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Dowly · 07-11-19, 05:22 AM

9 July 1944 (2/2)

Soviet forces cross River Vuoksi to Vuosalmi.

By 9 July Major-General Blick's 2nd Division had regrouped to defend the northern shore of Vuoksi river. Similarly to the Äyräpää bridgehead, Colonel Ehrnrooth's Detachment E (Os.E) took responsibility of defending the left flank and Lieutenant-Colonel Vänttinen's Detachment W (Os.W) the right. Elements of Vänttinen's forces were still fighting on the south side of the river.
The enemy crossing began at 05.00 with a strong artillery preparation joined by 150 bombers and ground-attack aircraft to the entire depth of the sector.
Ehrnrooth's Os.E lost their positions on the shore almost immediately, and the enemy pushed north along the Vuosalmi-Oravankytö road to the Os.E HQ at Lampela. Colonel Ehrnrooth's counter-attack began around 11.00 to regain the territory on the west side of the V-O road. The westernmost unit of the counter-attack was Major Ahola's Detachment Aihola (Os.Aihola) which consisted of troops from Ahola's Separate Battalion 12 (ErP12) and Major Oljemark's II/IR15. By noon, Os.Aihola had pushed the enemy back to Metsärinne-Mäkipelto-Kaunola level.
Around the same time, Ehrnrooth put together Os.Kuovi, commanded by Major Kuovi of IR7. The detachment was made up of two jäger platoons from IR57, Captain Mäenkaski's company from II/IR57, pioneers from IR7 and lastly, Captain Talvitie's replacement detachment. Their task was to attack south along the Vuosalmi-Oravankytö road and reach the Leivonen-Pasuri level. Os.Kuovi reached the forests on both sides of the road around Mäntylä where they linked up with Captain Raassina's II/IR7 which was attacking towards the river from east. After reaching the forests around Mikkola-Juvonen, Captain Raassina's forces linked up with Major Olanterä's III/IR7 who were defending Vasikkasaari.
In the evening Captain Raassina's II/IR7 was relieved by Lieutenant-Colonel Sundblad's 19th Brigade.

In Os.W's sector, the attack was focused primarily on Lieutenant-Colonel Mäntylä's Kindred Battalion 3 (HeimoP 3). The positions on the shore were lost, but overall the attack could be contained around the Rajala-Lehtola level.

Finnish artillery, now grown to 8 battalions, fired over 13,000 rounds to support the defenders over the course of the day, and since the situation in Ihantala and Gulf of Viipuri had stabilized, both Finnish and German planes could be allocated to Vuosalmi. Commander of the Isthmus Forces Lieutenant-General Oesch also ordered the Armored Division to be sent to Vuosalmi.
According to Juri Kilin, the Soviet 115. Army Corps lost 2,388 men on 9 July.

Situation on the Karelian Isthmus.

Situation in East Karelia.

Finnish daily losses: 358

07-11-19, 05:22 AM	#642
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,056 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	9 July 1944 (2/2) Soviet forces cross River Vuoksi to Vuosalmi. By 9 July Major-General Blick's 2nd Division had regrouped to defend the northern shore of Vuoksi river. Similarly to the Äyräpää bridgehead, Colonel Ehrnrooth's Detachment E (Os.E) took responsibility of defending the left flank and Lieutenant-Colonel Vänttinen's Detachment W (Os.W) the right. Elements of Vänttinen's forces were still fighting on the south side of the river. The enemy crossing began at 05.00 with a strong artillery preparation joined by 150 bombers and ground-attack aircraft to the entire depth of the sector. Ehrnrooth's Os.E lost their positions on the shore almost immediately, and the enemy pushed north along the Vuosalmi-Oravankytö road to the Os.E HQ at Lampela. Colonel Ehrnrooth's counter-attack began around 11.00 to regain the territory on the west side of the V-O road. The westernmost unit of the counter-attack was Major Ahola's Detachment Aihola (Os.Aihola) which consisted of troops from Ahola's Separate Battalion 12 (ErP12) and Major Oljemark's II/IR15. By noon, Os.Aihola had pushed the enemy back to Metsärinne-Mäkipelto-Kaunola level. Around the same time, Ehrnrooth put together Os.Kuovi, commanded by Major Kuovi of IR7. The detachment was made up of two jäger platoons from IR57, Captain Mäenkaski's company from II/IR57, pioneers from IR7 and lastly, Captain Talvitie's replacement detachment. Their task was to attack south along the Vuosalmi-Oravankytö road and reach the Leivonen-Pasuri level. Os.Kuovi reached the forests on both sides of the road around Mäntylä where they linked up with Captain Raassina's II/IR7 which was attacking towards the river from east. After reaching the forests around Mikkola-Juvonen, Captain Raassina's forces linked up with Major Olanterä's III/IR7 who were defending Vasikkasaari. In the evening Captain Raassina's II/IR7 was relieved by Lieutenant-Colonel Sundblad's 19th Brigade. In Os.W's sector, the attack was focused primarily on Lieutenant-Colonel Mäntylä's Kindred Battalion 3 (HeimoP 3). The positions on the shore were lost, but overall the attack could be contained around the Rajala-Lehtola level. Finnish artillery, now grown to 8 battalions, fired over 13,000 rounds to support the defenders over the course of the day, and since the situation in Ihantala and Gulf of Viipuri had stabilized, both Finnish and German planes could be allocated to Vuosalmi. Commander of the Isthmus Forces Lieutenant-General Oesch also ordered the Armored Division to be sent to Vuosalmi. According to Juri Kilin, the Soviet 115. Army Corps lost 2,388 men on 9 July. Situation on the Karelian Isthmus. Situation in East Karelia. Finnish daily losses: 358 Last edited by Dowly; 07-11-19 at 06:28 AM.