Professional Documents
Culture Documents
KEY
1.~ommm.07ltlO'rr-
~
1. I,g"""M.1!01T-
11I1'~ti:". "'JlTIlfj(~
from their Succ~ses in 1943, the Red Anny continued on offen'live into the winter
early 1944. They broke the Siege of Lening-ran. ami then pushed the Germans Ilack into
I r~:;o~~~ In the Ukraine, two Gennan armie!'J were encircled, one after the other, in the Korm.m
;4 Kamenets-podol!!ky Pockets. }'inland waq finally ejected from the war in June ami the fol-
lowing month the Red Anny sma.qhed Germany's Army Group Centre in Operation Bagratioll.
With Gennany anri her a1lies reeling, the Soviets }ltlshed on, forcing Romania to change sirles in
'-It=~'
~;
~Th;eY~th~e;n~~P\~,"~h!ed~t~h~e~Gerrruu~~~l"J
and
back into Poland to the very rloorstep of the Third Reich
the 1945.
ALLIED FORCES ON THE EASTERN FRONT. JANUARY 1944 - FEBRUARY 1945
,,
)II'
• •
&d Btar was compiled from the following books: Fortrtss Etlium: Peter Simunovich, John-Paul Brisigotti
Europr, Stalini O/ulaughr. Hammrr and Sickk, Rivtr of H(roN Gmphic Design: Sean Goodison
and Stalin's Europr. These books wert originally produced by Ttrrnin. Motklling and Photography: Battlefront Studio
the Battlefront tcam and friends. Painting: James Brown. Blake Coster, Casey Davies, Mike
Haught, Jeremy Painter, and Matt Parkes
Compi/rd and (diud by: Wayne: Turner
COllU Art: Vincent Wai
Nrw maurin/ writt(1l by: lllurnaf Art: Warren Mahy, Vincent Wai, and Ben Wooten
: Camel, Alessandro Fasolo. Andrew Haught, Mike Haught, Miniatures Drsipl: Evan Allen
Van Nonon, Phil Yales. Many thanks to aU ofthr plnyusun and proofoadm who !Javt
matk this compilation possibk.
CONTENTS
Introduction .", •.•• " • . , ............ 2 8y Gvudry, kiy Su",lkovy Korp"'" .••..• 72 Soviet Sp«ial R"les .••..••.••..•••.•• 160
Warrior: Uytt n:lnl A V Pyl'cyn •..•...•.73 ThcPolu h HomcArmy • . ....••••••.•• 164
8ya Ordydnaya Sh tl'llfnoy &,raIon ..•.... 74 Poli sh B.lalion Arm ii Kl'lljowcj Sp«ial Rules .
Soviet Foras on the E•.'ltem Fro n! •••••.• 10 Udarny Su dkovy &" a1on . .. ...........78 ....•..••. .... . ......•.••. 167
Polish Fo«a! on the Eastern Fronl . • • . . . • 13 The Hammer and the Sickle •.••.••.••.. 88 &lalion Armii Kra;owq .....•......•. 168
Romanian Forason the Eastern Fro nt ••.• 13 Warrior. Kapitan V I Nc-vsky.•..•.......92 &,a1ion Armii Kra;owei Anocnal. . .... 174
Rdieving Leningrad .••.••.•..•••.••.• 16 Warrior: BriKaCle Kom;M:lr M A DetIov ....93 RomaniaatWar ..................... 176
Gn rdeyskiy"Tankovy &taIon . . .........94 Warrior: &rg.: nl Aure! Sandu .•........ I 79
The Narva Winter Baula! . . . . ...••.• 17 Motosudko,,), &Ialon . . ...98 COmpanie T.neu'; ..... . ... . .. ...... 180
The Auack On Finland •..•..••..••.••.• 18 Peredovoyc Ol ryad .. ... ... ... .. . .. . . J04 Com.pnic·limeur; Medii .. . . .... 182
Tankovy &ualon. . . • . . . . . . .•..•...•20 Ro f2 Ra~vedkL ... . ... .. ... . ........ 106 Comp:ln it: Van'llori MOfOriula. . .... 186
Strdkovy .. . •..•..••..• 24 4"' Guan:ls CavairyCo rps .••.•... •.... 110 Companit: de Caval(1'ic. . ..•..•. 190
...30 Warrior. Podpolkovni k ra,"'! Kam nev .... 113 Ba,a1ion Pusasi ... .. .. 1%
ill &lIalon .•....34 G vardeyskiy Kauehiy Polk . . .. . . . .. . . 11 5 Di"isionaJ Suppan • . .. . . .....•.... 202
...........38 Paniun$kiy Bripla . ........•• 124 German Suppon .. • . .. . . .....205
................... 46
................ 50
.•.. . 52
Soviet Invulon of Romani ....... ....... 132
". Romanian Sp«ial Rul., .
Roman ian At$t'nal.. . .. .
SoV;<l:1 l'aln ting Guide . •. .
. ..•.•.208
. .•.209
REVISED EDITION
This is a supplement for FLrm fJ Of War, the World War 11 miniaturu game.
A copy of the rulebook for FLrmeJ Of war is necessary to fully use the contenu of this book. :\-
"' ~
rts;crv«J. N0 part ~'r-c,
'-A11 rJ.gh t5'w- u, l$ hi' • . L . r _,, ~
pu !catLon may rn:: repruuuce ,Slorcu
d '" _~. . ~ I'"
F . d'
a remeva SySlem, or rranSmltle
In
"' ,orm or h.1
• III any yany JI'
means wilhoUl the prior wriuen permiSSion oftq.c publisher. nor be otherwise circu'iated in any form of binding or covtr olhtr than thai
'in whkh it is publisru..u and without a similar condilion being imposed on the sub5equtm purchase r. •
p'" "' ;. r.... ,iii .. '"
,4:1 Copytight Battlefront Ntinialures "«,., ''" ".
the fleeing Germans back into Poland with your mobile tank
and caval ry forces .
Flames Of ~r you take on the role of a company
commander manoeuvring your troops across the battlefields Follow up . your success by liberating the Ukraine from
of World War II. This classic period of warfare is brought Germany and its lapdogs Hungary and Romania. By quickly
to life in your own game room . Rtd Bear provides the core crushing Romania forcing them to change sides, the Soviet
armies in the form oflnrelligence Briefings. These Intelligence and Romanian combined forces can move on Hungary.
~~::;:;';~ allow yo u to field the Soviet, Polish and Romanian Push the Germans and Hungarians out orfransylvania before
('; that clashed with the Germans and their allies'across
fighting the epic tank barrles around Debreeen. Storm the
Eastern Front in 1944.
Tisza River with your brave Soviet and Romanian infantry
To play Fldmrs Of War you'll also need the Flames Of War before encireling Budapest with your Guards tank forces.
rulebook. The rulebook contains all the rules that you need
Finally assault Budapest, fighting through the streets against
to fight miniature World War II battles.
stiff resista nce in a barrIe that will last IOO-days. While your
brave infantry fight for control of the Hungarian capital,
WHY COLLECT A FORCE FROM RED BEAR? your mighty armoured forces will hold back the desperate
Red Bear provides Flames Of War players the forces needed attempt's by German armoured forces to break through your
torecreate the heroic Allied forces from the bloody baules cordon. Bm eventually victory will be yo urs!
Leningr,ad and Narva in the north, through Operation
They are all here in Rrd Scar, looking fo r the right general
to the final subjugation of Rqmania and
Hungary. ,
to rake command and bring the roar of bartle to your 0"' '"0.><
room.
witi,l the liberation of Leningrad after an epic 900-day
p~sh back the besieging German fo rces to the Narva How THIS BOOK WORKS
: Then enci rcle and reduce over confident German
This book is divided into sections for each major offensive
at the Korsun and Kamene ts-Podolsky Pockets, before
on rhe Eastern Front in 1944. Each army has Intelligence
: knodciog'F;,I,,,,d out of rhe war after a massive assault..
• Briefings for tank, mechanised, and infantry companies .
Next launch Operation Bagration to secure Byelorussia from
Each company has easy-to-use charts, highlighting available
the Fasci~t. Smash/ through German Army Group Centre,
platoons which are the fighting units of your company. Each
retaking Hitler's 'Festerplan' one by one. Mercilessly pursue
platoon diagram visually displays what troOps are included
in rhe plaroon ~
.. ) ,.r"" -""" ~ ....A ...,.... ...,-....- 1 ..... A detailed arsenal at the end of each section describes the
• REOAmr STRElKOVY BATAlON speeific ratings for your units and the weapons they use.
From tanks to infantry, this book contains everything you
~I Suelk"vy8ataio n HQ (Compulsory HCadqua'tero~O po;;",' '.1 need to get started on your army!
Battalion HQ
Strelkovy Company (Compulsory Combat Platoon)6 . [n add iTion to the technical information you'll need to build
' m 35pollltS your force, each book contains plenty of inspiring pictures to
with 3 Rifle Platoons an dK omlssar tea _
help you capture d,e flavour of your new Flames OfWar force!
Cit Strdkovy Company (Compulso:Combat Platoo~65 oints
with 3 Rifle Platoons and KOIIU6sar team P All of lhe forces in [his book are based on historical examples
. Co . any (Conlbat Platoon) that fought on the Eastern Front between I January 1944
'i' Strelkovy MachlDe-gun mp 45 .
'-II 1 pOllltS and mid-February 1945.
with 2 Machine-gun platoons
Strclkovy Anti-tank Company (We:o.pon Platoon) . To find Out more, visit your local game store, or visit our
75 pOHlts
with 4 45mm obr 1942 guns informative website at IlIww,FlnmesOfWiJr.com,
4) Guards Heavy Assault Gun Company
r- Platoon)
(s.p,.o,t 345 pomts
.
with 31SU-I22
ta Limited Air Support (Support PlatOOn) 5'
\11 'k 22 pOInts
. h II-2M Tip 3M Shturmov! .
WIt Toral-1550 pomts
uses a point system when setting up and In most Flamrs Of war games you will command a
PH'Y"', games. Typical games are around 1500 points, but company with several plalOons. However, in Soviet and
are certainly not limited lO any value! Play any poine value some Romanian forces these will be a battalion with several
and your opponent decide. You can play small 600 point companies, but these behave JUSt like other forces' plalOons.
in an hour, or you can play mammoth games using For these forces whenever the rules talk about a Platoon read
,J m,i~ that are 3000 or 5000 points or more! that as a Company. Where the rules talk about a Company,
read that as a BanaHon.
,
COMPANY HQ
In Ffllml'S Of \U7r, you are the
Company Commander. As such
you'll needacompany headquarters
platoon. When you choose your
force the first thing you must
purchase with your points is your
company headquarters platoon.
COMBAT PLATOONS
Usually, at least TWO combat
plawons are required. Whatever
your battle plan requires, the
Combat PI:Hoons are the ones yOll
rely upon lO get the job done!
WEAPONS PLATOONS
Weapons platoons come rtom
your own battalion. They arc
not required, but can offer your
company excellem suppOrt, such
as heavy machine-guns. mortars,
reece, and ami-tank weapons.
SUPPORT PLATOONS
Supporr platoons are loaned to
your company by the regiment,
brigade, division, or corps. These
platoons give you extra suppOrt in
many forms ranging from t:lnks
to artillery.
Each force begins with the Company Diagram, which demo nstrateS the company organisation graphically in an easy-to-read
i'."",,,.This simple diagram will help you create yo ur Flames a/War company and gec you playing in no time ar all!
YOUR COM PANY OR BATTALIO N
This firstcsrep is entirely up to you. There is a wide variety of companies or banalions, including infantry, reconnaissance,
mechanised, and tank forces. Have a read through the history texl. Fi nd a force that you find interesting and you're off!
INSTRUCTIONS
.~""'C, you have decided which company or banalion
build, have a look at the small box that 00"";""
:,"d"",",,,;,,", you will need to build your force.
VARIANT FORCES
companies or banalions are based on a single
~1D.~~C;"'(Ol)R COMPANY
the. Company or Battalion
---------
Gu allls Heavy Assault
Gurt Comparty
Assault GUrt Comparty
'XIlth inc ....... in~ prod",,;"n .• he.e i. no ,""onOS'" of ami-rank
CUM in rht RI;d A.my.li1t !onB·b.a.",lltd ~5mm obr 1?42 is
Tank Destructiort
Comparty
IT
-
A Red Arm] Strtlkovy Bmllion is Illio~d to take a Guards
collimn.
" ..
Htavy Assault Gun Compan].
-.-~.~.~----~. .. -
Once I have selected all of my plawons and totalled up my
points, I just have to find an opponent with equal points, SCI
up a batllefield and start playing!
:tlly Warriors throughout this book. Thc:se arc: hcroic soldiers who can join your force and help it win vicwry.
Flames War
;
~::!~~::~:~:I~~I~( from the Of website www.Flamc:sOfWar.comandindependentretailersasspecialorder
~O###,),
blister packs (SU### or ROtNN), or in boxes (SBX##). Use the table below to find the relevam
code for each Warrior.
is the Warriqr Kapitan Dmiuiy Lou' in his M4 76mm Sherman rank.
INFANTRY TEAMS
The fundamenral building blocks of an infantry platoon or company are the various types of infantry teams. The most
common ones are shown below with a brief description of their function and organisation.
RIFLE TEAMS
--- Rifle teams are the basic form of infam ry. All the miniatures in a rifle
learn will normally be armed with rifles. Some squads may have a single
machine-gun , but its efreCi is diluted by thc number of rifles in the
squad. Base your rifle {cams on a medium base.
..-R-I-' -LE- (-M
- G- T-E-AM
- S- - - - - - - - - - - -R";-A-, '-M
- G- ., ,c, -m-,-,-,,- or;liscd like rifle teams, except that every squad oi"
M)l~ ~l~' twO tcams has a machine-gun. Base Rifle/MG teams on a medium base
""_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _w_;_
,h_,h_,_,_~_o_n_d_b_,_~_n_o_'_m.'.IIY modelled with a crew-fed m~-gun. r
MG TE,AMS MG teams are bener armed than Rifle/MG teams. Every MG learn has
a machine-gun. Base MG teams with a crew-fed machine-gun and tWO
to three riflemen on a medium base.
SMG TEAMS Some nations equipped entire platoons with submachine-guns. SMG
teams are made up of miniatures armed exclusively with submachine-
guns. Base SMG teams on a medium base.
LIGHT MORTAR
- and the abiliry 10 clear mines and demolish fortificadons.
Mf
Command M3Al armoured
Rifte/MG team trallsponer
HQ SECTION
M)'M
.....
'"l~.) ,,~)~. '"l~f~
Rillo/MG team Rifle/MGtOBm
~
ODe
M3A I armoured uansponen with turTet-
~ lltM., captured Sd Kfz 251 armoured ttans-
RAZVEDKI PLATOON
• Aniloll U~ Camen with ""'" mti-wd< ril!.s
I...S......
t~~;~,,,;:'~h:~;'~ overwhelming force, and an increasingly Heavy fighdng continued on the Narva Line through ro mid
J i strategy, the mighty Red Army was driving summer with the German defenders hard hit by constant Red
the Nazi invaders back, reclaiming the losl territory of rhe Army infantry and artillery anacks. The Germans r~alised
Motherland city by city. By the close of 1943, Soviet forces thar a major Soviet breakthrough was eminent and withdrew
had already advanced to the Onepr River and were poised to to the Tannenberg line. The Germans held EstOnia until the
continue their advance through rhe winter. Soviets launched the Riga Offensive on 14 September 1944,
which finally smashed German resistance.
THE RELIEF OF LEN INGRAD
On 14 January 1944, the long awaired attacks, ro relieve the ADVANCE IN THE SOUTH
besieged ciey of Leningrad, by the Leningrad and Volkov In the south, Red Army momentum was maintained as the
began, Combined widl a major offensive against Third Ukrainian Front swept across the southern Ukraine
h,o',,,,,od: the Red Army imended to destroy Army Group and reached rhe borders of Romania on 12 May. The Soviet
Army forces complered the encirclement of advance had cur off the German and Romanian ITOOpS
18 January and a day later the 42...J Army General Janecke in the Crimean peninsula. On 8 April So,;;d~':
Leningrad linking, up with 2...J Shock Army trOOps attacked and q uickly overwhelmed dIe Axis defences.
the dry: On 9 May, [he German garrison in Sevastopol surrendered.
27 January, l.:eningrad had been liberated after a 900-day
: " j"go The Germans colla~sed and pulled back past the "rj,ver THE ATTACK ON FINLAND
an.d eventually stopped at the Narva River in Estonia. Afrer the failure of peace negotiations earlier in the year, the
'I I Red Army began an offensive aimed at knocking Finland
KORSUN-CHERKASSY POCKET OUI of the war on 9 June 1944. The Leningrad and Karelian
Fronts attacked the Finnish defences on the Karelian Isthmus
First and Second Ukrainian Fronts launched a major
and East Karelia. Soviet forces captured East Karelia and
9n the left wing of the German First Panzer ,Army's
Vyborg. However, after that Finnish resistance stiffened and
near Korsun on 24 January. The goal was ro nap the
the fighting reached a stalemate by mid-July. Despite nOt
ir their se.emingly meaningless desire to hold a line
achieving all of its objectives the offensive forced Finland to
. . Initially the Germans held firm and the
the peace table, and eventually took them our of the war.
raged until eventually 56,000 Germans
on. 28 January.
