The Great Northern War (1700 - 1721 pitted Sweden against a powerful
coalition of enemies. Many people think that following the disastrous
battle of Poltava, and subsequent surrender of much of the Swedish
field army, in 1709 very little happened in the rest of the war.
This of course is not true and I aim to inform you a little about
one of the fascinating campaigns which happened in the remainder
of the war - the invasion and occupation of Finland in 1713 - 1714.
Finland at this time was part of the Swedish crown and many Swedish
units were in fact Finnish. Up until the invasion of 1713 there
had been relatively little action in Finland during the war. There
were numerous raids and small scale actions connected with the Swedish
defence of the Baltic States against the Russians. In 1708 the Swedish
army in Finland, which as later was mainly Finnish, launched a diversionary
attack on St. Petersburg designed to tie down Russian forces as
Charles XII, the Swedish King, advanced into Russia with the main
army. The army under Lybecker failed in its mission and also managed
to lose most of its horses when it was forced to evacuate by sea.
But generally the fighting had not been serious in Finland.
In the aftermath of the Russian campaign, and the continuing operations
against the Swedes, all of Europe expected Sweden to submit to the
obvious, and seek terms. Unfortunately the exception to this view
point was the man that mattered most in this, Charles XII of Sweden.
He was determined to carry on and so Sweden fought on.
In 1712 the Swedes managed to land an army in Northern Germany
and the spectre of a Swedish revival once again seemed a possibility.
Sweden's enemies were at this time systematically reducing Sweden's
remaining German and Baltic province. But something more seemed
to be needed to finally convince the Swedish King that it was time
to make peace. So it was that Tsar Peter of Russia decided that
it was necessary to strike at part of Sweden's core territory -
Finland. Conquering Finland , he was sure, would force the Swedes
to final come to terms.
He was wrong!
Opposing Forces.
Leading the Russian invasion would be the Russian Admiral Apraxin
(or Apraksin). Despite his title he had spent most of the war commanding
land based troops, although the 1713 - 1714 campaign was to provide
him with the opportunity to command at sea. Apraxin had spent the
war operating in the Baltic States area, at that time Swedish possessions,
and had participated and commanded in many actions. Since the early
part of the war his primary task had been to command the Russian
army that defended the St. Petersburg area, a city which at that
time was still being built and was of crucial importance to Russia
and her Tsar.
While not the most dynamic of commanders Apraxin was competent
enough and 'a safe pair of hands' for the task. He had with him
an army composed of experienced troops both from his own command
and also veterans of the main Russian army that had been fighting
elsewhere during the war. Apraxin also had control of Russia's growing
fleet and in particular her galley fleet. These campaigns were to
be the first large scale use of a kind of fleet that was to be very
important in Baltic naval battles for some time to come. I do not
intend to cover the naval aspects in detail. But suffice it to say
that Russia's galley fleet was to prove decisive
At this time it is not certain if Russian units retained pikes
within their infantry units. They certainly had used them during
the Russian campaign of 1708 - 1709. There is evidence that following
this their used was discontinued, at least temporarily. They were
not deemed necessary when the major operations the Russians were
conducting were sieges and there was no credible threat from a Swedish
field army. But there is evidence that in 1715 they were brought
back for the proposed invasion of Sweden. This leaves it very unclear
whether the forces in Finland had pikes or not. Probably they did
not but they were expecting to be engaged in field actions so possibly
they did.
Opposing him initially was the Swedish general Lybecker. He had
commanded the army in Finland for some time but with little success.
Indeed he had managed to get the army severely mauled during the
1708 diversionary campaign against St. Petersburg. Many doubted
his fitness to command, but he had been appointed by the King. At
this time the King was still in the Ottoman Empire trying to get
support for his schemes. In his absence no one wanted to change
an appointment he had made and so Lybecker remained in command.
To defend Finland he had a field army composed of 4 cavalry regiments
and 8 infantry regiments. Of these 3 cavalry and 7 infantry were
Finnish Indelta (regular Swedish/Finnish provincial units) and the
others experienced Varvade (non provincial and frequently not Swedish/Finnish)
units. He also had the support of a strong squadron of Sweden's
ocean going navy. In theory a strong force to defend Finland.
