Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

Just finished the fourth battle, moving my current campaign to 1947.

With that, I wanted to note a few observations.

My force is 3 companies of infantry in trucks, 1 company of tanks, with each company getting extra 4 snipers, a 3 MG unit and 3 anti tank teams in jeeps.

Artillery is a battery of medium guns, plus the mortar section from the battalion weapon company.

A few reflections on the units available:

Infantry - One section in each platoon has 2 RP46, giving 4 LMG per platoon, which isn't bad. I didn't want to be too cheezy and load up every squad that way, but they held their own well against French and Brit infantry, and outshot the Yanks rather well (at a distance anyway)

I didn't try SMG infantry, though in hindsight, I would probably make one of the companies an "assault" company.

Each platoon includes an anti tank team with RPG6 grenades. These guys are pretty versatile. Though knocking out a Centurion can be dicey, they work great against Shermans, and they seem to be able to often avoid detection as they move up.

Machine guns
Each company has 3 SGM's, and I added a second section to each company for some extra firepower. Im in the process of upgrading them to DSHK's, which is one of my favourite weapons for infantry support.
Nothing to spectacular here. I am trying to keep them much more concentrated than I usually do, which means some pretty intense suppressive fire as the infantry moves in to assault.

Trucks
I've gotten better at utilizing trucks. During a meeting engagement, the infantry dismounts just behind a terrain feature, then take up positions on foot. Rather than head straight for the objective, sometimes it's better to dig in and turn the encounter into a defensive engagement.

Tanks
Emulating the cold war motorized rifle system of assigning a tank company to each motor rifle battalion, which in turn get parcelled out 1 platoon to each company.
I've been trying using them in rather close support of the infantry, as well as using the soviet doctrine of the platoon either firing or moving.

I started out with the cheapest stuff available, T34/76's, which were rather outdated. As they got blown up, they've been upgraded to T34/85 (pretty competitive) and T44 (quite an impressive vehicle. Competitive against the dreaded Centurion and easily a Sherman beater). Now that we've moved to 47, a few T54-1 have shown up, and we're eager to test this new design.

Sniper
As mentioned, each company has 4 snipers providing suppressing fire. These have been invaluable in harassing and limiting enemy movement. In one battle, they formed an early ambush point with overlapping fields of fire after a belt of mines. Anti tank teams with RPG6 grenades provided tank ambush capability.


Overall, the Soviet warmachine is a quite capable beast, and we've come out of our struggles with the capitalist forces very well, though tank casualties have been rather high.

With many elements now veteran, and new tanks rolling off the production line, the world revolution will surely be victorious.

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

So you started in 46...up to when is the campaign? Credits? Sides?

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

I just set it to end in 1991, but I figure I'll play as long as I like.

Enemies are USA, Britain and France.

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

Some reflections on the opposition:


Centurions are the friggen devil. My T44 wasted Churchill tanks and Shermans with relative ease but the Centurions are dangerous game.
At short ranges the T44 might survive a hit but its never a sure thing.

Halftracks are a pain. I need to upgrade some of my extra machine guns to DSHK's to do some harm to the tin cans at close range. I can't wait to get some sort of armoured transport, but that's a long way off I think.

Americans with M1 rifles are unpleasant up close, but in a long range shoot out, M1 plus BAR seems about comparable to Mosin plus RP46.

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

12.7 HMG are really not the answer - they are only worthwhile at 100m or so, and the enemy have .50 cal to reply to your own tin-can APC (if there are any such that early on?).

in that time frame, consider a section of 57mm ATG with transport to assign in support to each rifle coy. Get those all set up and ready in ambush just before the half-tracks arrive, and you can kill them nice and easy from 4-500m or so. 57mm has 1MP so can be shuffled about, unlike the larger ATG. Light truck tows will do at a pinch, APC if you can afford it. (in WW2 I often manually push a platoon of 45mm or 57mm ATG behind each dismounted rifle coy in the advance). That tactic should work in early modern period as well.

The 57 will do for half-tracks or other minor junk, and should be able to do a reasonable number on Chafees etc. even frontally, and some side kills on big stuff.

If in the core, then they can get some decent experience ratings over a few battles, and so become quite decent shots.

The T34/76 is also worth buying a few of early post-war as an infantry support unit (say a platoon or 2). 25 AP rounds to kill the tin cans, and 75 HE rounds. Slightly deeper pockets than the T34-85, but still with decent effect on soft and tin-plated stuff. Speedy, so can easily switch front, retire for resupply etc. Just don't try to head-butt any big boys.

