Sissukoni 1999
Sissukoni 1999
Sissukoni Perkele '99 - The first Finnish ASL Tournament
I arrived one day early, on the Thursday and was picked up at the Helsinki airport by Toumo Lukkari. He was easily recognised among the waiting people since he was the only one standing there waiving board 1! After a quick drive to his apartment we were treated to a delicious meal by his wife Susanna and then went on to discuss ASL in Finland, Finland in ASL and checking his library. Thereafter we prepared for the next day by having some beers in a pub, followed by some of Tuomo's special version of vodka.
The tournament was not due to start until late in the afternoon so Tuomo dropped me off in the city while going to work, I think spanking trainees was on the schedule for him ;-). I spent several hours in various bookshops and picked up some really interesting material. Then a visit to the Mannerheim Museum came, and was really a mind opener to this remarkable person who have led the armed forces of Finland twice, saving the country from a worse fate each time. He also served for the Tsar, rode to China on a recon tour to see if Japan / China was up to something, spoke 14 or so languages and has more medals than you can count. Tours are held in a number of languages so a visit here is *really* recommended.
Then after a quick ride to Parola, which is where the Finnish Armoured Museum is located where the tournament was going to be held. When you enter the parking lot you have 20 - 30 tanks looking down on you from a small hill! Impressive indeed. Lined up was almost all the different types of the tanks that were used by the Finns during the WWII wars and some newer ones.
The first round I was teamed up with Teemu Luoma to play Le Herrison as the Germans. Teemu set up a forward defence including some units in the lone building on my left. I decided that to eliminate these was the first priority and set the 10-2 killer stack in the central building with LOS to them. Three squads and a leader was setup to move slowly forward on my right to bind his forces on that flank, and the rest to attack on the left side. The Sig1b's were placed mostly in the rear to put Smoke between his level two MG's and my guys. The play started nice with Smoke in both the hexes I wanted, the 10-2 stack CR'ed and broke a concealed squad and all units went slowly forward as planned. Both HIP HS's were found as well. In his turn Teemu tried to pull back from the exposed building and I broke leader while trying, but a squad got away. Then I had a Low Ammo result on one Sig and another got recalled due to a Sniper. The broken leader got away. Things got worse after that; I lost a CC in the centre by being ambushed and though the HMG was malf'ed for three whole turns before being repaired I was not able to advance as fast I needed. The Low Ammo Sig rushed through his lines to draw some attention into his rear. The other Sig moved up to area behind the orchards. As moved the 10-2 stack forward to push on the central building all of the broke to a 1MC result and had to rout back. Hmmm. As I had cleared the left side now, I abandoned the Sig and deployed a squad to start securing buildings. On the next to last turn I managed to place Smoke to cower the HS's + crew that now had to rush the right rear side for the final buildings. Thereafter his HMG toting squad was broken in the central building, and routed to the rear with the GO leader. There was another broken squad on bottom level and a GO squad on LVL 1. Teemu tried a 1:1 CC attack with leader/squad in the central building but lost both. The 10-2 had recovered and surged forward to be in position for a final turn push. The HS and Crew rushing were both pinned due to fire *through* the Smoke - ugh! In the final turn I still needed to take four buildings. The HS's and crew secured three of these. The 10-2 and two full squads walked to a 2 hex building only to receive another 1MC result, which broke all of them again. So it came down the final building. I surrounded the final squad and advanced in to CC him and the final DR required was 8 or less which I managed. 1-0
Early next morning came the Desert round. I don't like desert scenarios at all so this was actually to be my first one ever (not counting one play of Taking Takrouna). I wanted to play Taking T. again but Veikko Hyyrynen deleted it so we sat down with SP25 Two Pounds in Return with me as Germans. The Germans need to exit more DVP than the attackers.
They have three captured 2pd AC's (but no captured penalties), a HMG, an ATR, a AAMG KFz, 5 squads, and some DVP in the form of two trucks, and some more. Opposing them is an assorted array of low tech armored cars and carriers. I wont say much on this except that I was slaughtered. One 2 pounder had a MA malf on the second shot (IF as I had no ROF), the second rolled boxcars and malfed on ist first shot. The third managed a hit / kill but no ROF (and no, I had no intention of trying another IF there...). The HMG had no effect on anything. After his turn I was neatly surrounded. In my prep I killed another vehicle or two. The HMG rolled boxcars too... (I though this was unlucky, but then I had no idea of what was coming during the rest of weekend!). The two German trucks rushed off and managed to exit. Then everything I had died and continued to die in his 2:nd turn. With 1.5 turns gone he had eliminated all 2 pounders & immobilised the AAMG. I played another whole turn just for sake of it and the resigned. I don't know how you can win this but it probably includes getting some ROF. I still don't like desert. 1-1
