Battle of Raate Road, Jan 1, 1940

 The Winter War, waged between Finland and the Soviet Union is a fascinating struggle, a 'David vs Goliath' if there ever was one. This fight, which was staged along a road in central Finland, resulted in a tremendous victory for the outnumbered Finns. 

I have no Action Report, but here are three photos following the game.

This is taken at the head of the column, belonging to the 44th Soviet Division. The Finns (top photo), have already wiped out several tanks and Armored Cars, along with a full Platoon of Soviet troops...

At the middle of the column, the Finns took out more tanks (T26s) and AC, while destroying three Platoons of Soviet infantry and the Company HQ (all that is left is the command car, left of center on road)...

At the tail of the column, the story was the same, although Soviet resistance here was more spirited than elsewhere. More destroyed T26s, and AC, with numerous prisoners (top left) heading off into the woods and captivity...

During the 'battle'. the Finns lost a total of 18 figures. Soviet losses amounted to 125 KIA; 12 POWs; 7 T26s destroyed and one captured); 2 Light AC destroyed and 4 captured; and 3 Heavy AC destroyed, and two captured. All and all, it illustrated quite well how this fight turned out!

Caldwell's Division Goes In

 As the Rebs in the Wheatfield retire, more of Caldwell's men (left-center) deploy for their attack...

In the struggle north of Stoney Hill, both the Federals and Rebs exchange casualties, but Caldwell is bringing more men...

At the Wentz's Farms, Barksdale drives more men of Graham's men away (left-center, yellow cap)...

As Wilcox's Brigade inflicts further casualties on the Federals at the Kringle Farm, they become disordered as the result of Reaction Fire...

The men from Florida (Perry Brigade) inflict their first casualty on the defending Federals around the Rogers Farm...

Back at Sherfy Farm, Barksdale's men finish off another stand of Federals (left center)...

Carr's Brigade moves into the Wheatfield, but to their right, the Federals, until artillery and musket fire, become disordered...  

However, Wilcox's Brigade fails their morale, and disordered, retreats...

Completing the 20th turn, Wright's Confederate Brigade comes under effective artillery fire and becomes disordered...

Fire again, is exchanged in the Wheatfield...

Both around the Stoney Hill, the Rebs drive off some of Zook's men...

Fighting and losses continue at the Peach Orchard/Wenzt Farm...

Wilcox's Brigade reforms which won't bode well for the Federals...

Perry's Brigade inflicts more casualties on the Yanks around Rogers Farm...

Back at the Wheatfield, Carr's men, along with supporting artillery, eliminate a weakened stand belonging to Law (hidden in woods at center)...

As Zook brings up more men to pint blank range, Rebel fire despite the close range, is ineffective!

The Yanks lose their own weakened stand at the Wentz Farm to Barksdale's men...

More casualties at the Roger's Farm, yet both sides stand their ground...

Well, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), this story ends. The table has been occupied by this massive game since August, and it needs to move on. It certainly showed me how historical events appeared by putting it up on the gaming table. So, hope all your games go well...or at least you have fun because that what its all about

Longstreet Strikes North, Part III

The fight in the Wheatfield is heating up (again!)  as both sides take casualties...

Some of Wofford's men reform after passing through the Rose Farm, while more Confederate troops are coming up...

Confederate artillery positions itself at the Emmittsburg/Wheatfield Road intersection. Barksdale's 21 Miss loses men and becomes Shaken (yellow cap)...

Wilcox's Brigade is extending the Rebel battleline to the north, as the Federals at the Klingle Farm, (top center)  attempt to halt the assault...

As Blue and Grey exchange fire near the Rodger's Farm, yet another Confederate Brigade (Wright) further extends their line...

The Federals of Carr's Brigade, win their fight with the Rebs at the northern edge of the Wheatfield (upper right). Further to the west, fire is exchanged with newly arrived Federals...

As the 21 Miss now is routing (red cap), new Federal troops exchange fire with the rest of Barksdale's men as losses mount for both...

The Union troops north of the Wentz Farm are holding...barely, as they are taking heavy casualties. he two Federal Batteries are beginning to worry as their infantry support seems to be melting away (their ineffective fire despite good ranges may explain some of that) ...

More to come...

Longstreet Strikes North, Part II

 The fighting at the Round Tops (left) and Houck's Ridge, has died down.  Law's men (bottom) rally but stay in position as they have lost 50%! The 4 and 5 Texas Regiments take position to hold Devil's Den (left center). A parting volley is made (and missed) by some Confederates at the retreating Federal section of artillery (top left center)...

Ward's Brigade (minus Ward) is retiring from the field (top left). Johnny Reb maintains his increasing success in Rose's Woods as their latest volley drop two out of Tilton's Brigade...

