IN CONTINUATION AND LAPLAND WAR 1941 - 1945

Karjalan armeija (Kar.A) (30.6.41 - 1.3.42)
(Karelian Army)

Aunuksen ryhmä (Aun.R) (1.3.42 - 25.7.44)
(Olonets Group)
Staff of Kar.A became Aun.R on 1.3.1942.

Maaselän ryhmä (Maa.R) (1.3.42 - 4.3.44)
(Maaselkä Group)
Re-named II AK. Since 23.2.1944 also
acted as Staff / II AK.

Kannaksen ryhmä (Kan.R) (1.3.42 - 4.3.44)
([Karelian] Isthmus Group)
Re-named IV AK.

Hangon ryhmä (HR) (17.6.41 - 7.4.42)
(Hanko Group)

Kannaksen joukkojen komentajan
esikunta (Ka.Jo.KE) (25.7.41 - 1.10.44)
(Staff of the Commander of Troops in
Karelian Isthmus)
Part of Staff of Aun.R became Ka.Jo.KE on
25.7.1944.

I Armeijakunta (I AK) (19.5. - 30.6.41)
(I Army Corps)
On 30.6.1941 was halved to Kar.A and V AK.

II Armeijakunta (II AK) (9.8.41 * 1.10.44)
(II Army Corps)
* Between 1.3.1942 - 23.2.1944 called Maa.R.

III Armeijakunta (III AK) (16.6.41 - 1.10.44)
(III Army Corps)
In Karelian Isthmus since 5.3.1944.

IV Armeijakunta (IV AK) (18.6.41 * 1.10.44)
(IV Army Corps)
* Between 1.3.1942 - 4.3.1944 called Kan.R.

V Armeijakunta (V AK) (30.6.41 * 3.12.44)
(V Army Corps)
* Between 13.8.1941 - 1.2.1942 called I AK.

VI Armeijakunta (VI AK) (30.6.41 - 1.10.44)
(VI Army Corps)

VII Armeijakunta (VII AK) (18.6.41 - 31.5.43)
(VII Army Corps)

Ryhmä Oinonen (RO) (20.6.41 - 18.6.42)
(Group Oinonen)

Ryhmä Puroma (RP)
Group Puroma
During Lapland War.
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Col.
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Maj.
Lt.Col.

Lt.Col.
Lt.Col.
Lt.Col.

W. Häkli (30.6.41-1.3.42)
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W. Häkli (1.3.42-25.7.44)
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E. Honko (1.3.42-4.3.44)
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O. Sippola (1.3.42-4.3.44)
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K. Rauramo (6.41-)
V. Vähätupa (16.7.41-15.2.42)

W. Häkli (25.7.-1.10.44)
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K. Julenius (19.5.-30.6.41)
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W. Häkli
K. Julenius (30.6.41-)
E. Honko (9.8.41-1.10.44)

K. Schreck
T. Sarparanta (5.3.43-1.10.44)
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O. Sippola
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V. Simolin
K. Schreck (1.10.-3.12.44)
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B. Kraemer
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T. Sarparanta (-5.6.43)
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A. Väinämö
L. Klärich (4.7.41-18.6.42)

V. Vähätupa
E. Hallakorpi (?-)
P. Lautela (?-)

Panssaridivisioona (Ps.D) (29.6.42 - ?.12.44)
(Armoured Division)

1. Jääkäriprikaati (1.JPr.)
(1st Jäger Brigade)

2. Jääkäriprikaati (2.JPr.)
(2nd Jäger Brigade)
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Rajajääkäriprikaati (Rj.Pr.)
(Frontier [Guard] Jäger Brigade)

Ratsuväkiprikaati (Rv.Pr.)
(Cavalry Brigade)
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3. Prikaati (3.Pr.)
(3rd Brigade)

12. Prikaati (12.Pr.)
(12th Brigade)

15. Prikaati (15.Pr.)
(15th Brigade)

16. Prikaati (16.Pr.)
(16th Brigade)

19. Prikaati (19.Pr.)
(19th Brigade)

20. Prikaati (20.Pr.)
(20th Brigade)

21. Prikaati (21.Pr.)
(21st Brigade)
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Col.
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Capt.
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Capt./Maj.
(27.8.41)
Lt.Col.

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L. Klärich (22.8.42-4.12.44)
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U. Vesenterä (-42)
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B. Reckhardt
V. Noko
P. Simola (-42)

A. Väinämö (7.-?.44)
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A. Mattila
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P. Arra (44)

L. Vahe (1.42-)
A. Ilva (?.-?.44)

P. Hinnerichsen (?.-?.42)
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O. Huhtala (42)
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O. Huhtala (?.42 - 1.44)
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S. Gyllenbögel (1.-?.44)
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P. Arra (1.-?.44)
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H. Kraemer (1.-?.44)

Artillery Units

As earlier the basic unit of the Finnish Field Artillery was a three to six gun [Artillery] Battery [Patteri, Ptri] which consisted of two or three Sections [Jaos] of one or two guns. Typical battery still consisted ot two sections of two guns except super heavy battery which had only three howitzers.

