KAUKOPARTIOJOUKOT

1942-1944
FINNISH LONG-RANGE RECONNAISSANCE TROOPS
by Mike Haught

Nearly four years ago I, along with many of my fellow Flames Of War players, became entranced by the new Finnish briefings that
Battlefront had just released. I found the ‘David & Goliath’ story compelling and I wanted to learn more. During my reading, I discovered
the story of Finland’s long-range reconnaissance troops and, as a huge fan of elite recon and raiding troops, I immediately set to work
putting together a briefing that would bring these heroic troops into Flames Of War.

When the Soviets invaded Finland during athletes such as skiers and runners. The A Kaukopartiojoukot usually conducted
the Winter War of 1939, the intelligence missions that the patrol would undertake reconnaissance missions, however they
department of the Finnish military required calm nerves under extreme were also authorised to launch raids on
recognised the need for specialized pressure and conditions. the enemy. Typical raids targeted small
long-range reconnaissance patrols to convoys, Soviet officers, supply trains,
raid and gather intelligence deep behind Company-sized patrols would enter and airfields. They also placed mines on
Soviet lines. The first units were formed into the Soviet Union through the loose important roads and railways and tapped
and trained in secrecy, including three Karellian front lines on foot or by skiing. into the Soviet communication lines to
guerrilla detachments, called Hiihtosissit, Once behind enemy lines they would gather intelligence and radio back to
or skiing guerrillas. However, the troops establish a base of operations, leaving Finland for analysis.
did not see much action before the a small unit to guard the HQ and the
Winter War ended in 1941. patrol’s radio. Meanwhile, the company The Soviet guard units pursued the
would break up into platoons or squads patrols as best they could, but more
Kaukopartiojoukot to conduct their mission. These small often than not the sly Kaukopartiojoukot
patrols were typically only about a managed to slip away to safety thanks
1941 - 1943 platoon of troops (30-50 soldiers). to superior training, a remarkable radio
network, and detailed knowledge of their
During the uneasy peace following the Only a few company- and battalion-sized opponents. In fact, the patrol often knew
Winter War, the Finns secretly continued patrols were deployed. These were more about their Soviet pursuers than the
to train and expanded their guerrilla formed to conduct certain high profile Soviets knew of themselves!
force. A new type of patrol, called a operations, such as striking well-guarded
Kaukopartiojoukot, or long-range scout
patrol, was formed to conduct long-range
supply centres, cutting the Murmansk Other Long-Range
railway or disabling the Stalin Canal.
reconnaissance and guerrilla strikes far The patrol was occasionally reinforced Patrol Units
behind the enemy lines. for these missions with guerrilla, Jääkäri
Other units, such as the Sissi
(light infantry), and engineer troops from
The troops consisted of physically and (guerrilla) and Jääkäri (light infantry)
the regular army.
mentally fit volunteers, mostly young conducted similar operations as the
Kaukopartiojoukot, but otherwise had Each company also had a Radioasema The Finnish developed the Model M10
little in common with the long-range (radio station) platoon with 11 soldiers in 1942 which was fully stabilized
patrols. These units undertook more detached from the Radioasema company. and weighed only 12 pounds (5.6 kg)
traditional scouting and patrolling These were in constant contact with the with batteries. This ingenious Finnish
missions and operated much closer to battalion headquarters. guerrilla radio was the most advanced
the front lines under the command of the one of its kind in the world.
local army corps, division or regiment. Finally, each company had a
Huoltojoukkue (supply) platoon which The radio would transmit at a frequency
The Kaukopartiojoukot handled the company’s logistic needs. of 3500 - 5000 kHz and had sending
The 33 troops of the platoon were also power of up to 0.5 Watts, depending on
Battalion expected to fight should they be needed. the power of batteries. This gave the
radio a range of up to 435 miles (700km)
In July 1943 all of the various
Kaukopartiojoukot patrols were grouped Special Equipment in good weather.
together into Erillinen Pataljoona 4 Patrols sent encrypted messages using a
The Kaukopartiojoukot had access to
(Separate Battalion 4). The full strength simple but effective code pattern created
some truly innovative technology to
of the battalion was 678 men and 76 exclusively for each patrol, which made
help them conduct their operations. For
women. There was even an Estonian it impossible to solve without a key.
example, they used a chemical liquid
volunteer patrol within Separate
that confused dogs’ sense of smell so
Battalion 4. Finnish Radio Intelligence had also
they could evade Soviet patrols. Special
snow track mines were used to deploy decrypted many Soviet codes, which
In 1943, the battalion sent over 50 gave Kaukopartiojoukot patrols plenty
patrols behind the lines and over 100 small minefields as well as improvised
explosives. They also acquired a number of warning should there be any possible
were sent the following year. The danger in the area.
intelligence gathered was very important of German smokeless petrol cookers in
and critical to the Finnish military, late 1943 which helped keep their camp
especially in the summer 1944 during the concealed from the Soviets. Uniforms and Armament
Soviet offensive. The patrols wore standard Finnish
Perhaps the most valuable piece of
equipment in the patrol was the small military uniforms. Sometimes they
After the Continuation War, Separate
lightweight guerrilla telegraph radio would use a combination of Finnish
Battalion 4 deployed against the
called a Kyynel, (literally translated as and captured Soviet uniforms so as to
Germans during the Lapland War before
‘tear’ owing to its shape) and a simple confuse enemy patrols if spotted far
it was disbanded in November 1944.
radio receiver called a Töpö, or stump. away.
These innovative radios kept the patrols
A Kaukopartiojoukot in constant contact with HQ and gave
While officially called rifle platoons,
Company Finnish intelligence critical information
each patrol was primarily armed with the
highly accurate and reliable 9mm M/31
in near real-time.
On paper the typical Kaukopartiojoukot Suomi Submachine-gun. However, at
Company at full strength consisted of least one man in the patrol carried a rifle
156 men and 15 women, but in reality
Radios and Message for long-range shooting.
companies never had enough personnel. Encrypting
The company was organized with three
Kiväärijoukkue (rifle) platoons each with The first Kyynel radios were inspired by
four Kivääriryhmä (rifle squads) for a a German radio design which weighed
total of 35 troops. 33 pounds (15kg). Other contemporary
foreign designs weighed a lot more,
usually between 22 to 44 pounds (10
to 20kg).

