, section 4 Another day - AAR by Juha Ahoniemi JonS (allied) vs. Juha Ahoniemi (Axis) Briefing is clear - hold this critical sector. The info about reinforcements is very sufficient, I can build my battleplan according to it. The setup phase is quite frustrating - almost everything is locked, but the wooden mg - bunkers are allowed to place freely. I place one in woods very near of the Western flag , ready to halt any troops coming via the road. Another one I place about 120m to North from the first one, in woods agin, to control that open ground and first bunker's right flank. The placing of my forces Sucks IMO, but that is beyond my reach. Major part of my troops are out of the command range. So I start by slowly moving my guys within command range of my leaders. My arty spotter also starts to order fire to possible point of enemy entry, to adjust it until enemy is spotted - then the rain of iron may begin.. I also order my southern MG42 to move within the command range, but while moving it spots the enemy and opens fire, giving away its position. Not a promising start... Enemy is closing in the middle, to area my arty is about to start shelling. He is also harassing some squirrels in woods far right, about 100m to West of my troops - some mortar fire is dropping there. My arty starts to shell presumed enemy position (there are certainly some troops that I have spotted) and enemy arty starts to shell my self - revealing MG42. What comes around, goes around. Enemy is closing in my left flank, and my troops spots the first sherman M4. The enemy is also firing some smoke to hide the open ground which my Northern bunker is covering (hiding at this time, as all my troops except the arty spotter). My first reinforcements arrives - two tigers - and they start to move towards the enemy using woods as cover to conceal themselves. My plan is to keep the first tigers as a tandem, covering each others flanks. First contact is made in the front woods, my SMG squad vs. enemy squad. My arty keeps dropping. The tigers are waiting for prey... Enemy is active in the left flank, starting to pin down my MG. His arty is closing on my positions and his sherman pops a smoke and reverses. Tigers are a beasts to fear... Enemy soon starts to roll. My men are taking punishment in the leaft and in the middle. More and more shermans keeps appearing, I count six already. My Northern bunker is knocked out and my men in general are in trouble. One of the shermans takes on my tiger - and perishes. Turns out it was a 76mm, which may have had a chance to kill my beast. But one thing is sure when I command my Krupp steel - I don't play fair. It was my dynamic duo that killed that lone 76mm shermie... In this point my infantry reinforcements arrive. They are needed badly but are sooooo far away. I leave platoon HQ which have no combat bonuses to defend the Eastern flag with two regular SMG teams. I don't want to lose that flag in any circumstance and put my men in woods hiding and waiting if someone is foolish enough to try take the flag - there is large open groud, a shooting gallery if enemy tries to approach that VL. My other reinforcements starts to run towards the front, using woods when possible as concealment. The second shermie bites the dust. That one came from middle - left. Unfortunately (for him) this was anticipated by me. My tiger is facing to that direction and another have woods to cover that left flank, it it facing to middle - right, waiting to welcome some guests. This is s situation where I must be cool - not to rush after retreating enemy, but keep the optimal position. And adjust that position as a tandem, countering enemy flanking attempts. Sacrifices must be made, as my troops in front beg some armored support by this time. Their familes will receive my condolences and iron crosses for the perished. My tigers are too valuable to waste in foolish attemps. Patience, the help is on the way! But another sherman has sneaked into position to knock out my remaining bunker. It will be avenged. The last reinforcements arrive. Two tigers behind a ridge in the east. I order them to drive at full speed via the road and to hunt at near of the top of that ridge. Result: another KO'ed sherman 76mm. It was stalking behind Western ridge on the road, but this time the hunter became the hunted. My infantry reinforcements (weary at this point) are closing the front, too. Payback is at hand... But my men are still dying in the middle. Now I can give some HE support from my tigers, But it may come too late. A sherman is trying to flank me in right. I react. A little reverse, and hunting to HD postition facing the new threat. Woods are covering the left flank. The flanker pops a smoke and retreats. The tandem works again. Enemy has taken control of Western VL. My troops that were there are either killed or routed. Time to use that tiger HE. And that gamey bastard tiger ignites the woods into fire just a little West from that VL! What a stroke of luck! Now the enemy will have a very hard time to keep that VL. I keep firing, routing the enemy from that flag. My other tigers have reached the crossroads in the middle, and have some infantry to keep them safe from nasty surprises. My infantry reinforcements are in place, but I must give them time to catch their breath. But the enemy have other plans. Arty starts to drop near my tired men. The closest tiger to front starts to move closer. But alas, tank commander is killed and they are in shock! But my HE rounds, in my perspective, have achieved theig goal: VL is neutral. Now all my tanks are firing and they keep shermans at bay - another flanking attempt, this time from the left by two shermans, ends to popping of smoke. My troops begin to advance. Now the enemy is flanking fromt the right again, and I must reposition my tiger - tandem, of which the shocked one comes to and continues to follow orders. They are ready to deal with those flankers. Enemy arty causes some casualties, but the first "wave" is managed to get to the woods. My tandem gets to offensive mode and drives forward. Right flankers are reversing away as I, just in case, ordered area fire near their position (they were not visible in the end of last turn). The second member of tandem takes on a sherman ahead, shaking off its shell - ricochet. Just when it is about to return fire, it happens again - irritating, LOS closing smoke launcher. Grrrr. The fever of hunt and smell of a prey conquers my mind. I'm closing the flanker on the right with infantry and their fausts, and with my tiger, which withstands a ricocheted shell. Shermans harass my infantry badly (how the hell did they see so deep into the woods?) but then my tiger executes one of the flankers. Another backs off and starts to seek my infantry again. Enemy is flanking in the left again, this time with infantry and a sherman. Only four seconds after previous execution, my left - guarding tiger executes another sherman! I choose to ignore the flanking infantry for now, just give them some HE. I am pretty sure that they won't make it to my rear flag in time. And if they do, they'll in for very nasty surprise! Enemy is very careful now with his tanks. My tanks are trying to kill a zook team that seems to have a some kind of "god - mode" on - no matter how much I fire HE and small arms fire to it, it doesn't die(that zook team survived the whole game)! Rest of the battle is as raw as ever. My men take heavy casualties trying to close the flag, anf taking continuous shelling from enemy arty. In one point I give in to a feeling that commander shouldn't : pity. I try to get better line of sight to enemy MG with my tiger and it get knocked out by sherman from right flank (I found it out later, I never saw the shot nor knew what killed my tiger. That sherman was hiding smartly behind woods, even my infantry did not spot it. Kudos to my opponent). Enemy infantry flanking from the right runs forward, only one bazooka team changes it's direction and steal attention of my tiger, approaching it from "back door". Luckily that "god - mode" zook doesn't have divine warheads, so my tiger's side turret hit doesn't cause damage, or penetration. I manage to kill that "backdoor"- zook with two of my tigers. I seem to have the control now. In the end the enemy makes his moves - infantry rushes to the Western VL, but it remains disputed. I have guessed that his "tiger - killer" may try a move too (my tiger near it has its turret pointing another direction) and manage to reverse my tiger to safety. That sherman indeed comes out smelling blood! Not this time, my friend. And like I anticipated, that flanking infantry never got to the Eastern VL. They do exhange some fire with my guard there, but remain faaaaaaaar away! I keep that flag! The result: Allied Attacker: 127 casualties (41KIA) 5 vehicles knocked out Men OK 122 Score:36 Axis Defender: 119 casualties (39KIA) 2 pillboxes knocked out 1 vehicle knocked out Men OK 79 Score 59 Axis minor victory. End of AAR

