Saturday, August 24, 2013

Still thinking about that Soviet Mechanised Corp list

I am still pondering that Soviet Mechanised Corps list for mid war 1943 Spearhead games. The earlier list is tank heavy, and that's certainly a valid option. But I am wondering about the balance. So here's another iteration, removing one of the Tank Brigades, and replacing it with a slightly slimmed down mechanised brigade. This brings a little more balance with enough infantry to suppport the armour, while retaining the Tank Regiment from the Mechanised Brigade assets. I am wondering if the earlier list is in fact legitimate, since that Tank Regiment with the Heavy tank Companies is in  fact an asset for the Mechanised Brigade, and the earlier list had none of the Mechanised Brigade's core fighting units.

Here is the amended list. Remember that this is the on-table elements only. This is 'stiffened' with off table artillery, and counter battery support (yes, I never go anywhere without it).


Russian Mechanised Corps 1943: Attack List          














Quantity Points Cost Total Morale Number of stands Modified Total

Core Troops









Corps HQ









T34/76C 1
20
1 18












1st Tank  Brigade consisting of: 







1st Tank Brigade HQ:


Regular 1



 HQ BA32  1 6 6





Total

6

5.4












Tank Battalion


Regular 8



T34/76C 4 20 80




Tank Battalion








T34/76 C 2 20 40





T70 2 9 18





Total

138

124.2












Motorized Rifle Battalion consisting of: 


Regular 13



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 0 5 0





Quad MG truck 2 5 10








10

9












Rifle Regiment







Regiment HQ:


Regular 1



HQ Stand&Truck 1 5 5





Mortar Co 120mm Mortar&Truck 1 6 6















Total

11

9.9












Infantry Battalion consisting of: 


Regular 12



Battalion HQ 1 5 5





Rifle Stands 9 5 45





HMG 1 5 5





Mortar Co 81mm 1 3 3





Total

58

52.2












Infantry Battalion consisting of: 


Regular 12



Battalion HQ 1 5 5





Rifle Stands 9 5 45





HMG 1 5 5





Mortar Co 81mm 1 3 3





Total

58

52.2


Infantry Battalion consisting of: 


Regular 12



Battalion HQ 1 5 5





Rifle Stands 9 5 45





HMG 1 5 5





Mortar Co 81mm 1 3 3





Total

58

52.2






















Tank Regiment








HQ T3476C 1 20 20





Heavy Tank Co KV1C 2 23 46





Tank Coys T34/76C 3 20 60








126

113.4






















Light SP Gun Regt








SU76s 4 13 52

46.8

Thursday, August 22, 2013

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



















War of the Austrian Succession scenario ..

Adrian and I took the afternoon to play a War of the Austrian Succession game, using his 15mm armies and scenery...   it's too gorgeous ...