[Strv102r]

3CG har verkligen tryck i pannan! Nu trillade det här in för ett test!

[Strv102r]

Precis som i A Most Bitter Blow kommer detta göras på engelska.

The game covers the entire operational area north of Lake Ladoga which I havnt seen before in a game. The most famous tactical engagement of the campaign in this area is the battle of Tolvajärvi in the center of the area. There are several games on Tolvajärvi of which I have tried two; The Gamers A Frozen Hell in the TCS series with platoons sized units which I consider an absolutely splendid, albeit rather large and time consuming, game, and GMTs medium sized Red Winter with company sized units and shorter playing time, which is also an excellent game. Avalanche Press had its Winter Fury that was a battalion scale game on both Tolvajärvi and the engagement at Ilomantsi to the north of Tolvajärvi. This was a good game with some interesting mechanics. 3CG zooms out even more to cover the area south of Tolvajärvi as well. The battle of Tolvajärvi which takes up two entire maps in A frozen Hell now is covered by a seven hex cluster. If you like the grand tactical scale and maneuver with regiments and divisions to play out an entire campaign rather than zooming in at the detailed fire fights of platoons this would be the game for you. Me, I like both.

[Midisfi]

I will write a playtest AAR about this, in both English and Finnish (pick your poison). I'll share the link once it's done - still working on Helsingborg AAR. Excellent game.

[Strv102r]

The deployment at start. The Russians have five rifle divisions while the finns have two infantry divisions, two brigade sized task forces (Pajari in the center and Ekholm at Ilomantsi on the north) and some independent rifle battalions, of which only the ones not in divisional areas are shown.

[Strv102r]

The game starts with a special Russian assault phase which is conducted in a special sequence where tank overruns is an important feature. This phase seeks to simulate the initial Russian success when many Finnish units panicked and fled westwards.






In the south 168 rifle division advances along the Lake Ladoga road and drives the finns before them as a flock of sheep. The main impediment is the delaying effect of the Mantisaari forts guns in the red toned hexes. 18 rifle division also puts the Finnish before them to flight, but do not get as far. The finns have given terrain easily, but now their units are more concentrated and not as spread out. 






In the center the Finns also head to safety to the west and 139 rifle is on the doorstep of Suojärvi and 56 rifle knocks on the door to Suvilahti.






In the north 155 rifles tank unit runs amok and quickly moves west while the rifle units follow as fast as they can.

[Strv102r]

GT1 random event is suitably "Groza". An series of intensive soviet barrages. The Soviet player is lucka and all three allowed barrages pins their opponents. Both targets in front of 18 rifle also take a step loss. Very good outcome for the Soviets!








The chit based activations start with 56 rifle that assault the pinned 2/34/12 rifle bn that is destroyed. Great work comrades!






Next is 139 rifle that crushes the detached coy from ErP 10.






In the north 155 rifle tank b advances all the way to Möhkö while the rifle regiments are more cautioius not have the coys from ErP 11 cut their line of supply.






18 rifle attacks both along the road to the west and to the north with good results. The Finns suffer casualties and fall back along the road.






The Finnish 13 infantry div forms a coherent defence against both 18 and 168 rifle (south of the pic and not yet activated)






168 rifle advances along the road, but 13 infantrys recently formed defence makes an attack impractical.






12 infantry division also forms a defence against 18 rifle and 56 rifle. A successful counterattack is also launched at te northern regiment of 18 rifle. The single coy from ErP 8 sneaks in behind 18 rifle and cuts the road behind the soviets. a small sample of greater things to come?






An overview of the situation in the south at the end of GT1.






An overview of the situation in the center at the end of GT1.






An overview of the overall situation at the end of GT1.

[Strv102r]

GT2 begins with 56 rifle that attacks towards the west and drives the northern parts of 12 inf div backwards.






18 rifle is cut off from its supply sources but keeps its merry mood and attacks towards its rear with a tank bn. The 3 coy ErP 8 handles it roughly and the tank bn is no more. Ok. Thta sall right. Help is on its way from the east.








Task force Ekholm counterattacks Möhkö and destroys the russians there, albeit at a cost.






13 inf div attacks 18 rifle from the west. The russians hold, but 18 looses its last tanks in the battle.






139 rifle presses forward.






75 rifle arrives to assist 18 rifle.






155 rifle prepares to recieve Ekholm and also tries to clear its northern flank.






168 rifle attacks along the road but is stopped.

[Strv102r]

Pajari starts to move eastwards on the road to Tolvajärvi.






