October 1944: The Soviet Army has knocked Finland out of the war, and the German 20th Mountain Army is attempting to fall back into Norway. In Lapland, the XIX Mountain Corps is holding the line it reached three years ago. It is within 50 kilometers of Murmansk, with its left flank anchored on the Barent Sea and its right trailing off into the wilderness. To cover the retreat of the 20th Mountain Army, the XIX Corps has been ordered to hold its position as long as possible. The time gained will allow the evacuation of stores from the small ports of Petsamo and Kirkenes, as well as allow the 20th Mountain Army to move north. STAVKA as far back as February 1944 had ordered an attack against the XIX Mountain Corps. The twin objectives for this operation were the occupation of the ports and mines of northern Finland, as well as the envelopment of the German troops. Planning the operation was the responsibility of the Karelian Front and its 14th Army. Units from the Karelian Front and STAVKA level were to be assigned to reinforce 14th Army. The Northern Fleet, based near Murmansk at Poliarnyi, was also under orders to support the offensive by transporting supplies and carrying out landings behind the German left flank. The preparations for the attack included a pre-assault infiltration of the German lines by specially trained engineer teams, who were to target the German supply and communications lines. Then, on October 7, the actual attack opened with a 2 1/2 hour bombardment of the German positions, after which the Soviet troops advanced on the German lines. The 2nd Mountain Division came under attack by the 99th and 131st Rifle Corps, reinforced by armor and artillery. The Soviet Group Pigarevich conducted pinning attacks on the German 6th Mountain Division, while the Light Rifle Corps attempted the envelopment on the left flank. The Germans were forced to give way, and the Soviets had entered northern Norway by October 25. The nature of the terrain and limited road network however held up pursuit, allowing the German XIX Mountain Corps to escape the trap. Soviet Order of Battle Petsamo, Kirkenes Operation: Karelian Front 14th Army 126th Light Rifle Corps 31st Light Rifle Brigade 72nd Naval Rifle Brigade 127th Light Rifle Corps 65th Naval Rifle Brigade 70th Naval Rifle Brigade 99th Rifle Corps 65th Rifle Division 114th Rifle Division 368th Rifle Division 131st Rifle Corps 10th Guards Rifle Division 14th Rifle Division 31st Rifle Corps 83rd Rifle Division 367th Rifle Division Group Pigarevich 45th Rifle Brigade 3rd Naval Rifle Brigade 2nd Fortified Region Brigade Armored Support 7th Guards Tank Brigade (37 T-34) 89th Separate Tank Regiment (18 T-34) 339th Guards Heavy SP Artillery Regiment (17 JSU-152) 378th Guards Heavy SP Artillery Regiment (17 JSU-152) 73rd Separate Guards Heavy Tank Regiment (21 KV-1) Artillery Support 172nd, 173rd, 275th, 297th, 482nd, 535th, 620th Mortar Regiment 51st, 104th, 149th, 471st, 1236th Artillery Regiments 989th Howitzer Artillery Regiment 901st and 905th Mountain Artillery Regiments 633rd, 1066th, and 1942nd Corps Artillery Regiments 6 additional artillery units with unknown numbers 41st Guards Mortar Regiments There were a total of 120 MRL used. They were organized into three Regiments and two Brigades Air Support 7th Air Army 4 Mixed Air Divisions* 1 Intercepter Air Division 1 PVO Intercepter Air Division The 99th and 131st Rifle Corps each were assigned a Mixed Air Division for close support. Engineering Support 6th OGBM 1st Motorized Combat Engineer Brigade 20th Svirsk Motorized Combat Engineer Brigade 13th Assault Combat Engineer Brigade 264th and 275th OSNAZ Various pontoon bridge, bridge construction, and road construction units were also present. There were also 300 assault boats, organization unknown. Organizations The following are some of the unit TO&Es that were used in this campaign: 6th SEPARATE GUARDS BATTALION OF DEMOLITION SPECIALISTS (6th OGBM) Elite; Morale: 11 Headquarters, with 1 command stand 2 Companies, each with: 2 recon SMG engineer stands Engineer Stores, with: 1 ton mines 1 ton explosives The 6th OGBM was a unit especially picked and trained to conduct deep-penetration reconnaissance and demolitions. The 6th OGBM spent a month behind German lines in Arctic conditions, including a week of demolitions and ambushes with only four wounded and two missing. Soviet Artillery Soviet Artillery units had an allocation of ATRs just as the US Artillery Battalions were equipped with the bazooka. A rifle division's organic artillery regiment had at least half as many ATRs as a rifle regiment. To reflect this fact add 1 PTRD ATR stand to each of the regiments three battalions. SEPARATE HEAVY ARTILLERY REGIMENT Experienced; Morale: 8 Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 FO stand 2 cars 1 heavy truck 3 Batteries, each with: 1 152L29 gun howitzer* 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 PTRD ATR stand 1 heavy tractor 1 light truck *At least one regiment in the 14th Army was using captured German 150L30 howitzers in place of the 152L29. MORTAR REGIMENT (ARCTIC) Experienced; Morale: 8 Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 staff pack radio stand 1 PTRD ATR stand 2 Battalions, each with: 1 command stand 1 FO stand 2 PMD ATR stands 3 gun crew stand (ds) 3 120mm mortars 3 pack horse stands 6 pack reindeer stands The pack horse stands carry the mortars while each of the pact reindeer stands carries 1/2 ton of ammunition. At least one regiment in the 14th Army used lend lease American 4.2" mortars. GUARDS MORTAR REGIMENT Veteran; Morale: 9 Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 staff radio truck 1 PTRD ATR stand 1 car 1 heavy truck with medium trailer 2 Battalions, each with: 1 command stand 1 FO stand 2 cars 2 BM-13 132mm MRL GUARDS MORTAR BRIGADE Veteran; Morale: 9 Brigade Headquarters 1 command stand 1 staff radio truck 1 PTRD ATR stand 1 car 1 medium truck with medium trailer 3 Battalions, each with: 1 command stand 1 FO stand 2 cars 2 BM-8 82mm MRL SEPARATE MEDIUM ARTILLERY REGIMENT Experienced; Morale: 8 Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 FO stand 2 cars 1 heavy truck 4 Batteries, each with: 1 1221,22 howitzer 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 PTRD ATR stand 1 heavy tractor 1 light truck MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY REGIMENT (ARCTIC) Experienced; Morale: 8 Regimental Headquarters 1 command stand 1 FO stand 2 cars 1 heavy truck 2 Battalions, each with: 1 command stand 1 PTRD ATR stand 2 gun crew stand (ds) 2 75L16 mountain howitzers 2 pack horse stands 4 pack reindeer stands The pack horse stands carry the mountain howitzers, while each of the pack reindeer stands carries 1/2 ton of ammunition. SEPARATE SPECIAL PURPOSE BATTALION (OSNAZ) Experienced; Morale: 7 Battalion Headquarters, with 1 command seep 3 Companies, each with: 6 seeps The two OSNAZ battalions were equipped with the US 1/4 amphibian jeep, otherwise know as the "seep." They were used in unopposed crossing operations to get troops across while engineers built larger ferries and bridges. They may only carry personnel stands, and two jeeps will be needed to carry a regular stand, and four jeeps a double stand. Each company can lift just over a battalion of infantry. Bibliography The Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation: Soviet Breakthrough and Pursuit in the Arctic, October, 1944: Major James F. Gebhardt, Leavenworth Papers #17. GPO. Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly #2 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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