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SOTKA TO THE POINT!*
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Part 2
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Date: June 25th, 1944*                     
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Battle location:  Portinhoikka, Finland*
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Battle Type: Finland advance vs. USSR*
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Design by:  Zipuli*
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BACKGROUND:*
After the 3rd Tank Co (heavy) had reached Portinhoikka road crossing, the Finns started organizing a counter-attack against the enemy attacking from Tali towards the road crossing. Being under constant barrages and bombing by the enemy, the troops deployed for the attack. Lagus ordered JP3 (Jaeger Battalion 3, under Major Hynninen, a Mannerheim Cross Knight) to conduct the attack, supported by Lt. Talvitie's 2.RynnTykK/RynnTykP (2nd Stu co/Stu Bn) and its 6 Sturmis. 2nd Lt. Teppo's T-34 Sotka was ordered to join the attack. Around 2000 hrs the attack begun. JP 3, already severely depleted in the heavy fighting pushed on around the Tali-road in the fire storm with the assault guns following in column formation on the road, Teppo's Sotka as the last vehicle.*
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ENEMY:*
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The enemy XXX Guards Army Corps is pushing on noth sides of Leitimojarvi towards Portinhoikka. The enemy has even more forces coming to Tali in cover of heavy barrages, totalling over 100 000 men, 600 tanks with crushing air- and artillery forces. In short we will be clashing with the enemy's best! They have already reached the Murokallio-Konkkalanvuoret -line with infantry and tanks.*
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OWN:*
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Our forces under Major Hynninen are starting the attack, head on against the numerically superior foe. The assault guns under Talvitie are advancing along the Tali -road ready to support the Jaegers and to take out enemy tanks - which should be plenty! The Sturmi crews consist of current and future tank aces such as Ylikersantti Borje Brotell in his "Bubi". Teppo's Sotka is following behind the Sturmis and is to support 1.Co of JP3, whose objective is to take Murokallio and the NW side of Leitimojarvi. 2.Co, 3.Co and rest of 4.Co of JP3 are attacking to Konkkalanvuoret and their objective is the crossroads after Konkkala. Major Mikkola, commander of the 3rd tank co (heavy) is following with a radio car after his T-50 broke down. The KV-1s are also left behind for repairs, one Sotka is still in Saimaa channel and the obsolete T-28s are left at Portinhoikka crossing to hold it with some AT-guns and other units. Our objective is to swing around Leitimojarvi -lake and take the crossroads and stop the enemy attack. If we don't stop the enemy here, who will?* 
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME (according to Sergeant Lehvaslaiho, gunner in 2nd Lt. Teppo's T-34):*
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The attack begun under heavy barrages in the late evening with JP3 troops taking Murokallio and Konkkalanvuoret, forcing the enemy elite forces to flee. After reaching the cliffs, visual was established to Leitimojarvi opens and in the open the Finns saw numerous enemy tanks, including ISU-152s deploying to attack. In the fierce combat Talvitie's Sturmis neutralized at least 9 enemy tanks, and 3 T-34/85's were captured intact.*
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When the attack didn't seem to continue on its own, Major Mikkola ordered Teppo's T-34 to take point and pull the jaegers with them to another attack. This worked and the attack continued again. Two Sturmis were bogged down and left behind and Brotell was heading back to refill ammunition. The jaegers attacked in the swampy terrain under unbearable fire. During the night, when JP3 had reached its objectives the enemy counterattacked again with numerous tanks, neutralizing Lt. Talivitie's Sturmi. At least 4 more tanks were destroyed in the objective area, but running low on ammo Talvitie's company pulled back, as did Teppo's Sotka that was ordered to return to Portinhoikka. Major Hynninen ordered his 1.Co to deploy at Hiihkallio -line, but as the situation developed, it was clear that these positions could not be held for long.*
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Sources:*
-Lehvaslaiho: Sotkalla sodassa*
-Kakela: Laguksen Miehet, Marskin Nyrkki*