In order to celebrate the Reds DLC and the 99th Finnish Independence Day, I present you:
Community Event: Highway to Helsinki
Scenario:
Spoiler : :
tl;dr: It's June 1991, Eastern Europe burns, and Soviet forces from the Leningrad Military District invade Finland.
Situation:
Two days ago four Soviet Motorized Rifle Divisions with strong air support invaded southeastern Finland without a formal declaration of war. The Finnish Border Guard units dispersed away to the forests, and during the following day the Soviet advance pushed through the defences of the first regular FDF military unit they've encountered, the Infantry Brigade 8. The brigade was badly mauled in its first combat encounter, and it sustained so severe losses during the two-day long rearguard action that at the moment it can no longer be considered fit for combat. Bolstered by few hastily raised local defense battalions, the remnants of the brigade withdrew towards northewest to hold the line on the narrow lake isthmus area north of Taavetti. This area was correctly identified by the Soviet HQ as the weakest part of the Finnish presence in the whole Kymenlaakso region, and the Soviet forces pressed their advantage and broke through during the previous night, pushing towards northeast with alarming speed.
Now, on 10th of June, the Finnish HQ has sent the Savo Jäeger Brigade forward to stabilize the situation. The brigade has been tasked to take positions along the ridges of Salpausselkä hills at the outskirts of the Repovesi National Park, in order to foil or at the very least delay the Soviet attempt to bypass the defenders of Kymijoki river line by a swift and sweeping flank attack.
In-game setup:
Conquest, 4v4 or 3v3 (depending on the number of players) with historical OOB decks:
All participants play with a deck they'll receive from the event host. The decks are based on historical Soviet and Finnish OOB, and describe units like Soviet Motor Rifle Battalion (BMP) or Jääkäri Battalion[/size] http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/modcwsov.pdf
The scenario describes an offensive of a Cat-C late 1980s MRD with elements from the standard standard TO&E of a BTR regiment, BMP regiment and Tank Regiment against Finnish opposition consisting of elements of a standard TO&E Jääkäri Brigade 90, and assorted support formations from HQ Reserves.
Special rules for the scenario:
The scenario seeks to portray a typical combined-arms engagement.
1. Initial meeting engagement: Defenders have a setup time of 10 minutes. During this time they may establish lines to a predetermined area of the map and move all units out of the spawn normally. During this time attacker can only use Recon units to advance over this line, but may use artillery and air units normally.
2. Actual battle phase: Both sides can employ all units normally.
When neither side opens up new zones (which they won't as per game rules: the attacker goal is to reach the enemy spawn within the time limit), the game goes on until the time limit without any need for silly floating points. And as a house rule, capturing new zones is a no-no.
So it's basically up to the attacking force how they'll seek to breach the enemy defenses - will they amass a huge force and try one decisive attack, conduct more general advance through the line to pin the defenders down along the front?
So, as a summary:
1. Pre-made historical OOB decks. Definitively not your average RD match as far as equipment goes.
2. Four players, 4 for attackers and 4 for defenders. Slots are open.
3. Map is the larger variant of Highway to Soul without the side spawns, only starting areas in use and with no new commands.
4. Game mode is Conquest with a time limit, with the special goal of attackers reaching the enemy spawn, and defenders holding out until the clock runs out.
Finnish briefing:
Mission: To delay the enemy advance, ultimately stopping them before phase line K (friendly spawn).
Friendly forces at your disposal:
Two battlegroups, each consisting of:
- 1x Jääkäri Battalion with standard recon elements (dirt bike scout teams), and standard TO&E = 4 Companies with 4 platoon, each with x4 Jääkäri squads, armed with 112 Rskes APILAS and 66 KES 88 AT weapons, supported by an Anti-tank Company armed with Pstohjus 82M ATGM missiles. Standard battalion-level mortar support with light and heavy mortars. Light anti-air assets are in place to support both battlegroups.
-Additional support from Erillinen Panssaripataljoona equipped with modernized T-55s. Both battlegroup have a company of these tanks at their disposal, with two companies being held at the reserve.
In addition the General HQ has assigned following operational troops for the mission at hand:
- Brigade-level TOW Company.
- Rest of the two companies of the Erillinen Panssaripataljoona, equipped with T-55Ms.
- ItO 90 AA unit
- Operational-level artillery assets
- Helicopter unit from Utti in ATGM configuration
-Air support in the form or light CAS and interceptor sorties.
Estimation of enemy forces
Forward elements of the 64th Guards Motorized Rifle Division are advancing towards our sector. According to our intel and reconnaissance reports the unit is a Cat-C Soviet division, with a single mechanized regiment equipped with BMP-1 IFVs, an armored regiment with T-80 and T-64 MBTs, and a Motorized Rifle Regiment with BTR-60 APCs. Reports from Infantry Brigade 8 indicate that the enemy has attacked with strong armored support, and utilized a lot of indirect firepower. Gunship helicopter attacks and constant air support and interdiction indicate that this is the operational spearhead of the enemy offensive, and that the enemy will contribute strong forces to the engagement ahead. As always, antitank and antiair operations will be pivotally important.
We must maintain superiour situation awareness, and use our limited resources as efficiently as possible. Trying to hold a single continuous line, or spreading our forces too thin are certain recipes for defeat. Good luck commander, you're going to need it.
Soviet briefing:
Mission: Advance along the highway, secure the flanks of this supply route, reach phase line R by 45:00.
Friendly forces at your disposal:
Three regiments of the 64th Guards Motorized Rifle Division:
BTR Regiment (BTR-60)
BMP Regiment (BMP-1P)
Tank Regiment (T-80B, T-64B)
Division- and Army-level support assets (AA, artillery)
Air support from the 1st Leningrad Figher Division (MiG-23) and the 2nd Leningrad Fighter-Bomber Division (SU-17, MiG-27).
Estimation of enemy forces
Our recon indicates that the Finns are moving a c. brigade-sized motorized unit to block our advance. Air recon has also spotted T-55 tanks in the area. As per standard tactics of the Finnish military, the enemy will most likely utilize a lot of indirect fire, especially mortars. So far the enemy has refused to stand and fight, instead preferring to fight using ambushes and short skirmishes, seeking to disengage when outnumbered. While pushing along a narrow route and securing the highway area, we must also secure our supply lines and flanks against potential counterattacks. Be confident - we have the enemy outnumbered and outgunned. Now we must engage and decimate this isolated enemy force, so that our operational manouver group can follow us and continue the attack westwards towards Lahti and Helsinki. Time is the essense here - do not let the enemy tie you down to secondary fronts! Create a strong operational spearhead, crush the enemy on one sector, and move forwards towards a speedy conclusion of this conflict.