A Kaukopartiojoukot In Flames Of War

A Kaukopartiojoukot is fielded in raiding mission for your Finnish troops Of course, you can play against any
Flames Of War as a 500-1000 point along with a battle report featuring a army you like!
raiding force, similar to the SAS and Kaukopartiojoukot in action!
LRDG forces found in Sting of the This briefing can be used in both Mid-
Scorpion. However, it can also be A Kaukopartiojoukot uses standard and Late-war games, as the equipment
fielded at 1500 or more points for those Finnish models. They fought all year and rating of the troops did not change
players willing and daring enough to around and thus any of your existing between the eras.
take on larger raids! Finnish models will work perfectly.
You can also use Soviet figures as well Fielding a Kaukopartiojoukot is a
The following intelligence briefing will for those troops you equip with Soviet perfect way to emulate the daring raids
allow players to conduct all of the raid Uniforms. and missions undertaken by these elite
missions found in that publication as troops. The raids were small, usually
well as the ones found on our website: Typically, a Kaukopartiojoukot would consisting of a single platoon with
www.FlamesOfWar.com. These face Soviet security troops which some support. There were also larger
raiding missions are great for differed little from the standard missions you can recreate such as
recreating the tasks undertaken by Strelkovy battalions used by the Soviet cutting the Murmansk railway. Either
the Kaukopartiojoukot. However, Union. They also saw action against way, this briefing gives you everything
be sure to check out the next issue the Germans during the Lapland War, you need to get out there and wreak
of Wargames Illustrated for a new making them valid opponents as well. havoc on the Soviet war effort!
 Kaukopartiojoukot
L -R R C ong ange econnaissance ompany

(Infantry Company)
Headquarters

Company HQ
A Kaukopartiojoukot must field a Company HQ and at least one Kiväärijoukkue Platoon and may
field one of each of the remaining Combat and Weapons Platoons shown.