SU-76 is a bit "meh" - but if you are only going to pot half-tracks, worth a look. But open topped, not too fast, and no MG, HE load is also low. 40 AP rounds though - dangerous to half-tracks, but easy killed by Chaffee type stuff. Buy a few from support points, if needed?. Not worth having in the core really.

Of course - you will have a section of RPG-6 tank hunters assigned to each rifle coy. Cheap and cheerful. Can scout for the grunts as well. Short life expectancy, mind you, but you cannot have everything..

Cheers
Andy

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

No tin-can's for me :) Trucks only. Im not sure if there might be some halftracks hiding somewhere, but that wouldn't seem right, as I doubt they made any copies or kept many ww2 lend-lease tracks around.

I'll have to consider that. I had one section in the battalion weapons company but having some for each coy could be handy.

Having them tagging along with the foot troopers is more handy as well, as I inevitably get my one section of them stuck somewhere where they can't see anything.

I actually started out with a company of 76's, then upgrading as they get blown up :)

I went with the later soviet practice of having a company of tanks in each motor rifle battalion, with those parcelled out 1 platoon to each company. I know that's not really kosher for 46/47, but I figure I can take some liberties.


Yeah, those guys are wicked handy. I got an extra section attached to each company, as well as the one team in each platoon. They are pretty nice in woods, buildings etc, and they seem to have a knack for sneaking up on vehicles too.

They've had to fend off enemy foot troopers too on occasion.


Thanks!

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

The t34/76 is probably not the best idea as the main battle tank in that era (as you have discovered!:)). After all, they were replaced by the 85 a few years before. I would have bought 85mm tanks as the starter core, their gun power is really vital 1944+ - and you are well past that.

However, a platoon of 76mm T34 assigned to the Bn HQ as basically a replacement for the old light tanks of WW2 could work OK. If used carefully, never risking them and always staying behind the riflemen. As recce, could work the flanks, taking riflemen, scouts or inf-AT to handy villages or woods (as heavy APC, basically). Dismounts do the looking, the T34-76 hide with pride till needed. It's actually the only useful recce vehicle you have in that time frame?. No decent armoured cars yet, anyway.

Later on, the ASU-57 or PT76 are useful light APC plinkers with protection from rifle/MG fire (unlike the UAZ+RCL) that can support the dismounted grunts. If they remember to hide in the shrubbery rather than sit out in the open of course!. Ammo supply is a problem though.

Cheers
Andy

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

huh, that's an interesting idea. I may have to give that a shot. They'd be able to slug it out with light vehicles for sure, which the armoured cars can't do.

Later on, I can always find something else to replace them with.

How big an infantry squad can they transport? I might stick some scouts or get an extra SMG platoon.


Speaking of.. do you use SMG troops for this period, or just rifles? I was a bit torn, and I ended up just going with rifle infantry. Now I am wondering if I should have gone with some SMG guys, until carbines or AK's show up.

Cheers

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

Not a fan of SMG troopers, unless 199% guaranteed close country (Stalingrad type map, deep forest, 2 hex visibility night map, etc).

I personally never have such in the core, unless perhaps an engineer team or other specialist, scout perhaps.

SMG teams basically get shot down like dogs if caught out in open terrain at 4 or more hexes, even if they have an LMG in the section. They do hit nice and hard at 2 hexes or less, but most maps are reasonably open.

1 section in 3 might be acceptable, depending on your fighting style (getting in close in amongst the shrubbery, say, or desanting from tanks/APC on top of fully neutralised enemies).

I'd rather have rifles (or AK) really, you can use the 10/8 hex range much more often, on most maps.

Andy

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

I do try to advance fairly closely to the enemy with my foot troopers. Between 1 section per platoon or 1 platoon per company, which would make more sense to you?

They all have trucks right now, but sticking one of the platoons on tanks could have its merits too. I must admit, neither in WW2 or modern games have I ever really used tank riders much.

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

I have tried (Soviet) platoons of 3 elements, one with SMG+LMG, 2 with rifle+LMG.

However, I soon came to the opinion that 3xRifle+LMG works best. In order to use the hitting power of the SMG means that you have to walk through 6+ hexes of rifle fire in order to get close, unless you can reduce visibility that down with smoke, city grid, shell fire or whatever. Defensively, the mix is better, since you can ambush inside woods, or behind a ridge line etc.

