1808 The Last Summer.

The war started following the signing of the treaty of Tilsit, which contained a secret clause giving Russia possession of Finland. This clause was included because of continuing Russian nervousness about the security of St. Petersburg, with Swedish Forces capable of launching an attack from a border only 200 km away, and Napoleon’s desire for revenge on Sweden following Gustav IV’s outspoken opposition to republican France.

On the 21^st February 1808 three Russian divisions crossed the border. The weather was bitterly cold, the roads were jammed with snow and the Baltic Sea was frozen; this meant that it would take months before any Swedish reinforcements could be shipped to Finland. With a powerful invasion the Russians surprised the Swedes who were unprepared and lacking effective leadership. The Swedish units were pushed back as the Russians spread all over southern Finland. Out numbered, the Swedish forces retreated towards Uleåborg/Oulo constantly harassed by the Russian The 5^th Division.

On the 18^th April the Swedish troops were retreating across a frozen river at Sikajoki when the Russian force finally caught them, but instead of running the Swedes fought back and by the evening they had won their first victory. From that day the Swedes could slowly advanced south again.

This book will cover the events in the western theatre from mid April through the Swedish counter offensive and to the turning point in late August. The scenarios are based upon text and maps from the extensive work, “Sveriges krig 1808-09”, published by the Swedish General Staff.

Why should a War gamer be interested in this obscure little side show, when you have the bigger campaigns in central Europe?

Each scenario will also have a detailed Orders of Battle adapted to 1:20 scale (1 figure representing approximately 20 men). The sample below is showing the OOB's for the battle at Revolaks 27^th April.

Swedish C in C – Cronstedt

 Russian C in C – Bulatov

- A table top map showing the lay-out of the battle field. Most of the maps are drawn for a table size of 8x4 foot thus giving a gaming area approximately scale 1:1000. This sample show the battle field of Yppäri 16^th April.

Finally, you will also get set up instructions and a presentation of the historical battle so that you can compare your achievements to the generals of 1808.

The book is printed in size A4, saddle stitched, contains 48 pages in B/W and a cover in colour.

Battles in Finland were very different from those in central Europe, and even the fighting in the Spanish peninsula. In a country that is 69% forest and 10% lakes, terrain played a massive part in the campaign. Rough ground restricted the role of cavalry and the mobility of artillery. ‘Flat battlefields’ were something of a rarity, the smoothest being those fought on the frozen ice. The campaign also featured several seaborne landings and combined land and naval battles in the archipelago.

 Troops were all soon capable of operating in ‘open order’ – often a basic requirement for moving. Because of restricted local supplies and the fact that the road network (including roads over the frozen rivers, lakes and sea ice in winter) was the sole supply route, the campaigns were limited to certain areas. Since the elimination of even a small force could be strategic disaster, battles were not usually decided with mass destruction of units, as in Europe; often a successful manoeuvre to threaten was enough.

 This offers a different flavour of game to other Napoleonic scenario books, covering battles ideally sized for re-fighting in a couple of hours. The tabletop will look empty compared to the crammed battlefields of central Europe, but do not be misled. Command and control will be a real challenge, and victory will go the general who best understands and exploits the possibilities and limitations both of his force and the battlefield terrain.

Battles covered in this volume
Yppäri 16^th April
Viiret 16^th April
Siikajoki 18^th April
Revolaks 27^th April
Nykarleby 24^th June
Vasa 25^th June
Lintulaks 3^rd July
Kokonsaari 11^th July
Lappo 14^th July
Kauhajoki 10^th August
Tjöck 11^th August
Alavo 17^th August
Ömossa 20^th August
Herranen 21^st August
Karstula 21^st August

In the book you will find:

- An introduction to the war, explaining why it was fought and over what.

- A section on suggested special rules to apply in order to create a feel for this campaign

- 15 scenarios, covering all major engagements fought between the two major armies from mid April to late August. Each scenario will have a short introduction explaining the over all situation and particular events leading up to the battle. Each scenario will also be illustrated with strategic map showing relevant information and troop movements leading up to the battle. The sample is showing the situation before the battle of Lappo on the 14^th July.