Kaukopartiojoukot HQ
4
Combat Platoons

Weapons Platoons

Support Platoons
Infantry Infantry Infantry
Jääkäri Platoon

7
Kiväärijoukkue Platoon
Radioasema Platoon 5
4

Infantry
Infantry
Infantry Pioneeri Platoon

7
5

Huoltojoukkue Platoon
Kiväärijoukkue Platoon
4

Infantry

Kiväärijoukkue Platoon
4

lines and land in

fly deep behind enemy
The detachment would to deploy the patrol. The
en t 4 of the ma ny lakes in northern Russia e and
Flying Detac hm
in Jun e
one
1940, a refugee Kaukopartiojoukot would then esta
blish its base near the lak
asio n of No rwa y
During the German inv to Finland. The begin conducting their operation.
Heinkel He 115 seaplane
Norwegian pilot flew his repainted it in d or compromised, the det
achment’s
ndeered the aircraft and en the mission was finishe
Finnish Air Force comma 115 sea pla nes Wh to eva cua te.
er in 1943, two more He raft were radioed to meet
the patrol
their national colours. Lat ey reta ine d their old German airc
rm any . Th
were loaned from Ge n anything they
much more advanced tha
markings. The plane was ange transport
perfectly suited for long-r
currently had and it was
duties.
15 (Flying
established Lentolaivue
The Finnish Air Force cal ly des ign ed to lend
a squadron specifi
Squadron 15) in 1941, extraction of
ertion, supply, rescue, and
aerial assistance for the ins the range of
rols. This greatly increased
the Kaukopartiojoukot pat hin Sov iet territory.
to operate well wit
the patrols, allowing them d so lon g as the y stayed near
ain supplie
They were also able to rem
es in the region.
one of the hundreds of lak
4, took over
entti 4, Flying Regiment
In mid-1942, Lentorykm d to the unit,
oukot patrol was attache
and a special Kaukopartioj
ent 4
forming Flying Detachm
er Separate
s subordinated directly und
In May 1944 the unit wa me n.
s about 55
Battalion 4. Its strength wa
 Motivation and skill
A Kaukopartiojoukot consists of skilled athletes and excellent soldiers. They were expected Reluctant Conscript
to carry out difficult missions over very long periods of time. If captured, they certainly Confident Trained
faced execution by their Soviet captors. As such, a Kaukopartiojoukot is rated Fearless
Fearless Veteran
Veteran.

Headquarters
Company HQ

Headquarters
Company HQ 60 points
Options
• Equip both Command SMG teams with Soviet
Uniforms for + 10 points.

The Kaukopartiojoukot patrol is well armed to conduct The teams of a Kaukopartiojoukot HQ are Recce teams.
reconnaissance and sabotage missions behind Soviet lines.

Combat Platoons

Kiväärijoukkue Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with
4 Kivääriryhma Squads 280 points
3 Kivääriryhma Squads 220 points
2 Kivääriryhma Squads 155 points
1 Kivääriryhma Squad 95 points
Options
• Replace the Command SMG team with a Command
Snow Track Mine SMG team for +5 points. If you
do this, you may replace all remaining SMG teams
with Snow Track Mine SMG teams for +10 points
per squad.
• Replace up to one SMG team per squad with a Rifle
team at no cost.
• Equip all teams with Soviet Uniforms for
+10 points per squad.

Kiväärijoukkue (rifle) platoons usually engaged in

reconnaissance operations but also conducted lots of small and
large scale sabotage missions behind enemy lines.
These missions included surprise attacks against military supply
convoys or Soviet staff personnel, sabotaging mining facilities,
and cutting roads and railways. They also tapped into Soviet A Kiväärijoukkue Platoon is a Reconnaissance Platoon.
communications to learn enemy secrets and cut vital telephone
lines. The platoon carried the reliable 9mm M/31 Suomi SMG though
a few troops carried some rifles for long range work.
Kaukopartiojoukot patrols were well equipped with unique
inventions for their operations, including snow tracked mines, a Patrols often equipped themselves with captured Soviet
lightweight telegraph radio called a Kyynel, (literally, tear), and uniforms to disguise their identity at long ranges, adding to the
most interestingly, a chemical liquid that confused a dog’s sense difficulty for the Soviets to track patrols across the Karelian
of smell to evade Soviet patrols. Peninsula.
 Weapons Platoons

R adioasema Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with
2 Radioasema Squads 80 points
Option
• Equip all Rifle teams with Soviet Uniforms for
+5 points per squad.

Radioasema (radio station) platoons were equipped wth the

ingenious lightweight telegraph radio called a Kyynel (literally
translated as a tear, owing to its shape. By 1942, Finnish
engineers had reduced the weight of the radio from the already
light 33 pound (15kg) radio to an impressive 12 pounds (5.6kg).
The radio operated at 3500-5000 kHz with sending power of A Radioasema Platoon is a Reconnaissance Platoon.
up to 0.5 watts, giving it a range of up to 435 miles (700km) in
good weather.

