Fangs of the Wolf - Campaign Introduction

[7dot62mm]

Fangs of the Wolf is my forthcoming Winter War Pint-Sized Campaign (PSC) for Chain of Command and other systems. We're set to begin playtesting it in a few weeks time.

Astute readers may notice that the new campaign is number eleven in the Winter of No Surrender series but that I've previously only released campaigns one and two. This is intentional and due to the fact that this campaign is set on a different front.

Even more astute readers may remember that our playtest of the first Winter of No Surrender campaign, Fire in the Sky, is not yet complete, the last game of that is still to be played. This is because the key Finnish player is MIA, we'll give him a few weeks to reappear and then play the last game, with or without him.



The WoNS series of campaigns is mainly intended for use with Chain of Command rules (with the At the Sharp End and Blitzkrieg 1940 Handbook campaign supplements and the Big Chain of Command supplemental rules) by Too Fat Lardies but are designed to be adaptable to other skirmish (platoon to company level) rule sets as well, including but not limited to Bolt Action, Battleground WWII, I Ain’t Been Shot Mum, Battlegroup, Nuts! and Disposable Heroes) and notes are included for that... In particular, if you are playing Easy Eight Enterprises' Battleground WWII, I will be able to provide you with unit statistics.

This campaign is designed to be played by an umpire and two or more players as the Finns and the Soviets. If there are only two people playing it is suggested that the Soviet player acts as the umpire.



2.0 INTRODUCTION

The Red Army's plan of assault on Finland was complicated. Whole armies of the Soviet western military district were to simultaneously descend on the little country from multiple directions, forcing the Finnish Army to fight on many fronts at once.


Public domain map by Peltimikko

The Soviet 9th Army was to cut Finland into two by advancing to Oulu through the Kainuu region, where Suomussalmi is located.

The road network in central and northern Finland was very sparse and generally rough going. One of these poor roads led from the frontier hamlet of Raate right through the tiny, northern-central Finland village of Suomussalmi.

In their pre-war contingency planning the Finns had considered the defense needs of the Kainuu region. They had concluded that because of the very primitive road network, harsh weather conditions and the remoteness of the whole region, it was extremely unlikely that the Red Army would conduct any major - let alone mechanized - operations there.

It was however deemed likely that the Soviets would dispatch ski patrols and the like to this region. Therefore, as the tensions between Finland and the Soviet Union were mounting, one company of border men was allotted to patrolling in the area. The company was stationed at way beyond Suomussalmi, some 30 kilometers from the frontier, and at any time only a single platoon keeping an eye on what was happening near the border.

On November 30, 1939 at 0700 hours the Soviet Union launched an invasion of Finland without declaring war. Unbeknownst to the Finns, two whole divisions of the Red 9th Army - the 163rd and the 44th - had been tasked with breaking through at Suomussalmi. At this point the Finnish Army had exactly one company of men defending the area.   


THE 163rd INFANTRY DIVISION
 
The 163rd Division was established in Moscow in August 1939. Its commander was Brigade Commander Andrey I. Zelentsov. The Division was part of the Soviet 9th Army [B97, p.130] it was composed of the 662nd Rifle Regiment (2930 men), the 759th Rifle Regiment (c. 3000 men) [B97, p. 112] as well as the 81st Mountain Infantry Regiment (1451 men), originally from the 54th Mountain Division.

It had 30 76mm artillery pieces and 12 122mm howitzers [B97, p. 112]. It was also supported by a Special Reconnaissance Company with 14 T-37A and two T-38 amphibious tanks, as well as two BA-27M armored cars []. In addition, there were T-26 tanks from the 365th Tank Battalion [B106].

The 163rd Division was inexperienced and ill-equipped [B108, p. ]. For example, despite the arctic temperatures, 40% of the men still had their leather boots, more suitable for summer weather [B98, p. ].

The main push of the 163rd Division's assault was north-east of Suomussalmi, by a place called Lonkka, where there wasn't even a road leading over the border. The vanguard of this attack would be the 81st Mountain Infantry Regiment, a unit especially suited to the arctic conditions, followed by the 662nd Rifle Regiment. The 759th Rifle Regiment would advance via Raate Road, the most predictable route to Suomussalmi.


The scale is 1x1 kilometer squares.