Unfortunately all was not as it appeared. The 'real' Indelta units
where caught up in the various disasters of 1709 and 1710. Along
with much of the rest of Sweden's 'first line' units they had been
captured or destroyed during the Russian campaign or the loss of
most of Sweden's Baltic provinces. Following these disasters all
of the original Finnish Indelta units had been lost!
Using a mixture of reserve troops ('Fordubbling', a kind of 1st
line reserve unit) and new recruits the Finnish Indelta regiments
were reformed. The old units had some experience but they were far
from 1st Line troops and now had large numbers of raw recruits.
Even the varvade units were a mixed bunch. They were both the combined
remnants of many units from the Baltic States.
To make matters worse there were no pikes available. The use of
pikes by the Swedish army, and others, during this period has often
been seen as a sign of 'backwardness'. Unfortunately while this
might be true for Western armies using attritional fire tactics
it was not for Swedish tactics which used 'shock'. The army also
suffered greatly from disease and desertion. So the numbers of troops
available fluctuated greatly during the period.
The Campaign
At the end of April 1713 the Russians opened the campaign. A fleet
of 93 galleys and 110 other large boats under Apraxin's command,
but with the Russian Tsar in command of the vanguard, headed for
Finland. What followed was a classic example of the advantages of
an amphibious strategy in an area like the Baltic. Lybecker's Finns
would occupy a strong position against the advancing Russians, only
for the Russians to outflank the position by landing forces behind
the Finnish army.
Early in May Helsinki (it was then called Helsingfors) fell and
the nearby port of Borga. By August the Russians had advanced to
Abo and still Lybecker had been able to achieve anything. As Lybecker
fell back the calls for his replacement grew. In September he was
finally replaced, although it is perhaps difficult to see what he
could have done differently. The Swedish navy was not capable of
operating in the shallow waters that Russia's galley fleet used
and so Lybecker could do little.
His replacement was General Armfelt. A Finn himself he was determined
to fight to keep his homeland. He took up a strong position on a
narrow piece of land between two lakes, Palkane and Mallas, to cover
the next important town on the coast, Tammerfors.. To his front
was a channel between the lakes. At this position he constructed
trenches along the line of the channel and redoubts for his artillery
Apraxin with the Russian army moved up to the area with the Russian
army and based itself at the nearby town of Kangais. It was clear
that the Finnish army was in a strong position that would be difficult
to force with a frontal attack, but there was another way! The Russians
paused to prepare and on October 6th 1713 they move to the attack.
The Historic Armies
The Swedish (Finnish) Army
The strength of the Finnish army fluctuated greatly. The exact
strength of the army at the battle is not known but was approx.
3,700 men. The numbers below refer to the units size in June. Not
all of the units were present or had their full strength at the
historical battle.
Horse: All Horse use Swedish charging at a gallop tactics,
but may be downgraded to a less effective tactic because of their
poor quality.
Abo och Bjorneborgs lans Cavalry Regiment: 736 poor cavalry.
Nylands och Tavastahus lans Cavalry Regiment: 803 poor cavalry.
Karelska (Viborgs och Nyslotts lans) Cavalry Regiment: 641 poor
cavalry.
Approx. 1,500 cavalry were available for the historic battle. It
is not known from which units.
Infantry: All infantry are musket armed, no pikes as would
be usual. Unless noted the units use Swedish Ga Pa attacking tactics.
Abo lans Regiment: 791 average infantry.
Bjorneborgs Regiment: 470 average infantry.
Tavastahus Regiment: 792 average infantry.
Viborgs Regiment: 247 average infantry
Savolax Regiment: 731 average infantry.
Nylands Regiment: 503 average infantry
Osterbottens Regiment: 705 average infantry.
Finska varvade Battalion: 240 average infantry but probably
using firing tactics
Approx. 2,200 infantry were present for the historical battle.
All of the Bjorneborgs and Nylands regiment were absent and also
detachments from the other units.