O PERATION BAG RATION
~
t~~~~g:~~;~~:; Ukrainian Front battled to reduce the
reOlperarures. 111e Germans began attacks
By May the Red Army had recaptured large areas of the
motherland from the invaders-Crimea and the Ukraine
i fo rces trapped at Korsu n on 11 February. They
were back in Soviet hands and the Germans had been d riven
i ten miles of the pocket on the first day. The
back from [he approaches to Moscow and Leningrad. Yet
resisted ,in the following days, while they
large swathes of Byelorussia still remained under German
. pur pr~sure on the encircled Germans.
COntrol.
'!i~;," me German's armoured fo rce failed to break illIO [he
On 22 June ,the Soviets launched Operation Bagration and the
, rho~e trapped inside tried to breakout on 16 February.
17 February, in a blinding snowstorm, the Germans FiTS[ Baldc, Second and Third Byelorussian F',co~n~'~:',:~:~:';::~~
in ro me German defences between the cities 0 i
_',managed to find a seam in the Soviet defences. At dawn, the
Bobruisk, centred on O rsha. The Germans rook a h"",)""o
weather cleared and Soviet cavalry and aircraft pounced on
the columns ofReeing Germans. The breakout turned into a on the attacking Soviet forces, but the Red ~;:J';::':,~';~
more to give. By 25 June, German forces were
rout and ten German divisions disintegrated.
back to the fortified d ries, before Soviet assaul ts drove
Germans first our of Virebsk [hen Orsha, while ' i
THE BATTLE FOR ESTONIA
AfteF the b~g of the Si~ge of Leningrad, the Red Army
.
Mogilov and Bobruisk. Soviet breakthrough armour<;d,
.
cavalry forc~ rushed through the Ger.,!!lan lines and, despite
continued to art-tck againsr Army Group North. They forced desperate fighting by German blodcins. det;l.(;hmeots, M,insk
~ .I..... ..... ' d
the Ge r m~ t lghteenrh Arll"!y to abandon positions qel
I
fell on 3 July.
,
THE INVASION OF HUNGARY
initial Soviet spearheads of Operation Bagration had After the Fall of Romania three massive Soviet armies
reached, their objectives by mid July. They had retaken turned on Hungary desperately defended by si.x German
t
:!~~i:~:~(fortified)
aud now found themselves engulfing the
cities in eastern Poland. Red Army forces
and Hungarian armies. The Red Army rampaged through
eastern Hungary with three fronts until a massive clash of
bridgeheads over me Vismla River and locked armoured forces at Debrecen slowed theif advance, but only
with the Germans holding the river and the doorway to temporarily, as the great red sledgehammer was soon ready to
Germany and Berlin. The batties raged from Sandomierz in swing again~ The Red Army drove on towards Budapest, the
the south [0 the villages north of Warsaw. However, vigorous Hungarian capital.
I by German armoured forces finally halted the
Budapest was encircled on 24 December and a series of
t- Red Army and Operation Bagration ended.
assaults by Soviet and Romanian forces soon pushed me
ON ROMANIA ". defenders out of the east of the ciry. This savage and bitter
struggle lasted for 100 gruelling days, btl[ the ciry was finally
1944, the Red Army pushed the Romanians and taken on 13 February 1945. •
Germans back across the Bug River and emered Bessarabia.
Meanwhile, the fight for Hungary cominued as three
The Red Army was ou the very doorstep of Romania. The
German counter-offensives failed to break the siege. The Red
and Romanians established a defensive line along
Army pushed on and, by early 1945, were in Slovakia and
the Bessarabian fronder. This held until the Soviets launched a
approaching Austria.
massive offensive on 20 August 1944. Two Red Army thrusts
were directed at the cities of lasi and Chisinau. Powerful
Soviet armoured forces smashed through the Axis lines and
Romanilm and German armoured reserves couldn't stem
I
:~:~:~:r:':. and went into action. The battalions fought with intense bravery and refused to surrender, despite increasingly
circumstances.
<fl.'
ROMANIAN FORCES
COMPANIE TANCURI COMPANIE VANATORI MOTORIZATA
TANK COMPANY PG.180 MOTORISED INFANTRY COMPANY PG.186
The arm o ured troops of the Romanian army, while not The Vflnfllori of the 1" Armoured Division and the mO[Qr-
,.,,~ ..•,. equipped with rhe best, were always well morivarcd iscd cavalry regiments are the best and most experienced
trained. The tankers are ably supported by armoured troops in the Romanian Army. They were often used as fire
to fincl .gaps in rhe defences, motorised infantry ro hold brigades, racing from crisis to crisis whenever the ;ol',o"y 1:
gaps' c~~ted and [Q rapidly move to support the rankers, cannot handle the situation alone. Highly motivated,
·'mo"";,,d an.ti-rank gunners and TACAM tank-hunters to will attack on the move, almost before their tr ucks have even
~ g" ',"kkly<owhere they. are needed [Q support the attack. stopped.
served in Crimea and R-2, R-35 and R-35
COMPANIE DE CAVALERIE
~' .v,n"muhl d, Cire ranks served in Romania's northeast with
CAVALRY COMPANY PG.190
'Canremir' Mixed Arrrloured Gro up. ,.
The Romanian Cavalry had many of the best recruits, often
ti~;~~~~~!~
volunteers would join with theif own horse or motorcycle.
TNNCURJ MEDII Modern cavalry are not the shock arm they were in days
~ TANK COMPANY PG.l82
gone by, though they are still more than capable of the odd
1943, deliveries of German equipment started [Q arrive
dashing charge. Now they are like old-fashion dragoons and
' fi;;~~~;;'::;' T-3 (Panzer ([I), T-4 (Panzer IV) tanks, and TA fight as mo.unred infantry bei ng just as comfortable fighting
~ assault guns saw service from early 1944, fir;r with
dismounted.
~~~;',C"~~'.~~; ' Mixed Armoured Group and from March
Rapid Armoured Detachmenr and finall y, by
BATALION PUSCASI
the full I" Armoured DiVIsion. '
RIFLE BAITAlION PG.l96
,·0""", ~d"dl" provided the Roma nians with armour The riflemen of the Batalion Puscasi (rifle banalion) remain
~
~f2~u~~,r.~~~~bG~ii,,~ffCCtiVe
or R-2against enemy the
tank-hunters tanks. Backed
Romanian
the backbone of the Romanian Army, despite new enemies
and allies. The Batalion Puscasi is an infantry-heavy fo rce
their own against the red steel. provided with Romanian and allied Soviet support. Their
Puscasi Companies comain their own mortars and machine-
guns with more I platoons. W'''P?n.
·- r -:~
- ,
... ,(
',
)
,:1.,,·,"f< the end of 1943 the Soviets began to plan their rake place in the western Ukrai ne with the FiTS! and the
actions for the next year. The High Command's plan was Second Ukrainian Fronts. In the Third Strategic Offensive
into four major offensives. The First Strategic the Third and the Fourth Ukrainian Fronts would attack in
would stan in January and take place in the the southern Ukraine. The targer for the Fourth Strategic
<lfca with trOOps from the Leningrad Front and OffensivC' would be Finland.
Front. The Second Strategic Offensive would
RELIEVING LENINGRAD
N9rth
~
;!r~:~~t:~G;;:'~OUPJanuary ofhad1944,
beenthe
besieging Leningrad
Red Army under
Lale on the evening of 13 January long-range bombers from
Ihe Babic Fleet atracked the main German command pointS
launched' an offensive that threatened (0 on their d~fensiv~ line. The next day uoops from both the
encircle the b~iegingarmy. Oranienbaum bridgehead and Volkhov Front anacked. The
• next day trOOpS of the 42 001 Army a({ack~d towards Leningrad
oIt"[',"9pctarion Barbarossa, German troops had encircled
from the Pulkovo Heights. Artillery barrages on th~ German
laid siege to Leningrad. S~v~ral operations by th~ Red
positions suPPOrted rhe Red Army anacks. For rhe first few
~ .","", in 1242 aog 1943 , had fai led to liberate th~ city.
days the offensive's progress was inhibited by fog, although
'liT"""",,, t1~e end of 1943, preparations had begun in earnest the 2nd Shock Army and 42nd Army advanced on a 7 mile
another attempt to relieve the city. The offensive was
front pushing back the German 9'~ and 10'" Luftwaffi Fi'c1d
;,··ph"'''''d as a~ assault from three directions. One arrack
Divisions. The Volkhov Front pushed Ihe Germans
would drive from Oranienbaum, which had been caprured
about mree miles.
earli~r, a second from me Pulkovo Heights overlooking Ih~
ciry from (he south and (he (hi~d from Volkhov From. Th~ On 16 January a maw occurred that allowed the-2-~;:;~~q
offensiv~ was planned to start in th~ wimer, when HOOpSand Army to advanc~ 23 kilometres. By 26 January, (
artillery could be moved across the ic~ of Lake Lodo!?f' troops had been pushed up to 100 kilometres away
the city, and the Moscow-Leningrad Railroad line
In a final meeting of (he commanders on II January, General
Govorov, who -torhmanded the offensive, outlined the pri- been reopened. StaJin declared that the Siege oof~I~:~~:~I~~
was lifted. 1\c end of the 900-day siege was Ct
orities. Their 'first objective would be Gatchina and then
Leningrad \Vith a 324 gun salute.
Mga, the mino)' rail terminal on the outskirtS of Leningrad
whose pp\ure.ln,1941 had closed lhe lasl rail toad route into
Leningrad. Thes~ were impoi(an~ as they would allow the
two rriaifl railroad Iin~ in amj OUt of Leningrad to. reopen.
r , ,
Wifh the breaking of the Siege of Leni ngrad the Germans defences. These attacks also met intense fire from the defend-
to the natural defensive position of rhe Narva ers' positions. Each attack was quickly followed by a German
River near rhe dry of Narva. counterattack, which eventually recaptured the territory and
re[Urned. th! lines co their February locations.
The terrain offered the Germans a choke point with Lake
Peipus in the south and the Gulf of Finland to the north Govorov continued attacking up and down the Narva Line
connected by the south to north running Narva River. The seeking a weakness in the defences. One attack against the
was icy and the bridges were the key to rhe success of Dutch SS broke through mwards the river. Govorov commit-
i(it,ho SO,;;" anacks. If the Red Army could drive the Germans ted his tank reserves with orders to seize the bridges across
the Narva River line, they would remove the invaders the river into the city. lbe defenders councerattacked and
.... 'from the whole region. This would score a strategic and the panzers stopped [he advancing Red Army ranks, b~.H [he
political victory for Stalin's armies. Germans were prevented from exploiting their advantage by
heavy anti-tank fire from the eaSt side of the river.
Red Army did not wait for the Germans to settle.
On 2 February the 2nd Shock Army led by Major General The Germans launched. a series of counterattacks beginning
Fediuninsky immediately attacked the German bridgehead on March 26 to eliminate the Soviet bridgehead gained by
on the east side of the Narva River. This bridgehead was a the 30,h Guard Rifle Corps in February. They successfully
seven mile long line stretching from the village of Lilienback drove the Red forces back to the river, but nOt across it. These
the north to the village of Dolgaja Niva in the sourh. The attacks could nOt be sustained, but the threat was sufficient
Army faced a number of non-German SS divisions. that General Govorov ordered the construction of extensive
defensive works on the east side of the
: On 3 Febru.ary the Soviet attack began with a thrust through
possible breakthrough.
defences on the east side of the river. Soviet tanks broke
a~d threatened to establ ish their own bridgehead By the end of M:uch, the Red Army was not able to defeat the
Ij'un ,the west SIde of the rive r. With supporr from medium defences along the Narva River. The thaw and the rflsputitsa
"and heavy tanks the foreign SS troOps were able to [Urn the (muddy season) in April forced a halt on all major Soviet
Red Army ass:.n;lt and retake the ground on the eastern side operations in the region until late May.
of the riyer. . ..
~
~~:~~:i:~l~,~·and
around Narva, reaching the rail line
th~a~ened. ro 'enCircle the defend-
counreranack by the Germans halted
encircling
Mter a week " of relative quiet, March saw a renewed offen-
1'< sive by the Red Army. At dawn on 1 March, the Red Army
began a 20 minute artillery bar,rage against the' German
posicions. This was followed by an assault by the 2nd tuffe
Corps, 109'" Rifle CorR~, _and 43M Rifle Corps. HO ......fver,
the dug-in defenders were well,protected from the Jrtil-
lery an4 t}te Red Afmy's ~dvance ,,:,as halted due to heavy
casualdes. ' ..
!
General C;:;.Qvoroy attempted to rq'ive. tqe assault 00 ,
2 Marsh, bringin-g .fresh forc~ to I?e;lr "a~ainst the· Nar:; ,
-, ~
~ . ..
THE FOURTH STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE Four days latcr, on 14 June, the second Finnish defensive
plan for the Fourth Strategic Offensive on Finland line, the vr Line (Vammelsuu- Taipale) was penetrated at
called fo r a two-pronged assault, one from Leningrad through Kumersclka. The Finnish JiiiiRiiri Brigade supported by assault
Vyborg [0 the Kymijoki River and the second across the Sv;r guns a:cem~ted (Q recover the VT Line; bur was haired by
River th rough Petrozavodsk and Sorravala to pass the 1940 lhe Red Army's 72 0d RiAe Division, I 85 th Tank Regiment,
border and advance deep into Finland. 35 1" Assault G un Regiment, 46 th Anti-tank Brigade, and
I 19th Independent Anti-tank Battalion. The attack went well
at firs t, but withered under murderous Soviet fire. Casualties
.,FI NNISH DEFE NCES
were: high on both sides.
The Binns began building fortified lines in 1941 on the
.Karelian Isth mus. These were the Main Line, which was Between 13 and 17 June the Finns held position ~n the
constructed along the fro m line of J 94 1, and the VT Line VT Line, until the events at Kuuterselka fo rced them to leave
(Vammelsuu- Taipale) running 20km behind the Main lhe VT Li ne and withdraw to the third defensive VKT Line.
Line. These two were reinfo rced with nu merous concrete Soon after the offensive had started, rhe Finns began to move
fortifications, but the work was still on-going. The third line, trOOpS from Eastern Karelia to the Karelian isthmus. Four
the VKT Line (Viipuri-Kuparsaari-Taipale), was still at a d ivisions and the 20'" Tank Brigade were transferred from
design stage and its construction began in late May 1944. On Aunus and the 3'" Brigade from the north, raising [he amount
the northern shore of the Svir River the Finns had prepared of trOOps on the Karelian Isthmus from 90,000 lO 155,000·by
deep area that was fortified with stro ngpoims made up the end of June. When the VT Line broke, the Finns decided
p illboxes, barbed wire, obstacles, ahd uenehes. to give up Eastern Karclia.
the' 194Q border there: was also the Salp3. Line with
The battles along the third defensive line began badly for
Finns. Viipuri was captured on 20 June almost without a
battle. Some of (he HOOpS of the 20 th Brigade, which had
just arrived from East Karelia, panicked and fled from their
.and
In total th.ere: were 268,000 Finns with 2,350 guns, 110 mnks
\
assault guns 3.nd 250 planes, 40% of dle men and twns
positions.
and all ~h e tanks were on. the Ka relian Isthm us. After the loss of Vi ipuri the Finnish government lried ro
app roach the Soviel Union to inquire about conditions for
The Red i\nny had'in the isthmus to overcome me defenders peace. At this point the Soviet offensive was proceeding well
rifle divisions, twO fo rtified regions, 14 lank and assauh- and the reply was that Moscow would be ready to receive
regiments, and over 220 artillery and rocket launcher Fi nland's delegation for unconditional surrender.
';;,,,,,,v~,'ro'm' (almost 3,000 guns and launchers). In Eastern
Red Army had [6 rifl e di visions, twO fortified Stalin probably felt the Finns would soon be crushed by his
Engi neer-Sapper brigades, twO rank brig3.des, troops. The Finns, on the other hand, knew what surrenderi ng
regiments, and three tank battalions. to me Soviets would mean. lbey could not accept the brutal
occupar.ion (h;l.( would inevitably follow. The Finns decided
forces, me Soviets had a 12: 1 advantage in men to conrinue fighting and instead asked Germany for help. The
;if.~;;;,c4J advantage il} guns, planes, and tanks against
, Germans continued to give aid in the way of weapom and
also brought 122. Infimuri«iivisioll and 303. SturmgachUrz
• Brigade froll1 Estonia to fight on the Karelian Isthmus, as well
as additional air support.
•
LCriingr3.d From offensive started on (he morning of The StavRa (Soviet high command) thought that after the faJ[
194.4 ~il h a heavy artillery bombardment, followed ofViipuri the Finnish Army would retreat to the Salpa Line
probing attacks. The date was chosen to coordinate with and therefore sct their next offensive objective there. Soviet
Western AJljes' ,landings in Normandy. troops reached the Virojoki-Lappcenranta-Imatra Line
O n the firs t day the assa ulting Soviet un its were able to by 26 June, bUl the strong resis tance after Viipuri surprised
~ lake some Finnish strongpoints in the Main Line near lhe lhem . Between 20 and 24 June all Soviet attacks . I
G ulf ofRnland. The main offeruive Started next morning, at Tienhaara and in the area north-cast ofVlipuri. A ~:'~~ ~i
on 10 Ju ne, wilh .an artillery b~rrage and led lO immedi.ate wave of attacks started on 25 June. and (he Leningrad
success. The frontline was breached at Valkeasaari and lhe rroops achieved a breakthrough in Tali, but the Fi'nnistC~
defending Finnish trOOps abandoned their positior¥. lhe Army Corps caused them heavy casualties wh iie retreating
artillery barrage of over 3,000 guns and mon 3.fS had lasted towa rds lhamala. The Finns made nu merous cou niera[ta~
for over two. h9u ~. At the focal point, where lhe 30th G uards and the battles raged contin uo usly. It was the biggest hatlle t<}
<;:erps led the attack, the Soviets h,ad mo re than 120 artillery occur d uring (he entire offensive. , . 1,. •
pieces per kilometre. ..-
through the Finnish positions a few hours later. After the
last failed offensive, Soviet troops constantly tested Finnish
Early on the morning on 25June 1944, a heavy arrillery and
defences, but each time they were thrown back by concen-
bombardment was conducted by the Soviers and a major
trated and effective Finnish artillery bombardment.
th ree-pronged offensive against Tali began ar 0730 hours.