LESS KNOWN ÜBERFINNISH SUBSTITUTE TO MOLOTOV COCKTAIL: As we have so far demonstrated, the Überfinnish panzerfaust is DEADLY weapon. But what to do if it is required to take prisoners? Fausts are out of the question, and molotov-cocktails are so-so. But the is still (at least) one method to stop enemy tank without causing fatal damage to those inside. As previously said, the molotov cocktail was aimed to engine roof. And so is the weapon-of-choise to take prisoners: THE ÜBER-URINE This liquid acts like strong acid (pretty much like the blood of the "aliens") and is capable to melt its way trough thick plates of armor, wrecking the engine. The enemy will have to come out - tank is immobilized and the stench will make their eyes to bleed. This tactic is quite rare, but effective. The training to this begins even before age of military service, and even little kids are able to do this (see picture). Because of the long state of peace the Über-urine tactic must be trained without real targets. These excercises may be seen especially at 1st of May on the streets of ÜberFinnish cities.

Yep, that's about it. It is also known as cone-klein. We didn't tested the bigger calibre meanies, it was polite to leave something of that turret left for other museum visitors to see. BTW Neither Ari or me was the conscript who couldn't penetrate with the cone...but he was someone from this board, too Thanks for the staff of Parola museum for letting us run those tests. [ September 25, 2002, 08:56 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Finns considers the campaign against Soviet Union alongside with the Germans simultaneously with the barbarossa as "the continuation war" because Finns were determined to take back what they have lost in the winter war. It was thought as a continuation to the winter war. Juha [ September 24, 2002, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

Don't even try to scare me off! I am in too! And my email remains the same old. -Juha

Jarmo, check this out: http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/axis-fi-army-sov-tanks.htm I already put that link among others to "axis vehicle list"-thread. Quite good and accurate list IMO. Yes there was 2 KV's, different models, and both are at Parola museum. -Juha

edited because of brain-fade [ September 23, 2002, 07:19 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