Artillery: 28 guns, mainly light.
The Russian Army
Horse:
Governor's Squadron: about 300 good to elite dragoons.
Luzhski Regiment: about 1000 average dragoons.
Viatski Regiment: about 1000 good dragoons.
Vologdski Regiment: about 1000 average to good dragoons.
Narvski Regiment: about 1000 average to good dragoons.
Cossacks: about 1000 poor light horse.
Infantry:
Grenadier units are all musket armed. All other units are probably
all musket armed as well but it is possible that they retained a
small number of pikes - 10 to 20% of a unit.
1st (formerly Busch's) Grenadier Regiment: about 500 (a detachment)
good infantry.
2nd (probably formerly Sykov's) Grenadier Regiment: about 1000
good infantry.
Archangelski Regiment: about 500 (a detachment) average infantry.
Nishegorodski Regiment: about 1000 average infantry.
Kazanski Regiment: about 1000 average to good infantry.
Moskavski Regiment: about 1000 average to good infantry.
Sibirienski Regiment: about 500 (a detachment) average to good
infantry.
Luzhski Regiment: about 1000 average to good infantry.
Moskavski Regiment: about 1000 average to good infantry.
Viborgski Regiment: about 1000 average infantry.
St. Petersbourgski Regiment: about 500 (a detachment) average
infantry.
Galitschski Regiment: about 500 (a detachment) average infantry.
The amphibious force was organised into 3 'squadrons'.
Buturlin's Squadron (3 Battalions): 1st Grenadier, 1 battalion
each from the Troitzki and Moskavski regiments.
Golitsin's Squadron (4 Battalions): Archangelski, Galitschski,
1 battalion each from the Nishegorodski and Viborgski regiments.
Tchernishev's Squadron (3 Battalions): St. Petersbourgski, 1
battalion each from the 2nd Grenadier and Kazanski regiments.
The land forces were organised into 2 groups under Golovin and
Bruce. In Golovin's were the 2 battalions of the Luzhski Regiment
and in Bruce's group the Sibirienski battalion. The remaining battalions
(1 each from 2nd Grenadier, Nishegorodski, Kazanski, Moskavski,
Troitzki and Viborgski) were divided between these two groups, probably
evenly.
Note: The Russian army had about 14,000 men in total. The
units noted as 'detachments' were about battalion strength, other
units fought as 2 batalions.
Artillery: 22 guns
The Wargame:
The following is a scenario to re-fight the battle of October 6th
1713 using the Polemos Great Northern War rules. Hopefully I will
also include enough information for you to fight the battle using
another system.
You may play the game with the historically available Finnish units
or with additional forces which were detached during the real battle.
Similarly you may play with the historic deployment or with an open
deployment.
Order of Battle: The Swedish
(Finnish) Army
Army Commander: Armfelt (A: 3)
Horse: organised into 3 brigades.
Abo och Bjorneborgs lans Cavalry Regiment: 3 bases of Raw, D.
Nylands och Tavastahus lans Cavalry Regiment: 3 bases of Raw,
D.
Karelska (Viborgs och Nyslotts lans) Cavalry Regiment: 2 bases
of Raw, D.
Ingermanlandska Dragoon Regiment: 1 base of Raw, D
A total of 9 bases of cavalry are available. A maximum of 6 bases
may be used for the historic battle.
All cavalry may dismount and count as DD. I have rated the units
as Dragoons to reflect their poor performance.
Infantry: organised into 2 brigades,
3 with the units in italics.
Abo lans Regiment: 1 base of Trained, GP(-P).
Bjorneborgs Regiment: 1 base of Trained, GP(-P).
Tavastahus Regiment: 2 bases of Trained, GP(-P).
Viborgs Regiment/ Finska Varvade Btn: 1 base of Trained, GP(-P).
Savolax Regiment: 1 base of Trained, GP(-P).
Nylands Regiment: 1 base of Trained, GP(-P).
Osterbottens Regiment: 1 base of Trained, GP(-P).
Units in italics are not used in the historic battle.