Jf.e,,,,'," prong near Lake Leitimojarvi was Stopped by the On 4 July, [he Soviet 23.1 Army attempted to cross the Vuoksi
"""""- Division. However, with the aid of tanks from the River ar Vuosalmi, but was promptly confined to irs small
2711> Tank Regiment, rhe western prong was able to breach beachhead by the much smaller Finnish 2M Division.
the defences established by the 4811> Jiiiikiiri Regiment ar the •
l?ortinhoikka crossroads. The third prong, an attack across the BAntE FOR VIIPURI BAY
I Strait by the Soviet 17811> Rifle Division, was defeated
By rhe time the front reached lhantala the Soviets were ex-
lile Finnish \ " Battalion of the 611> Jiiiikiiri Regiment.
hausted and unable to staft a new major offensive, although
':"!R"~;';"g that this small Soviet victory could cut them off, intense fighting continued. The Soviets decided to try attack-
Finns organized a massive counteranack with reserve ing the Aanks.
units and pushed the Soviets weSl of Lake Leitimojarvi back •
A beach landing was set fo r Viipuri Bay. The attack started on
to their starting point, destroying the 27 rh Tank Regiment in
the morning of9 July: 124,h and 224'" RiAe Divisions, part
"' "h,p"',"" and eapturing several tanks. By 27 June both sides of59'~ Army, made several attempts to establish a beachhead ,
received reinforcements and the first to move were the Finns.
but were pushed back by combined Finnish and German
They set up a large combined counter-offensive usi ng tanks
defenders.
and German aircraft, but stubborn Soviet defence stopped
it. The next day Axis troops were forced to retreat to the
THE END OF THE OFFENSIVE
Vakkila-lhanralaFirvi- Kokkosellci-Noskuansclka Line and
Red Artny, illlercepting the manoeuvre, attacked them On 12 July, Moscow ordered all offensives to cease in the
,<,d"d"" the transition, inflicting heavy casualti~ and nearly area and began to probe Finland for possible peace terms.
,'o,om'g the Finns. The Soviets had suffered about 5,000 killed and
wounded, while the Finns suffered about 1,100 killed
t,he Soviet 63.1 Rifle Division and rhe 3011> Tank 6,300 wounded. The Soviets also lost several hundred ,,"h"'"
to take !hamala. The radio message was and aircraft during the fighting. The Soviet defeat at Tali-
rhe Finns, allowing them to Stop the new of- Ihantala was the key event that convinced Moscow to hold on
it-starred. Finnish and German bombers and a the Finnish front and concentrate on defeating the Germans
artillery barl"<!ge smashed the assembling S~>viet instead.
~~.""H'" They were so weake.ned that they wefe not able to brtak
ANTI-TANK
-".!~.uU.
Motonsed )'0)'
Anti-tank Company
INFANTRY
,...~)1.
Tank-Rider Company .9...
ARTILLERY
~~~
Motonsed Mortar 1b
ComJUlny
Alltr a S1fccm fol year Soviet tank crews arr much morr skilled, although more
cautious thall befort. A 7tmlwvJ Baudon is mud tl5 Confident Trained.
--- -
PODPOLKOVNIK
Mh(M~Icd
Oh valiant front-line tankovy commanders! Great is the Now you must continue to press the enemy hard, you
glory you have won fo r the Red Army. You have won great give them no rest, for there is still much fighring
victoties over the invading Fascists, using their own tactics of Mother Russia is free!
breakthrough and encirclement agai ns t them.
TANKOVY PLATOON
LEYTENANT
TANKOVY COMPANY
....
TANKOVY PLATOON
LEYTENANT
.,..,-n~
Strelkovy Scout ?:>
Platoon
ARTILLERY
~~
Strelkovy Regimental ~
Gun Company
ANTI-TANK
~" ~~
Tank Destruction
Company
INFANTRY
","",l'M
Independant Shirai %
Company
INFANTRY
~l-M
,
Flame-tl1rower Platoon '.
:9
Years ofhllld fighting have lift rI" Red Anny milch wiser
and In s willing to throw IlIlJay the lillff oftheir increas-
ingly sfllrce soldiers. A Strelkovy Blltakm is Confident
Trained.
'!he hardestfight j IIg ba ualiOlls haue eflrned Gllards sta fUS.
A GUflrtis Strtlkory Bl1/a{oll is Fearless Trained.
STRELKOVY,BATALON HQ PODPOLKOVNIK
HEADQUARTERS PODPOLKOVNIK
itlllallOn IIQ
Add
lit
Company Command
tn
ZiC Command
tf
Banalion
Rifle leam Rifle team Komissarteam
Antl·Llnk RlfI~> [,1-t1oon
BATIALION HQ
.. ...
Anti LInk [,lawo n
OPTIONS
• Equip Sapper Platoon with a Pioneer Supply wagon
for +20 poinu,
• Add up to three Sniper teams fo r +50 points per
.~ .
The StrelkollJ form the bulk of the RKKA, the Red Army.
-@it_
ANTI·TANK
Their role is ro break through enemy defences for the RIFlf PLATOON
mechanised trOOps to exploit and ro follow them to hold I'TANK PLATOON
their gains.
The battalion's headquarters not only provides leadership but
also specially-trained platOons. Use these assets to defeat any
Fascists attempt to Stop our irresistible advance.
....'U ""_i_
The heroic workers and superior industrial might of the
Soviet Union have guaranreed a steady supply of automatic
weapons to the fron t line soldier. Your brave soldiers are well
equipped for the operation!
Your platoons may not be as large as they were earlier in
the war, but this is more than made up for with rhe bitter
combat experience and deadly tenacity of the men .
The Strelkovy Bata/on will do well if you support them with
the Red Army's new heavy eqJlpmem such as assault guns
~t
Command
Rille/MG team
tft
Command Rifle team
LEYTENANT
I S"ollt S(IIl,l(j
,..,~;
Command Rille team
ANTI-TANK PLATOON
$TRELKOVY
-
ANTI·TANK
-
COMPANY
.
~I
HQ Section with:
4 ~6mrll uhr 1"2~
OPTIONS
• Add Observer Rifle team for ... 15 poinr.s.
• Add horse-drawn limbers for ...5 poinC:II fot the
-.u.u ,
76mm obr 1927 gun
~A.
76mm obr 1927 gun
company.
UBMACHINE-GUN OMPANY
.,...~t
Command
SMG team
.,...~-u, .,...U~
SMG team SMG team
~~
Strelkovy Rejjlmental ~
Gun Company
ANTI-TANK
~~
Tank Oestructilln ~-t>
Cllmpany
Hatling captured and fortified their srrongpoirlt,
riflemen are determined to hold onto it, A Opornymi
Punkt is Confident Trained,
Guards regime/ItS tift the Jinest amwit troops availflbie,
When ordeftd to hold their gail/f, they wi" not give them
up, A Gutlrm Opornymi Punkt is Fearless Trained.
PODPOLKOVNIK
Company Command
Rifle leam
PODPOLKOVNIK
1ft
2iC Command
Rifle team
,.
Battalion Trench Line
Komissar team
......
Add up to three Sniper teanas for +50 points per
....1~~ ..,.___
Pioneer
Rifle I air
Tllln Il•
,.
lIen 'Ill Ie
The Red Army constantly surprised the Germans with the OPORNYMI
- _. PUNKT
- HQ
strength of its anacks, leading [he Germans to believe that
CAMOUFLAGED POSITIONS
they were vastly ournumbered. In realiry, they achieved this
feat by concentrating their attacking forces where they were The Germans considered Red Army soldiers to have a
needed and hold ing the reSt of the from with weak infantry affinity for camouflage. Using basic tools and local m'''"d;l'~
forces manning opornymi punkt (strongpoinrs). they could hide entire fortified positions from all bu.~
closest
By focusing on anti-tank defence the strongpoints could
hold fiu more ground than their manpower would suggeSL In order to ,hoot at il team from an Opornymi Plmkt HQ
1his was achieved by usi ng local terrain and dense minefields or Opon/ymi Punk! Compally thilt is in a Tftllch Linr or
to channel German attacks imo dead-end 'sacks' where they Gun Pit and that hIlS not rhot during thr gamr, an elumy
could be slaughtered at short range by concenrrated anti- tram must br within 16"140cm ofthe tram.
tank and machine-gun fire.
Strongpoims weren't JUS! a defensive concept. As soon as a
Soviet infantry battalion rook its objective, it would start
d igging fortifications and laying mineficlds to secure it against
the inevitable COunterattack. 1111.' speed with which rhe Red
Army built these fortified positions constantly astounded the
Germans faced with regaining lost positions.
Ut
Commalld RilleJMG team
..
Trench Lille
HQ SECTION
all R.l8e/MG
Platoon at no cost.
teamI with SMG teams in one
~
45mm obr 1942 gun
ill GUll Pit
up to two 82-BM-41 mottan in Gun Pits for
pomu per mortar.
1942 gun in Guo Pit fOr +25 poinb.
l1li)' or aD 4Smm oIn 194:2 in Gun Ph: with
ohr 1942 Nat for at DO mst. .. !
up to two MU.iot HMG teams for +25 poinu
-..H, -..l\.~
••
Maksim HMG Makslm HMG
.. ..
'I, ~ I F -j: 'I,
1 'I I t' w, E'1 !II·
B
,l I.
1 C 'I I -I' ~ I" ' F -/:I
B~I . d Wife En
FORTIFICATION
• Minefield • M inefield
• Minefield • M inefield
--
FORTIFICATION
FORTIFICATION
¥=t=G:=A =I §E§E'f§
~
Barbed Wire Barbed Wire Barbed Wire
Entanglement Entanglement Entanglement
GUN POSITION
Gun Pit
iTt •Gun Pit
"
A Gun Positioll must b~ attached to a Platoon containing
Gun teams making it a Fortified Platoon (Sll' pllgt 262 of
Trench Line
r/(/~book). I ~==::::::=;.::::~;;;::;::;:::;:=;:;;
Digging fort ified gun positions for the anti-tank guns of your ' GUN POSITION
tank desrruction companies, yo ur regimental artillery, and
the supporting artillery battalions srrengrhens your killing
No matter whether the enemy attacks with tanks or
; i" ~ '''~',.You~ guns will at short
(FORTIFIED COMPANY)
You must field one company from each box shaded black and may field one company or platoon
from each box shaded grey.
Your supportmg platoons must be from either the Red Army (marked ) or Guards (marked J.
All of these platoons must be marked with the same symbol
MACHINE-GUNS
~~~
puryem~elno- ~
Artmyenyskl~ Company
MACHINE-GUNS
~~~ ANTI-TANK
Pulyern:l:etno- ~
ArtmyenysklY Company
~"' 'Ito
Tank Destruction
Company
The determinrd comrades of the Pulyemyetno-Anillyeriyskiy Baralon (Machint -gun
Artiiiery &malion) know they mmt hold at ali costs. They construct fortified positions and
wait for the mnllJ to strike. A Pulyemyttno-Artiliyniyskiy &ta/o'l is Confident Trained.
----
PODPOLKOVNIK
PODPOlKOVNIK
1ft
OPTIONS
Company Command 2iC Command
Rille team
Battalion
Rifle team Komissar team
"
Trench line
~)f~
.,.
MG team
. ~~~
Maksim HMG
Trench line
unL
~~
.,.
d~~
H
Minefield M
4Smm oM 1942 gun in Gun Pit for .. 25 points.
1ipL''''''''Y'' a1145mm obr 1942 in Gun Pit with
Nest for at no cost.
1oI112-I~M ..U moftar in Gun Pit for +20 poinu.
up to two upt mortar tauDI for .. 15 poinlS
~)f~
.,.
MG team
. ~~~
Maksim HMG
Trencllline
'dU_
M
No RETREAT, No SURRENDER
With linlc or no transport the Pulycmyclno-
Anillycriyskiy Company sites its defences and waits for
the enemy. They must hold :11 all coSts, withdrawal will 82·BM·.1 mortar
in Gun Pit
only lead 10 their doom!
A Pu~mytno -Artill)'aiyskiy Company don not USt (ht
d'b
, __ ~
QU41iry of Quanriry rult, insuad thty may "-roll foikd
Motivation INN to Counuratlack in assaults.
r \- ,,,yt - c -r l
U T!ench ,
OPTION
• Add Observer Ri8e ~
76mm l1S·3 field gun
in Gun Pit
An Artillery Group if a Fortified Platoon (su page 262
the rulrbook).
76mm lIS-J field gun
~
76mm l1S-3 tield gun
As d Fortified Platoon, it can tither place its Gun Pin and in Gun Pit in Gun Pit
TT?llch Lbu, dun deploy in them, or 1I0t place irs Gun Pits
and Trench Line, (lasing to bl' a Fortified Platoon and not
benefitingfrom the Prepared Positions special rule.
An Artil/ery Group may make Combat Attachments to a 76mm l1S-3 field gun
~
76mm l1S-3 field gun
Pulyemyemo-Arri l/yeriyskiy Compa 1IY. in Gun Pit in Gun Pit
~
76mm ZIS-J fie ld gun
~
76mrn ZIS-3 field gun
in Gun Pit in Gun Pit
~
76mm Z15-3 fie ld gun 76mm ZIS-3 field gun
in Gun Pit in Gun Pit
ARTILLERY GROUP
(INFANTRY COMPANY)
You must field one company from each box shaded black and may field one company or platoon
from each box shaded grey.
ANTI-TANK
~"'
Tank Destruction ~
Company
INFANTRY
INFANTRY
""U~ ",,"Ui
Morskava Sub machlne- ~
gUIlCompanV Strelkovy Company ~
MOTIVATION AND SKILL
7he m(rl of a MorrktlJll Pekhotll BaM/on Ilrt' the bravest of the brave. 71" 'Black Death'
jus/ kePI coming when {/tU/eking, ignoring CIlsua'(i~ and pressing home /0 (lJfllUlt the fascist
difmdrrs, A Morskaya Prkhota BattdQfJ is Fearless Trained.
OPTIONS
• Add Flame-thrower teams for +45 points per team •
......
• Add up to three Sniper teams for ... 50 points pet
•
MORSKAYA PEKHOTA BATALON HQ
HQ Section with·
.\ lnfantn PI.II(lon~
2. I n fantr~ Platoon\
I Inf.lIltr\' 1'I.II00n
~l\.~ ~l\.~
h~,~~',~:~:t;M.~;aksim heavy machine-gun is an old frie nd of Maksim HMG Maksim HMG
~~ experienced soldier. Deploy them with your
"!'''p,m''" to lend SUppOH, or have them concentrate their
as a single large machine-gun company and keep the
pi nned down.
the enemy stays pinned down in their pathetic MORSKAYA MORTAR COMPANY
I'<>,ho[[",
""-.U
Command Rifle team
~ -n~
A Morrkaya Anti-t4nk Rif/r Company may makr Combat -n~
Attachments to MorskflYfl Prkbot4 Companies. PTRD PTRD PTRD
anti -tank rifle anti-tank rifle anti-tank rifle anti·tank rifle
Hiderite panzers sometimes make the mistake of
that because we have no ranks, we are defenceless.
don't get to make that mistake rwice.
en masse, the PTRD-41 anti rank riAe can stop any
tb.e heaviest of tanks, waiting until they reach point-
range, rhen shooting them in their vulnerable sides
. The infantry then mop up the survivors.
-n~ -n ~ -n~
-n ~ -n ~ -n~
PTRD PTRD PTRD
anti-tank rifle anti-tank rifle anti-tank rifle
ANTI -TANK RIFLE PLATOON
~f
Command Rifle team
•
• Add horsc-drawn limbers for +5 POUtU fu r the 4~tU. 4WJ"
45mm obr 1942 gun 45mm obr 1942 gun
~~~ ~~
The trick is using them well. The guns are small and light,
being easily concealed. Keep them concealed amongst your
infantry, holding fire umil me enemy come dose enough to ", ,,11
be destroyed. Alternatively, wheel your guns imo range of \ ANTI TANK PLATOON ANTI TANK PLATOON
enemy trenches and use chern as small infanrry guns. ." ' - - ,
Ut
Command Rifle team
HQ SECTION
6110PM -1R
4110-PM-lR
",,~f
Command SMG team
2 SUJIII Squ.lds
I Swut Squad
,
olt.~t ••
Command
SMG team
olt.~)~ olt.~)~
SMG team SMG team
olt.~)~ U~t
SMG team SMG team
Command
Rifle team
one am build field fortifications like the industrious Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
Rifle team Rille team Rif le team Rille team
sapper! The strong backs of our sappers can dig
~i~::;~;', ,:':~l,~~ar
::
obstacles, remove mines and, if necessary,
tanks with their explosives.
Ml1 ~l1.
Pioneer
Ml1 ~l1.
Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
Rifle team Rifle learn Rifle team Rille team
sapper company can be put to work to help dig your .,
!~~n "y into prepared positions or build up your supply
' ~:~;';~~~ThI::'i,Y,;W::iJ[ also take on specialised assault tasks with
". These are the brave comrades you most want
"" Y""' ,;,[, in the toughest assaults! Pioneer Rille learn Pioneer Rille team
OPTIO NS
• Add Observer Rifle team for ... 15 points. - ~~u.u.
76mm ZIS-31ield gun
-76mmrw" • _I'Ll'\,
llS-3lield gun
• Add horse-drawn limbers for ... 5 points per battery.
~,,~. ~~'h.
Each Naval Infantry Brigade was supponed by its own ar- "' r I
tillery battalion armed with 76mm Z15-3 guns. When fi rst
formed these guns were allocated to each Monkaya ?ekhota 76mm l1S·3 field gun
- ~~u.u.
76mm ZIS-31ield gun
&talon in individ ual batteries of four guns. However, by
1944 the gu ns of the separate infantry battalions had been ~~~.
grouped together af brigade level as an artillery battalion.
- ~UAu.
. -...
76mm l1S-3 field gun
.."".,
-
-
~~u.u.
76mm l1S·3 field gun
~~~.
~UAu.
76mm ZIS -31ield gun 76mm l1S-3 field gun
~~~
- '-II.~"
r'f'UdR.1'\J'\, - rrUAU.
16mm l1S·3 field gun 76mm l1S-3 field gun
~""~. ~~~.
-r .4_"~M -~UAU.
..
76mm ZIS-3 fie ld gun 76mm ZIS·3 field gun
,,~~. ~~~
He dr
GUN BATIERY
German defences prior to Operation Bagration.
",GllAND STRATEGIES On 22 June, Independent Penal Baualions, such as Lrytenant
A V Pyl'cyn's 8ya OtdYI!Inaya Shtrafooy Batnlon, conducted re-
plenty of irony to spare, Operation Bagradon was
connaissance in force missions to expose /laws in the German
, scbedulcd to begin on 23 June 1944, to coincide with (he
line. Shtra/battalion attacks revealed the complex fortifica~
th ree-year anniversary of Operation Barbarossa, rhe German
dons of the 78,h Assault Division. To deal with [his, Stavkll
illvasion of me Soviet Union. The great offensive was to faU
authorised the organisation of Special Assault Groups prior
upon Germany's Army Group Ccmre and break the front
to the attack. Each Guards Rifle Corps received one of these
.",<,op,n . Stavka, rhe Soviet General Headquarters. recognised
specialised units to crack the enemy's h.eavy fortifications.
rhe key to success was to capture the rnajor railway junc-
tions in Byelorussia and then press on toward Minsk. Once
A,Tmy G roup Centre was destroyed, the Soviet war machine OPERATION BAG RATION
would be unsto ppable. On [he morning of 23 June, Gmrrlll K N Galirskiy, com-
mander of the IIyll GlIIlrdrysknyn Armtjrn (J Ilh Guards
that the vital towns along rhe front line would be
Army), ordered his Guards riRe corps [0 attack and break
overrun, Hider ordered lhe cities of Orsha, Vitebsk and
the Sturmdivision in half. A massive artillery prepararion sup-
Mogilev to be heavily fortified as part of a chain of impreg-
porred the attack with an as[Ounding artillery density of up
nable fo rtresses, called Fmerpiarun. German commanders
[0 250 guns per kilometre! Kntyusbfl mortar rocket baneries
at OKH, the Obrrkommando MS Hum, or Army High
joined in as well, stunning the German defenders and givi.ng
, Cq",m"m!",wem to work fortifying each ciry with multiple
Soviet s[Orm groups the opportuniry to quickly overrun the
of u enches, barbed wire, concrcte en,lplacemems,
forward German trenches.
"," , h"n bl~kho u ses, mines and anti-tank ditches.
The Gfldrdl!skaya Strelkoflilya Diviziyn (or Guards
'ARMY GROUP CENTRE PREPARES Divisions) directly eaSt of Orsha ran into very stiff ,,,'''.n,,,''
and failed to get paSt the German first layer of defence. They
German 4. Armu (41h Army) defended Orsha and the
did, however, manage to get the German XXVJI Armukorps
:u,w,m,J;np"?,. A, the core of his army was Gmrrallm{/Jflrl/
, '
Srurmdl ision (78,h Assault Division). The (27 th Army Corps) to commit reserves, drawing them away
d
;,,; &,',';on occupied for d ne positions in from of Orsh.a: 'fhis
from the northern approach to the ciry.
.division had a liigher allocation of heavy weapons The 18. Sturmdivision managed to hold their ground at the
ami~tan k guns'than a normal infantry division, and was second line of defence, bur the simation worsened wh.en a
-i~:~;~:': highcr strength, making it one of the most powerful small two-mile (3km) gap opened on the left flank. Galitskiy
~ along Army Group Cemre's from line. reinforced his success by driving his 2)'n Gllardrysknya TankollY
Korpus (20<1 Guards Tank Corps) through the opening using
~~'f'''''rk"z~Orsha incorporated various fortifications in the
a narrow-gauge railway bed to manoeuvre the tanks through
city. Infantry barricaded and booby-trapped
the marshes. llle bold Guards attack from within the wet-
nnd ~et up firing positions along the major ap-
lands shocked the Germans, as they didn'r expect an entire
city. Marshes and peat cunings doned the
Soviet rank corps to emerge from such inhospitable rcrrain!
'~~;ri;;i;e":;";'~Y difficult terrain for tanks and heavy
?I our,. the city braced for the storm. By the end of the third day of fighting, the Germans
" claimed 116 Soviet tanks destroyed, but the Red Army still
~~OIRl)!ISIA,N FRONT PREPARES had more ro throw into banle. Surviving elements of the
the operarion's objectives amongS[ the Iyn, 18. Sturmdivision retreated west into Orsha and re-formed a
. {In, 2"ci, and 3'd Bye!orussian defensive li ne.
Polkofmik I' 0 Chernyakovskiy deployed his
From against Orsha.
,
llya Gvardeyskaya Armiya
16ya By. 36y a.
Gvardeyskiy Gvardeyskiy Gvardeyskiy
Korpus Korpus Korpus
·
St.relkova,ya D\v1zI,ya
Ova.rdeyskaya
8trelkova.ya Dlv1zI,ya
QvardeysluWa.
St.relkova,yaDlvlzl,ya.
31YA
• "VA
Ova.rdeyska,ye.
St.l'elkova,ya. Dlv1zI,ya
26YA
l6YA
GvaroeysJuwa
'St.relkOVa,y& Diviz1ya
l8YA
Ovardeyska,ya Gva.rdeyeka,ya Ovardeyska,ya
night. The tity finally fell under Soviet \ ~lkova,ya. Q1vtz1ya Strolkova,ya. Diviziya Strelkova,ya Di~z1ya
rhe fo llowi ng day. ..I =
, . 2YA TankOV1\YaKorpllll
However, as the year went on more and more Guards Heavy Tank Regiments were re-equipped with the 15-2 heavy tank, with
only a few regiments left with older equipment by the end of 1944. . '
J51obr194~
15·8';
KY-8';
superbly heroic and skilled Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy The KV-ls still provides the gallant tankers with agility and
~~::::';Zl (Guards Heavy Tank) Company uses the new and speed, while the 15-85 and KV-85 offers a better balance of
:1 1$-2 tank to smash enemy armour and destroy their firepower to armour. The reliable Mark IV tanks from our
"'","",~,lly gun posidons. Each tank has two officers, rather British friends are more than capable of getting into places
the usual one per platoon in the other tank regiments, where normal tanks dare nOt try.
•• 'h ,,,dm to advance, advance, advance!
Use Trmkodes(l1/tniki (or tank riders, pronou nced tan-ko-dye-
the majority of the new 15-2 heavy tanks being Sent sant-ni-ki, your SMG Tank Escons) to protect the decks of
to reinforce Operation Bagration, your regiment will our beasts. Our heavy ranks crush all opposition beneath
. 'W' < 'U make do with what you were given. Some regiments, their tracks!
recently relieved from the Leningrad encirclement, are still
,>,hool,J"" yet heavily armoured. KV-le rank.
HQ Section with:
1 R~x()n S'luads
1 R<-,\;on St.jua(j
Add
HA-61J armoured (.H
~)~ ~~f~
Rifle/MG
Rifle/MG Rifle/MG Rifle/MG
OPTION learn learn team learn
• Add frucks for ... 5 points for the
~)~ ~~f~ ~)~ ~~f~
Rifle/MG Rifle/MG Rifle/MG Rifle/MG
A Heavy Tank Recol1naiJSanct Platoon is an exception to team learn learn team
COMPANY
HQ Section with: Command Pioneer
1 S,lppcr Platoon Rifle learn
OPTIONS
• Add a Pioneer Supply Truck for ... 25 points.
• Add trucks for ... ; points for the company.
ASSAULT TACTICS
Engineer-~apper Once an enemy strongpoint was revealed by the b,ml',fid,~~
,. Battalion contained specialized learns.
The' assaulr team consisted of seven sub-machine gun
surveillance team, the Engineer-Sapper Battalion would
brought up. "£he assault would occur after infiltra[]ng
leams including smoke and fomtnikll teams. It- could
night or with a smoke screen generated by the bartalion.
be supplemc.'jlted with Rame and mine-roller ranks or a
. Rlmc-[hrower compan~.
2. A sccond, blocking tcam, contai ned suppOrt tanks
. lfartillery had not caught up to rhe advancing spearheads then
battalion mOrtars or self-propelled arrillery from ISU- 152 or
ISU-122 regiments provided direct fire suppOrt.
(normplly self-propelled artillery), anti-tank guns, or a
Rame-thrower company. The sub-machine gun and machine-gUll teams' task would
be to dear the area around the s[fongpoim of enemy infantry
. A third, fire support team, included machine-guns, anti- to allow the sapper teams access to the building, bunker, or
rank guns, and 82 BM-41 82mm mortars. fonification. Flame-thrower and fo"smikr/ teams would Ihcn
.
4i~ ~:;:~:~ hatrleflcld surveillance team WlS also developed.
~ attach itself ro a Spmnllz unit. This team would
destroy the strongpoint.
The blocking and fire support reams, after providing cover
tI,e (special forces commando) in fire for the assault, would chen follow up and dig in. They
enemy lines. It would also provide secured the area against counterattack while the assault learns
'~;:~1~:~.~;';'%;:;for Qisrupting enemy transportation, mopped up any remaining enemy.
~( logistics centres.
Any available PT-34 mine sweepers and OT-34 flame-tanks
supported the entire operation from beginning to end.
O nce the job was finished the battalion would withdraw
until needed to dear another identified enemy strongpoint.
ASSAULT TEAMS
SMG AND MG TEAMS FAUSTNIKA TEAMS flAME-THROWER TEAMS
,!'''Use these teams to dear the enemy The advancing Red Army capmred Flame-thrower tcams provide
from aro und the buildings, bun'kers or thousands of German Panurjnust anti- tion, flame, and liquid
fortifications you wish to assault and tank launchers. Using the Pllnurfimst roOf out I
men to destroy the target. or fausmikf in your assaults allows you bunkers, underground
, to take out mOSt enemy fortifications. fortified buildings.
FIRE SUPPORT TEAMS
' S;!-BIM-.(l 'MORTAR TEAMS ANTI-TAN K RIFLE TEAMS MAKSIM HMG TEAMS ,
Your mortars will keep enemy infamry The PTRD ami-tank rifle is limited Use heavy machine-guns
!' pi nned while yo ur engineer-sapper d uring the actual assa ult but is critical in cover suPPOrt fo r the
teams assault and destroy the objective. taking out enemy armoured half-lra~ks them up to fire into the R" kof ""';
Afte r the assault, they can targer any that may atte mpt to counreran3ck your infantry ~ounterat[acks.
counterattacking enemy infanrry. newly-wo n jPosition .
",lng'aJum" ,g"", our heavy IS Mnks were-particular/y propelled gun. His hardest battles wi,,,,,,,,,,,,
repelling nazi panar counterattacks: T iger heavy tanks in the Ukraine and ar i '~ :~~:'~,~ ~
, .-Marshal Clmikofl, 8'" Guards Army Commander To survive these deadly encounters, he developed a ' i
tactic and trained his platoon to use it when facing German
_\; !.As , 3 ,graduate of the Chelyabinsk Tank Academy, Vasily panzers. This tactic allowed them to advance while under
' Rat first entered combat at Sra!ingrad as a KV-J heavy tank
fire, greatly increasing his platoon's chances for survival.
.' ,commander. Rat'S unit was ordered to halt German counter-
attacks attempting to reli~e the surrounded city. His'tallk This ractic was also found to work well against German
was hit in the r~ar and the engine compartment caught 6re, artillery, tank-hunters, and aircraft. During one panicuiar
but ever}fone in the crew managed to escape and return to engagement the regiment had lost many vehicles bur all five
the, unit. ofVasily's tanks survived due to his zig-zag taeric.
March 1943, his unit had been upgraded to the SU-122 Lry/WilNt Rat was credited with killing eight Tiger ranks
gun where he was in the thick of the fighting during and one Panther tank. He received 4000 rubles (about one
For destroying a Ferdinand with his SU- I22·, he month's wages) for the eight Tiger kills and a second Order
rusjirsr Order of the Red Star. His tank had managed of the Red Star.
""2"""" in the track causing it to srop. TIlC crew After rwo years in combat Vasily remained a Lryunallt. He
Aed, givingYasily the kill and the medal. was more concerned with leading his tanks than getting
GOrnffi3ncled ag 5U-85 assault gun before his promotions. Vasily finis hed the war fighting in East Prussia,
finjilly ' upgraded to the ISU-122 heavy self- surviving to return home to Russia a hero.
."
CHARACTERISTICS
'L"t,,",,, RarJs a WarriOf ,team who leads a Guards Heavy CRAZY VASILY 'ZIG-ZAG'
GUh Co~pany (page 61). He takes over the
Lryunant Rat devised his own tactic to manoeuvre against
:<j'~.~:~~'~7,d AssaJ.dt gun fo r ..-45 points. LeytwaNt Rat and German heavy ranks. He rationalized that all Germans were
I ~!l,i are -rared Fearless Trained.
highly disciplined and so would anticipate his platoon
move direcdy towards them. He therefore instructed
-." KEEP'EM GUESSING
While zig-zagging, LryunalJt Rat attempted to keep [he
platoon to coordinare a zig-zag move with his ~ehicle. ,
successfully used rhis tactic across Byelorussia and Poland\
I Germans off-balance by having his gunner firing on [he
move. After a while his gunner became proficiem enough to Af/ISU-122 and ISU-152 assault guns in RillS company.
begin hit£ing his targets while moving. i thlll are not Boggrd Dow1l or Bailrd Out, who mOiled at
WaH 6 "/15cm towards (my ('!Irmy team or Objective in their
LrytenalJt Rat's assault gun does not suffir thr normal + I prellious MOllemem Step, and are hit ill thr e/Jemy Shooting
To Hit prnalty for shooting whilr moving with a ROF I Sup, may roil a die for each hit they are a1iocaud.
,
1<,,,,,,,,,, lva'; 'Zabolomy is a Warrior Recce Pioneer SMG LEADING THE WAY!
ream. He replaces the Command Pioneer SMG team in an When Zabolqtny led [he way he would often ,,,on,,o;\",; 4
, Inzhenerno-Saperniy Company (page 70) for +70 points. ahead of his company to check and locate
- Zabolotny is rared as Fearless T~a.i ned .
positions and discover the best route to attack them
FOR BRAVERY!
Zabolotny was awarded the Soviet 'For Bravery' Imedal If your forer does not contain another platoon with thr
twice for extreme courage in the face of the enemy. He was I"filtration special rule you may Infiltrate with Zaboloflly.
often chosen to lead the assaulr as his battalion attacked the Zaboiomy may "ifiltratr his Inwenefno-Saprfniy Company.
fortifications. See the Infiltration rules on page 250 ofthe rulebook.
Zabolomy ((nd hi! Inv}(ntr!lo-Saperniy Company always
Motivation '1rm on a 2+.
, ,
SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY REGIMENT
'All rJm~ ltlfprop~/I(d artillny rtgimmts wn-t' movid into
position on rhi rasum bank for fiT"( 0"" opm sights. '
- Marshal Ch uikoll, Co mmol/da 8'1, Guards Arm}
at Magmmuu~ \W7,.ka bridgehead.
(he Soviets called thei r heavy guns sel f-propelled
anillcry, the Germans called them assault guns. In rcaliry.
the Soviets used them in bOth (he d irttt fi re suppon and
tank- humer role.
The heavy guns of (he ISU· 152 could be found suppon -
GUARDS
ing assa ulting infantry with clirttt fire. Their ability to
deStroy bunkers, buildings, and defensive posi- Heavy assault guns had twO officers in each gun
tio ns provided excel lent in fant ry support. crew, ensuring proper use of the people's expensive
equ ipmen t.
'Th e ISU- 122 more often supponed advanci ng Soyiet tank
battalions by provid ing overwatching fi re. They would 7br 7j(lzhr/yy Samokhodno -artillyrriJskiy Polk H Q and
generally lake up a position O il the Aanks of the tank for- GU(lrris HMlI} AJsault Gun Comp/min uS( mort sophisti-
malions and use (h~tr large guns 10 rnrgct enemy anti-t!lnk caud tactics rhan most SOl/in troops. liN] art not afficud
, tank-hunters, and panttrs. . by tIN Hm and Chich s~cia' rulr.
Tyazhelyy Samokbodno-artillyeriy,kiy Polk (HI!tlv] Se/fpropelled Artillery Regiment) are
Guards alld mud Fearless Trained.
