Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

12 May 1943

Fighting in North Africa ends.

Finnish daily losses: 17


Soldier cleaning his machine gun at base "Tirva 3". (Svir)

***

13 May 1943

Aunus Group: "Our patrol destroyed two living dug-outs and three prepared positions, one of which was made of concrete on the east side of Vaskusjärvi. Enemy losses 20 KIA."

Finnish daily losses: 19

***

14 May 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

15 May 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 15

***

16 May 1943

25 planes strike Kotka, but most of the bombs fall outside of the city.

Finnish daily losses: 20

***

17 May 1943

Karelian Isthmus: "Our ambush patrol met with a 2-3 platoon size enemy unit on the south side of Leimassaari. The five man point patrol was eliminated at close range after which our patrol attacked the main body of the enemy, killing at least 15 soldiers before withdrawing under mortar support with no own losses."

Finnish daily losses: 21


8.Division's mascot "Piltsu".

***

18 May 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 10


What's left of an shot down IL-2. (Tiiksjärvi)

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

17 May 1943

Karelian Isthmus: "Our ambush patrol met with a 2-3 platoon size enemy unit on the south side of Leimassaari. The five man point patrol was eliminated at close range after which our patrol attacked the main body of the enemy, killing at least 15 soldiers before withdrawing under mortar support with no own losses."

Interesting. They were on patrol but had mortars near by and were able to communicate with them? Did the patrols carry heavy radio equipment?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Interesting. They were on patrol but had mortars near by and were able to communicate with them? Did the patrols carry heavy radio equipment?

The reports found in the HQ war diary are often shortened and might not give a very clear picture for these smaller engagements. Here's the original from Infantry Regiment 16's diary:

"At 0730hrs our ambush patrol (2+11) led by 2nd Lieutenant Kirkkala left to the front terrain of base "Mauri". At 1030hrs, a strong enemy detachment approached our patrol and its point patrol was quickly encircled. The 5 man patrol responded to surrender demands by opening fire and it was quickly eliminated. Contact was quickly made with the enemy's main body during which our patrol was forced to withdraw back to base "Mauri" at 1100hrs. Our mortars supported the retreat of the patrol by firing 77 grenades, and judging by the cries heard they inflicted some casualties. Confirmed enemy losses: 20"

[Schroeder]

Thanks.

[Dowly]

Here's something about the patrol radios used by Finland:
http://ilmakilta.info/kyynel.php

Seems to be a bit soddy translation, but I'm too lazy to translate the couple of pages from a book I have on the LRRPs.

[Dowly]

19 May 1943

A NCO defects from Soviet submarine Sts-303 on the Gulf of Finland.

Commander Travkin's Sts-303 had tried to breakthrough the anti-submarine nets, but had been spotted and has now been evading her pursuers for three days. Her batteries and oxygen was starting to be at criticial levels when NCO Galkin during his watch intentionally surfaced the boat and leaped to the sea. A nearby German vessels picks him up as Sts-303 submerges again.

Finnish daily losses: 19


Dutch-German actress Ilse Werner visiting Finland. (Helsinki)

***

20 May 1943

Karelian Istmus: "Heavy AT, mortar and smallarms fire towards our base "Sormenkärki" near the mouth of Rajajoki river."

Finnish daily losses: 16


Patrolman Pfc. Mäenpää on a prisoner capture mission. (Uhtua)

***

21 May 1943

Aunus Group: "Our snipers have killed 89 enemies between the 11th and 20th of May."

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

22 May 1943

Minelayer "Ruotsinsalmi" sinks a Soviet submarine (Sts-408) near Tallinn.

Finnish daily losses: 21

***

23 May 1943

Four Blenheims from LeLv 42 bomb the Murman railway. One plane is lost.

Aunus Group: "Our patrol cleared 200 meters of enemy trenches in the Svir power plant area. At least 15 enemies were killed."

Finnish daily losses: 22

***

24 May 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 17

***

25 May 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 18

[Faith]

Stumbled onto this thread the other day, and I love it. Keep up the good work.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Faith

Stumbled onto this thread the other day, and I love it. Keep up the good work.

Thanks!