Artillery during the Trench Warfare

Artillery Operations at the Front

During the positional warfare, artillery fire was a daily occurrence on the fronts, although some units could go long periods without firing. In repelling the Soviet attacks of 1942, the role of Finnish artillery was significant, and ammunition consumption rose sharply. On the established fronts, artillery reconnaissance was effective. A large part of the artillery activity during the positional war was counter-battery fire targeting designated Soviet artillery positions, which, based on prisoner reports, was effective. Especially in Aunus, Finnish artillery was stronger than Soviet artillery throughout the positional warfare phase. At the beginning of this phase, artillery fire was still somewhat frequent, but soon strict orders were given to conserve ammunition.

Due to the intense fire during the offensive war, many guns were heavily worn. When positional warfare began, effective artillery maintenance operations started. Equipment was also replaced with newer and more uniform pieces whenever possible. Fortification work began in the artillery as soon as possible. However, certain tasks remained a constant concern for artillery units, especially in East Karelia. The road network required for artillery movement and logistics was in poor condition, and military roads had to be cleared and constructed. Despite continuous improvements, special ammunition and supply depots had to be prepared for the spring thaw period.

Training Activities and Development

Artillery units were supplemented with new gunners trained at home-front training centers. The training ratio between branches remained such throughout the war that no additional artillery units could be established even if sufficient equipment was available. At the start of the war, there were three artillery training centers, but in February 1942, the number was reduced to one. The Artillery Training Center 3, which operated throughout the war, was relocated in 1942 from the Vaasa region to Riihimäki. The Non-Commissioned Officer School remained in Vaasa. Sound and light measurement specialists were trained in Hämeenlinna at the Supplementary Measurement Battery. Reserve officer courses were arranged in Niinisalo.

From March 1943 onward, the Artillery Shooting School organized courses for reserve and active officers. Many young reserve officers had considerable combat experience, but their theoretical command of the branch was often lacking. The Shooting School operated behind the Maaselkä Group’s lines in the village of Suvi-Kumsa and was the only military educational institution active outside Finland’s borders during the war. A training battery was also established for the school. There were many live-fire exercises during the courses. The intensive courses lasted 7–10 weeks. Before its closure in June 1944, 187 artillery officers had completed courses at Suvi-Kumsa.

Training activities in the frontline units began immediately after the start of the positional warfare phase. Numerous courses were organized covering all areas of artillery operations. Artillery commanders also conducted surprise inspections of frontline batteries, testing readiness for target acquisition and rapid opening of fire. The most significant artillery innovation of the positional war was the introduction of a correction converter in 1943, which facilitated the artillery observer's work and allowed multiple batteries to concentrate fire on the same target. Cooperation between artillery and mortars was also intensified during the positional warfare phase.