General Semmes moves part of his Brigade into Rose Farm. while the rest of his men swing into support...

Artillery from both the Yanks at the Peach Orchard (top left) and the Rebs along Warfield Ridge (bottom) pound away at each other inflicting casualties...

While Robertson and Benning regrouped their men, de Trobriand (left edge) is marching down the Wheatfield Road, and Weed's men (center) form on the north edge of Little Round Top, to match them...

de Trobriand's (top center) men regrouping near the Wheatfield while Ward's Brigade (right edge) leaves the fight...

In Rose's Woods, Tilton's men lose their exchange of fire, losing two more and becoming Disorganized...

Despite losing casualties to the Rebel artillery, Union guns pound the emerging Rebs at Rose Farm, dropping two and forcing the rest back Shaken! (right edge)

In the artillery exchange, the Reb's Ashland Battery (armed with 20lb Parrotts), is forced to retired Shaken. The Federals lose one battery that withdraws as it has lost 50 % of its men...

Answering the call for Federal assistance, General Hancock, II Corps, orders Caldwell's Division to move to the Wheatfield. (top center) Peach Orchard to upper right...

The Rebs of Benning, Robertson and Law regroup to await the seemingly upcoming attack from the Yanks of de Trobriand near the Wheatfield Road...

In Rose's Woods, the Rebs shoot up Switzer's men, making them Shaken as well. Thats two brigades these men are driven off! Unfortunately, as Semmes new line (bottom) comes out of the Rose Farm, they lose men to Union artillery in the Peach Orchard, and become Shaken themselves...

Wofford's Brigade now steps off towards Rose's Farm...

Lastly, Longstreet's final Brigade, Barksdale's Mississippians, step off towards their rendezvous with the Peach Orchard (top center)... 

No sooner does de Trobrian's d reformed Brigade start forward, when they suffer an effective Reaction volley from the Rebs, breaking them and leaving them Shaken. It appears, that they have had enough. Note that at top right corner you can just make out Caldwell's Division...

Just as Barksdale's assault begins, much of the Federal Artillery massed in the Peach Orchard have been chased away. Making matters worse is that both Tilton's and Switzer's Brigade are either Disorganized or Shaken!

Wofford's Brigade (bottom left edge) and Barksdale's, ( top left edge) continue their advance...

The pressing need for Caldwell's Division is now clearly seen by the Yanks as they approach the Trostle Lane (top right)...

Benning and Law pull some of their men back into cover as they have come under artillery fire from Little Round Top...

Anderson's Brigade is smashing what's left of Tilton and Seitzer's Brigades (center and left of center)...

South of the Rose Farm, Kershaw has recovered his Shaken Brigade, but Semmes' men continue their retreat...

Barksdale's Confederates, fire a devastating volley into the Yanks attempting to hold the Emmittisburg/Wheatfield Crossroads, dropping three at the Sherfy Farm! (left of center)

With Federal Batteries in retreat, Caldwell's Division continues it's advance towards the fighting to the south (right)...

Even as they put themselves into cover, they still suffer another casualty...(left of center)

Anderson's men charge and capture a Federal Battery left unsupported by de Trobriand's retreating Brigade. They did limber the guns but could not get away!

Moving through the woods of Stoney Hill, Anderson's men causing havoc in the retreating Federal's ranks...

Meanwhile Kershaw moves his men forward once again, as Semmes continues to retire...

Barksdale's Brigade successfully charges the Yanks at the Sherfy Farm. They do lose a casualty to Reaction Fire from their left flank...

Finally, Wilcox's Brigade of Anderson's Division from A.P.Hill's III Corp, step off following Barksdale (out of photo to right)...

For the Federals, the Wheatfield, and Stoney Hill have been lost (right edge) as reserves (Caldwell's Division, Carr's Brigade-on road and top center and left center)) move up. Note the mass of retreating Yanks which illustrates quite well, the confusion that must have reigned at this point during the actual battle...

Barksdale's Brigade takes two additional casualties as they drive off Federals belonging to Graham from the Wentz Farm (center right)...

As Carr's Brigade forms up on the Wheatfield Road, The Rebs miss an opportunity when their Reaction volley is ineffective (center). Reba from Anderson's Brigade push to the northern edge of the Stoney Hill (lower center) The Remainder of Caldwell's Division is also moving up (left)...

Confederates from both Semmes and Wofford's Brigade are moving through the Rose Farm...

While the 21 Miss of Barkdale's Brigade moves through the Wentz Farm, and the left-hand regiments reform on the left, Yankee Regiments (left center) swing their left back to meet the rising danger...

As the grey line of Wilcox's Brigade takes ineffective artillery fire, the small Florida Brigade of Perry (left center), joins the attack...

to be continued...