FINNISH FORTRESS ARTILLERY UNITS |
IN CONTINUATION WAR 1941 - 1944 |
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Fortress Artillery Units Fortress Artillery was organized in Finland in a similar way to field artillery but equipped with older usuallly heavy guns (cannons) without recoil system or with secondary light or heavy artillery pieces. Fortress artillery units had less and older personnel than field artillery units although their equipment would have actually needed more men. Gun crews' artillery training was initially weak but using competent artillery NCOs and officers this problem was although solved quite soon. Fortress Artillery was very similar to movable Coastal Artillery. First fortress artillery units were formed after Winter War for the new Finnish defence line "Salpa" [bolt] mainly from the former units of coastal defence, for example the Sea Defence of Lake Ladoga. Units were usually fixed and had additionally lots of evacuated naval or coastal artillery guns of various calibres but before the Continuaton War Fortress Artillery was although prepared for moving warfare. Later in the summer 1944 many artillery units lost their weapons and were hastily re-equipped even with light guns. Guns were usually shot as long as possible and they were not abandoned until they ran out of ammo or advancing enemy attacked them. The basic unit of the Finnish Fortress Artillery was one to eight gun Fortress Battery (Linnoituspatteri, Lin.Ptri) which consisted of one to four Sections (Jaos) of one or two guns each. Typical battery consisted ot two sections of two guns just like ordinary field artillery battery. Independent Fortress Artillery Battalion (Linnoituspatteristo, Lin.Psto) had two to four fortress batteries but usually three. Fortress
artillery batteries and battalions could be assigned to
divisional artillery under the command of division's Artillery
Commander or to Artillery Group. In
conquered Soviet East Karelia fortress artillery was
subordinated to special fortress artillery groups called Maaselkä
Fortress Artillery [Maaselän linnoitustykistö, Maa.Lin.Tyk.]
and River Svir Fortress Artillery [Syvärin
linnoitustykistö, Syv.Lin.Tyk.] which even had their own
special emblems. They were directly under the command of
artillery commanders of the Maaselkä and Olonets
Groups. Fortress Artillery Pieces Fortress
batteries were to be equipped with heavy ex-Russian or ex-French
de Bange cannons without recoil system (107, 120,
152 or 155 mm) for which there were large stocks of
rather good ammunition. Also light de Bange
cannons (80 or 90 mm) were used and two fixed fortress
batteries were equipped even with old super heavy 229 mm
and 279 mm coastal mortars! Most batteries "finished"
newer light artillery pieces (75, 76 and 120 mm) during
the war together with field batteries of coastal
artillery. Starting in 1942 fortress batteries received
light 122 H/10-30 and heavy 150
H/15 howitzers. In 1944 some units were re-named
and became field artillery battalions. Towing of Guns Most
fortress artillery units were practically fixed and
without their own towing vehicles (tractors or trucks) or
horses. Guns without recoil system were unfortunately
among the heaviest of all artillery pieces used in
Finland and were thus very difficult to move. Units
needed constant transport assistance from field artillery
