This Sturmgeschutz Ausf.Gcan be found in the Finnish Parola Tank Museum

I have been putting together a 28mm WW2 Finnish army for several years. and now that it looks as if I might be able to get a few Bolt Action games in I have realised that the army I have built so far is great if it is facing early war Russians but cannot stand up very well during later years of the war, particularly the second continuation war.

The problem with Finnish vehicles is they don’t have any of their own! Well not quite true!

In June 1933, the Ministry of Defence placed an order for three different British tanks; a Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk VI tankette, a Vickers-Armstrong 6-ton tank Alternative B, and a Vickers-Carden-Loyd Model 1933. Vickers also sent a Vickers-Carden-Loyd Light Amphibious Tank model 1931.

All 4 tanks were put through a set of tests, but the Light Amphibious Tank performed so poorly in the trials that it was returned after only 17 days. The two Vickers-Carden-Loyd models were put into training use and the Vickers-Armstrong 6-ton tank was chosen to replace the obsolete FT’s as the main tank of the Finnish Armored units.

Thirty-two 6 Ton tanks were ordered on the 20th of July 1936 with the delivery spaced over the next 3 years. Due to budget constraints, all models were ordered without tank guns, optics or radios. Unfortunately, due to issues, the deliveries were delayed and the first 6-ton tanks didn’t arrive in Finland until July 1938 and the last came soon after the hostilities between Finland and the USSR ended in March 1940. Finland started the war with only had 32 obsolete Renault FT’s, 26 Vickers 6 ton tanks (all without any weapons) and two training tanks, a Vickers-Carden-Loyd Model 1933, and a Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk VI.

In Bolt Action games terms this means that the only tanks at the start of WW2 available are Vickers Light Tanks and FT17’s which are not listed in the “armies” book. They Vickers were supplied with spare parts so do not suffer from the unreliability of captured vehicles.

Until mid 1943 the only additional vehicles that could be obtained were some Sturmgeschutz Ausf.G type, with the long barrel.

In all, about 59 StuGs were obtained in two batches of 30 and 29. The first batch were rushed into battle, and within a few weeks, claimed no less than 87 Soviet tanks for only 8 losses… The Finnish nicknamed them “Sturmi”, for “Sturmgeschutz”, and often protected them with extra logs.

A “Sturmi” on patrol with “Sissi” troops

By 1944, only 15 Panzer IV Ausf.Js were delivered to the Finnish Army. These were of simplified construction, but with the best armor of the series and the long KwK 43 75 mm (2.95 in), well capable of taking on the T-34 or the KV-1. Again, the Panzer IV’s are not listed in the armies books.

As you would have gathered by now I have decided to add a Sturmgeschutz Ausf.G to my Finnish forces for later war games.

It is important to note the use of the Hakarista or Finnish ‘Swastika’ on military equipment due to the confusion in its application.

Finland first adopted the Swastika on the 18th of March 1918, thanks to a donated aircraft that arrived earlier that month from Swedish Count Eric von Rosen (who used the blue Swastika as his personal symbol). The Hakaristi became a national symbol from that moment, being used on everything from the Medal of the War of Liberation, the Mannerheim Cross, tanks, aircraft, and even by a Women’s auxiliary organisation.

Its use on tanks came on the 21st of June 1941, with the official orders being that it was 325mm in height, had short end arms and white shading to the right and below. It was to be put on both sides and to the rear of the turrets or equal if no turret. However, there is evidence of artistic license with the color appearing as blue, black, longer arms and even without arms at all.

Over the next little while I will add an armoured car and some transport vehicles. The later is important as I can then think about some heavier ordnance, like a 75 PTSK/40 to add to my Pak 36, and will be able to transport troops quickly if there is no snow to use my skies!