75 rifle punches through and etablishes contact with the besieged 18 rifle.







13 division attacks 18 rifle from the west and destroys one regiment.







168 rifle is stopped by the Finns yet again, but again at a cost to the Finns.






139 rifle keeps pushing to the west om the road to Tolvajärvi, but takes losses as it does so.






Pajari moves fast to block 139 rifle.






12 division attacks 18 rifle from the north and destroys yet another regiment. It looks lile 75 rifle arrival was somewhat too late...






155 rifle attacks and detsroys a finnish company from ErP 11 to protect its northern flank.






56 rifle is stopped by 12 rifle.

[Strv102r]

A few mistakes and misunderstandnings that potentially will have effect on the development of the game are discovered. The decision to restart is taken.






At the end of GT 1 168 rifle div in the south has reached as far west as the last time. 18 rifle has been more careful to protect its lines of supply, but has almost reached as far west.





56 rifle makes good progress! But 12 division assembles a good number of battalions in front of it.






139 div advanced elements rout the Finnish thoroughly and almost reach Ägläjärvi. The rest of the division trails behind however after having destroyed the Finns that could threaten their supply line.






155 rifle is also a bit more careful this time and also attempts to secure its northern flank.

[Strv102r]

After GT 2 168 rifle has gotten nowhere, but has inflicted losses on the Finns. 18 rifle is under attack from the west by 13 inf div and from the north by 12 inf div, but 75 rifle and 34 tank are arriving behind them.






56 rifle is stopped but at a cost to the Finns. 139 rifle concentrates at Ägläjärvi.






155 continues to focus on its northern flank.

[Strv102r]

After GT3 168 rifle in the south has managed to take some more terrain along the coast. 13 Finnish inf div attack the remants of 18 div from the south while 13 div attack its unit in the "motti" from the north. 75 rifle attack to rescue the remains.






56 rifle manages to press forward along the road. 164 rifle approaches behind from the east.





139 rifle reaches Tolvajärvi and meets Pajaris battle group.





155 rifle continues to deal with ErP 11 to clear its flank since Ekholm fpr some reason is inactive.

[Strv102r]

At the end of GT4 168 rifle has been stopped again by 13 div. 13 div attacks on the southern part of 18/75 div is also stopped, and the motti repells yet another attack while 75 div manages to seize terrain along the road.






The Finnish 12 div attacks the head of 56 rifles column, but is repulsed. 56 is also repulsed when attacking 2/34/12 to pry the Finnish grip on the flank open.






Calm at Tolvajärvi, but the Finns try to threaten 139 lines of supply with ErP 1/10. The soviets react by moving units towards the rear along the road, leaving little offensive capability at Tolvajärvi.






Ekholm finally move eastwards, causing 155 rifle to go over to the defensive.

[Strv102r]

168 rifle manages to seize another hex up north along the Lake Ladoga coastline, but 13 divison counterattacks and pushes the soviets back again. The battalions from Mantisaari choose to move north and cut 168 supply line.

75 rifle attacks both along the road to the west and to the north east of 18 rifles last regiments motti. They succeed along the road but are stopped east of the motti. 12 division is severely depleeted by now and retreat, releasing the motti.






The battle east of Loimola turns into a meatgrinder decimating 56 and 12 alike. As 164 rifle enters the fray they immidietly start taking losses.







139 units in the rear attack ErP 1/10 and pushes it back. Pajari is content to be passive and waits for 2nd Sissi to get into position.






Ekholm attacks north of Vuottonimi but the Soviets repulse the attack but are take losses doing so.

[Strv102r]

168 rifle tries to attack to the rear to escape the trap but is repulsed. 13 div then attacks the trapped units and destroy them.

The same development is mirrored to the north where the last remnants of 18 rifle are destroyed and 75 rifle takes heavy losses and are surrounded.






164 rifle swings to the south to outflank the Finns, but it takes some time. Otherwise rather calm on in this direction.






139 rifle falls but is still largely cut off. Pajari follows.






Small scale maneuvering in the far north. Thats all.

[Strv102r]

In the south the parts of 13 div advance towards the border and retake almost all Finnish territory. They are met at the border by newly arrived NKVD units.






75 rifle is surrounded but repels a Finnish attack. 60 rifle arrives to rescue 75 rifle (that was to save 18 rifle, but didnt quite succeeed).






Not much action between 12 infantry and 56 and 164 rifle.






139 retreats and takes heavy losses as it tries to escape Pajari.






While Ekholm shifts towards the north 155 attacks to the west along the road.