Mixed within a platoon works best since then there are 2 rifle elements right by your sub gunners able to reach out and touch enemy riflemen if required. An isolated SMG-only platoon tends to melt under long range rifle fires. Especially against a human opponent who will recognise their range limitation and refuse to close. (AI may well advance on them of course! :)).

AKS, or even SKS carbines (at a pinch) are miles better than sub guns. Bolt rifles are better than SKS.

In the real world there were never any "trucks as APC" type platoons. Exceptions would be the UK WW2 motor bn, and some German WW2 ones - with a 15cwt light truck per section. However, those would tend to deliver the troops to about 1000-1500m, and then retire to lager while the riflemen walked the last bit. So only a mobility assist, not a substitute APC.

Medium trucks used to transport infantry would come from accumulating the battalion and brigade logistical assets (after first emptying those of the immediate rations, ammo etc reserves). Such an accumulation of trucks would be used to shuttle a brigade's companies forwards one at a time for 10-15 miles as a taxi service. Troops would be dropped off well away from the contact line (miles) - and the taxi service would go back and fetch the next company. So, only used for behind the lines administrative deployment. Medium or larger trucks were simply too valuable to lose by using as "APC".

( Old fart mode on : I recall doing a similar "shuffle taxi" on the Bn trucks as an overnight approach, Bn assembling on a kick-off line about a mile off the target and doing a dawn assault on Salisbury Plain back in the 70s. Oh such sheer joy! - it was up an iron age hill-fort at the very end, and muggins was carrying the platoon backpack radio :eek:!)

Therefore, in a core, unless it is a British motor battalion or similar rare "organic" light-truck organisation, the only trucks I have are the weapons carriers in e.g. the mortar and AT platoons.

Trucks in the core will gain experience, so become more valuable points-wise, just like any other troops. But the experience will gain you nothing since they have no combat ability. Maybe be able to pull off a rally when needed, is all. All the extra points will do is make the enemy forces stronger over time, as the non-fighting soft-skins accumulate in value. In addition you will be spending a lot of repair points fixing them when they inevitably get bent.

Therefore my Soviet cores in WW2 or early post war always work as leg infantry. Occasionally I might buy a truck formation to act as taxis if the map is conducive to the buy. But I am always super cautious, since trucks packed with troops on a road are mortar magnets, IMHO. Guaranteed customers for the local A&E department, really. Cheap but cheerful tin-can APC are better for the shuttle service as and when available.

Also I usually use the tank co to lift an advance guard leg infantry co up towards the front. I might manage to use the tanks to taxi up two rifle coys before any contact happens.

Once decent usable APC (Which I classify as the BTR-60P with its 14.5mm turret) arrive, then I give up on leg grunts and go for the doctrinal 3x BTR-60 coys and 1x14 tank support coy. I find BMP are too expensive really (different case if say Egyptians on open desert maps). The 14.5mm deals with any NATO box-on-tracks APC with rifle calibre MG just fine.

Cheers
Andy

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

Yeah, that makes sense. I'll try it on and we'll see how it fares. Since one of the sections will have 2 LMG's still, it should help make up for the lack of 1 sections rifles.. I hope :)

Yeah, the reason I took truck infantry is to later upgrade them to APC types. I try to keep them out of the firing line, and just use them to deploy quickly into terrain features, then advance on foot to the objectives. If I was doing a solely 40s campaign, I think you are probably right. Use tanks and maybe a single truck platoon to cart the blighters about.


I've rather liked BMP's when playing games where they are about, but they do tend to blow up rather well. Tricky to use to get the most out of them. It's easier on the defensive for sure.



Also I usually use the tank co to lift an advance guard leg infantry co up towards the front. I might manage to use the tanks to taxi up two rifle coys before any contact happens.

Once decent usable APC (Which I classify as the BTR-60P with its 14.5mm turret) arrive, then I give up on leg grunts and go for the doctrinal 3x BTR-60 coys and 1x14 tank support coy. I find BMP are too expensive really (different case if say Egyptians on open desert maps). The 14.5mm deals with any NATO box-on-tracks APC with rifle calibre MG just fine.

Cheers
Andy[/quote]

Re: Reflections. 1946 USSR campaign
 

Generally 1/3 to 2/3 (depending on the anti-helo assets of the opposition) of a USMC MEU (i.e. combat team) is motorized and operates much the same as Andy said.

The exception being jeeps/HMMMWV's that act as weapons carriers/ammo resupply/ambulance/motor scouts/etc. vehicles and even they usually operate our of rifle (tho not MG) range of the opposition.