THE 662nd RIFLE REGIMENT
 
Like other regiments of the time, the 662nd was composed of three rifle battalions, one machinegun company, a regimental artillery battery, an anti-tank company, a reconnaissance company, plus gas protection, signals, supply and maintenance units. Its commander was Colonel Sharov, and the politruk Podhomutov.




THE INITIAL BATTLES
 
The initial battles were predictable - the small Finnish forces near Juntusranta fell back under increasing Red Army pressure. As there wasn't even a road to the border there, the Finns at first thought that they were fighting a patrol, then a company, then a battalion. As more Finnish units were directed to the front, they could undertake ever stiffer resistance to the advancing Russians, yet they were still constantly being overpowered by the invaders. Soon they realized that they were fighting a whole Regiment, the 81st Mountain Infantry Regiment in fact.

It was then that they received most alarming news… on their right flank, another Soviet force - the 759th Rifle Regiment - was advancing from the direction of Raate. The Russians fought well. Their assaults were brave and augmented with forceful artillery barrages. The Finns fell further and further back, towards Suomussalmi. It was soon clear that the Red Army was attempting a pincer movement and would attack Suomussalmi from two directions.



COMBAT GROUP SHAROV

On reaching the crossroads at Palovaara on December 4th, the 662nd Regiment was split into two combat groups. Combat Group Tchaikovsky, led by a lieutenant-colonel of the same name, continued southwards with the majority of the regiment's forces, while the regimental commander Colonel Sharov continued northward, towards the municipality of Kuusamo, with a slightly smaller force.

Combat Group Sharov consisted of one rifle battalion plus all of the regiment's HQ and associated support forces, a ski company, regimental artillery and anti-tank units, as well as supports from the 163rd Division - tanks and divisional artillery. In all, the force must have been larger than 1300 men.




THE BIRTH OF A MOTTI

While Combat Group Tchaikovsky struck south, Combat Group Sharov advanced north, pushing the defending Finnish forces before it. On December 6th, after some twelve kilometers of advance since the crossroads, the vanguard of the Combat Group reached the shore of Lake Piispajärvi, where they were stopped by stiff resistance. The defenders, a reinforced company from the Finnish 16th Independent Battalion on the other side of the frozen lake and fighting their first battle, had been able to set interlocking fields of fire for their machineguns and after several tries the Soviets found it impossible to cross here. They retreated some distance south and set up their own defensive perimeter. They would wait for reinforcements from the south.

This was as far as the 47th Army Corps would ever get.

Meanwhile, closer to Suomussalmi, fierce battles were raging. The 81st Mountain Infantry Regiment reached the village on December 7th and pushed the Finnish defenders onto the southern shore of the lake.

On December 17th, leaving one company to defend the northern positions, Lieutenant-Colonel Susitaival led the majority of his 16th Independent Battalion south through the woods. The journey took two days in terrible weather and very challenging terrain. On December 19th, he struck the Palovaara crossroads, ambushing a Soviet supply and reinforcements column, destroying it apart from two tanks which fled north.

Combat Group Sharov was now stuck in a Motti encirclement some twelve kilometers long, stretching from Palovaara to Lake Piispajärvi. The Finnish word Motti refers to a unit of firewood equal to one cubic meter. As a fighting technique, it is generally understood to mean isolating a superior enemy force from its supply, splitting it into smaller units and dealing with them one by one.

Of the around 1300 men in the encirclement, only about 300 would eventually escape, while another 200 would become prisoners of war. The rest of them are still there.

[7dot62mm]

16TH INDEPENDENT BATTALION
 
The 16th Independent Battalion (Erillinen Pataljoona 16, Er.P 16) was formed from men of the Kainuu region. They were well-motivated and trained to defend their country, after all their homes were not far from where these battles would take place.

Lieutenant-colonel Susitaival considered the 16th his best unit.




3.0 THE CAMPAIGN
 
Fangs of the Wolf is the first in a planned trilogy of Pint-Sized Campaigns set in the famous battles of Suomussalmi and following the exploits of Ryhmä Susi (Group Wolf), the others being Campaign Twelve - Go for the Throat and Campaign Thirteen - Lair of the Wolf.

