On another point, that video was very informative WRT how beautiful Finland is (or parts of it anyway) and how restricted movement is. Thank you for attaching it. No wonder the Soviets got their butts beat so badly in so many places. Stalin really was one of greatest criminals in human history.
- 7th Bicycle battalion (what's a bicycle battalion at all) already engaged, and was defeated by the enemy
- I'm not concerned by direct attack, since: a) the road is very narrow, and easily to cover by artillery, b) if the ice is only thick enough to support a man, it means artillery/mortars can easily make it impassable (I guess)
- so my main concern is an envelope attack, or bypass, through where the 7th is. Either fully around Kiwisalmi, or through the 10th then through the 7th
- and that's all I can say
But this is an awesome series, and I can't wait for the next instalment, thank you!
Building on what we had before, here are mine (if you do not like them, well, I have others):
1-Mission. Task Force Pajari defends in sector NLT now IOT defeat Soviet forces moving towards Tolvajärvi and prevent any movement to the west. This is as far as the Soviets are going.
2-Enemy forces consisting of several Divisions of Soviet forces have attacked us along our common border. Although no notice was given, we are now at war and will resist with all means available.
3- Execution and Tasks to subordinate units. Task Force Pajari defends in sector to defeat Soviet forces and prevent them from moving west beyond the Lake Hirvas and Lake Tolva area.
a-7th Bicycle Battalion. Establish defense positions vicinity Lake Hirvas and Hirvas Village IOT defeat Soviet forces moving west or Northwest overland or via the road. Detach one company to form reinforced squad sized patrols IOT defeat Soviet infiltration and flank attacks by ambushing them as far forward as practicable.
b-10th Independent Battalion (+). Task Force Main Effort. Establish a strong point on the peninsula north of the causeway at Kivisalmi IOT defeat Soviet forces and block any movement west or northwest.
c-112 Independent Battalion (-). Defend Tolvajärvi and halt Soviet attacks by creating a strong point in the village and the areas across Lake Tolva directly to the north and south IOT defeat and Soviet attacks and block Soviet forces from moving west. Detach one platoon as the Task Force reserve and position it in Tolva, with planning priorities of attacking to defeat and Soviet penetration of the blocking position along the road or forces attempt to bypass Tolva.
d-16th Infantry Regiment. Move as fast as possible from Värtsila to Tolvajärvi. One battalion and the regimental mortar battery will reinforce the positions in and around Kivisalmi, while the other battalions form additional patrols to attack Soviet forces as previously described (defeat Soviet flanking efforts and conduct ambushes and raids against Soviet units, particularly logistics elements, in column along the roads).
16th Infantry Regiment engineers will assist with defensive efforts in Kivisalmi and Tolvajärvi by mining the roads and the causeways, which hopefully we have, and constructing obstacles with priority going to Kivisalmi. Once that is done, the engineers will join the reserve force, with the same planning priorities as before.
e-9th Independent Battalion (en route to Tolvajärvi)
f-5th Battery, 12th Field Artillery Regiment. Position one gun as a direct support and anti-tank gun with the 10th Independent Battalion (+) north of the causeway at Kivisalmi IOT provide direct fire against tanks and other targets. The battery (-) is GS to Task Force Pajari with priority of fires to 10th Independent Battalion, then 7th Bicycle Battalion, then 112th Independent Battalion. Position the battery (-) west of the ridge at Tolvajärvi IOT provide fire support to the force. Attach one forward observer party to 10th Independent Battalion at Kivisalmi and other parties as far forward as communications and security conditions permit to acquire and attack Soviet forces vicinity of Kivisalmi, Lake Tolva and Lake Hirvas .
g-7th and 8th Batteries of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment. Move to Tolvajärvi as soon as possible, position near Tolvajärvi and reinforce 5th Battery (-).
Coordinating Instructions.
a-All units will pay particular attention to flank and rear security by forming reconnaissance patrols to detect and defeat Soviet flanking efforts.
b-All units, with priority to patrols, counter reconnaissance and raiding parties, will find or fabricate skis IOT facilitate movement. Once the lakes freeze solid, things will get more complicated, but as the snow deepens, wheeled vehicles and dismounted infantry will be road bound, whereas ski troops will not.
c-All units will improvise anti-tank defenses with demolition charges, Molotov cocktails, grenades and anything else available. Dedicated anti-tank units have been requested, but until they arrive, we will defend with what we have or can improvise. Likewise, I have requested anti-aircraft units, but we will also position 25% of organic machine gun units as anti-aircraft support.
d-Units tasked to conduct raids and ambushes of Soviet units, particularly logistical support units or convoys (fuel, ammunition and food), and HQ units will ensure these efforts are as aggressive as possible IOT disrupt Soviet forces rapidly. Nighttime and twilight attacks are preferred given the imbalance in forces and Soviet air power. Units will establish concealed rest areas to allow units to rest, recuperate and resupply.
4-Service Support. 16th Infantry Regiment logistics units will establish logistics support base vicinity Tolvajärvi to provide support and resupply to the Task Force. As soon as possible, resupply any units operating to the east.
5-Command and Signal. Task Force Pajari and Regimental HQ 16th Infantry Regiment locates vicinity Tolvajärvi.