Huoltojoukkue Platoon

Platoon
Lääkintäryhmä Squad with
1 Kuljetusryhmä Squad 50 points
Options
• Add an additional Lääkintäryhmä Rifle team for
+25 points.
• Add an additional Kuljetusryhmä Rifle team for
+25 points.
• Equip all Rifle teams with Soviet Uniforms for
+5 points per team. A Huoltojoukkue Platoon must make Combat Attachments
to Kiväärijoukkue Platoons with all of its teams.
The Huoltojoukkue (maintenance) platoon provided the patrol
with logistical and medical support. However, it was necessary
for the whole platoon to be prepared to fight and assist the Teams from a Huoltojoukkue Platoon are Recce teams.
patrol should they be needed.
 Radioasema Platoon special Rules
Ahead of the Party Lahti Long-wave R adio Station
The Radioasema Platoon would operate ahead of the main party The Lahti Long-wave Radio Station coordinated the patrol
to assess the situation and guide the patrol away from danger. missions and sent out messages with double meanings deep
into Soviet territory. Often, these messages instructed patrols
When making a Reconnaissance Deployment, the to break off and return home. The patrol would instantly scatter
Radioasema Platoon may move up to twice its normal
into the terrain and reform back at HQ.
movement.
At the beginning of your turn, after any required company
morale check, the Radioasema Platoon may request orders
to return to base. Roll a die:
Advance Warning • On a result of 5+ your force is ordered to withdraw
The radio platoon would be deployed forward of the patrol as a using the rules below.
scouting party. They would warn the patrol of possible danger, • Otherwise, the force does not receive orders to
should a strong Soviet force appear. withdraw and game continues.
When an enemy platoon arrives on the table from Reserve Platoons not within 8”/20cm of an enemy team are
within Line of Sight of any team in the Radioasema withdrawn from the table.
Platoon, the platoon may attempt to warn the nearest
Kiväärijoukkue Platoon to the enemy platoon. Platoons within 8”/20cm of an enemy team must make
a Skill Test before removing any teams. If the check is
Roll a skill check. If successful, the Radioasema Platoon successful, they successfully withdraw. Otherwise, they
warns the Kiväärijoukkue Platoon which may immediately withdraw, but are caught by the enemy and are counted as
Disengage. Otherwise the warning goes unheeded and the Destroyed.
Kiväärijoukkue Platoon remains where it is.
Once all Finnish platoons have been removed from the
table, the mission immediately ends and players determine

Huoltojoukkue Platoon special Rules

Lääkintäryhmä Squad Kuljetusryhmä Squad

Lääkintäryhmä, or medical, squads accompanied the patrols to The Kuljetusryhmä, or transportation group, was responsible
attend to the wounded. They offered battlefield medicine as best for the Kaukopartiojoukot movement. They provided the patrol
they could in harsh climates. They were expected to be able with transport logistics including vehicle procurement and
to defend themselves and were therefore given rifles to defend advanced deployment tactics.
themselves.
A Kiväärijoukkue Platoon with a Kuljetusryhmä Rifle team
Once per turn, if an Infantry team from the same attached uses the German Stormtrooper special rule found
Kiväärijoukkue Platoon who is within 6”/15cm of the on page 166 of the Flames Of War rulebook.
Lääkintäryhmä Rifle team fails a Save, roll a die:
If the result is 5+, the Lääkintäryhmä Rifle team manages
to save the team and it continues to fight on unharmed.
Otherwise, the soldiers are too badly wounded and the
team is Destroyed as normal.
 Support Platoons
Jääkäri Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with
4 Jääkäri Squads 240 points
3 Jääkäri Squads 185 points
2 Jääkäri Squads 135 points
1 Jääkäri Squad 80 points
Options
• Replace the Command SMG team with a Command
Close-defence SMG team for +5 points or with a
Command Panzerfaust SMG team for +10 points.
• Replace all Rifle teams with SMG teams for +15 points
per Jääkäri Squad.

You may not field a Jääkäri Platoon that has more Infantry
teams than the total number of Infantry teams in your
Kiväärijoukkue Platoons.

For high profile targets a Kaukopartiojoukot patrol would

receive support from the Jääkäri (pronounced yay-kar-ree,
which means hunter as well as scout). The Jääkäri would assist
the patrol, providing extra manpower and fire support.
A Jääkäri Platoon is a Reconnaissance Platoon.

