SGS Rules

Tolvajarvi

INTRODUCTION

This introductory scenario covers the battle of Tolvajärvi, during the initial Soviet attack in December 1939. Can the Finns repeat their historical victory? Or will the Russians hold on to their conquests?

The sheer size of the Soviet attack north of Lake Ladoga came as a nasty surprise to the Finns, who had only lightly guarded the way around their main defenses. A hasty counterattack by Colonel Talvela’s defeated the Soviet advance at Tolvajärvi, becoming the Finn’s first major offensive victory in the war, and steeling morale within the Finnish Army

The game’s event cards allow full replay ability thanks to the numerous various situations that they create on the diplomatic, military, political or economical fields

DURATION & FORCES

Longest Duration: 1h00
Favored Side: Soviets
Most Difficult Side to Play: Finns

The Finnish player controls the Finnish (light blue) and Foreign Volunteers (darker blue) .
The Soviet player controls the Red Army, Red Air Force and NKVD (dark red) units.

The scenario lasts 4 turns (between the first week of December 1939 and the last week of December 1939), each turn being the equivalent of one week.

The Soviet player always plays first, followed by the Finnish player.

MAPBOARD

The map represents the whole of southern and central Finland, as well as the neighboring seas and far-off regions in the north.

The scenario playable regions are located in Eastern Finland, north of the lake Ladoga, and nearby Soviet regions only.

VICTORY

IMMEDIATE VICTORY
– Disabled in this scenario. The side with most VP at the end of the scenario wins the game.

BONUS VP
– The Finnish player earns 10 VP if he controls the Tolvajärvi region at the end of the game.
– The Finnish player earns 5 VP for each other region located on the Soviet border that he owns at the end of the game (except Ilomantsi, only 1 VP), as well as regions of Sortavala and Joenssuu.
– The Soviet player earns 5 VP for each of Sortavala, Joensuu, Suistamo and Tolvajärvi that he controls at the end of the game.

REINFORCEMENTS

– For the Soviets.
Turn 1 : December 1st -7th : 4th Rifle Div.
Turn 2 : December 8th -15th : 36th Tank Bde.
Turn 3 : December 16th-22nd : SB2 Bomber
Turn 4 : December 23rd -31st : None

– For the Finns.
Turn 1 : December 1st -7th : 7th Ind. Bn.

SPECIAL RULES

REPLACEMENTS
All replacements and constructions are handled by cards. Soviets will receive 3 replacement for the first 2 turns, then 4 for the last two, and the Finns will receive 1 every turn. Both sides will also get those provided in addition by events and cards.

CARDS
There are two cards drawn each turn in this game, and players may keep up to 10 of them in hands.

ALLIED INTERVENTION
Disabled in this scenario

SUPPLY SOURCES
– For the Finnish units: Joensuu and Sortavala.
– For the Soviet units: Olonets and RR south of Ladoga

FOREIGN BOXES: SWEDEN & NORWAY
No one can enter them in this scenario

BREAKTHROUGHS
Only allowed to Finnish small units of Regiment or Brigade side, in most terrains.

SISSI UNITS
Those Finnish combat units can move and attack while hidden, and they don’t need any supply. Their presence allows for a special Ambush round in battle where only Ski troops can fight. Three of the Finnish leaders have the same abilities (they bear the Sissi emblem).

FOG OF WAR
Only the Finnish units benefit from a partial fog of war, i.e. the Soviet player cannot see what their stack could countain (only a flag is displayed on those).

SOVIET HINTERLAND
No Finnish units may ever enter any of the Soviet regions with railroad located on the eastern side of the mapboard, nor the Murmansk offmap box.

FINNISH DIFFICULT TERRAINS
The Forests & Lakes, Marshes and Deep-Forest terrains do not allow cavalry or heavy units superiorities, and provide combat bonus to defenders. No supply either in the Deep Forest terrains.

 

For the PDF version, use the links below :

SGS Winter War – Fact sheets (PDF) : Grand campaign – Scenarios : 1939 introductionMannerheimSuomussalmiTolvajarviPlan R4.

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