Storkyro (1714): A Fight to the Finnish!

I staged a Great Northern War (1700-1721) game at the centre on 8 August, set during the Russian invasion of Finland (then a dependency of Sweden). The Russians (Richard, Rob and Mark) were attacking the Finns (Alex and Doug) in the depths of a Scandinavian winter. We used my 15mm figures and Warmonger rules.

 

The Finns, led by General Armfeldt (9 infantry units in 3 brigades, 4 cavalry units in 2 brigades, and 4 artillery batteries) drew up across a frozen river, holding the ford.

The Russians, led by General Golitsyn (15 infantry units in 5 brigades, 9 cavalry units in 3 brigades, and 4 artillery batteries) deployed with the bulk of their men on the right (Richard – 9 infantry, 6 cavalry units, and the artillery), approaching through woods. Rob was in the centre with six infantry units, while Mark had a cavalry brigade on the left. Each side had to capture the ford or inflict more casualties to win.

 

Turn 1: Ga Pa!

Alex immediately charged his cavalry on the Finnish left against Richard’s artillery emerging from the woods. But he failed to make contact, and Richard’s guns inflicted two casualties on the horsemen.

Meanwhile, Doug moved his infantry towards the river in the centre.

 

Turn 2: Finns Redeploy

Alex’s attacking cavalry fired its pistols and retired, as his infantry crossed over to the Finnish left flank. Rob and Richard’s Russians continued to advance.

 

Turn 3: Russians Emerge

Richard’s cavalry was slowly emerging from the woods, as Rob advanced in the Russian centre.

Doug’s infantry kept moving up, and his artillery began an ineffective cannonade against Rob’s infantry.

 

Turn 4: Russian Cavalry Flanks

Rob began firing in the centre against Doug. Meanwhile, Mark’s cavalry on the Russian left flank was approaching Doug’s right flank, which Doug had refused in anticipation of an assault

Richard’s infantry emerged from the woods. Alex’s artillery began to fire on Rob’s infantry, and destroyed one unit.

However, one of Alex’s 3rd class cavalry units was destroyed by Richard’s 2nd class cavalry in melee.

 

Turn 5: Finnish Artillery Assault

Alex formed his infantry on the Finnish left into line, and continued to pound Richard’s cavalry and Rob’s infantry in the centre. One of Rob’s units was forced to retreat after receiving four hits.

Rob nevertheless moved his good quality second brigade up to the river.

 

Turn 6: Rob’s Russians Disrupted

Some of Rob’s infantry, facing the bulk of Doug and Alex’s Finnish infantry in the centre, lost a melee against Alex’s infantry, and were destroyed.

 

Turn 7: Mark’s Cavalry Approaches

Mark’s cavalry, though delayed by difficult terrain, were now moving ever closer up the Russian left.

As Rob’s good infantry brigade formed line, Richard’s infantry reached the river line. Both sides were now lining up by the river and firing at each other, and Alex lost one infantry unit.

 

Turn 8: Rob’s Russians cross the river

Rob’s good brigade crossed the river in the centre. Doug’s two infantry units fired and forced one of Rob’s to retreat.

Meanwhile, Richard advanced on the river with two brigades.

 

Turn 9: Russians Advance Relentlessly

Alex pushed an infantry unit in the centre across and fired. There were now two Finnish infantry and two artillery units in the centre. Both Richard’s and Rob’s infantry continued their advance in the centre, however.

Nevertheless, Mark’s Russian cavalry now pounced on Doug’s Finnish cavalry and forced a Finnish unit to retreat. Mark followed up and another of Doug’s cavalry units lost the melee and had to retreat.

 

Turn 10: Russian Cavalry Successes

Richard charged cavalry against one of Alex’s infantry units on the Finnish left, which was forced to pull back.

Mark’s cavalry were having a stellar game, and pushed back the two Finnish cavalry units again.

The Finnish centre was now threadbare as four Russian infantry units pressed on one Finnish infantry unit.

 

Turn 11: Finnish Right Outflanked

Rob’s first brigade of poor quality infantry had been blunted. But Mark again charged Doug’s cavalry on the flank, and another cavalry unit against some of Doug’s infantry, which was now back-to-back against his other foot – having been outflanked.

Meanwhile, Richard’s cavalry on the Russian right charged Alex’s infantry and won. It followed up but lost the second melee and had to retreat.

While Richard and Rob pointed to the difficulty of activating brigades (on a d6 roll of 3+ per brigade – though player initiative points were available), Doug’s good infantry brigade managed to stop Rob’s good infantry brigade on the Finnish right.

 

Epilogue

The Russians lost 6 infantry units (5 of which were Rob’s) and 1 gun. The Finns lost 2 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 gun. The Finns had taken fewer casualties but were about to be surrounded, and would have had to withdraw. Not all Russians got into combat, but this was hardly surprising given the terrain and relatively modest number of initiative points per player (which could be increased in a future game). Overall a fun night – thanks to all who played, and to Rob for lending the snow sheet. The real battle of Storkyro (aka Napue, 2 March 1714) – 10,000 Russians against 5,000 Finns – ended in a Finnish defeat and withdrawal, and resulted in a 7-year Russian occupation of Finland known as the ‘Great Wrath’. After several Great Northern War games over the past few years, I aim to start painting up more figures for a Battle of Poltava refight at the War Room in the not too distant future…