Independent field artillery batteries formed in spring 1944 were motorized heavy and super heavy units called Motorized Heavy Battery [Moottoroitu raskas patteri, Mt.Rask.Ptri] equipped with four heavy howitzers or cannons and Separate Super Heavy Battery [Erillinen järeä patteri, Er.Jär.Ptri] equipped with only two (or three) super heavy howitzers. Cavalry Brigade had its own horse-drawn light battery called Riding Battery [Ratsastava patteri, Rats.Ptri] equipped now with six short cannons.

[Field] Artillery Battalion [Patteristo, Psto] had usually three batteries. At the beginning of Continuation War there were two types of regimental light artillery battalions. First type consisted of three batteries equipped equally with light cannons. Another type had two batteries equipped with light cannons and third battery equipped with light howitzers. The latter one became more common during the war.

Starting in early 1944 many field artillery battalions were re-organized to be equipped with the same model of weapons to simplify ammo supply. Within regiment this usually meant that one artillery battalion was equipped with light cannons (75, 76 or 84 mm), one with light howitzers (105 or 122 mm) and one with heavy howitzers (152 or 155 mm). This process was not completely done by June 1944.

Separate artillery battalions were called as Light Artillery Battalion [Kevyt patteristo, Kev.Psto], Heavy Artillery Battalion [Raskas patteristo, Rask.Psto] or Super Heavy Artillery Battalion [Järeä patteristo, Jär.Psto]. In September 1944 the last ones were suspended and all super heavy batteries became independent units. Heavy artillery battalions were equipped with 150, 152 or 155 mm howitzers or with 105 or 122 mm cannons while light artillery battalions had both older 75 or 76 mm (even short-barreled) cannons or newest 105 mm howitzers. In the summer 1944 many artillery units lost their weapons and were re-equipped temporarily even with rather light artillery pieces although unit retained its original name.

Separate units belonged to the Artillery of Supreme HQ or army, group or army corps level field artillery. If needed these units were subordinated to divisions, brigades and temporary battlegroups. Their main task was typically counter-battery firing. Infantry brigades formed since 1942 had organic light and heavy artillery battalions. Motorized Heavy Artillery Battalion 14 was attached to Armoured Division in the summer 1942. In 1941 all but three and since 1942 all Finnish divisions had an organic heavy artillery battalion.

Divisional Field Artillery Regiment [Kenttätykistörykmentti, KTR] consisted of three (light) artillery battalions equipped initially only with light cannons and howitzers. Divisional artillery received heavier calibre howitzers during the war and certain units were equipped with heavy howitzers like was already told above.

Artillery Group [Tykistöryhmä, TR] was a temporary artillery detachment composed of various artillery units usually under the Artillery Commander of the brigade, division or army corps but also the Commander of the field artillery regiment or artillery battalion depending on the size of the group.
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Towing of Guns

Batteries within divisions and brigades were usually towed by horses but most separate heavy and all super heavy units were although motorized with lorries or tractors. The mobility of the Finnish artillery was only mediocre because there were severe lack of heavy trucks and majority of them were worn out already during the war. By 1944 horse-drawn artillery units were in difficulties during marches because of Soviet fighters and Il-2 ground-attack planes.

In June 1941 all guns without recoil system were handed over to other artillery arms in Finland: Fortress and Coastal Artillery. Most of these units could be moved only if they were assisted by field artillery or transport formations.
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Trucks and Tractors Used by Finnish Field Artillery (1942):

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Improved Fire Directing Method

In 1943 a new simplified calculating and fire directing method was approved in Finland. The basic principle was that the observer didn't have to calculate anything or even know which artillery and mortar units will fire to a target. All such was done far behind the lines according to the simple directions of the forward observer. Calculating was simplified using pre-calculated tables which made corrections much faster and easier. The risk of dangerous mistakes diminished and the need for target search decreased. The result was that mortar and artillery fire reached a target faster and more accurately - sometimes at the very first salvo - giving the enemy no time to escape or even take cover! This both saved ammunition and improved the effectiveness of Finnish artillery.

Simple "correction converter" for forward observers introduced in 1943 helped them making more rapid and accurate corrections because slow calculations were not needed anymore. Correction converters were so secret that they were not even shown to Germans. Full circle in Finnish artillery was 6000 points. Translations: Ampumasuunta = firing direction Tähystyssuunta = observing direction Pois = remove Lisää = add

The introduction of weather detecting radio-sonde in 1942 meant revolution in ballistic preparation. Sonde could measure three important factors: air temperature, air moisture and air pressure. Wind speeds and directions were measured using teodolite as earlier.

By 1944 Finnish field artillery had reached the level in indirect fire which far ecceeded the Soviet and German ones. When also the number of well working radios had incresed a lot reliability of fire directing orders had improved substantially. Concentrated salvoes of all field artillery batteries and mortar platoons within range were now finally possible. In the summer 1944 timed highly accurate artillery and mortar concentrations of even 10 - 20 artillery battalions and mortar companies were used very destructively.
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[ Finnish Field Artillery Units 1941 - 1945 ]
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