The 70th Rifle Division mounted an attack in Rajajoki sector. The Uusikirkko Group was dug in, waiting for the red masses. Again, the defense of the sector fell to the hands of the elite border guard units, supported by 81mm mortar and machineguns.
In this map, I have very good cover. Lots of buildings to use. The plan is to hold as much ground as possible, I'm quite sure there will be heavy attacks to the bridge and to the crossroads in south. Also, some skirmishing might happen in the woods north of the bridge.
Defensive positions.
The battle started slowly, nothing happened withing the first few minutes. Then an enemy scouting party was spotted in the woods just north of the crossroads. Heavy machinegun fire drove them away with heavy casualties.
Shortly after the scouting party disappeared deeper into the woods a hellish artillery barrage shook the ground at crossroads, inflicting light casualties.
Finnish machinegun team under artillery fire
In the north, the Soviets attacked the bridge with full force. The first enemy contact was made just 15 meters from the bridge. The Soviet forces eventually got to the bridge and dug in, leaving the Finnish troops defending the crossroads separated from the mainforce.
Bridge over Rajajoki under attack.
The situation blew when the Soviet forces sneaked up on the defenders at the crossroads, caughting them off guard and eliminating most of the Finns. Only a command team of three men was left in the house just otherside of the road.
The battle of the bridge had turned to the favor of the Finns in the north. A 5 man recon team armed with Suomi SMGs had gotten to the Soviet's flank, while the units still on the Soviet side of the bridge circled the dug in enemy and started a massive grenade bombardment down to the frozen river where the Red Army soldiers were. Immediatly after the grenade barrage, the recon team launched a counterattack and captured the bridge back.
Moments after the counterattack began. The assaulting troops are in the cover of the smoke screen.
Now that the threat in north was eliminated, I had the opportunity to lend some men to counterattack the crossroads, where the command group was still pinned down.
The command team pinned the remnants of the Soviet attackers, while an Border Guard team attack from west under the cover of smoke. The counterattack was succesfull and the crossroads was taken back, which made the Soviet troops to retreat from the sector.
Border Guards attacking the remnants of the Red Army inside the northernmost house.
Casualties at Rajajoki.
The morning hours are now over. Of the three sectors I was attacked in, two are now clear of enemies. Time to rest and prepare for the new wave of Soviets.