Fangs of the Wolf begins on December 16, 1939 - Day Seventeen of the Winter War. The Combat Group Sharov, composed mostly of one battalion of the 662nd Infantry Regiment and a few associated units, is stuck on a road in a Motti encirclement some thirty kilometers north of the village of Suomussalmi. The sub-units of the Combat Group are spread along a stretch of road eleven kilometers in length. Blocked from both advancing and retreating, the Combat Group's HQ has decided to stay put and wait for the imminent arrival of the Red Army's elite 44th Division, due here any day now.



But it is not going to be that easy. For guarding the Motti are the quiet men of the Finnish 16th Independent Battalion, part of Group Wolf. They are from Kainuu - this very region of Finland - and are not about to let the Red Army anywhere near their homes. An epic Winter War battle is about to begin…



The campaign comprises twenty tables, five of which (A, B, R, S and T) are initially held by the Finns. In addition, there are four tables representing the unforgiving wilderness of Suomussalmi, which may be used if the Red Army commander tries to send out forces to fight in the Finnish rear areas, or simply decides to abandon all his heavy equipment and to try to escape the encirclement through the snow-bound woods. Not all the tables will be used in the campaign, as the Finns can strike whichever table they wish in whatever order.

The Soviets have less than six days (17 campaign turns - and there may not be fighting on every campaign turn) to either break out of the encirclement or simply survive in it, sustaining as few casualties as possible. Starting on December 25th, the Finnish 65th Infantry Regiment - also part of Group Wolf - will steamroll Combat Group Sharov with devastating force (to be covered in WoNS Campaign Twelve - Go for the Throat) and at that point the Russians will need every man they can still muster.

While this campaign is probably best played as a series of Big Chain of Command battles, it can also be handled as a series of one-vs-one platoon games, thanks to an innovative scaling down method where additional platoons in a location are used to determine supporting units for the platoons on the table.

From the perspective of forces, this may be the only pint-sized Chain of Command campaign where the two sides field the full historical forces present in the actual conflict. Despite this, the minimum miniatures requirements of the campaign are modest.



The Soviets will field one reinforced rifle battalion - Combat Group Sharov - of the 163rd Division plus associated supporting units, including artillery, infantry and cavalry scouts, anti-aircraft and armor. Though low on ammunition and rations, they have enough forces to break out of the encirclement, but the passivity of Colonel Sharov means that they are unlikely to use anything close to their full potential in any attack. Indeed, the only Soviet CO's Opinion which is tracked is that of Colonel Sharov. It starts at -1 ("This is not going well, Comrade!") and if it reaches -10, the entire Combat Group will abandon its heavy weapons and flee into the snowy, treacherous woods, pursued by white-clad enemies!



The Finns will also field one reinforced infantry battalion - the entire Group Wolf at the start of the campaign. As Group Wolf has no artillery, tank or air support, this is not enough to defeat the Soviets in a conventional battle, but the Kainuu men have no intention to fight such a battle. As the Red Army forces are spread out over a large area, Group Wolf should be able to concentrate sufficient forces against less-well defended positions, defeating Colonel Sharov's units a few at a time.

The campaign features a unique reconnaissance mechanism, where the Finnish player may try to reconnoiter a couple of the Soviet-held tables every Campaign Turn, and attempt to judge how difficult it would be to take them. The Finn may then concentrate his small forces on any one of the tables and make an attack, provided he has enough forces available and trusts the intelligence thus far gained. For the benefit of solo wargamers, the historical deployment of Combat Group Sharov will also be provided.



The Red Army will be passive for much of the time, but when Colonel Sharov finally activates he may be able to catch the Finns off-guard. Careful attention should be given to the initial placement of the sub-units, as moving them later will be difficult due to the Colonel's lack of initiative. Geography will also play an important role as the Mustajoki River can only be crossed at one place and if that bridge is lost, heavy equipment will not be able to cross the river. Likewise, the positions of the field hospital and the signals platoon, as well as that of the Regimental HQ must be considered. If placed in an inconvenient location soon cut off by the enemy, their inaccessibility may contribute to the Soviet downfall in a major way.

In all, this should prove a refreshingly different Chain of Command campaign to play or run. I hope you'll have a great time!     




