Scenario: Kampfgruppe Tornio

[Rosollia]

This is my first real attempt at making a scenario for WinSPWW2.

The scenario revolves around some of the heaviest fighting in the Lapland War in the Kemi - Tornio area. Following the armistice between Finland and Soviet union the German army of 200 000 men in Lapland, Northen Finland became an issue. Acording to the armistice the Germans would need to leave Finnish territory in two weeks. This however was unrealistic and the deadline came and went. On October 1st Finnish troops were forced to begin open warfare against their former brothers in arms. The battle started with the Finnish landing at Tornio and the subsequent capture of the city. This scenario starts from the German counterattack to retake the city of Tornio on October 4th.

Here is the scenario briefing text:

Kampfgruppe Tornio*
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Date: October 4, 1944*
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Battle Location: Road between Kemi and Tornio, Finland (Lapland War)*
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Battle Type: German Advance vs Finland Delay*
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Can be played as either side against AI. For more challenge choose the German side.*
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Turns: 35*
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Background:*
Following the Finnish landing and capture of Tornio the Germans feared their troops would be cut off in the South. Hence the order was given to form battlegroup Tornio and to retake the city of Tornio and its important railroad junction. On the morning of October 3rd forward elements of the battlegroup collided with Finnish troops of infantry regiment 11 advancing slowly in the opposite direction towards the city of Kemi. A battle ensued.*
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Finnish orders:*
Halt the enemy advance before they reach Raumonjoki river and buy us enough time to build up our defences.*
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German orders:*
You are to advance from your starting position at Kylajoki to the Raumonjoki river and secure it for future crossing. You will be supported by tanks of the 211th Panzer-Abteilung, use them wisely. The enemy does not have any armor assets available.*
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Aftermath:*
The fighting on the road between Kemi and Tornio lasted four days and the Germans were able to cross the Raumonjoki river on the third day. However on October 6th the German high command decided to stop the attack. This was due to the Finnish troops attacking the city of Kemi in the South. By October 10th both Kemi and Tornio were under Finnish control and the German troops were retreating North towards the Norwegian border.*
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Designed by Rosollia*
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Sources:*
Panzers in Finland*
(ISBN 951-97506-3-0)*
*

Feedback positive or negative is welcome!

[gila]

Got it loaded,i am playing as gerry,and no peeks.

So far at turn 4 beat back the Finns in the first line of defence but have have lost 2 captured reassigned light french tanks, Somoas? probaly spelled it wrong.
Pzshrecks oh no!
Very good action from the Git Go,
well done

[Rosollia]

You are following the footsteps of history. The Germans lost at least two Somua tanks in that battle. (Finnish claim 5 tanks destroyed) Attached is a photo of the knocked out German Somuas on the road.

As a game play tip advance slowly and carefully, with 35 turns there is no need to rush. A good tactic would be to concentrate your forces in the North or South of the Finnish defense line and once in the line advance along it destroying the defenders one by one. Advancing on the road can be very deadly. Use your artillery to pin down the defenders or destroy fleeing enemy infantry, or maybe lay a smoke screen when crossing open fields.

Tank battalion 211 (Panzer Abteilung 211) was an interesting unit in the German army. It was entirely composed of French tanks captured in 1940. The Somua S-35 and Hotchkiss H-39 tanks. Also it operated in the front line. Elsewhere these obsolite French tanks were used mainly behind the front line in anti partisan duties or for crew training.

Tank battalion 211 arrived in Finland in June 23-26, 1941 and stayed there until the end of October 1944. Although the French tanks were useless against Soviet tanks like T-34 they were still quite useful for infantry support. Also early on in 1941 the Soviets mainly had light tanks like T-26 and BT-7 in the Lapland area which the French tanks were able to cope with.