Bolt Action - Tali - Ihantala

Yesterday we had a Bolt Action gaming day at the Club. Once again there were four themed Bolt Action tables with all terrain, models and game master present. The idea of these days is to have days full of Bolt Action gaming, introduce the game to new people and to meet like minded gamers. As final part of my long Tali-Ihantala project I designed custom scenario for my theme table of Portinhoikka. The table has been featured various times on the web and so far it has been used for display purposes  only. Now I had change to use the table for real and also run very special game of summer -44 battles on Karelian Isthmus. The game was quite long haul initially having some ten plus turns. Actually they weren't needed but could have been. The scenario was based on real events on Portinhoikka crossroads where Finnish armored division counter attacked Soviet tanks and infantry and stopped Russian rush deep into South Karelia.

The fight started with Finns having hastily gathered AT platoon defending crossroads with one PAK40 and scherks and machine gun platoon. Soviets started by having armored recce team to scout ahead before actual tanks with massed infantry rolled in. Soviet recon was stopped by fire when it reached crossroads and Finnish positions were revealed. Once this recon phase was over Soviet tanks rolled in followed by full platoon of infantry. The fight was fierce and Finns put up real hard fight causing heavy losses to Russians. And still the Soviet steam roller was unstoppable. At the end phase of the fight Finnish armored division joined the fight and challenged Soviet tanks on the crossroads. After intense tank to tank fight the crossroads was full of burning tanks from both sides. After this massive tank bash the defense of Finns broke and Russians reached the road connecting Vyborg and Ihanlala and Finns withdrew towards Juustila.

Finnish troops deploying at Portinhoikka.

PAK40 waiting at ready.

Soviet recce approaching crossroads.

And gets hit by panzerchreck.

Finnish MMG firing.

Objective of the attacker, Portinhoikka crossroads.

Finns in the woods firing.

Soviet infantry attacking.

Soviet T-34's advance on the road.

Massed Russian infantry and tanks attack. 

A sniper and schreck team.

More russian rush into fight.

Armored spearhead.

3rd Finnish armored company counters.

With some effect.

Sturm platoon joins the fight.

Finnish tanks hit and on fire.

Soviet reinforcements arrive.

Late stages of the fight, crossroads full of burning wrecks.

The objective reached by the Soviets.

What a fight! Double size of the normal Bolt Action game. Seven tanks on Soviet side and two platoons of infantry. A platoon of Finns defending with four tanks on Finnish side. Ten + two turns. And still the game rolled on nicely and it was a mayhem but great fun!

Five players altogether. Thanks for the players!