HEADQUARTERS
PODPOLKOVNIK
PODPOLKOVNIK
IS 2 ubr 19B
KY-Is
OPTIONS
• Equip Command IS-2 or KV-Is tank with .50 cal AA
MG for +5 points.
A Tyazhe/y]
with S;;n~:~::o;-;;:;t~;~
Ilny Wis tanks
• Mount a SMG Tank Esc;ort on the Company
Command IS-2 for + J0 points. equipped with nny ISU- /22
COMBAT COMPANIES
, ~ Sl' 1')2
OPTIONS
• Equip any or al11SU- 122 or ISU-152 heavy assault
guns with .50 cal AA MG for +5 points ~rgun.
• Mount SMG Tank Escorts on aU assault guns for
... 10 points tank.
MOTIVATION AND SKILL
Th, Wtnpot/s rompllnirs and platoons of It &d Ann]
Ugkiy Samok"odno-aniUJ"iysltiy Polk au mud
Confident Trained.
Thr Wtapom (ompanits and pintoonl of It Guords
Tyazhrliy Snmokbodno-arlii/yrriYlkiy Polk art raud , RED ARMY
Fearless Trained.
. .
Commalld
Rille/MG learn
Side: SO mm at 90 degrees
Front: 90mm ar 60 degrees
Rear: 60mm at 49 degrees
'r.-.~~~t::::~:~:~iiiililt:~::::=ii"!
Top: 20 mm at 0 degrees 15U-122 Armament::
Combat Weight 46,000 kg One 122mm 0-25S gun
Speed: 37 km/h Ammunition Carried:
Horsepower: 600 20-30 rounds
Vehicle Rangel 150 km
• Mount a SMG
Command wok 10",\0 F .
;:::====~----:=--------:=::::--;(n~o:w:-~Y'~katerinburg).
The as.ault gum of Medium Assault Gun Company uS( Ihe They began replacing SU-85 assault guns in the m,xii'll'
Cat Kilierr special rule on page 160 imtrad ofth(Vo"" assauh gun regimenrs and brigades in late 1944.
FiT(! special rule. first to get the 5U-l 00 was me 389'h Guards Assault
Regiment, which was fe-equipped with 5U-100 "'''U''!'"'~
The 5U-IOO self-propelled gun was the successor to the in December 1944.
5U-85. It was based on a similar, bm not identical, chassis
mounting a 100mm 0-1D5 gun. This excellent gun could The 5U-85M assault gun was a Stop-gap measure u"liii~i
penetrate 162mm of armour at 500 meters and 150mm at the new improved hull builr for the 5U-IOO. Not
1000 meters range. 100mm 0-105 gun were initially available, so 85 mm
5-85 guns were moumed on some early production
In 1944 the first 500 5U-lOO assault guns rolled off the
production line at the Ural march factory in 5verdlovsk
SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY REGIMENT
By 1943 m e 76mm Z IS-3 gun had h ecome inadequate for
dealing with the newer Germa n Panther and Tiger ranks,
altho ugh it was Stilt q uite e.ff"cclivc agai nst Ge rma n 3m i-
rank and machi ne gun positions. In this role the 76mm
gun foun d a new home.
Lighdy armoured and open-lOpped, the SU-76M was
vul nerable to German armour and in fa ntry, but placing
ir with Soviet infant ry provided it protection. 111i5 gave
mobile support [ 0 the infantry when dealing with German
anti-lank li nCli and machine-gun ncslS.
If YOIlr Lrgkiy Samokhodno-artil/yeriyskiy Polk cOlllll if/$
Nearly every Soviet Army had an independent regiment two or mOrf Assllult Gun Compllllin equipped with
of self-propelled artillery atlachcd ro provide dirCi:1 fire SU-76M assllult gUlls you may eket to firld it IlJ a
support. Though many of the armo ured fo rmations wo uld Mec/JlI niud Camp/wy instrad 0/11 milk Company.
have medi um and heavy self-propelled art illery suppOrt ,
the majoriry of the infim u y formations were supported by
a Light Self-Propelled Anillery Regi ment outfined wi t h the
SU-76M self-I;>ropcllcd assault gun .
MOTIVATION AND SKill
Trained for the rigours of war against the fascists, the crews of the Legkiy Samokhodno-
anillycriyskiy Polk (Light Self-propelled Artilkry Regiment) 1lT? 1Wl! prepared to ruppor!
the infontry of the Red Army in the liberation of Europe from German oppT'fflion. A Red
Army Legkiy Samokhodno-artilfyeriyskiy Polk is rated Confident Trained .
Keeping your commander safe will ensure continued support There will always be more Germans (0 defeat and good
fo r [he offensive. Adding an SMG Tank Escort can provide manders will be necessary to breach the Branden burg
[he safety needed to maintain the pressure on breaking and storm the &ichstilg.
through [he German lines.
Be wary of the new German armour and keep focused
Becoming a Hero of the Soviet Union is an honourable goal your regiment's main job of desrroying German ,n"i.",j>k
however you can beneT reap the benefits of the new Soviet and machine guns.
system by staying alive.
COMBAT COMPANIES
SSAUL" UN OMPANY
EN(;INEER-SAPPlcR BRIGADE
.'u" ,·,uid ,'" throw 11 sing" bridgr across fhi ViUUM .
We pinntd our hopts 011 spud alld mrpriu. '
-Marshal Clmikofl commmlS on Vistula Rivtr crossing.
',"'Ib"n "~,,,~,,,.,d to [he lot Byelorussian Front in June 1944 ,
the 8 m Guards Army under Marshal of the Soviet Union
VasHy I Chuikov contained nine Engineer-Sapper Brigades.
~ch Brigade contained a command headquarters, an
engineering intelligence company, four or five assault
engineering battalions and other specialized battalions. ANTI -TANK
®'mil
MOTIVATION AND SKill
The men of a Inzhenerno-Saperniy Batalon au band-picked from til( best engineering
troops available. An Im)Jellemo-Sapemiy Bata/on is rated as Fearless Trained.
PODPOLKOVNIK
PODPOlKOVNIK
RatlallOn HQ 1ft
Company Command
tft
2iC Command
tf
Battalion
Pioneer SMG team Pioneer SMG team Komissar team
A successful Inwnumo-Snpu niy Bata/on (Engineer-Sapper BATIALION HQ
Battalion, pronounced In-zhen-ner-no Sa-per-nee) required
specialized skills that were assigned from the engineering
brigades within the Soviet Armies. These skills came from
the specialized batralio ns at tached ~eadl
Command
• ? s,e
p,
Pioneer SMG team
HQ SECTION
-un un
-un
Flame-thrower team
-u-n
Flame-thrower team
Inwmerno-Saperniy Flames-thrower Companies must
make Combat attachments to Inzhmer1lo-Snpemiy
Companies with all oftluir uctiollS.
un -un
Flame-thrower teams consisted of both Aame throwers and
a parricularly effective but dangerous habit of placing several
grenades within a knapsack to be thrown o n, into or under
German armour, bunkers, or defensive positions.
Morrali[), within these units was high even for the Soviets but Flame·thrower team
-un
Flame·thrower team
there are many stories of HerON ofthe Sovin Union who gave
their lives diving under German panzers with a knapsack full
-u-n
of grenades.
O PTION
• Add an additional Ford GPA amphibiow jeep to each
squad for +5 points for the platoon. "",11~ U~~ ""'U~ 11~~
Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
SMG team SMG team SMG team SMG team
A Sapper Spetmaz PllUoon is an (Xceptioll ~d
j S7 ~t ' S7
Control doctrine. 7hey operate as a normal platoon.
Ford GPA Ford GPA
amphibious Jeep amphibious Jeep
A Sapper Spmnaz PMIOOII is an Infiltration Platoon. They
may bplfrate a InwmmlO-Snperniy Company. Su the
~-
I S7 '1 S7
Ford GPA
Infiltration m/er on page 250 ofthe rlilebook. . ,b .Jeep
~
~~~~~~~[t~:,.~~rved as an assault and reconnaissance unit
,Bagration. This unique infantry bartalion
overall victory in the field by assisting the Soviet breakthrough
divisions to find the weak points in the German line.
officers from across the ranks who had
The men of the Shlraf7lOJ Bata/on cominued to fight, serving
or h;d been revealed as defeatists. In
with distinction to absolve their sins against the Soviet people.
:~l:':','i~~,~~:ii~.
~
~;;~~::~";~:~;r commanders were not penal
, the/were loyal officers who had committed
They fought hard during Operation Bagration, fough t at me
Narev Bridgehead with unmovable determination, and took
cr i ~es and were weI! known for their strong leadership.
" , the fight into Germany during the Vistula-Oder Offensive.
the::6rin guig~ce of its leaders, the 8,h Independent
~.'f,.~~I'IB arrafi6n 'revealed fractures in the German lines during
~
A1,,,,,d, , ~yl'c;yn
(pronounced, Pll-chin) was the youngest [n the opening days of the campaign, he led his men through
in a r~niJ)i of three brothers. He was the only one of a German minefield and cleared paths for the
brot,hert to survive the war. He was born in 1923 in the Soviet troops. Pyl'c:yn earned a repmarion' as an expert mine~
,J<J",~~""kregion in the ~ussian Far Easr. dearer, a skill he was not ellthusiasdc about using roo often!
:m k~""'''''' A V Pyl'cyn began his military career as a vol- During the operation, Pyl'c:yn was wounded . While in [he
soldier and quiCkly established himself as a c.orn- hospital, he met a nu rse named Rita Makarievskaya. Afler
" 1'0.."" leader. Initially he served in the 2 .... Red Banner his recovery, he had her transferred to his company as a '
' . Far East f-nny in a reserve regiment before being sent to medic where she saved many lives. The twO were married
. . ~chool in' January 1942. After graduacing as a before the end of the war.
he was stationed in the Far EaSt trai ning new
Pyl'c:yn and his Shtrafoiki wenr on to fight in the Vistula-
before being assigned as a platoon commander in
Oder operation and the final assault into Berlin. During his
8Yd Otdyrlnaya Shtrafooy Bataton (8,h Indepfndenr
service, he .was wounded three times, awarded the '0rder of
. Battalion) in December 1943. As a loyal officer,
the Red Banner, Order of the Great ~a triotic War I" Class,
· ql,lickly given command of a company in the
and [he Order of the Red Star.
• p'iIj(·I~a.ra ShrrafnoJ Bata/on in 1944.
After the war he remained in the milirary before writing his
~'i~~.i~.~~~"k," was Py1' eyn's first major combat action. book 'Penalty Strike' detailing his acdons during the war.
~
~;~~~~~:VE:pYI'c:yn
of oneisof
a Warrior SMG
the Shtraf team thatin isyour
Companies me
Rita Makarievskaya met while he was wounded and
ShO'afnoy'Bata!on (page 74). He is not an
soon became the able medic.
team.
RE(:O~INA,ISS,~N(:E IN FORCE Model Rita Makariev,kaya on the same base as Pyl'cyll.
$htra/ Billa/on often led reconnaissance in force missions Onct per turn, Rita may attempt to iave a team that ii
11 [0 discover enemy weak poims along the from line. in Pyl'cyns ShtraJ Company. If an Infantry or Gun team
,~~--~--~--~------~ within 6"/15cm of Pyl'cyn foils a Save, rof! a die:
Deploy Pyl'cyn's Shtra/Company whm you would normally
deploy lndepmdmt Tramr.
-If the result ii 5+, Rita managti to save the ttam and it
eontinuti to fight on unharmed.
I
- OtherwiIe, the soldiers are tOI) badly wl)untkd and the team is .
in Force mission, Pyl'cyn carefully Destroyed as nonnaL
and wire before continuing.
ParTiotic War
Clim
77u Shtrafnik soldim of (hI! Bya Otdyelnaya Shuafnoy Baralon (8'" Indl!pmdmt Pmal
Battalion) are thaI! to u roe tilt unit for a Iltlril!ty of rl!asoflS. Forml!r pilots, sailors, and
soidiu s, ali offiurs, found rhemu lvl!i mrol/I!d in Ihl! battalion and Wl!rI! expl!cred to a/onl!
for Ihl!ir offinu > on the battle.fil!ld. This concmtmtion of experienu in Ihl! unit made rhl!
8'" Indl!pmdem PmaL Battalion uniqul!, dramatically incrI!asing the quality oftlu Shrraf
unit.
A flru bard on the Bya Oldyelnaya Shrrafooy Baraum is mud Fearless Trained.
PODPOLKOVNIK
PO DPOLKOVNtK
4~"
.. /lUJI.
Db 4?
....
~;..
~;..
Anu k
R, ",,!
Equip Sapper Platoon with a PIo_, S....I...Jiiii.- Horse Draw" limb
for +20 points.
../l».;"
Add Flame-thrower teams for +45 45mm obr 1942 gun
~@36
The anti-tank guns will be able [0 surprise more than a few
Nazi ra nks mat try [0 come tOO d ose! The anti-tank guns and
Pioneer Supply
riRes are also valuable to help demoy the cowardly German horse-drawn wagon
machine-gun nests and gun pits.
T
Command
1t
Komissar team
SMG team
Leytmllllf A V Pyl'cyn (sa pagt 73) must bt Iht Command ,.,1l~ ,.,1l~
SMG team of ont o/your Otdyelnaya ShIm/Companies at SMG team SMG team
no ndditional cost.
"'1l~ 1lU
SMG team SMG team
"'1l~
SMG team
1l~~
SMG team
the reason for them being there, your men of the
Otdye!IIIlYIl ShtrafnoJ Bataum know the only way out is
,"':1iglu and ~efeal the fascists, or die trying! The Komissar is
,.,1U 1lU
SMG team SMG team
,.,1U
SMG team
1l~~
SMG team
remmd rhem of their dury and to punish cowards.
b.rave Shtrnfoiki (penal soldiers) are well armed with
,.,1U 1l~~
SMG team SMG team
"'1l~
SMG team
U~~
SMG team
reliable Pepeshka submachine-guns, grenades, raw des- '. ' .
courage and plenry of ammunition. The factories of
',~;'p~.:;:' Union have ~u~plied us with the ability
to finally
~ . our great mIsSIon to rid Mother Russia of the ,.,U~ U~~ ,.,1l~
mvaders! SMG team SMG team SMG team
the potential of the submachine-gun and fire at close
to suppress the enemy and then hurl the Shtrnfoiki
,.,1U
SMG team
1l~~ ,.,U~ U~~
SMG team SMG team SMG team
the enemy defences. SHTRAF PLATOON
.plan your attack and your men will follow through. OTDYElNAYA SHTRAF COMPANY
their honour on the line, it is no surprise that so many
come from the Shtrllfoiki ranks!
. "1 . .,. -r'" . ~ ,
, /" H9W TO USE HE 8YA OTDYELt-lAIfA Sf+TRAFNOY BATALOtil .,
t ,.~ <~. ~
~connaissance Otdyei1U~:ya
t . ., ' . ,I I I '
1bel ShtrafBara1gn is the bh.mt instru11)ent of When fielding the 8ya E.hrrafnoj &talon, a good
the Soviet Army: .The Shtrap or penal, baitalir; ns ard formed 'COmmander takes as many Sht1,¥lfliki as they can possibly get
'from.~~oviet soldiers who 'have cpmmined offenc~ against their hands on. Being wel) uained,\hey have as muc~is.\fi\l
as
'the M9therlan.d . ~ith infantry increa~i~gly
in..shon supply, any other Soviet infantry format \
ion
but, thei~real st(ength is
.rhey are toO valuable to >shoot but nOt trus~ed enough to that they will never run away. Gombined with their Komissa.r
.' ignore their sins. .' \ and the Shrrafnik's Absolution sped~ule, and large enough'
. /' . ' ~ompanies to benefit from the Soviet 'Quality of Quantiry
Other Soviet
_" •forces
/ have a H lor of unpress lve d'
weapons I I (seepage 25 \ 0 f th erue
. I rue
speCia I b00 k).·lt Ia kesa \OttO
an mal'llines. to wage waf.
d
owever. comman Ing Ile '~ sIow a SIltrnf BIltawn
L d '
own. -
8ya Otdyeinllya Shrrafnoy Batalon takes nerves of steel, as they ~
can rely only 611 their men . The real crick to running this fort;e is the ability to accepl
casualcies. The Soviet commandc;r' will lose a lot of infantry
Armed with not much more than their submachine-guns on the way to yictory. The way a Sluraj Baralon overcomes
and ~their fearless commitment to redeem their sins, they their enemy is to deploy as far forward as they cari', and
are prepared to do whatever it takes to rid their beloved charge toward the enemy and pin them down with your
i country of the fa~cist invaders. When handled effectively, the deadly Harne-throwers before slamming imo the defenders.
~ 8Yfl Otdyeillaya $htrafooy Bfltnlon is a devastating force. Accept [hal some of rour force will be chewed up by the
Soviet planners used the 8'h Independent Penal Battalion enemy's firepower as your companieschar~e forward . As long
to conduct reco~naissance in force missions. The battalion as the Shtraf companies start at full strength, they are almost
would assault the enemy to test the strength of their guaranteed to get into range to use their attached heavy
positions. If the battalion was deStroyed, there was obviously machine-guns and Ram,_throwers to assault the enemy lines.
a significant enemy force in their wily [hat required anention While in assault, the S/Jrraf Batalon has no equal. Due to
from the rest of the division. If lhe battalion survived and the motivation and mpnbers of rhe Slmdfniki, the enemy is
broke through, there was obviously minimal enemy activity almost guarameed to break before your human wave!
and an opportunity to exploit.
