On June 25, 1944, as the Soviet 45th Guards Rifle Division moved west from Viipuri, they encountered units from the Finnish 18th Infantry Division. Finnish forces were deployed in both east and west villages, and in the central woods on both sides of the main east-west road. Soviet forces moved west along the road and south of the SE woods, engaging the Finnish troops in the east village at 1215. By 1245, the Finnish units there were under assault from combined Soviet forces, while other T-34/85 platoons moved into both the central wooded areas surrounding the road. At 1300 hours, the “Marshal’s Fist” sent units from Detachment Puroma, Armored Division, which entered the fray from the northwest. Combat was furious, as units were hand-to-hand in the south-central woods, while T-34/85 units eliminated two T-26s platoons. By 1445 hours, two Jäger units that had been trying to skirt the north central woods were eliminated by Soviet armor, and the east village was secured for the Soviets. The Finnish remnant from the south-central woods moved southeast with an eye toward re-engaging Soviets in the east village, but was slowed by a T-34/85 platoon. The west village, which had been reinforced by the remaining units of the Detachment Puroma, was under attack by 1500 hours from Soviet armor and foot units moving west. The Soviets secured the east sector of the west village by 1530, but Jäger units and a BT-42 platoon provided stiff resistance. With Soviet leadership flagging and strong support from the remaining Jäger platoons, the most of the west village remained under Finnish control until 1645, resulting in a draw.

This is an extremely well-balanced and challenging scenario for both sides. The Soviets need to control both villages, while the Finns need to prevent total Soviet control without losing more than eight steps; the latter is not an easy task with weak armor and step losses for armor counting triple. The Soviet strategy used in this playthrough was to secure the east village while moving as many units as feasible quickly toward the west one. In retrospect, an alternate strategy would be to get the T-34/85 platoons west as quickly as possible, since the Finnish 37mm AT units can’t stop them. These armor units could then have a potential opportunity to prevent the Jäger units from getting to the village. Of course, the Jägers could then move across the northern section of the board toward the east village, but that would be over open ground with the Soviet armor having a speed advantage. The multiple strategies created by this scenario make it a great challenge for either side. In this playthrough, the result was a draw since the Soviets failed to control the west village, while the Finnish forces lost 41 steps to 11 lost by the Soviets.

NOTE: This scenario was played using updates and corrections from the PG-HQ site contributed by plloyd1010, rerathbun, and Shad. Maps from Eastern Front and Soviet units from Road to Berlin were used, and Finnish units were from Arctic Front Deluxe and a Finnish Supplement created by plloyd1010. The scenario was played with 4th Edition rules.