Pioneeri Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with
4 Pioneeri Squads 310 points
3 Pioneeri Squads 240 points
2 Pioneeri Squads 170 points
1 Pioneeri Squad 105 points
Options
• Replace the Command Pioneer Rifle team with a
Command Pioneer SMG team for +5 points.
• Replace all Pioneer Rifle teams with Pioneer SMG
teams for +15 points per Pioneeri Squad.

You may not field a Pioneeri Platoon that has more

Infantry teams than the total number of Infantry teams in
your Kiväärijoukkue Platoons.

For missions, such as cutting the Murmansk railroad, a

Kaukopartiojoukot patrol would be reinforced by a platoon of
pioneers especially trained and equipped for light patrol work.
The Pioneeri, or pioneer, carried satchel charges and other
engineering equipment that the Kaukopartiojoukot would
require to demolish major targets within the Soviet Union, such A Pioneeri Platoon is a Reconnaissance Platoon.
as hydroelectric dam locks, major railways and ammunition and
supply hubs.
 Finnish Special Rules

Athletes & Boxers Snow Tracked Mines

A Kaukopartiojoukot. consisted of skilled atheles and world Snow Tracked Mines were developed by the Finnish
famous boxers. They were able to push themselves way beyond military as a lightweight mine for reconnaissance patrols to
the normal limits of human enduance. scatter across expected invasion routes. During long range
missions, these proved valuable to demolish objectives and
Finnish Platoons use the American Truscott Trot special
destroy enemy vehicles as a sort of demolition pack.
rule (see page 160 of the rulebook).
Teams equipped with Snow Tracked Mines have Tank
Assault 4.
Bitter, but Cautious Enemies
A Kaukopartiojoukot patrol could not afford to become
embroiled in a fierce fight, no matter how much they hated their
enemy. As a result, the patrol’s orders usually restricted them
Soviet Uniforms
from engaging in a pitched battle. Some patrols captured Soviet uniforms to confuse the Russian
troops as to their identity, often allowing patrols to slide by the
A Kaukopartiojoukot Patrol does not gain the British enemy undetected.
Bulldog special rule (see page 171 of the rulebook) when
fighting against any Soviet force. A platoon entirely equipped with Soviet Uniforms must be
identified before the enemy can shoot at it or assault it.
These units start the game unidentified.
Hunters If a platoon equipped with Soviet Uniforms shoots or
A patrol’s members were skilled athletes and trained to push launches an assault, they are immediately identified by all
themselves physically under difficult circumstances. They can enemy platoons.
quickly move through difficult terrain with ease, whether on In order to identify a platoon equipped with Soviet
skis or on foot. Uniforms, an enemy platoon must attempt to shoot at it or
Finnish Infantry teams treat Woods as Cross-country select it as the target for an artillery bombardment. Before
Terrain instead of Difficult Going and Forests as Difficult rolling to hit with the shooting platoon, roll a Skill Test for
Going instead of Very Difficult Going (see page 31 of the the platoon.
rulebook), allowing them to move At the Double through • If they pass the Skill Test, they identify the Finnish
Woods, but not denser Forests. platoon and shoot at it as normal. The Finnish unit is
In the winter Finnish Infantry and Man-packed Gun now identified to all enemy platoons.
teams treat deep snow as Cross-country Terrain instead of • If they fail, they do not identify the unit, but may shoot at
Difficult Going (see page 244 of the rulebook), allowing other Finnish units instead.
them to move At the Double across deep snow covered Aircraft cannot choose an unidentified team as the target of
terrain. an air strike.
Enemy reconnaissance teams automatically identify a
Self Sufficient platoon equipped with Soviet Uniforms if they are within
8”/20cm when they attempt to shoot at them.
While conducting a mission, ranks were not as important in
Kaukopartiojoukot. Their training emphasised this self-
sufficiency in the field.
Finnish Platoons use the German Mission Tactics special
rule (see page 166 of the rulebook).

Arsenal
Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Rifle team 16”/40cm 1 2 6
SMG team 4”/10cm 3 1 6 Full ROF when moving.

Additional Training and Equipment

Panzerfaust 4”/10cm 1 12 5+ Tank Assault 6, Cannot shoot in the Shooting Step if moved in the
Movement Step.
Close-defence, Snow-tracked Mines and Pioneer teams are rated as Tank Assault 4.