Horse: organised into 5 brigades,
the Cossacks must be in a separate brigade.
Governor's Squadron: 1 base of Veteran Dragoons.
Luzhski Regiment: 3 bases of Trained, Dragoons.
Viatski Regiment: 3 bases of Veteran, Dragoons.
Vologdski Regiment: 3 bases of Trained, Dragoons.
Narvski Regiment: 3 bases of Veteran, Dragoons.
Cossacks: 3 bases of Raw, Light Horse (mixed)
Infantry: organised into 5 brigades.
1st Grenadier Regiment: 1 base of Veteran AP infantry (Grenadiers).
2nd Grenadier Regiment: 2 bases of Veteran AP infantry (Grenadiers).
Archangelski Regiment: 1 base of Trained AP (RS?) infantry.
Nishegorodski Regiment: 2 bases of Trained AP (RS?) infantry.
Kazanski Regiment: 2 bases of Veteran AP (RS?) infantry.
Moskavski Regiment: 2 bases of Trained AP (RS?) infantry.
Sibirienski Regiment: 1 base of Veteran AP (RS?) infantry.
Luzhski Regiment: 2 bases of Trained AP (RS?) infantry.
Troitzki Regiment: 2 bases of Veteran AP (RS?) infantry.
Viborgski Regiment: 2 bases of Trained AP (RS?) infantry.
St. Petersbourgski Regiment: 1 base of Trained AP (RS?) infantry.
Galitschski Regiment: 1 base of Trained AP (RS?) infantry.
Artillery: 2 Field Guns and 2 Light
Guns, Trained.
Terrain:
The map is courtesy of Sven Luger and I would like to thank him
for his excellent work.
Each square on the map is the width of 5 standard infantry battalions
(5 BW). In Polemos: GNW terms they are with standard 60mm bases
30cm square. The smaller grey square represents a table 180 cm by
120 cm (6 by 4 feet) and the larger one a table 8 by 6 feet.
For other systems work out the table size you need by calculating
the space need for 5 standard infantry battalions in the system.
This will give you the size of each of the small squares.
Map Key:
Forest: This is not a continuously forested area, rather
it has lots of 'patches' of forest. Movement through it in column
is as normal but otherwise it counts as woods (Polemos - defence
factor 1).
Hill: All hills will block line of sight and give defensive
bonuses, if appropiate. Only the 3 level high hills to the left
of the Palkane affect movement. This counts as a Slope level 2 for
Polemos and should be about half speed for other rules.
Village: Standard small villages. Restrict movement and
low defensive value (Polemos: Defence factor 1).
Marsh and fields: Units charging in marsh/fields should
suffer a small penalty and units defending in marsh/fields should
receive a small advantage. In Polemos this is -1 when making a charge
test and +1 in close combat if defending in it. All units moving
in marsh/field count as disordered (Polemos - receive 1 level of
temporary Shaken).
River/Channel: The river/channel should be about width of
half a standard unit (1BD in Polemos). It takes a whole move for
a unit (not artillery) to cross, Polemos obstacle value 2. Artillery
may only cross at the ford on the road. All units should be disordered,
however that is modelled in your rules, by crossing. In Polemos
all units receive 1 level of Shaken in addition to all others that
apply.
All Russian infantry units in the main force have improvised rafts
which they can use to cross the river/channel. This reduces the
difficulty of the crossing to approx. half that of normal but if
the unit is hit it should suffer additional damage. In Polemous
term this reduces the obstacle value to 1 but if the unit suffers
a level of shaken from any sources it will receive an additional
one. Each unit can only use its rafts once.
Ford: The fords are wide and a single unit can attack across
them. The ford on the road can be crossed with no penalty. Crossing
the other fords should produce minor disorder (they count as Fords
under Polemos).
Sea/Lake: These areas may also be crossed but it is risky.
Units may move a maximum of half their width per turn (in Polemos
this is 1 BD) i.e. at about ¼ speed. Units may must move
with one edge of the unit touching land. Any shooting at a unit
in these areas automatically should cause a hit (or the equivalent
in your rules). Similarly moving in these areas should cause extra
disorder to normal and/or hits.