•
•
" -
" .. ,< -...,-",
-"~ ~ • • ,
SHTRAF MACHINE-GUN COMPANY
COMPANY
HQ Section with
2 Mac hmc"gu l1 PlalOOI1S
1 M J ( hinc-g un I'lalOol1
HQ Section with
Command Komissar team
2 Morta r PialOom Rifle team
1 Morta r Platoon HQ SECTION
;'#1
=
The fTOOpS of the Guards Rifle divisions are rtod] to push the HitierittJ out of Mother
Ru.ssia.' After thru long ytaTS ofjig/Hing, Sovin troops art on the verge oftaking the war into
Germany itstiJ. 711t troops aff' motivated and rtady to t4kt on this t4sk, and tagtr/y await
the ordtrs to attack!
A Udarny Strtlkovy Batalon i, mud Fearless Trai ned.
HEADQUARTERS
PODPOLKOVN IK
Company Command
-lI.11
2iC Command Battalion
Rifle team Rif le team Komissa r leam
BATIALION HQ
;;,
./lUlI. .."1I.lI.
4. !;II ..~lI.
Equip Sappe, Platoon wi,•• IPtoo...,,~
~~~
HorSE Of a,', . LillI..
.. ..~lI.
le~m
A tar·
~~~.
Your latest promotion has given you command of an HorS9 Drawn Umber
illustrious and patriotic Udarny Strtlkovy Batalon (or Shock
RiAe Barralion, pronounced U-dar-ny Stryel-ko-vy Ba-ra-
Ion). These men have been fighting for Mother Russia with
unparalleled zeaL They are ready to take the fight Out
Russia and into Germany!
~l~. ~@ge
Pioneer Pioneer Supplv
Rrtle le9m hO/se-drawn wagof\
Your battalion's headquarters nOt only provides leader-
ship but also specially trained platoons. Use these assets to
defeat anything the fascists try to do to Stop our irresistible Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
advance. Rifle learn Rille learn Rille lea,
You can also rely on the battalion komiSiarto keep the troops t::::;;~;;; SAPPER PLATOON
The Udarny SfTelkovy Bata/on has been given the d uty ro Brutal fightin g with grenades, bayone[S, sharpened
break through the heavily fortified lines and open a route for and SMGs have taught these veterans how to survive
the tanks ro exploi t and encircle the enemy. bloody chaos of the Eastern Front.
E
","1;
Command
t~
Rifle/MG team
Command
Rille team
~llll ~llll
Mortars offer a steady rain of explosives over the heads of the
enemy, allowi ng your brave assauh troo ps CO advance while
82·BM-41 mortar 82·BM·41 mortar
the enemy Stays pinned dow n in their pathetic foxholes.
Since the early days of the Great Patriotic War, the cough and
merciless Razvedki scour (fOOPS have assisted our glorious
trOOps by being the eyes and ears of the Red Army. ~U~ ~~u
SMG team SMG leam
A Shock Scout Platoon is an Infiltration Platoon. 7hey
may Infiltrate a Udamy Strdkol'J Company or Udamy
~~~~ ~Ut
SMG team SMG leam
Submachine-gun Compan} see tbe Infiltration rules on page
250 ofthe mlebook.
SHOCK SCOUT PLATOON
~~i
Command Rifle team
41u.n
45mm obr 1942 gun
41\.\H.
45mm obr 1942 gun
Horse-drawn limber
ANTI TANK PLATOON
Command Observer
Rifleteam Rifle learn
OPTIONS
• Add Observer Rifle team foe + 15 pobdw
• Add bo-ru.wn limben Ii>< .S 1"'i!It Ii>< duo
~u. ~.u.
16mm obr 1927 gun 16mm obr 1927 gun
company.
Command Observer
IHI) P"llll'
12') 1'01111'
~llllll
120-PM -38mortar
Add Obaerver RiOe team for +1 5 points.
• Add borae-drawn Umbers for +5 poinu for the
Horse-drawn limber
~~~~
Horse·drawn limber
company.
~llllll ~llllll
The Fascist invaders need to be blasted out of Mother Russia! 120-PM·38 mortar 120·PM-38 mortar
Your regime nt has several of the heavy 120mm monars ready
to rain death upon the fascist invaders!
~~~~ ~~~~
The 120-PM-38 heavy mortar is heavy enough to bedassified
as artillery, but light enough for infantry to carry into batrle.
The rapid assembly and fire combination of the weapon will
give your infantry its own serious artillery support.
The mortars of me Heavy Mortar Company are a threat [Q
~llllll
120-PM-38 mortar mortar
entrenched HOOpS as well as lighrly armotired vehicles. A
full-srrengrh company of eight mortars will hil most things ~~~~ ~~~~
they can range in on. With its high firepower, it will cause Horse-drawn limber Horse-drawn limbel
rremendous casualties amongst the cowardly dug-in enemy!
~llllll ~llllll
There is no doubt that with such a brilliant design, the 120·PM·38 mortar 120-PM·38 mortar
120-PM-38 heavy mortar will be in Soviet service for a long
time, lending ou~ brave comrades devastating supporr!
~~~~ ~~~.
Command StaHteam
Rifle team
HQ SECTION
~~"
76mm ZIS·3lield gl,ln
-~~"
76mm ZIS -3 field gun
-~~"
76mm ZIS·3 tield gun
- ... ~"
76mm ZIS-3 field gun
- .r ,.. "
hoflC-Clrawn wagon, horse-drawn limbers and ~~" 'A.fti"""
..
76mm ZIS-3 field gun 76mm ZIS·3 field gun
tractors for +5 poinu per battery.
:}
Like the troops they supported the artillery barralions of a
;l::~:,,;d~;'~;:,s:ion are seasoned veterans of the war. Their rapid
fire will help the assault troops' breakthrough by
pjnning the Germans down in their cowardly trenches.
full weight of the battalion is eig}lI 76mm ZIS-3 field
- .
.r ~~"
..,; -"""
76mm ZIS·3 field gun
-
~
.r• ~~"
_
..
_l'l.1'\.
76mm ZIS·3 field gun
!" 'g",,,,,md (our 122mm obr 1938 howiners. The 76mm guns
a.(e light and build low. enabling the brave gunners to wheel
~1I.1I.1I. ~1I.1I.1I.
rhefacist tanks and gun emplacemems holding up our valiant
infantrymen . The older 122mm howirl.Crs are not as mobile
122mm obr 1938 gun 122mm obr 1938 gun
as the field guns. but they add a tremendous amount of
~lI.lI.lI. ~1I.1I.1I.
1 ~:%';::;~Th~;ey
~.l
can sit back and bombard the enemy with
shells.
.. ..
122mm obr 1938 gun 122mm obr 1938 gUll
HOWITZER BATIERY
..
region surrounding Orsha is heavily fortified by the Trailing behind the engineers at 150 meHes is a h".w """I.
Germans. The rown iLSelfhas been designated as a Fmtrplarz, gun regiment of21 ISU-152s whose mission is <0 ,d"t<of"
or fortress 1Own, so it will be a fight 10 rake this crucial point last of the tenacious German gun teams.
on the line. However, the Spyminlllnya Gruppa Shtunn (or
The final wave is a combined force of Guards rifle
Special Assault Group) is specifically organised to deal with
a company of OT-34 flame-tanks, and a
such formidable defences.
SU-76 light assault-guns. This last wave will take
lhe llya Gllnrdryskayn AnniJa (I 1m Guards Army) has been of the breakthroughs made by the previous waves,
issued three assaulr groups [Q be used against Orsha. It inte- pockets of resistance, and secure the opened gap in the
grates tanks, heavy assault guns and assault infantry 10gether
With the main assault accomplished, our heroic
in several waves.
d ivisions will roll inro the rear areas, surround
The first wave of ten PT-34 mine-roller tanks will open a enemy force, and force them ro abandon their dden,r,;e'
route through the prolific German minefields through which positions and flee before Soviet mighr!
a heavy tank regiment of21 IS-2s wi!l exploit. Then a battal-
ion of assault engineer-sappers will follow to secure
4x Rifle Regiments.
• Company of 10 OT-34
flame-ranks .
• Regiment of21 SU-76M light
assault guns.
THE CAPTURE OF MINSK AND BYELORUSSIA
m e Soviet 1944 Summer offensive, Operation
Bagration, was but a week old, the German Fmrrplarz BAGIUTIO N FORC E DISPOS ITIONS
(Fonress) cities had fall en one by one. First Vitebsk, then JUNE 1944
O rs ha, now MogiJev and Bobruisk had all been assaulted, INFANTRY
surro unded and engulfed by the Soviet juggernaut.
fin al prize in Byelorussia was Mi nsk, the capital and
+ German InF.1J1\ry: 800,000
.
macltine-gun company:
~ "'.
SOVIET ORDER OF BATTLE
EXPLOITATION FORCES INFANTRY FORCES
Oslikovskiy Cavalry Mech Group 5'" Army (9 divisions)
3'" Guards Mech Corps 11.... Guards Army(9 divisions)
3n1 G uards Cavalry Corps 2nd Guards Tank Gorps
5'h Gua rds Tank Army 3 1" ~y (8 divisions)
29'h Tank Corps 48<1. Army (9 divisions)
3 M Guards Tank Corps 65'~ Army (8 di visions)
'17 June: I" M«hani~ Q,rps al Glusk drivu bade !he ballered rttnnmU of
the 35.lnflUltnVtlillisitln. 1700: Soviets pour through a gap north ofGlusk
towards SlulSk.. •
28-29 June Gwnan LV Armcckorps broken through. EtJening: C:..v:oIryon
the puukiru ofSlucsk, Kirmp/gruP? Schirmer ancmpu to dday (he advlmcc
of thei" Mechan ised Cor!»_ 2200: c{vaIry crosses the ri~ at SltU.de and Ihe
I" M&!unis.e<! Corps joins the anad from GhlSk.
30 JIUle: The c..valry-M«LniKd Group d";~ K4mpJgt..p~ 1-2 July: Gennm ",jn(o~u sueam in 10 Buanovkhl. and atack down
Hvteneck (Including ekmenUl -of Ihe 12. !'tlttUl'tiivisio,,) om of tk B..l:lf\QYic.hi-Sluuk rwd. A K4mpJgn.p~ N1u fo~ detachments of
S!u~ Couma:;nuei<s by the German 5. &iWTtfimmr (5· C>.v:aJry the ' " M<:clt=ised Corps at K1ruk. Other demOlts of the ' " Mechanised
Regiment) m2kc the WCltern rdges of the town. Afler Slutsk is taken the Corps all: mOil: successful funher 10 the southwest, whell: forcts dri~
]" M~iKd CorpJ i$ sen< ....'eSt towards Barmovichi. towards Barnnovic.hi.
German rc:inron.::anmtlaniYtin~. <I. !'tll'lZtrdivision pushcsdown tho: ~ ]'1iev C>.v:aJry-Mccltanised Group's 2501tm advmcc is finally N1ttd by
main road IOSluok 10 bIocIc it 20km from ]" ~ry German and Hungarian rcinfor=nelH$ Mending SlothIS)', keeping 1M
~ to Minsk open.
no rt he rn hammer swung towa rds Minsk on 23 June diverting their thrust north :icross the Berezi na and on [0
the Oslikovskiy Cavalry-Mechanised Group lead ing the Molodechno.
The group's 3-y Gvardryikiy M rchanjzirovnnniy Korpus The follow ing 5'" Guards Tank Army continued
Guards Mechanised Corps) burst through the gap at rowards Borisov, dearing [Owns [0 the northeast by
Bogushevsk and moved tOwards the Berezina Rive r. 27 June. Some troops reduced the German blocking position
The group fi rst fought their way through scattered German at Borisov, ~hile other elements of the army supptmed the
remnants, penetrating past Senno and towards the Berezina assault on Orsha. They finally crossed the Berezina River on
Ahhough Germans (hrew toge ther vuious improvised I July. The army pressed on [Owards the rail lines west of
~:,:;=;::i;:: positions and counterarracks, the rapid mechanised Minsk. On the evening of 2 July they entered Minsk and,
} overwhelmed, or simply bypassed them. the next day, cm the road west before being forced to hail
25 June 3-y Gvarrkyskiy Tankovy Korpus (3/ Cuards and resupply.
Corps) and 29-J Tankovy Korpw (29'" Tank Corps), of After advancing west across the Berezina Rive r on 29 June
• 5*j Gvardqikiy TnnkfJ/J}Anniya (5'" Guards Tank Army) Aooded 3nl Guards Mechanised Corps took up positions around
'. through the gap behind the Cavalry-Mechanised Group. Molodechno, successfully assaulting it on 4 July. The corps
28 June 3'" Guards Mechanised Corps met srrong was then forced to halt, having advancing over 250km (155
resistance from Kampjgruppe von Saucken at miles) from their fuel and supply depots.
.
and app1 ie9 for transfer to a tank unit. As a Politrllk he
;Ji ,~n,",,,his ow~ tank, but he soon used his position to.ride
I with me rest of the tanke rs. Even though from
position of Komissar no longer ans'""cred to the
Dnepr River in the second half of 1943. His unit fought
into 1944, liberating Znamensk, fighting in the Kirovograd
operation and exploiting the Korsun Pocket in February.
The 29'hTank Corps received Tbe Order of the Red Banner
~i~;:;:~j':':; Parry, Romissar Dedov retained the respect and for irs actio ns at Kirovograd, and at the same time Dedov
~ he had earned from commanders and tankers. was promoted to Brigada KomiSJar.
into battle with his tankovycompany in the batde ill May the corps fin ally went into reserve to refit for
during the battle for Kursk in 194'6. His O peration~ Bagra tion. The corps was entirely re-equipped
and motivational abilities were soon recognised with the new T-34/S5 obr 1943 tank. Dedov used his
to Brita/on Komissar. However, this political contacts to ensure that his uni t was refiued quickly
fo r the action of rhe from line and he and efficiently and had rhem back in the line in record
tanks to f'Jke parr in the action. time.
~h~~
Heavy Mortar ~O;.
Company ..
EXPLOITATION FORCE
Soviet assault doctrine!: reserved the rank brigades for
exploil:uion rather than getting used up in cosdy break-
through attacks. Once the breakout was accomplished
by the heavy tanks and infamry, the rankmen charged
thought he gap and fonvard umil they could go no
further, always attacki ng anything in the way.
TankoflJ Bnlalo" Always Attacks
rllitbook},
®'mir
For their heroic fighting in 1942 and 1943 the tank
corp; oflhe 5'h Guards Tank Army have bu n awarded the
Sovin Union; highm honours. A Gvardryskiy Tankoll}
&talon oftilt 3'" Guards Tank Corps or 25fb Tank Corps
are Guards mud Fearless Trained. J RED ARMY
The enemy front [inc has been smashed by our glorious We will not give the fascist dogs one moment
comrades from {he infantry shock armies. OUf Gvardeyskiy push fturher wesrwards to our ultimate goal of
Tankoll} Batakm (G uard Tank BaHalion ~ pronounced,
We have many new tricks up OUf sleeves. We can fool
gvard-ye-ysk-iy ran-ko-vy ba-ta-Ion) of the 3-y Gvardeyskiy
Tankoll} Korpus (3'" Guards Tank Corps) must now rake up stupid fascisrs wirh our decoy trOOps, and smash h";;:'.:~;;:2
and rank forces wirh our battalions equipped with t:
the burden and complete the destruction of the fascist armies.
T-34/85 tank. Our submachine-gun armed rank riders
Nor all of our exploitation Tankoll} battalions are guards, but
make shorr work of the trembling German p'.=.gang<
the 29-y Tankovy Kmsnoznammniy Korpm (29,h Tank Corps)
masses, the brutal scum who oppressed the free
have been awarded the Order of the Red Banner (Kmmogo
the Soviet Union.
Znammi) and fight like guards with fierce determination. It
is our role to push through the broken defences and advance
far behind enemy lines. We will then harass and destroy
I;.""",nypockets.
Mount $MG Tank Escorts on all tanks for .. 10 points
PC' omIc
T·34/85 obr 1943 T-34/85 obr \943
IIwkovy companies have been completely refined
the new T-34/85 tank. These new tanks are rhe result
Soviet industry. 1hey have more armour and
I 85mm guns that no fascist rank can hope to s [a~ld T ANKOVY PLATOON
TANKOVY PLATOON
Soon, Poland and the Ukraine will be littered wIth
burn mg wrecks of German tanks, marking the glOriOUS
~ ""\0';'of ,h,,,k,,,,;,o", tank forces!
Dimensions
.- Performance
Weight: 70,544Ibs/32,OOOkg Max level road speed: 33mph/53km/ h
lcngth: 26'8"/ 8.15m Min turning diameter; 24'IJ"/7.6m
Width: 9'IO"/3m Tn:ncb crossing: 98~/2.5m
Height: 8'11 "12.72m Marimum vertical obstacle: 28"/71 em
Maximum fording depth: 54"/1 .37m
Armour & Armament Marimum climbing grade: 35%
T-34/85obr 1943
Armour: 20-45mm (turret from 90mm)
Designation: T-34/85 abr 1943 Main Gun: 85mm D-5T tank gu n Cn:w: Four or Five
Hull conSlrurtion: Wdded Armour Penetration: Commander/gunner in turrer
Engine: Diesel 12-cyl. modd V-2, 135mm at 200m, llOmm at 1000m (Gunner often added to !Urret)
500hp Secondary Armament: Loader in turret
2x 7.62mm DT machine guns Driver in left hull from
Hull machine-gunner in right hull from
... ~,-- .
iTANK-RIDER COMPANY
Komlss~r
\ Lull, ndn I'l.ltoons team
2 LillI.. nJn I' bw()n~
1 l.lIlk rJJ~r I'I,nunn
OPTIONS
• Add Komissar team for ... 15 poims.
