Battle of Honkaniemi

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Battle of Honkaniemi
Part of Winter War
Date 26 February 1940
Location Karelian Isthmus, Finland
Result Soviet victory
Combatants
Finland Soviet Union
Commanders
Colonel Voldemar Oinonen Colonel V. Kashuba
Strength
Four battalions Elements of the 84th Division
Casualties
6 tanks 3 tanks
Winter War
Tolvajärvi – Suomussalmi – Taipale – Summa – Raate-Road – Kuhmo – Honkaniemi – Kollaa – Salla – Petsamo

The Battle of Honkaniemi was fought between Finnish and Soviet forces on 26 February 1940. It was the only tank to tank action of the Winter War.

The commander of the Finnish II Corps General Harald Öhquist had attached Jaeger Battalion 3 and the 4th company of the Armoured Battalion to the 23rd Division. The 23rd was responsible for the area around the lake Näykkijärvi, just to the southeast of Viipuri, the second largest town in Finland. The Soviets had managed to create a threatening salient in the area and the commander of the 23rd, Colonel Voldemar Oinonen, decided to counterattack.

The plan was to attack the Soviet salient with four battalions and the 4th Armoured Company. The 4th Armoured Company consisted of 13 Vickers 6-Ton tanks. Of the tanks that were to take part, five were lost before the battle started, mostly to engine failure.

The Soviet 84th Division, which was also preparing to attack on the same day, was supported by T-26 and T-28 tanks.

As the Finnish attack started, at 07:15 in the morning of February 26th, two of the tanks suffered technical failures. The infantry battalions managed to advance some 200 meters before meeting stiff Soviet resistance. Six of the Finnish tanks that managed to engage in the battle were lost and only destroyed three of the opposing Soviet tanks.

The attack was aborted at 10:00 and Finnish forces were withdrawn.

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