units or transport formations. . Lin.Ptri = Linnoituspatteri = Fortress Battery Ptri = Patteri = Battery |
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Fortress Artillery Battalions
Fortress Artillery Battalion Fortress Battery, Notes . |
Gun Models
Used pcs - gun model |
Notes Commander [rank and name] |
Notes: Lin.Psto 1 - 3 were formed for the Karelian Isthmus and Lin.Psto 4 for the areas north from Lake Ladoga. They all except Lin.Psto 2 were suspended in October 1941. Gun crews and working guns were handed over to other Fortress and Coastal Artillery units or disbanded. Syv.Lin.Psto 1 - 3 were formed in October 1941. Lin.Psto 2 was re-named as Syv.Lin.Psto 4 in spring 1943. Total strength at River Svir in 1944 was 16 batteries (four batteries each). Number of guns: 12 - 90 K/77, 16 - 120 K/78 and 36 - 155 K/77 (= 64 guns). . |
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Lin.Psto
1 2.Lin.Ptri (-8.41) 3.Lin.Ptri 5.Lin.Ptri 6.Lin.Ptri 7.Lin.Ptri 8. - 12., 14. Lin.Ptri (-?.41) Lin.Psto
2 Lin.Psto 3 Four batteries Lin.Psto
4 Lin.Psto
5 Lin.Psto
6 1.Ptri 2.Ptri 3.Ptri 4.Ptri Lin.Psto
10 Lin.Psto
Niemi 1.Ptri 2.Ptri 3.Ptri 4.Ptri Lin.Psto
Myntti 74.Lin.Ptri / 1.Ptri 78.Lin.Ptri / 2.Ptri Maa.Lin.Psto
1 1. - 4.Ptri Maa.Lin.Psto
2 1. - 4.Ptri Syv.Lin.Psto
1 Syv.Lin.Psto
2 Syv.Lin.Psto
3 Syv.Lin.Psto
4 31. - 36 Lin.Ptri Torj.Os. /
Syv.Lin.Psto 4 |
Temporarily also 75 K/97 and 76 LK/13 4 - 279 M/77 2 - 152/45 C 4 - 120 K/78 4 - 152 K/04 4 - 155 K/77 14 - 75 K/97 Temporarily
also 76 LK/13 and 76 RK/27 Temporarily also 152/45 C, 120 K/78 and 75 K/97 4x 4 - 155 K/77 90 K/77,
120 K/78, 4 - 229 M/77, 75 K/97, 107 K/77,
120 K/78, 155 K/77, Temporarily
also 80 K/77, 75 K/17, 76 K/00 and 4/7 - 120 K/78 -> 4 - 120 H/10-30 3/4 - 120
K/78 -> 4 - 120 H/10-30 -> 4 - 107 K/77 (without
guns)
-> 4 - 90 K/77 -> 4 - 120 K/78 2 - 90 K/77 . . 4 - 90 K/77 -> 4 - 76 K/00 -> 122 H/10-30 4 - 120 K/78 -> 122 H/10-30 3 - 155 K/77 ? . 4 - 120 K/78 4 - 120 K/78 -> (152 H/09-30) -> 75 K/01 Temporarily
also 76 VK/09, 120 H/13, 150 H/15 8 - 90 K/77, 8 - 120 K/78 Temporarily
also 76 VK/09, 120 H/13, 150 H/15 8 - 90 K/77, 8 - 120 K/78 90 K/77,
120 K/78, 155 K/77, 90 K/77,
120 K/78, 155 K/77, 90 K/77,
120 K/78, 155/K 77, 90 K/77,
120 K/78, 155 K/77, . ? |
Maj. M. Vanhatalo Battery was left behind to Salpa defensive line. . . . Moved to Hanko Group (HR) in August 1941. Attached to a new 10.Lin.Psto. Maj. T.
Haaranen Maj. V. Ojanne Equipped with gun tractors for towing guns. Lt.Col. J.
Rikama Maj. A.
Korvenheimo, Maj. T. Mäkeläinen . . Former 4.Ptri. Formed on
31.8.1941. Capt. L.
Laurila Capt. J.
Niemi 31.8.1941, ?.1942. . Formed on 16.8.1941. ? Capt. V.
Myntti . . Capt./Maj.(28.1.43) V. Myntti, . Capt. E. Sävy,
Maj. P. Suominen . Capt. O. Lagerros, Maj. U. Lepikkö, Capt. P. Suominen, Capt. Å. Winqvist, Capt. A. Elomaa, Capt. T. Ollila, Maj./Lt.Col.(13.4.43) T. Haaranen |
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Fortress Artillery Batteries
Fortress Artillery Battery . . |
Gun Models
Used pcs - gun model |
Notes Chief [rank and name] |
11.
Linnoituspatteri Erillinen linnoituspatteri / Maa.R |
4 - ? 4 - 76 K/02 |
? Lt. K. Mustonen |
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Sources:
PAUJY1, PARUN1, TAMPE1, ENQOV1, JATHI, MIKPO1 . . |
© 2002 - 12.6.2004 Harri Anttonen