"m) ~l~-t
SMG team SMG learn
~) ~l~-t
SMG learn SMG learn
Add Maksim HMG teamfor ...25
~»l U~-t ~lU~-t
The tank-rider inFamry of a tan k brigade's infantry SMG team SMG team SMG learn SMG team
battalion work in close co-operarion with their tanker
comrades. They protect me tanks fro m inFantry and ami-tank
,,~l~ ~l~-t ~l~ ~l~-t
SMG team SMG team SMG team SMG team
guns by showering them with bullets, making shoH work TANK RIDER PLATOON TANK RIDER PLATOON
cowardly Fascist resis tance. Keep them close ro rhe ranks and
rely on the superior firepowe r of the ranks' main guns to
smash the enemy before going in co clear OUt me trenches.
SUPPORT COMPANIES
."-
KAPITAN
COM PANY
~ ( ,lfl1lmJ [',mll'r IV I I
2 ( ,II'Hm'd ['.mn'r IV I I
OPTIONS
• Replace any or aU capttued Panzer IV H tanks wtdt..
captured StuG G assault guns for ...5 poinu per taak.
or capttued Panther A tanks for ..60 points per tu&
• Replace one Panzer IV H tank with a captwed
TIF I E tank for +65 poinu . Captured tank Captured tank
We use the Germans' own Panzer tanks 1O lead our advanc- t::!~~~:::~~
ing fo rces. We must lise theses tanks wisely as we have only DECOY TANK COMPANY
limited ammunition . They wilt see the familiar shapes of
their own tanks and realise [heir mistake it will be coo [ate. A D('coy Tank Company is an Infiltmtion Pkuoon.
7hey may InfiiJrau a TankollJ Company, Gvardeyskiy
A Decoy Tank Company is a Decoy Platoon. Su the Decoy TankollJ Company, Inomnrochnikiy TankollJ Company,
rules on page 160. A D('coy Tank ComptlllY is not liffocud Inomnrochnikiy Light Tanko!'] Company, MotosmikollJ
by the Htn and Chicks spuial rule. Company, Tank-rider Company, MotosmikollJ Submnchine-
A Decoy Tank Company ,11I1J{ always b(' deploy('d on the gun Company. or Razvtdki Platoon. Su th(' Infiltration ruk
and may riot b(' held in reserve. on page 250 o/the rukbook,
StuG G assault gUlls do not lise t/u Voilry Fire special rule. A Deroy Tank Company is rated COllfident Trained.
IN FANTRY ARTILLERY
RECONNAISSANCE
-4.n~~ ~~~ -4.U~ _ _
~ Motolised Mortar ~~
Motostrelkovy Comllilny Company Spetsnaz Platoon ~'b
INFANTRY ARTILLERY
-4.~~~~ ~llllll
MotostrelkoYy Comllilny ~ Heavy Mortar "0"
Comllilny
INFANTRY ARTILLERY
-4.~U.~ ~u.
Motostrelkovy Company ~ Motostrelkovy Artillery 'B>
Battalion
MACHINE-GUNS
~~~
Molostretkovy Machine- ~~
gun Company
ARTillERY
INFANTRY
~~~ M)~"'",
Motonsetl Mortar ~~
Company Razvedkt Platoon !So
ANTI-TAN K
~u.
Motorised Anti-lank "0"
Company
ANTI-TAN K
INFANTRY
~u.
,,"1~~.
Tank Destruction ~~
Sapper Company '.
:9
Company a
... '.
TRANSPORT
~~~~
Mounted GvardeysklY
Kazachly Company
",,6'
®'ilJr
Guards have been awarded the Guards title in
recognition of bravery and excellence in battle. A
Mowstrelkovy Batalon of the 3'" Guards Mechanisrd
Corps. 3>ri Gllflrds Tilllk Corps or 29" Tank Corps are
Guards and nre mud Fearless Trained.
PODPOLKOVNIK
.".,~~~ .".,U~
SMG team SMG team
The mOlostrtikovy are armed with submachine-guns and are .".,~ U~~ ~)~~~~
deployed as an assault force. These ingenious Soviet light SMG team SMG team SMG team SMG team
weight, rapid fire weapons are ideal for dosing with the
enemy. Fire suppOrt from an array of Soviet weapons pin
~~~~~~
SMG team SMG team
the fascists in their positions, hindering them from respond-
ing to the rapid advance of the Once close
motosmikovy spray the enemy with hot I
(he fascists and ejecting them from their positions!
.".,~~~ ~~ ~~~~
SMG team SMG team SMG team
~) ~~~~ ~ ~~~~
SMG team SMG team SMG team SMG team
MOTOR RIFLE PLATOON
MOTOSTRELKOVY COMPANY
-- -
M1
Command Rifle learn
~l\.~ ~l\.~
Maksim HMG Maksim HMG
1ft
Command Rifle team
HQ SECTION
~~~
.....
..... .....
..... ~~~
82·BM· 41
mortar
~~~
82 -BM-41
mortar
..... ..... ~~~
82-BM-41
mortar
~~~
82·BM·41
mortar
1
•
COMPANY
HQ Section with:
Mf
Command Rifle team
OPTIONS
• Add trucks or Lend-lease M2 or M3 haIf. tIIiCb for
+5 points for the platoon.
• Arm any or all M2 or M3 half-tracks with an .50 cal
... ...
"lIU.~
Anti-tank gun
.. W.~
Anti-tank gun
"l\U.~
Anti·tank gun
"l\.~.~
Anti· tank gun
AA MG for +5 balf-track.
The 45mm obf 1942 ami-rank gun has served the Red Army
weI! and cominues to rain death on the invaders. A marvel of While the ranks go forward the ami-tank gun crews lie
Soviet industry, this iinie gun can be used ro destroy tanks, wait for rhe predictable German counterattack.
knock out guns, and kill infamry. Germans move forward ro attack our tanks, the
gunners let fly with a hail of fire knocking Out the
Some units have the deadly 57mm ZIS-2 alii i-rank gUll. This ranks as they expose their side armour while attacking
superior example of the worker's indusrry can desrroy any ranks. Faced with this superior firepowe r, the G" m ,"" < ,,~~
tank the Fascists dare to emer the barrie with. withdraw ro conserve their dwi ndling stock of tanks.
HQ Section with: Ut
Command Rille team
(, I .W - PM \8
1 110 PM·jR HQ SECTION
OPTIONS
• Add O bserver RiAe team for +15 points.
• Add trucks for +5 points for the compan
:;;Y~._ _ _ _ -t
~~~~
120·PM-38
mortar
~~~~
... ...
... ... ~~~~
120-PM·38
mortar
What makes mortars ideal for working with rhe mobile
troops of the exploitation forces is their light weight and 120·PM-38
~~~~
120·PM·38
ease of movement. The rapid advances of tankovy and mortar mortar
motostrelkovy batralions make it difficult for the big guns of
the artillery ro keep up. Soviet industry solved this problem
with the creation of the impeccable 120mm mOftar. The
light, but hard hitting, 120-PM-38 mortar can be deployed
with the ease of a lighter mortar and has the firepower of 120· PM·38 120·PM·38
mortar mortar
a fi eld gun. -Ihe fascists cannot rely on trenches to protect
MORTAR PLATOON
them from the might of Soviet military power!
HEAVY MORTAR COMPANY
M1 ~1~t H .....
Command Staff team Obser.rOf MJA I arl10U
Rifle learn Rifle team transporle'
HQ SECTION
- ~~~
76mm ZIS-3 field gun
!oI O~_IWI....un I•• +15 poiDu.
Ieod ..... Dodp "4-",. "'""". M2 .... M3
T
~::;: G., MI3AI ~ ttaQOn for +5 painrs
.....
16mm ZIS-3 field gun
reJ;,mi"
aspect to the success in battle of the Soviet
forces is (he gun line. While the mobile forces
enemy, the guns suppon [he attack and provide a
Ii,,,in case of a cowardly fascist counterattack.
- •
• R
~~"U.~
76mm ZIS·3 field gun
- ~~~
.....
76mm ZIS -3 field gun
..... -c.l'\A!I.,u,
76mm ZIS-3 field gun may not have the hitdng power - ." ..
larger guns of the orner Soviet forces, bm they only 76mm ZIS·3 field gun 16mm ZIS -3 field gun
to keep (he Fascists' heads down while the moroure/kollY
tanks advance on rhe enemy positions. They can also be
up to the enemy positions and fire over open sights
the enemy from their positions. Few can stand fire-
of this magnirude!
.....
~~"U.~
76mm ZIS·31ield gun
- -c• ..,u,
~M.
16mm ZIS·3 field gun
- ~~"U.~
76mm ZIS·3 field gun
GUN BATIERY
-
.....~~
-c.*_u,
76mm ZIS·3 field gun
~~f
Command Komlssar
SMG team team
~~l~ ~U~
SMG team SMG team
PLATOON
HQ Section with:
Command SMG team Captured half-track
2 Spctsn.lJ Squads
HQ SECTION
I SpctsnM Squad
HEADQUARTERS
M t (MiA.! Shcfm,ml
PEREDOVOYE OTRYAD HQ
• Arm any or all M3AI annoured traruportcn with • Mount an SMG Tank Escon on the Co'm.~.d ' .
for +10 points,
additional AA MG For +5 points per vehicle.
HEADQUARTERS
HEADQUARTERS
( omp.lI1\ II Q
;1t Ut u
OPTIONS
• Add Komissar team ud M3A1 armoured muuportcr
for + 15 poinu.
• Arm any or all MMl 8I'IIIOUIed tramporterJ with
additional AA MG".5 pointt per vebJde.
..... .....
Company Command
Rifle team
MJA 1 armoured
transporter
2iC Command
Rifle team
MJAI armoured
transporter
COMPANY HQ
LEYTENANT
Command Motorcycle
MG team
HQ SECTION
MOlotsiklrtnaya Plmool/S are 1I0f subjl'u to thl'
Comrol and Hell and Chicks special rules.
Mototsiklnnaya P!atOOl/S U Sl' the Motorcycle Reconnaissance
rules OTI page 196 of the rulebook and are Reconnaissance Motorcycle MG team Motorcycle MG team
while mounted.
Motorcycle MG team Motorcycle MG team
Each Razvedki battalion had ['NO companies of motorcycle
MOTORCYCLE SECT ION MOTORCYCLE SECTION
troops and one company of armoured soldiers. Mounted
in M-ll motorcycles with sidecars, the motorcyclists were MOTOTSIKLETNAYA PLATOON
found aT the head of the advancing exploitation forces,
keepi ng an eye out for enemy ambushes.
",,")t
Command M3A 1 armoured
Aifle/MG team transporter
..... .....
M)~. ")~f~ M)~. '"1~n
Replace all M3Al armoured transporters with turret-
less SA-10M or captured Sd Kh 25t armoured trans- RiflefMG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team
porters at no cost.
Replace all M3Al armoured transporters with
M3A I armoured transporter M3A 1 armoured transporter
Univel'5al Carrier armoured transporter per
RiftelMG team for +5 points per Rifle Squad.
all Universal Carriers with Boys anti-tank riOes RAZVEDKI PLATOON
WEAPONS PLATOONS
Command SA-54
... ...
the AA MG on up co rwo armoured cars with
PTRD anti-tank rifle at no cost.
~~~
82-8M·41
mortar
82-BM·41
mortar
~~~
B2·BM-41
mortar
.-.
heroic armoured car crews, the monars can quickJy bring ~~~ ~~~
down such overwhelming fi re that no German can survive B2-BM-41 82·BM-41
mortar mortar
long under it. Then send in the tanks and infantry to wipe ..
them Out.
RAZVEDKI MORTAR COMPANY
Mt
Command Rifle team
OPTIONS
• Add trucks or lend lease M2 or M3 balf-tndc.s fOr
... 5 points for th~ company. - ...w.~
16mm l1S·3 anti-tank gun 76mm l1S-3 anti·tank gun
• Arm any or all M2 or M3 haIf-tracka with an .50 cal
AA MG for +5 points per balf.track.
T,"
- ~w.~
.-. .-.
- e" ...
7he 76mm Z15-3 anti-tank guns oj a l&zvedki Anti-tank
.114~
CompallY cannot fire Artiliery Bombardments. 76mm l1S·3 anti·tank gun 76mm l1S-3 anti·tank gun
by our mzvedchiki. Then, at the critical moment, the guns ANTI TANK PLATOON ANTI TANK PLATOON
fi re a devas tating volley into the enemy's flanks, crushing
RAZVEDKI
. ANTI·TANK. -
COMPANY
their attack. When attacking, the mobility of the guns
allows them to come into action on the flanks of our bold
razvedchiki, keeping enemy counterattacks al bay, before
limbering up 10 exploit their victOry.
During the exploitation phase of Operation Bagration. as the group also contained the 4 m Guards Me<:hanised Corps. 1h is
trOOps of the First and Third Byelorussian FrOfll:S advanced new cavalry-mechanised group broke the Mius River line.
on Minsk, the Oslikovskiy Cavalry-Mechanised Group liberated most of the western Donbas region, and cut land
in the North and the Pliev Cavalry-Mechanised Group access to the Crimean Peni nsula. The group was disbanded
(comaini ng rhe 4,h Guards Cavalry Corps) in rhe South led in December 1943 and the 4'" Guards Cavalry Corps moved
the advance behi nd the German lines. !O the 2nd Guards Army where it spenl its time screen ing the
southern stretches of the Dnepr River.
4 '" GUARDS CAVALRY CORPS In February 1944 the corps was moved to the 3'" Ukrainian
The 4'" Guards Cavalry Corps was formed in August 1942 From where they reformed the Cavalry-Mechanised
rom the J 7m Cavalry Corps. This corps was made up of Group with the 4,h Mechanised Corps and the separate
the 9 m 'Kuban Cossack', lO'h ' Kuban Cossack' and the 5'" Guards Motorised RiAe Brigade. The group was under the
30,h Cavalry Division (wh ich had the distinction of being 4'h G uards Cavalry Corps' new com mande r I A Pliev. In
one of the few regular cavalry divisions ro survive to the end March the group attacked the rear of the Axis fo rces in Odessa
of the war and never re<:eive guards st;l.tus). and Cut them off from the rest of the fronl. They d isrupted
the rear areas of both German 6" Army and Romanian
bided their time in the Caucasus before being assigned
rake part in the Stalingrad counter-offensive in November
3'" Army. The operations had advanced Ihe front 200km in
J0 days by 20 April and had proved so successful thai Pliev
Jan uary 1943 saw the corps further north in the
received a telegram of congratulations fro m the Kremli n.
S"""'pol area.
Not long afl er Ihe 4,h G uards Cavalry Corps received Ihe
February the corps was on the move again, crossing the O rder of the Red Banner and Pliev was made a Hero of the
Don Ri ver into Rostov-na-Donu. joining the fighting as the Soviel Union. In May 1944 Ihe corps was moved no rth 10
Red Army pushed the Germans back [he way they had come lake part in Operation Bagration.
year before.
ForOperation Bagration the Pliev Caval ry-Me<:hanised Group
Between September and November 1943 the corps joined was refo rmed unde r the First Byelorussian Front. This time the
',U,<:,o>"h (later 4'h Ukrainian) Fronts mobile group, forming I" Mechanised Corps was coupled wit h the 4'h Guards
of the first Cavalry-Mechanised Groups under the Cavalry Corps. The 4'" Guards Cavalry Corps consisted of:
G uards CaYollry Corps' commander Kirichenko. The
30 June The Cavalry.Medunised Groop drive: KMmprpl'" 1-2 July: Gaman rrinforcrmenlS st=m in 10 Bar;,
Hatlencd:: (Including demans of tho, 12. Panurtii,iMn) OOt of the &r:uwvichi-Sl utsk road. A JVzmprpl'" haiti
Slum.. Coummmacks by lhe- errnun 5. &it""flIMnf (5" Ca~lry the \ .. M~niscJ Corps al Klruk.. Other dementi of me I" Mrchanised
~mcntlltt:lk~ the w~51em roges of th~ town. Af(~ Slutsk i. fllkcon the Corps '"'" more successful funher 10 the "",ulhwcsl. w~ rom'S drive
I- Mtrlwliscd Corpl is Knt WC$I lowards Banmovichi. lowards Baranovichi.
Gcnnan reinfurttrntn~ anivc: in ~. 4. Rs,~ puns down the lhe Plicv Cavalry-Mcct...nixd Groops 250km advancr is fi.wly halla! by
nWn ro>d 10 SluQk 10 bIcx:k it 20km from the"",TL The Hung;uim. '" Crr.Ilry c.:..rmn and Hungarian mnfurcrmcnu ddmding St-olbuy, keeping I~
Division and t& Cmnan.28.}ifprlivisiolr" begin 1O:urivc: hom 3 July. rwd 10 Minslr opal.
9" Guards Cavalry Division 'Kubafl Cossacks' Mechanised Group was reformed this £irne with the ,. ,,,,,,""
1(J~ Guards CaVl1/ry Division 'Kuban Cossacks' 6'" Guards Cavalry Corps, and dte 7 th Mechanised Co'p,#!
3(fh Cavalry Division The Group advanced on Budapest in October 1944 .