This is what I could dig up at this notice: http://www.pp.htv.fi/jveijala/tankit/tank013.html and in Finnish http://www.ilmatorjunta.fi/itupseeri/3_99/teksti/panssari.htm In that finnish text is told that the leader of the FLAK-unit was wounded at Syväri. They also KNOCKED OUT SOME BUNKER/ENEMY DUG-IN POSITIONS. They also provided covering fire, resulting retrieving of downed enemy "Jabo". Enemy also noticed their effectiveness against their aircraft (guessing it was because of a good success at Kuuterselkä) , and it gave some breathing room to the armoured brigade. Enemy aircrafts seemed to avoid the Landsverk II anti vehicles now. In summer -44 the unit was at Karelian isthmus, still covering Finnish armoured brigade. So they had their share of combat! One reason why I want to see those vehicles is that I served in that same unit (Panssari-ilmatorjuntapatteri) at Parola while I was in the army. I was a driver in a modern FLAK-vehicle. -And I visited Parola armout museum last saturday (again!). And BTW the landsverk chassis is already in (Hungarians renamed landsverk light tank as "toldi") so there should not be overwhelming work to include it, no? And here is my complete wishlist : http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/axis-fi-army-sov-tanks.htm Damn, I hunger get worse while I eat... -Juha [ September 23, 2002, 07:26 AM: Message edited by: Juha Ahoniemi ]

They would make You the hero of the Soviet Union! Damn, I already drooled at the museum on those beasts. -Juha

Hmmm. Finns should have IMO landsverk II anti (flak) (bofors 40mm-wanna have!) And with rarity factor: ISU152 (2 total were captured, one is still in Armour museum of Parola) KV1 (2 total were captured, both are in the same museum at Parola. They were different models, though) There comes in my mind after a recent visit at Parola museum. -Juha

Not happy about Teletubbies? Then try this game, maybe it helps You to relax! http://www.servus.at/DNS/tele/

I would't be a loudmouth as a Brit´either. Where were those divisions planned to help out Finns agains Russkies -39? Oh, it was a tea time...

Methink someone has breathed toxic WTC-fumes. And about that username...hmmm.

Yep, it definitely was UNCOMMON. But my point was that it isn't a MYTH either. I'm sure peple will dig out every kind of amazing stuff about the Eastern front, but that doesn't mean they are seriously demanding those things to CMBB. But this Forum is excellent source to learn new things about WWII. And maybe a place where people can even educate themselves about REAL history instead of propaganda. -Juha

WOW! There is a scenario named "jaegermeister"! One of my favorite drinks! Is there corporate sponsors..

As John said, they were trained and didn't just happen to come fresh out from a train car straight to battle. No, the Germans encircled them. Stalin's orders were to hold the city as long as possible. But I think that kind of thing wasn't common. But it also isn't myth from world war I. Another impressive thing in those interviews IMO was the veterans telling exactly how they felt - Germans thought that they were far better that Soviets, almost invincible in the art of war. They believed they were saving the Europe from communism (well, I think Stalin was about to come and spread that disease to West in some time soon. His first attempt was -39...My sincere thanks to our veterans for saving our way of life) and therefore their war, and methods, were justified. But that German said it was what he felt THEN. Not any more. Something about chaotic state of the Soviets back then tells the story from former NKVD-officer from Moscow. As the Germans were closing and people started to panic and flee, they were given the order to get rid of the panic any means necessary and to not let anyone leave Moscow any more. As he said it was a tough assignment but they knew what to do. It wasn't pretty story. And that NKVD guy was still proud of what they did (I wonder if it doesn't hound them at all - yelling "stoi!" once for warning and then...well You know what it was about). All in all, it was quite good document IMO. Looking forward to watch the rest of it, about Ukrainian partisans who ended up fighting against the Germans AND the Soviet partisans etc. -Juha

I have reserved mine from local Anttila here in Hämeenlinna. I didn't ask the price, though. It's irrelevant. -Juha

I just finished watching first episode of taped document from BBC which was shown here in Finland a while ago. It was made 1999 and was brodcasted here under name "Hitler vs. Stalin". There were many veteran interviews from both sides. The first part was about German advance in summer -41. In Kiev, (and in several other cities)the Russians were told by Stalin to hold the cities as long as possible - he didn't give permission to retreat. This caused encirclements and massive amounts of casualties to Soviets. The same thing happend in Vyazma, 200km West of Moscow. Viktor Strazdovski from 18th infantry division tells: "There were rifles, but not for everyone(unlike in a Russian propaganda film showed before the interview). There were 1 rifle and 100 rounds for 5 men. We thought we will get more after the training was complete, or when we would go to the front. But no." Then the German point of view: Wolfgang Horn from 10th armoured division tells "We had surroundered the Russians. They were desperate as they tried to break free. The first line had weapons, but the second didn't. When a man with weapon died, they got a weapon from the dead. Our MG's mowed them down. We were amazed. A German soldier would never attack without a weapon." This happened during the Vyazma battle, because Stalin had ordered to hold it as long as possible. The coming of the Germans wasn't a surprise there. I don't know what is original name of this document series, but here is something from the ending credits: Historical and script consultant for the series Professor Ian Kershaw Additional historical consultants Professor John Erickson Colonel David Glanz Professor Vladimir Naumov DR Volker Riess Seems to me there isn't much room for bias. -Juha

DEMARCATION! DEMARCATION! -klikk-klakk- FIRE!

That's not quite true. Finnish is full of profanities, which these days are unfortunately very widely used in common language. Most of the teenagers around here use the finnish equivalent of f**k to punctuate their sentences, which are mostly composed of other swear words. You could say that the language is going through a f*****g crisis.</font>

JonS, You better get some sleep (or should I unleash Heinrich on You?) Playing FotM twice...