In the turn three afternoon game I got to met Andreas Hinz who had also been treated exactly the same way (same scenario, same side, but not even one ROF with the two pounders) in the previous round. Andreas is a German having moved to Sweden, whereas I am Swede having moved to Germany so it was quite funny to finally meet (in spite of him living 5 km of where I grew up) after having played PBEM VASL for a year or so. This was the PTO round and mutually disagreed to play SP35 The Jungleers (which I lost last year at ASLOK to Scott Drane). Andreas set up the defending US in an amoeba formed knot behind the road on my right flank, which I think is the only way to go in this one. Possibly setting up a HS/Baz behind the bamboo to delay the IJA armour some. I sent the onboard HA-GO's along the left edge followed by the 9-1, 228/HMG, 447/LMG, 447 and a HS. The rest edged up along the right flank for the unavoidable Banzai. My first turn was uneventful. Andreas wanted to pull back the 667/FT from the front line, but I managed to break it. He moved a Sherman to cower his rear from my left flanking force. I took some pot shots with my armour, using an IF to break one MA. One TH rolled snakes, but since the TH# was 2 anyway it failed to generate a CH. In my second turn my first shot to gain some AQ for the LtMtr broke it with boxcars. I brought two of the left flanking AFV's (one with the malfed MA) around to the side of his rear Sherman. The remaining failed his TC to move so it had to stay. The infantry in front of his position moved another hex forward. In his def the rear Sherman killed the ok afv and tried to kill the another with an IF shot, but malfed (this was good news since the US loose if both the Shermans are recalled, immobilised or destroyed). Andreas continuously rolled nice 'n low, including repairing the MA again whereas I lost one more MA due to boxcars. Oh, my LtMtr was removed as well on the repair dr. You see where this is heading? I rushed his position with my AFV's in preparation but selected wrong hexes to end up so my Banzai was totally shot up, losing 4-5 squads in it. Nevertheless, it got me into his position and I started trying to get Foxholes since the IJA can also win by taking 7 of 10 FH's. Three turns of very intensive infighting followed and it could still go both ways. The US lost use of both the HMG & MMG when both manning HS broke trying to get out of their FH (because also in the was aburning Ha-Go, blocking their LOS). A Sherman MA malfed again, but was immediately repaired and the Sherman went through my lines to attack from behind. An IJA squad captured a Baz and promptly turned to fire it on the Sherman and secured a hit! The game got real exiting there! The Sherman was only Shocked, but anyway. My sniper activated the first time and broke a squad (Andreas had had 5 - 6 effective Sniper attacks up till now). I had only five FH's so when the Shocked Sherman recovered in my last RPh I resigned. Good playing by Andreas with few mistakes and some nice DR's!!! Nicht wahr, oder? ;-) 1-2
After this we went of to the Sauna to for a break before the third and last round on the Saturday. With some beer and sandwiches this helps one to recover from anything. But it must have been to hot for our Finnish friends since they were already gone! :-)
In the fourth round I sat down to play with Jorma Hakki, and we mutually disagreed to play the remake of Tiger 222 (KE 16). I drew the Germans. While Jorma had no visible stacks on my side of the stream, one still needs to investigate the areas along the edges and the houses. Especially since there were two US stacks suspiciously cowering the (German) right side with no LOS to the central areas. Nothing detected by the bump rec. The King Tiger enters via the paved road on the left and moves only to the first level one hill hex. From there it can surpress the stacks in houses on the level hill directly opposite to the bridge. Now I don't generally complain about dicing, virtual or otherwise, but I thought I had had my share of bad ones for this weekend now. Nothing speculative happens till the King goes for some ATT to gain AQ. Go figure. Boxcars again. As Jorma continued to break people with 6+2, 6+3 4+1 attacks the 658 really did not have what it took. I found the GMC in the woods on my right and could take it out with a PF. Two turns to go and I wasn't across the bridge yet! In these desperate straits I try to repair the King Tiger MA to gain some VP when it crosses, but roll a 6 of course... Now I know why this tournament was called "Perkele" as well. After this there was little less to do, I pushed some but every one broke / died to 6+0 & 2+0 attacks. Jorma never needed use more than the GMC, 2 squads, a crew and a HS. 1-3
Since it was only around eleven in the evening Tuomo and I decided to play quick one: Going to Church. Again I got the MIB. His main attack came direct on to the church. In his first DFPh a measly 4+2 broke the 9-1, 658/LMG guarding my rear and right side. I did manage to break his 9-2 once and two squads but otherwise had little effect on his units. A well placed LtMtr smoke on his part enabled him to rush the church. I helped him a little by a potshot which generated a Hero and a Fanatic squad for him. He sent the fanatics forward alone where the laughed at my 9-1, 658, 658/LMG (they had just recovered) and proceeded to break them all with a 8+3 attack. Tuomo very effectively finished the game by placing a DC in the final Melee hex, breaking all of my remaining GO units. I hope we get to play soon again! 1-3 (0-1)
Sunday morning and I was in the final for the last place, playing Pasi Heijala who was 0-4 at this time. This was the Finnish round in all senses! We selected Surprise Encounter and I got the Finns. I sent some dummy cloaking counters and a real unit one side and the rest on the other. Pasi guessed correctly which one was the main push. To give you an idea how this scenario went the very first attack went like this: 2nd turn. 9-1, 648, 648 fires at a russian ?(447, 447) stack. One 447 pins the other is ok. Next a ?(648, 648) assault moves up adjacent for some CC. Pasi voluntarily breaks the pin447. I advances in for an Ambush where I have a drm of -3 and he zero. No Ambush.... You can live with that.. The 3:1 attack does *nothing* and Pasi rolls snakes when attacking one squad, killing it, generating an 8-0 and withdrawing so he is adjacent to the 9-1, 648, 684 stack. In his prep they attack at 8+1, and breaks the 9-1 and one 648. He killed the 648 leftover from the failed ambush with a 9-1 + HMG triple ROF (actually ROF four times but no more targets were available to him). In the second turn I managed to kill an already broken squad with ?(8-0, 648) in CC. I was not really able to hurt him otherwise, failing most things and resigned after another turn. 1-4 (0-1)
In the Sunday afternoon a tour of the museum had been organized making for an excellent ending of this weekend. Lots of intresting tidbits and discussions.
Well, in spite 17 boxcars (three short of boxcar winner) this was enjoyable event. Thanks to Tuomo and Eero Vihersaari for an excellent organised event! If you can go there next year do it, you'll find a very nice bunch of ASL players to take care of you on and off board.