On another point, that video was very informative WRT how beautiful Finland is (or parts of it anyway) and how restricted movement is. Thank you for attaching it. No wonder the Soviets got their butts beat so badly in so many places. Stalin really was one of greatest criminals in human history.
I won't write a full comment, but some notes:
- 7th Bicycle battalion (what's a bicycle battalion at all) already engaged, and was defeated by the enemy
- I'm not concerned by direct attack, since: a) the road is very narrow, and easily to cover by artillery, b) if the ice is only thick enough to support a man, it means artillery/mortars can easily make it impassable (I guess)
- so my main concern is an envelope attack, or bypass, through where the 7th is. Either fully around Kiwisalmi, or through the 10th then through the 7th
- and that's all I can say
But this is an awesome series, and I can't wait for the next instalment, thank you!
Building on what we had before, here are mine (if you do not like them, well, I have others):
1-Mission. Task Force Pajari defends in sector NLT now IOT defeat Soviet forces moving towards Tolvajärvi and prevent any movement to the west. This is as far as the Soviets are going.
2-Enemy forces consisting of several Divisions of Soviet forces have attacked us along our common border. Although no notice was given, we are now at war and will resist with all means available.
3- Execution and Tasks to subordinate units. Task Force Pajari defends in sector to defeat Soviet forces and prevent them from moving west beyond the Lake Hirvas and Lake Tolva area.
a-7th Bicycle Battalion. Establish defense positions vicinity Lake Hirvas and Hirvas Village IOT defeat Soviet forces moving west or Northwest overland or via the road. Detach one company to form reinforced squad sized patrols IOT defeat Soviet infiltration and flank attacks by ambushing them as far forward as practicable.
b-10th Independent Battalion (+). Task Force Main Effort. Establish a strong point on the peninsula north of the causeway at Kivisalmi IOT defeat Soviet forces and block any movement west or northwest.
c-112 Independent Battalion (-). Defend Tolvajärvi and halt Soviet attacks by creating a strong point in the village and the areas across Lake Tolva directly to the north and south IOT defeat and Soviet attacks and block Soviet forces from moving west. Detach one platoon as the Task Force reserve and position it in Tolva, with planning priorities of attacking to defeat and Soviet penetration of the blocking position along the road or forces attempt to bypass Tolva.
d-16th Infantry Regiment. Move as fast as possible from Värtsila to Tolvajärvi. One battalion and the regimental mortar battery will reinforce the positions in and around Kivisalmi, while the other battalions form additional patrols to attack Soviet forces as previously described (defeat Soviet flanking efforts and conduct ambushes and raids against Soviet units, particularly logistics elements, in column along the roads).
16th Infantry Regiment engineers will assist with defensive efforts in Kivisalmi and Tolvajärvi by mining the roads and the causeways, which hopefully we have, and constructing obstacles with priority going to Kivisalmi. Once that is done, the engineers will join the reserve force, with the same planning priorities as before.
e-9th Independent Battalion (en route to Tolvajärvi)
f-5th Battery, 12th Field Artillery Regiment. Position one gun as a direct support and anti-tank gun with the 10th Independent Battalion (+) north of the causeway at Kivisalmi IOT provide direct fire against tanks and other targets. The battery (-) is GS to Task Force Pajari with priority of fires to 10th Independent Battalion, then 7th Bicycle Battalion, then 112th Independent Battalion. Position the battery (-) west of the ridge at Tolvajärvi IOT provide fire support to the force. Attach one forward observer party to 10th Independent Battalion at Kivisalmi and other parties as far forward as communications and security conditions permit to acquire and attack Soviet forces vicinity of Kivisalmi, Lake Tolva and Lake Hirvas .
g-7th and 8th Batteries of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment. Move to Tolvajärvi as soon as possible, position near Tolvajärvi and reinforce 5th Battery (-).
Coordinating Instructions.
a-All units will pay particular attention to flank and rear security by forming reconnaissance patrols to detect and defeat Soviet flanking efforts.
b-All units, with priority to patrols, counter reconnaissance and raiding parties, will find or fabricate skis IOT facilitate movement. Once the lakes freeze solid, things will get more complicated, but as the snow deepens, wheeled vehicles and dismounted infantry will be road bound, whereas ski troops will not.
c-All units will improvise anti-tank defenses with demolition charges, Molotov cocktails, grenades and anything else available. Dedicated anti-tank units have been requested, but until they arrive, we will defend with what we have or can improvise. Likewise, I have requested anti-aircraft units, but we will also position 25% of organic machine gun units as anti-aircraft support.
d-Units tasked to conduct raids and ambushes of Soviet units, particularly logistical support units or convoys (fuel, ammunition and food), and HQ units will ensure these efforts are as aggressive as possible IOT disrupt Soviet forces rapidly. Nighttime and twilight attacks are preferred given the imbalance in forces and Soviet air power. Units will establish concealed rest areas to allow units to rest, recuperate and resupply.
4-Service Support. 16th Infantry Regiment logistics units will establish logistics support base vicinity Tolvajärvi to provide support and resupply to the Task Force. As soon as possible, resupply any units operating to the east.
5-Command and Signal. Task Force Pajari and Regimental HQ 16th Infantry Regiment locates vicinity Tolvajärvi.
I neglected to add the the 9th Independent Battalion wil reinforce the 7th Bicycle Battalion vicinity Lake Hirvas and Hirvas Village.