Osasto Lagus
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"Osasto Lagus" (Detachment Lagus) is a Finnish WW2OL squad, that has been in action since day 1. It is the biggest Finnish squad and has received recognition of doing what was agreed and at times a little bit extra. Osasto Lagus operates on the axis side.
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About Osasto Lagus
The Finnish WWIIOL-squad Osasto Lagus was formed during the early states of the game, and focuses on highly organized spearhead attacks, using all equipment in the axis arsenal. The squad consists of a bit over 120 "crazy finns", of which about fifty are active at a given time. Our internal organization is divided into five squads: armor, support, infantry, artillery and air, all of which work under their named squad leaders and when needed are split into multiple groups led by group leaders. Lagus emphasizes on cooperation and sharpening their tactics all the time to the evolving virtual battlefield, which involves continuous training program for all the members.
Lagus forms the 27. Infanterie Division Kampfgruppe 2, which is part of the XIX Korps and the 12th Armee, and can always be found where the situation is direst.
A couple times a week they perform operations, during which the large bulk of the squad's members gather together. Lagus also works tightly with numerous other fine Euro-squads, and every month or so the squads group up and turn the map.
Squad History
History of real life "Osasto Lagus" in WW2 (1941-1944) :
- Colonel Ernst Lagus
Osasto Lagus (Detachment Lagus) is named after the first Finnish WWII mechanized company, led by Colonel Ernst Lagus, first to receive the "Mannerheim Cross" (2nd class), regarded as the most honorable decoration in Finland.
Finland's first attack vehicle regiment was formed 1919 Jul 15 in the city of Santahamina by order of Marchal Mannerheim. This new "branch" received 32 French Renault-tanks. The trainers, training program and tactical knowledge came also from the French. The Regiment was placed under command of Major Harry Uuni Alfthan, an officer of the cavalry. Almost all of the staff came from the ranks of cavalry units.
After first enthusiasm had passed, the shortage of staff, inadequate funding and the common belief that tanks weren't suited to be used in Finnish terrain lead to cutting back the regiment to a company. This happened during the years 1924 - 1927.
The Finnish tank forces were not ready when the Winter War began at 1939. The equipment was worthless and the training of officers and non-commissioned officers lacking. Of the five mechanized companies formed, only one took part in combat.
The situation was different at the beginning of the Continuation War 1941 - 1944. The first seed for what turned out to be the format for Finnish mechanized forces was planted during the attack phase of the war in 1941: A reinforced infantry brigade, consisting of 1. light infantry battalion and tank battalion was placed under the command of Colonel Ruben Lagus. The brigade was part of the Ilves (lynx) -division. After two days from the beginning of the attacks, Colonel Lagus was handed over the command of Ilves-division (5.D).
The first phase of the attack was won by the 1. light infantry brigade without armor support. Then after gaining the river Tuulos the division was reformed and Osasto Lagus was born. The following battles shaped the armor division and in 1944 "the Fist of Marski" (Marski being Marshal Mannerheim) at dawn of a major offensive (June 9 1944) consisted of HQ, light infantry brigade, armor brigade, communications battalion 6, pioneer battalion 2, 41. pioneer column, 11. heavy pontoon detachment, assault gun battalion, anti- tank and anti-air artillery battalion, heavy artillery battalion and support forces and reserve infantry battalion, bringing the division to a total of 9000 men.
The division was put into a hard test on Karelian Isthmus where it proved to be true to it's worth, having a major impact on the course of the battle, proving the effectivity of combined-arms forces. The detachment followed the principle of it's commander: "what is being done, will be done by all means".
Osasto Lagus used a mix of German and Soviet tanks, mainly StugIIIs and captured T-26 and T-28 tanks.
More: http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6265
Other information
Categories: Squad | Axis
