Mid War Russian Spearhead lists

My game with Nick the other week (AAR here) has lead me to think a little more about the composition of 1943 Russian lists using the Spearhead Scenario Generation System. Until now I've limited myself to either Infantry Division or Armoured Division lists. This has always provided a clear demarcation in terms of equipment. The armoured division has plenty of T34s with the option to add some lighter armour (BTs or T70s), always useful for that 'reconnaissance by death'), while the infantry diviison provided me with those tougher KV alternatives in the form of the heay tank breakthrough regiments.

As always there are compromises. The T34s are faster, and reasonably effective, but vulnerable to heavier German guns. The KVs are slow but tougher in the face of German firepower.

Both lists provide plenty of cheaper infantry with that 0.9 modifier for Regular infantry, and being Russian there's plenty of artillery, albeit harder to access for observed fires. I'd simply not paid attention to the Mechanised Corps OOBs until tonight. I wish I'd done that sooner. In my opinion the vital addition is the Tank Regiment in the Mechanised Brigade assets. This Tank Regiment includes 2 Heavy tank companies of KVs. This may be only 2 KV stands, but that's a very useful asset to throw at the enemy. The only limitation is that this Regiment must be used as a single unit. It cannot be attached, nor presumably cross attached with any infantry in the Corps,  and presumably the stands do not count as support stands.

Players with little experience of the Russian OOBs, when told the OOB that their opponent is using, will think T34s for Tank Corps, or KVs for Infantry Divisions, but the Mechanised Corps offers the possibility of the best of both worlds. Armour with the speed and quality to match PzIVs, and a smaller heavy tank component to provide some backbone to the armour. I'm looking forward to trying this OOB on the table.

Here is the on-table component of a possible Mechanised Corps list for 1943.

			Quantity	Points Cost	Total	Morale		Modified Total
	Corps HQ
		T34/76C	1		20			18
	1st Tank  Brigade consisting of:
	1st Tank Brigade HQ:					Regular
		HQ BA32	1	6	6
		Total			6			5
	Tank Battalion					Regular
		T34/76C	4	20	80
	Tank Battalion
		T34/76 C	2	20	40
		T70	2	9	18
		Total			138			124
	Motorized Rifle Battalion consisting of:					Regular
		Battalion HQ in Jeep	1	6	6
		Rifle Stands in Trucks	6	5	30
		SMG Co	3	6	18
		81mm Mortar & truck	1	6	6
		HMG Co in Truck	1	3	3
		45/66 ATG & truck	0	5	0
		Total	1	7	7
					70			63
	Brigade AA Battery
		37/70 AA Gun	1	5	5
		Quad MG truck	1	5	5
					10			9
	2nd Tank Brigade HQ:					Regular
		HQ BA32	1	6	6
		Total			6			5
	Tank Battalion					Regular
		T34/76C	4	20	80
	Tank Battalion
		T34/76 C	2	20	40
		T70	2	9	18
		Total			138			124
	Motorized Rifle Battalion consisting of:					Regular
		Battalion HQ in Jeep	1	6	6
		Rifle Stands in Trucks	6	5	30
		SMG Co	3	6	18
		81mm Mortar & truck	1	6	6
		HMG Co in Truck	1	3	3
		45/66 ATG & truck	0	5	0
		Total			0
					63			57
	Tank Regiment
		HQ T3476C	1	20	20
		Heavy Tank Co KV1C	2	23	46
		Tank Coys T34/76C	2	20	40
					106			95
	Brigade AA Battery
		37/70 AA Gun	0	5	0
		Quad MG truck	2	5	10
					10			9
	Light SP Gun Regt
		SU76s	3	13	39			35
	Corps mortar regiment
		120mm mortar with truck	0	6	0			0