Sergei Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 I have just uploaded a "large" operation, Saarela, to TPG. It begins with a little river crossing, and I'm very curious about how that first battle will work with others. If there's someone willing to play, I can take the Finnish (defender's) side. Saarela Briefing: Date and time: 28th June 1944 Time and weather: 10:00, good weather Location: near Viipuri, Finland 5 battles, 40 turns each Semi-historical Soviet attack static operation Recommended play: two player In less than two weeks in June, Red Army had broken through two Finnish fortification lines in the Karelian Isthmus and, without a battle, captured the city of Viipuri. For Finns the situation was bleak, but not all was lost. Soviet hasty attempts to cross the Viipuri Bay were denied, and so they had to seek another route to continue. And while at the beginning of the operation Finns had been unprepared for the situation, they had now had almost two weeks to haul troops from the northern sectors and to receive help from Germany. Would that suffice to halt the Red Army on all directions in the Isthmus? At least Stalin didn't think so, as he gave the XXX Guards Army Corps the goal of reaching the Kymi River, 100km to the west of Viipuri. The first step was to race through the town of Tali, located northeast of Viipuri, to the Saimaa Canal and secure crossings there. From there the attack would continue to north and northwest, to Lappeenranta by Lake Saimaa. Russians captured Tali on June 23rd, but an armoured thrust toward the Canal was repulsed in Portinhoikka crossroads with a counter-attack by the Finnish Armoured Division. But the front was not yet stabile, and Soviet pressure led to a breakthrough in north of Tali, towards town of Ihantala. While a storm of fire was raging in Tali-Ihantala, Soviets kept pressing on on the flanks. The terrain, dotted with lakes, swamps and hills, made the country ideal for defense, but with the superiority that the Red Army had in men and firepower they could still hope to force their way to the goal via other roads or at least tie down Finnish reserves. In the morning of June 28th, at 6 o'clock Soviets attempted crossing the Suokkaanjoki river, but were repulsed. A new attempt was launched at 9 o'clock with heavy artillery and air bombardment on the entire area of the Finnish 11th Division, and this time Soviets got a foothold on the other bank. This is where this operation starts from, with the task of the Soviet player to open the way to Portinhoikka and of the Finnish player to prevent this with the little forces available. [ November 14, 2004, 06:16 AM: Message edited by: Sergei ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucero1148 Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 If you're still looking for a player send me the operation and your game file. I've got a bit of free time to play. I can do a turn a day PBEM. All best Patrick lucero1148@netscape.net or patricklucero1148@yahoo.com 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted November 14, 2004 Author Share Posted November 14, 2004 Thanks Patrick, however in this case I already got an offer! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted November 14, 2004 Author Share Posted November 14, 2004 Well, as it turns out, I just released a continuation for the above... Farewell to Portinhoikka Date and time: 29th June 1944 Time and weather: dusk, good weather Location: near Viipuri, Finland 5 battles, 25+ turns each Semi-historical Soviet attack static operation Recommended play: two player In the span of few years, the intersection in Portinhoikka had been seized by armed forces many times. First in Winter War by Red Army, just days before the peace. Then in 1941 Finnish soldiers returned. In late June of 1944 the fighting in and around Portinhoikka reached new heights, as the Finnish lines were pierced by Soviet T-34's trying to make their way from Tali to the Saimaa Canal crossing in Juustila. The Finnish Armour Division went to counter-attack, however, and the crossroads was taken back. The battle shifted back towards Tali. On the 28th Soviet 46th Division forced its way across the Syökkäänjoki river, 3 km to south of Portinhoikka, and during the day pushed north (see the "Saarela" operation). Finnish forces couldn't allow losing Portinhoikka just yet. By this time the Finnish leadership had recognized that the Soviet forces to north of Tali were way too strong to be destroyed, and a gradual withdrawal five kilometres to north, near Ihantala, was planned. Giving the Russians access to the roads leading to north, west and east of Portinhoikka would have had catastrophic results to the cohesion of Finnish forces. After the 29th, Finnish army never returned to Portinhoikka. Today in Portinhoikka is this monument for the Red Army: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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