Victory Conditions

• At least five elements of Combat Group Sharov (including HQ) break out of the Motti encirclement towards the south and Colonel Sharov's Opinion remains at -9 or better. Soviet major victory. Combat Group Sharov is once again in supply and can continue the triumphant liberation of the People of Finland. Colonel Sharov will receive a medal for his resolute actions.
• At least five elements of Combat Group Sharov (including HQ) break out of the Motti encirclement towards the north and Colonel Sharov's Opinion remains at -9 or better. Soviet victory. While this looks great initially, Combat Group Sharov will be without support and will be destroyed by the Finnish JR 65 in a few days' time. But Colonel Sharov's reputation is intact. Record the position and condition of all forces as they will return in WoNS Campaign 12 - Go for the Throat.
• Combat Group Sharov stays put until the end of the campaign and Colonel Sharov's Opinion remains at -9 or better.   Historical result. Soviet minor victory. The campaign ends with Group Sharov still in the Motti. The Finnish JR 65 will then steamroll over Combat Group Sharov starting on December 25th. Record the position and condition of all forces as they will return in WoNS Campaign 12 - Go for the Throat.
• Combat Group Sharov stays put until the end of the campaign, but Sharov himself is killed. Finnish minor victory. Though being killed is by no means ideal, at least Colonel Sharov won't be executed. The Finnish JR 65 will steamroll over Combat Group Sharov starting on December 25th. Record the position and condition of all forces as they will return in WoNS Campaign 12 - Go for the Throat.
• Colonel Sharov's Opinion falls to -10 or below. Finnish major victory. Colonel Sharov orders a general retreat. Combat Group Sharov discards all its vehicles, heavy weapons and equipment, and flees east into the perilous woods, attempting to reach friendly lines. Eventually the remnants of the force will end up in Juntusranta, some fifteen kilometers away to the north-east, and remain there for the rest of the war. If Colonel Sharov survives, he will be executed in front of his own troops on January 16, 1940.
  
  War-booty collected by Group Wolf will include five or six tanks, three armored cars, 21 cannon of different calibers (including two 25 or 37mm Bofors-type AA guns, six 45mm ATG, eight regimental or field pieces and two howitzers), four four-barreled AA MG, 42 MMG, more than 100 trucks, 12 field kitchens, some 250 horses, 200 prisoners of war, the Regiment's documents and its cash box [B98, p. 205].

3.2 MINIATURES REQUIREMENTS

It would be nice to have at least these miniatures when you play the campaign:

The Russians: One platoon (50 men) of infantry. One extra section (12 men) of infantry. One MMG with five crew. One 45mm antitank gun, one 76mm Regimental Gun, one 122mm howitzer. One T-26 tank, one T-37A or T-38 amphibious tank, one BA-10, BA-20, or BA-27M armored car. One truck, one cart or wagon with one or two horses. One field kitchen. One tent.

The Finns: One platoon (c. 38 men). One extra section (10 men). One MMG with a crew of seven.

The terrain: A white snow cloth. Many evergreen trees. 5' of road. One river with a bridge. One bridge. Some hills. Some swamp. Entrenchments for a platoon. A minefield. Some houses.

Additional miniatures will enhance your gaming experience, as well as enable you to field additional platoons of various kinds.

3.6 Campaign Turn Sequence

There are three Campaign Turns per day: Night (0000-0800 hours), Day (0800-1600 hours) and Evening (1600- 2400 hours). Evening and Night Turns take place in darkness. The campaign starts at Evening, on December 19th and runs until the end of the Night turn on December 25th, for a total of 17 Campaign Turns.

1   Umpire   
•   Reads the news, if any
•   Determines the weather (temperature, wind direction, precipitation)

2   Soviet Player   
•   Allocates patrols
•   Rolls for Colonel Sharov's initiative level and, if necessary, allocates units to carry out his orders

3   Finnish Player   
•   Allocates units to the various tables occupied by the Finns
•   Allocates units to guard the wilderness
•   Allocates units to perform reconnaissance
•   Allocates units to perform a maximum of one attack

4   All   
Resolve all actions decided in steps 2 and 3, above. This will include a maximum of two battles (one initiated by the Finns, another by the Soviets). All actions are considered to happen simultaneously.
      

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[BillK]

Fantastic looking game and wonderful write-up.
Appreciate all the background and context.
Thanks for posting.

[robh]

Brilliant presentation. Hope the campaign goes well.

[Tom Dulski]

Wow that winter table looks great.