Leopard's FoW Soviets

[leopard]

Had a think on a revised list, this runs to 1,750 but this is the target for the next event, 6 platoons on the table - and can work reasonably well as 3 on/3 off

Battalion HQ, Sapper Platoon & Reinforcements, Anti Tank Rifle Platoon
2x Strelkovy Companies, each with 3 platoons (2x Rifle, 1x SMG), Kommissar
Heavy Mortar Company, 6 tubes, no observer
Strelkovy Anti Tank Gun Company, 6x Obr 1937 45mm ATG
Tank Destruction Company, 4x ZiS-2
Regimental Gun Company, 4x Obr 1927 Infantry Guns

Then in support and not counting as platoons we have:
Anti Tank Rifle Company, 2 platoons (combat attached to Strelkovy)
2x Flame Thrower Sections (combat attached to Strelkovy)
Air Support, limited IL-2


Thinking the blobs are now large enough to actually assault, and have the tools in the sappers and flame throwers to do the job right, some 37-18 teams in each when they deploy so they will take some chewing through, and one should be able to hold two objectives alone for a while.

The IL-2 is the answer to enemy armour that wishes to sit at range and try to pick off the few guns we have, and also to try and space out the enemy a bit and generally put lone heavy tanks out of position as they force it to range in. Essentially a bit of "reach out and touch someone" ability, that given I've not seen a plane or much in the way of flak all weekend should work ok - the terror value alone is worth something

Regimental guns are naff against tanks, but make excellent little infantry guns in direct fire to dig out the dug in, and 'ok' in defensive fire, rubbish as artillery but conscript artillery seems to be an effort in futility anyway.

Still have the heavy mortars as they seem to scare people, the 45mm ATG are really here as defensive weapons but can be pushed up should the need arise to give a mobile formation some defensive fire v armour (if anyone is mad enough to drive tanks into one of the blobs) and the ZiS-2 are to be hidden out of sight and used to protect objectives from flanking enemy armour (they die too fast to direct long range fire otherwise).

This is 1,750 on the nose, provides each of the two Strelkovy Blobs with:
18x Rifle Teams (casualty markers basically, and bodies to assault with)
9x SMG teams (to do the actual assaulting, and for defensive fire)
4x or 5x sapper teams to scare and attack armour with
6x PTRD anti tank rifle teams - to help keep enemy armour at a cautious range, or at least slow them down for a while
2x flame thrower teams, so when they do go in they have a chance v dug in veterans, and if too much defensive fire is likely can be used in place of the assault to try and remove stubborn dug in infantry directly.
Commander & Kommissar, for giving orders and shooting anyone who fails to follow them

Thus the blob is 39 or 40 teams on the table, and if in reserve arrives all on a single die roll.

Issues
Lacks much mobility, list can't have any cheap mechanised units though, and lacks the points directly to provide trucks for the guns - could drop down to just 4x 45mm ATG which saves 40 points, allowing for trucks on the ZiS-2 and perhaps even four more PTRD to make the blobs even larger

Needs a few bits, but not actually that much, and nothing impractical before the event.

[leopard]

Refinement, drop the regimental guns (saves buying them), frees 60pts, drop two of the 45mm ATG, saves 40pts, buy a scout squad with these points. Same platoon count.

Now infiltrate one of the strelkovy companies...

Who cares if they are detected, they are a lot closer to the enemy and have probably taken a turn less fire in closing, the veterans stay to the rear, then hide somewhere to avoiding giving the point away.

If the second horde is in reserve to jump from the rear this could be amusing

[Baldie]

Do it, Soviets either win big or die big. That's just the way it should be.

[leopard]

Wondering on going with a slight variation, drop one of the SMG platoons - so one company has one and the other doesn't, the one "with" becomes the strike force, the one without is the backup and defensive one - still able to attack though as will have its share of flame throwers etc, just smaller (could be one rifle & one SMG), then take that platoon as a Shtraf company with a single platoon - thus making the force "Always attacks".

the Shtraf are fragile as small, but don't count when defeated so need to drop four platoons from six to be testing to break (and if anyone munches through that many the games over anyway), but using them on the flank of the larger blob, possibly in reserve alongside it in missions like breakthrough or just as a backup to the main unit.

Key though, remove the need to have a defensive focus from most games, allows the second platoon to follow up from the first or strike in a different direction.

Just need to read up on how Infiltration actually works - but even of it forces a small armoured force in half on/half off to have to deploy the recce to stop them its worth it but IIRC its a pre-game 16" move, and can get reasonably close to the enemy if you don't care about them having the first turn... Infiltrate a blob of 40 or so teams.

Also dealing with the issue of decent anti tank guns being killed at range.. by not taking them.

Have a draft list for 1,750 thats roughly:

HQ, 2x 45mm guns, 9x pioneers & 4x anti tank rifles
company, three platoons, kommissar
company, two platoons, kommisar
Shtraf company, one platoon makes list always attack
Scout platoon, one squad infiltration
4x regimental 75mm guns (this is the red headed platoon using 65 points that are left)
heavy tank platoon, 3x KV-1e
Sporadic IL-2 air support
4x flame throwers
8x anti tank rifles

issue is needing the 6th platoon and only having 65 points for it without tweaking something else, not convinced they are going to be worth it though.

Not sure on the tanks, but three of them from reserve is not easy to deal with even if they can be hit, also fits the 'assault' theme reasonably well

More thinking to do, but the pioneers and flame throwers are certain, liking the idea of a 40 team blob as well, infiltrating or otherwise should work

Anyone used the Always attack option?

[Baldie]

I much prefer to attack than defend as it suits my rush to the sound of the guns approach.
Tankovy alays attack done as is using Moto to most often auto attack and have used the forward detachment.

Never used the penal batalon to give the infantry always attack though.

[leopard]

Flame throwers and Pioneers not sitting unopened, will get D-Day out of the way, or at least the stuff for it, then these guys are added to the list.

Contemplating making changes to the list only minor for the next event - basically drop the Rifle/MG upgrade to pay for the flame throwers, drop a couple of 45mm guns and use the extra points at the event to pay for the Pioneers then drop the SMG platoons into the companies - limits the build & paint needed to something manageable with nine pioneer and four flame thrower teams to do adding the two SMG teams needed to complete this something practical.

[leopard]

First of Bolokov's new toys painted, though not yet based up properly.



Actually pretty nice models, painted via the usual layering method but the simplicity of the uniform makes it pretty quick.

Empty space due to one model being mangled, will be replaced by a spare from the pioneers when they are done.

[leopard]

Some more progress on Bolokov's new toys, firstly a pair of Su-100, not finished yet this is part way through the weathering process, rain wash will get a bit more work to make it a bit more streaky, may also up the rust a bit



These plastic kits are very nice, though getting a commander into the hatch is a pain, none of them really fit apparently made for a full hatch not the partial ones here..



Totally sold on using oils for black lining, pin washes and weathering effects

Plus a couple of objectives for the army

[Baldie]

Good work comrade, the world needs more Soviet super heavies.
May try weathering one day or perhaps not.

[leopard]

Good work comrade, the world needs more Soviet super heavies.
May try weathering one day or perhaps not.

Will be two platoons of three of the Su-100, and eventually three Su-85 for mid war lists to dabble with..

the ISUs also tempt.. along with the SU-122...