In Polemos terms this means that a level of Shaken is automatically
taken whenever you are fired on when in these area, unless the result
is worse than this. Each turn that you move in these areas roll
a D6. On a score of 1, 2 or 3 you receive an extra level of Shaken
which must be rallied. The unit receives a +1 dice modifier if it
is cavalry, +1 if it is Veteran or Elite and -1 if it is Raw. If
you have 2 levels of Shaken you must rally before you can move.
Stakes: Lines of emplaced stakes. A reasonable obstacle
to cross but with little defensive value unless charged. Polemos:
Obstacle value 1 for infantry but 2 for cavalry. Defensive value
is 2 if charged and 1 in Close Combat. Cavalry receive 1 additional
level of Shaken when crossing it.
Trenches and Redoubts: All trenches and redoubts should
provide substantial advantages for units defending inside them.
For Polemos they have a defence value of 2. Units in trenches do
not block line of sight. They count as a minor obstacle (value 1
in Polemos) to enter, exit or cross. Infantry units in trenches
occupy twice there normal frontage.
A: Russian amphibious starting point.
Deployment:
Historic: The Finnish army deploys
first. All bases are organised into brigades and then deployed on
table. All units must be to the left of the river/channel. At least
1 infantry brigade must be deployed in the trenches. All others
must be within 2 standard units width of the trenches (2 BW). All
guns are unlimbered and deployed in redoubts. The redoubts may be
part of the trench line or within 2 BW of the trench line.
All Finnish cavalry are deployed dismounted and in, or within 1
BW of, Malkila. If a cavalry unit moves in the first 2 turns it
may become disordered. The Finnish cavalry was not formed at the
start of the battle. If it moves during the first turn it receives
1 level of Shaken if it moves dismounted and 2 if it mounts. On
the second turn, and did not move during the first turn, it receives
1 level of Shaken if it is mounted.
The Russian army must be organised into brigades and then the brigades
assigned to the available commanders.
The amphibious assault must be commanded by Galitzin. He must command
3 or 4 infantry brigades and can only command infantry. These forces
are placed in the area of point A. One brigade may be within 1 move
of land but may not start touching land. A second brigade may be
within 2 moves of land but must be more than 1 move away from land.
Any other brigades may be within 3 moves of land but must be more
than 2 move away from land. All brigades must be within 3 standard
unit widths (3 BW) of point A.
The intention of the above is that the brigades are in 3 'waves'.
The remaining forces may be divided between the other commanders
but each commander must command at least 3 brigades. These troops
may deployed to the right of the river/channel and more than 3 BW
from the river/channel. Artillery is limbered but all other troops
may deploy as desired.
Options:
Additional Finnish Troops: If you wish you may use the additional
Finnish troops. These may deploy as above of may be deployed freely.
If deployed freely they are deployed after the Russians deployment
and must be 5 BW away from any Russian unit.
Free Deployment:
The Finnish army may deploy anywhere to the left of the river/channel.
But they must not be any further south than a line 1BW south of
Malkila on the western land mass.
The Russian army may deploy anywhere to the right of the river/channel
or within 3BW of point A (as above) or may be held off table. An
unlimited number of infantry brigades may make an amphibious assault
but none have to.
Brigades may be held off table but their turn of arrival on table
must be noted at the start of the game. Off table units may be held
off the southern end of the table either below point A or to the
south of the road that exits the southern table edge. In the first
case the units will be making an amphibious landing.
Amphibious Assault:
To unlock the strong position that the Finns had taken up the Russians
used an improvised amphibious assault behind the position. They
used small rafts they had made themselves. This improvised fleet
transported Galitzin's command to the area near Malkila.
You may use a base with small rafts on to represent these units
while they are embarked. This should be the same approximate size
as the area that the unit would normally occupy but travelling sideways,
i.e. like a column. Use one raft base per unit, the commander is
assumed to be with the first unit that disembarks.
Raft Movement: The boats should move
at something like the speed of infantry and movement should be automatic.
