Finnish Infantry Platoon and Company Command team
The main strength of the Finnish army is its well-trained and skilfully-led Jalkaväkikomppania (pronounced yahl-kah-vae-kee-komp-pahn-ee-ya) or infantry company well tested in battles of the Winter War.
A Kapteeni (Captain) leads an infantry company of three platoons. Finnish infantry companies are organised along German lines and have four squads. A cadre of Finnish field officers fought as a Jäger battalion in the German Army in World War One. They returned to teach German Jäger tactics to all the Finnish officers. As a result Finnish field officers are very well trained and after three years of war, highly experienced.
In attack the Jalkaväki’s superior fieldcraft gives them the ability to advance quickly and use ‘motti’ tactics—first encircling and then assaulting and destroying the enemy. Jalkaväki platoons are the strength of the Finnish Army. The troops are not regular soldiers, but all had reserve training before the war. Now three years of combat has made them unmatched fighters.
There can be no question of retreat, for they are fighting for their very homes. No other infantry defend better than dug-in Jalkaväki as the Soviets have discovered to their cost. In attack they are not afraid to take on any foe, even hunting down the invaders’ tanks.
In Flames Of War
A Jalkaväkikomppania can have 2 to 3 Jalkaväki Platoons.
They can be upgraded from Rifle teams to Rifle/MG teams.
The command team can be a Close-defence SMG team with Tank Assault 4. They are Fearless Veterans.
Includes 4 Rifle Squads with Company Command team: 3 officers, 5 NCOs, 1 SMG man with AT grenade, 4 machine-gunners, 29 Riflemen, 2 small and 8 medium bases.