The command is in something like 'travel mode' and should move relatively
quickly and easily. In Polemos GNW units in boats will move 1 BW
per turn and do not need to be activated by spending TP's.
Disembarking:
Disembarking is free, but may not be combined with any land movement,
other than the actual disembarking procedure. The boat bases are
placed next to the land. Then the unit contained is placed on the
land with part of it touching the boat base.
After all disembarking in a turn is done the FINNISH player may
move up to 1/3rd of the bases that disembarked this turn up to half
the width of a unit (1 BD in Polemos) without changing its facing.
If any Finnish unit could fire (it does not have to actually fire,
just have the ability to fire) at the units disembarking units they
all may be moved in this way. i.e. the Finnish player can break
up and disrupt the Russian formation, especially if they land under
fire.
All units that disembark should be severely disordered and disorganised
how ever that is portrayed in your rules. In Polemos GNW terms each
unit receives 2 levels of Shaken and the brigade will probably have
to perform a 'Reform' order.
Artillery Fire: If the boat bases come under artillery fire
the boats, and the unit in them, can be destroyed. Each battery
needs a 4, 5 or 6 at short range, 5 or 6 at effective range and
6 at extreme range (Bombarding range in Polemos).
Note: The above rules should make it near to suicidal to
land close to enemy forces. So you have been warned. Find a quiet
place away from the enemy to land or suffer the consequences.
The Historical Battle:
Realising that the Finnish position was very strong Apraxin planned
to divert their attention with a frontal assault while Galitzin's
amphibious command landed behind the Finns. During the early hours
of the day the main Russian army closed up on the Finns position
and the amphibious command crossed the lake. As dawn broke the Finnish
army spotted the Russians and moved into action.
In the West the first wave of Galitzin's command landed but the
Finnish cavalry nearby were still in quarters. Armfelt, who was
soon in the area, quickly got them moving though. The bulk of the
cavalry remained dismounted but some also mounted. Armfelt planned
to pin and disorder the Russians with the dismounted cavalry and
then hit them with a flank attack with the mounted cavalry. But
due to the delay the Russians had had time to organise and the Finnish
cavalry, whose performance was distinctly under par, would not close.
In the East, Apraxin and his forces attempted to cross the river/channel
using their homemade rafts. In three dispersed groups the infantry
tried to cross while the artillery provided support. But the defending
Finnish infantry were alert and easily repulsed the attempt. To
maintain the pressure on this sector a series of attacks were carried
out. At one point the Russian cavalry even attempted to wade through
the lake to get round the Finnish position. No matter what was tried
the Finnish defenders were up to the challenge.
Meanwhile, with stalemate in the East, additional Russian infantry
landed safely in the West using those already landed as cover. Some
time earlier Armfelt had summoned the reserve infantry from the
area of the river/channel. With there arrival he once again returned
to the attack. Initially the attack proceeded well but with the
Finnish cavalry still under performing and with more Russians arriving
the attack was repulsed. With numbers beginning to tell the Finnish
cavalry crowned a less than glorious day by leading the rout of
this section of the Finnish army.
With the Western part of the Finnish army withdrawing in disarray
the Eastern positions were now vulnerable and indeed could be cut
off by the victorious Russians under Galitzin. Therefore Armfelt
ordered their withdrawal. But in this area the Finns had tasted
success all day and they were reluctant to leave. It was only with
some difficultly that they were persuaded that they had to. As soon
as these units started to withdraw the Russian cavalry was dispatched
to pursue them. Harassed by the pursuing cavalry, and with occasional
pauses to beat off attacks, the remaining sections of the Finnish
army withdrew from the battlefield leaving the majority of their
guns behind.
The Finnish army had been badly battered but it had survived to
fight another day. They did not at that time know that this day,
the day of the next battle, was destined to be February the 19th
1714. But that as they say is another story, a story I shall tell
in the next article.
If you have any questions, comments, etc, on the scenario please
contact me directly at nick@wfgamers.org.uk or via the Polemos Yahoo
group (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/polemos/).