1815,It SU Regiment (SU-76M) Germans halted the Soviet 6 th Guards Tank Army "Q"d"
12'h Guards Mortar Regiment (J 20mm) to the north, so the Pliev Cavalry-Mechanised Group
68'" Guards Rocket Mortar 8aualiofl (IVttyllsha) 90 degrees to take the town from behind on 12 Q,,,ol"~~
15;rJ Guards Ant;-/(lflk R~giment (76mm) Between 6 and 25 October the 4th Guards Caval ry
4'· Guards A,lti-tank Battalion (45mm) covered 525km in winter conditions. During this time
255'" Anti-aircraft Regim~1It (37mm) escaped encirclement at Debrecen, CUt German supply I
TIle Group operated on the northern edge of the Pripyet at Nyiregyhaza, and assaulted across the River Tisza. For
Marshes on the din roads and rrails that were JUSt dry enough fighting at Debrecen the corps was awarded the Order
ro supporr the ranks. The reSI of the terrain was tOO overgrown Lenin. By December 1944 the Pliev C,ni,y.M,d",;",fu
and swampy ro allow anything other than cavalry to move Group was north of Budapest.
freely. During three weeks of continuous advance, they rrav- On 26 January 1945 the Pliev Cavalry-Mechanised
elled 500km, averaging 20km per day to finally make iracross became a permanent formation as the ' " Guards C,,,I,,'
the western Bug River. During rhe advance they stormed Mechanised Group. They were reorganised and
and liberated the town of Slutsk on 25 July for which the before taking parr in the drive on Vienna in March.
4th Guards Cavalry Corps were awarded the Order of then moved through Bmo and Prague in G'd,",;im"ki~
Suvorov II Class. In August the group retired to the Third where they ended the war. The 4'k Guards Cavalry
Byelorussian Front reserves. was honoured in May 1945 with the Order of Ku,",o~
At the end of August the 4'h Guards Cavalry Corps moved Class for the liberation of Bmo.
south ro the Second Ukrainian From where the Pliev Cavalry-
The tachanka machine-gun can was invented by the
",LJiu,ini,n Anarchist forces during the Russian Civil War
y f 1919 ro 1922 and quickly adopted by weir Red Army
"',OPIPO'"""',. The concept was simple and uniquely suited to
circumstances-a marriage of the deadly Maksim heavy
machine-gun with the fast {achanka (pronounced ta-chan-
ka) cart CommOn in the southern Russia.
Pllvel Kllmnev lind IIny Mounted GVllrdeyskiy Kitzn,chiy Pavel Kamnev (fin never send his hone to the rear. If a
Company that he has joilled maker SlIver against hits ]rom platoon that he has joined sends their bones to the rear he •
Deftnsive Fire on a 5+ instead oftbe usual3+. wilt remain mou,Utd.
If the company i5 Pillned Down by Defensive Fire, he if Kamn ev uses the ~rrior l'ifizntry Team Casualties rule
may take an immediate Motivation Test. if he passes, the to avoid destruction he remaim mounted, taking his lIide's
Company does not Fa" Back from the Defensive Fire and hom and sending the aide in search ofa fresh mount.
contillues the Assault.
ARTILLERY
~.u.
Gvardeyskiy Kazachly ,1')'6>
Reglmentaf Gun company
EXPLOITATION
FORCE
The cavalry lead bold
attacks and charged
through the enemy posi-
tions into [he open fiel ds
beyond.
A Cvardeyskiy Kazachiy
Polk Always Attacks
(su pag~ 257 0/ the
rukbook).
Cossacks I~arn to ridt bifort tbry I~arn to walk. Combin~ this with a Iqng milildry tradition
andyou get somi' qftht jillest sqUiers in th~ Rtd Army. A GVllTdeyskiy Kazachiy Polk is Tilted
as Fearless Trained.
HEADQUARTERS
~~- ~- - . . . ". . . _.=.- ,
GVARDEYSKI'I': KAZACHIY POLK HQ POl KOVN1K
HEADQUARTERS POlKOVN1K
Itltt.llw rI HQ
~~~~
Rifle/MG learn
~~~~ Rille/MG learn
~~~~
I to out flank [hem, cut off their reinforcements, and
the objective.
Rifle/M G team
Tachanka is a fast -moving horse-drawn can mounring
~ :'~~~~:n~machi ne-gun . These brave men advance with the
e lend much-needed heavy machi ne-gun supporr, Ritle/MG team
r~:;1~i!;dOWn the enemy as the cavalry charge. Modified .. Ritle/MG team
MACHINE·GUN PLATOON
WEAPONS COMPANIES
M1
Command SMG team
2 SWU I Squad s
I Swul Squ.ld
~~~i U~i
SMG team SMG team
Glltlrdryskiy Kawchiy Scout Platoons arr an exception
to the emtmlised Control special rule. 7hey opl!1'au as a
normal pintoon. GVARDEYSKIY KAZACHIY
SCOUT PLATOON
A Gvardeyskiy Kawchiy SCOlit PinlOon is a Recon1Jtlissallct
P!n.tQOfl. A GJjardeyskiy KaZdchiy P!n.toon is a IlIftltration PinlOon.
7hey may Inftltrau, if dismounted, a DiJr/lOunud
Mounred Soviet scouts are a key asset to KaZdchiy Puik, pro- Gvardeyskiy Kazachiy Company, or, ifmounted, a Mounud
viding importam imelligence needed (0 form a ptoper battle Gvardeyskiy Kawchiy Company. See the 111filtration ruin
plan. During night operations the scouts are responsible for 011 page 250 of tlJf rtlhhook.
~~~ ~~~ ~
..
.
B2·BM·41 B2·BM·41
mortar mortar
~~~ ~~~
82·BM·41 B2·BM· 41
mortar mortar
~~~ ~~~
82·BM·41 82·BM·41
mortar mortar
~~~ ~~~
cavalry limben and mount the Command and 82·BM·41 82·BM·41
mortar mortar
01000.... Rifte teams as Cavalry for +5 points per ..
LEYTENANT
82-BM-41 mOrtar is the ideal weapon to keep the
i.!"'''''at bay. The massed batteries pin enemy trOOps and ~~~ ~~~
82·BM·41 82·BM·41
machine-guns in their foxholes. mortar mortar
enough weapons even the 82-BM-41 mortar can
Cjayd"w" a devastating bombardment. ~~~ ~~~
82·BM·41 B2·BM·41
mortar mortar
MORTAR PLATOON
Ut
Command Rifle team
1
GVARDEY$KIY KAZA(HIY
, REGIMENTAL GUN COMPANY
A Gllardryskiy KllZllchiy RrgimrntllL Gun Company may
make Combat Attachments to Mounted Gllardryskiy The brave men of the regimental gun company are always
ready for combat. They ride into the fray, ready to unlimber
KaZllchiy Compllnies or Dismounud Gllardryskiy KtlZllchiy
Companies. at any moment to knock out dug-in heavy machine-guns or
clear our anti-rank gu ns.
~I
Replue up 10 1M T·34 ..... 1942 ...... .,;m T·34I85
obr 1943 tanks for -t 30 poinu per tank.
Upgrod< oil T·34 ob, 1942 10 hove Cupow Co,
+10 points for the company.
Mount SMG Tank Escorts on aU T-J4 tanks for
wok.
industriOUS~~;~~~~~~~~~~~
advantage
the avtr the fudm who
Our Cossacks being able to
mey will crush our enemies in massive assaults.
Now that we have the T·34/85 abr 1943 even me.
armoured tanks of [he fascists will not save them as
• Arm any or all M4 tanks with .SO wM MG for cower from our mighty hordes.
+5 points per tank.
OUf foreign allies have not forgotten MOther
• Replace up 10 five M4 tanks with M3s (M3 I..ee) have provided us with their suppon. These tanks the
ranks for -5 points per tank. Sherman, M3 Lee, and the Valentine fI and VIII.
Mount SMG Tank Escorts on aU M3 or M4 tanks for
wok.
weUonce true Soviet pauiots lake th,<e':m~i~n~,~oo':;!:J
the Sherman lacks in style and grace is
the men of the glorious Red Army.
.
~
~%;~:::~::~~: of 120-PM-38 heavy monars will force the
cowards out of their foxholes securing almost certain
':;;'w" for our Cossack heroes to move in and take me
ob-
, "'";,;,, When heavy artillery is out of range or unavailable ~llllll
lW-PM-38
~ ~llllll
120-PM-38
~
mighty Red Army can rely on these heavy mortars to mortar mortar
a steady unforgiving bombardmem. MORTAR PLATOON
GVARDEYSKIY KAZACHIY
HEAVY MORTAR COMPANY
-- - ---
Ut ~t~t ~. . H
Command Staff learn
Rifle team
- -"t..U."- - ~w."-
~I 01".,,., R.i8c team for + 15 points.
cavalry W3S0n and limbers. and mount the
RiBe and Observer Rille teams as CavaJry
76mm ZIS-3 fie ld gun
- r.t..U."- -
---,....
76mm ZIS·3 field gun
Ui4"-
r•.
76mm ZIS·3 field gun 76mm ZIS·3 field gun
A Gvardeyrkiy Kazachiy Artillery Bourry uses the Hom
Artillery special mIl 011 page 118 ofthe rulebook.
Need to fix a bridge Navigate a minefield? Secure certain PilJneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
victory over [he fascist cowards? Our heroic Soviet Pioneers Rille team Rille team Rif le team Rille team
will do it all for the glory of Mmher Russia. ~)~ ~)~. ~)~ ~)~.
111e heroic and brave men of the pioneer companies strive Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
Rille team Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team
constandy (0 perform and exeeute their tasks to ben er the
great Red Army. No job is too small, no sacrifice is too big.
to 1nfl.1ot casualties upon assaulting Soviet tanks ...
You must field one company from each box shaded black and may field one company or platoon
from each box shaded grey.
A PartlzansklY Brigada may take support compames or platoons from Red Army (marked ),
Guards (marked ), or unmarked optIOns
ANTI-TANK
~~
PartlzansklY Gun "
Company
The Byelorussiall Partisalls were /oostly organised with Ollly very basic trainillg. While tbe
Red Army supplied rom .. officers to orgallise tllt/n, the majority were Bye/oruISian parriof!,
lIatiOlllllim and Jarmers. With over 300,000 men under Ilrms at the tim e oj Operatioll
Bagration, tlu Byelorussian partisans prolled so htlpjul ill Operatioll Bagratioll thar they
were often referred 10 as the Fourth Byelonmian From. A Partiumskiy Brigada is Confident Conscript.
PODPOLKOVNIK
PODPOLKOVNIK
Rut.lllOlI IlQ
Company Command
ttt
2iC Command Banalion
Aifle team Aifleteam Komissarteam
Mortar PI,1I0UII
S<1ppcr PI.I[OUII
.- BAITALION H
OPTION
......
• Add up to three SaIpct tau:qJ for ...SO poinU per
yards, railroad tracks, supply depots, garrisons and marching rulebook) in additiorl to any AmbltSh deployment that
formations. may be aikwed by the Mission played. The Immediate
Ambushing platoon must be taken from the platoons that
Throughout the spring and early summer of 1944, the
are to be deployed on table during depwymem.
Byelorussiall partisan movemem visited havoc upon the logis-
tics cemres, security forces and even front line combat units
of Army Group Centre. These disruptions gready hampered OUR LAND
G erman efforts to hold off the Soviet offensive to come. To If there was one thing the panisans knew well
counter these distractions, a full six German security and coun tryside they fought in. They always had an escape
police divisions were stationed in Byelorussia to face the through well-scouted forest paths and could move
th reat posed by local partisan fervour. via these hidden
~
S:~;::i:,:;were organised into brigades in 1942, but smaller
units of 75-150 men carried Out sabotage and raid
at night, and usually from ambush posicions.
'Wi!iiiii+
The Red Army supplies heavy weapons for the Partisans to
use in their snuggle against the fascists. Among the weapons .w~~ .w~~
Maksim HMG Maksim HMG
air dropped in are Maksim heavy machine-guns.
.. ~
~;
Command Rifle team
OPTION
4~\"~_~ 4l\A.~_~
• Add horsc.-drawn limbers for +5 points for cbe Goo GO"
oompaoy.
On 18 July, with renewed vigour and fresh ' forces from the
Ukraine, the First Byelorussian From released the final blow of
Operation Bag radon. Directed to suike im o Poland before the
Germans could establish a defensive line on the Visrula River,
the Soviet 8 th Guards Army under Marshal Chuikov together
with the Soviet 2n.l Tank Army raced northwards. Their target
was norrheast of Warsaw where the great bend in the Vistula
met the Narew Rive r. Securing a b~idgehead here could cut off
all German forces in East Prussia.
The XXXIX Panzerkorps and IV SS-Panzerkorps were unleashed
i ~~~~~~~~=~~~~~~~~~~===~i
Gmera'der Pflllurtruppm .
von Vormann
on
goalI was
August 10 hit the vanguard of the 2 nd Tank Army. Their
to prevent the Soviets from gaining their bridgehead
over the Narew. The batrle raged for nearly ten days and when
the smoke clears d the Soviet 3..J Tank Corps~of the 2"" Tank
Army was encircled and severely mauled . The 8'h Guards T.1nk
Herbert Gille Corps of the 70,h Army suffered similarlosses at the hands of
the rwo SS Panzer divisions in an effort [0 break through to
their comrades. ll1e lead elemems of Operation Bagralion had
finally been haired. After six weeks of retreat the Germans could
finally their breath and rearm their bawired forces. ,
In meir dash to rhe Narew River, Marshal On 1 August 1944, the Polish Home Army. consisting of
Army began an assault across the numerous factions of partisan fighters. rose up against their
of Warsaw. The Germans moved overlords. Their hopes ofimmcdiate help from the Red Army
19. Panzerdivision to never materiali7.(:d as German counterattacks east of the
the bridgehead. Additional Soviet forces, Visrula River and Stalin's indifference [0 the British-hacked
I" Polish Army, were immediately pushed Polish government in exile left the Polish Home Army to
to expand . the bridgehead. Fierce fighting fend for itself.
~
~;~~r:~~;~:i;:~~;
hca.,vy August andHowever,
casualties. September,
meyandmanaged
the Soviets
ro
Gmeralfoldmarschn/i Model believed the uprising to be an
S5 matter and refused to send regular German army troops
t~ei r' vital. toehold on the west bank. ~
into the city. This task was left to the SS security forces'
Still funher 50mh along the Vistula River another bridgehead no[Orious units.
,
",developed. The Soviet First Ukrainian Front had been ham"
mering its way through Army Group North Ukraine si.nce Himmler's anti-guerilla expert. B:"~~:~::~::;;r;~i,
Kaminsky Brigade and the criminal
mid-July. By 29 July, they had crossed the Visrula near me
into Warsaw to ruthlessly crush me Polish freedom" fil;r"~'-':'~
town of Sandomierz. where the Germans counteranared.
The Soviet I" Polish Army tried ro tclieve' their
4. Pnnzerannee wim ten German divisions, three Hungarian were haired east o(Warsaw by German cO"","""""k',
divisions, sjx as~ault gun battalions and 501. Schwere
The uprising fesulted in abour 22,OOQ Polish Hc,m" 'A,';y :'
Pnnurnbui!ung1.vith the Ile'f Tiger II heavy ranks rushed to
casuaJti~s, between J 20.000 and 100.000 civilian d~ths,
eliminate the Sapdomierz. bridgehead. In bitter figh cing. the
and over 26,000 ,German casualries. Over 85% of [he dry
Red .ru"my heltF1nd ~cured 'lnother bridgehead acro~ Jhe
\vas destroyed. WarSaw ~rac[ically ccased ro exist.
Visru{a. With bc)th' sides n oW" totally exhausted, O'pe~tiQn ,
Bagrationpm"e. to an el).d in Octob~r 1944. ." ~ ...
German
Red Army had pushed the Germans and Romanians (Kishinev) and advance deeply into Romanian territory
of the southern Ukraine by March 1944. This put them towards the oil fields at Ploiqti and the Romanian capital
on the doorstep of Romania. The Soviets next moved into Bucharest.
Transnistria, a former Soviet area herween the Dnestr and
Bug Rivers, wh ich had been under Romanian administration FIRST IASI-CHISINAU OFFENSIVE
1941. The Soviets broke through the German positions As the Second Ukrainian Front moved through Transnisrria
in the nOrlh of Transnistria and rhe Romanians withdrew and into Basarabia they encountered only light resistance.
e~("'co" the Dnestr into Basarabia with little or no figl;tting. However, the Germans and Romanians had been preparing
In early April a new offensive was ordered by Suwkll (Soviet defences for the oncoming Soviet attack. By 5 Api;] the
high command) to break the Axis defences in Northern Second Ukrainian Front had crossed the Dnestr and Prut
Romania. The Second and Third Ukrainian Fronts were Rivers and were approaching the Axis defences. A shock
to attack and take the cities of I~i Uassy) and Chi~inau group consisting of the 27,h and 40,hArmies supporced by the
• Towns
Soviet Attacks
advanced on Targu Frumos (40km125 miles SECOND iASI'CHISINAU OFFENSIVE
" ""' 01' 1.,1 o n 8 April. The 52nd Army and the 6 th TankArmy
After [he setbacks of the April to June offensive rhe Soviets
advanced towards Ja~i in a diversionary attack designed to
set about planning a more coordi nated offensive on the
German armoured rese rves away from TIirgu Frumos.
German and Ro manian defences. This time borh the Second
However, the advance was slow due ro the water-Jogged
and Third Ukrainian Fronts would be utilised and rhe arrack
,,j<ro'=o caused by the rasplltilStJ (rainy season),
would develop as twO pincers wrapping around Ia~i and
Defending the area was the Romanian Fourth Army. Chi§inau. Another factor in favo ur of the second offensive
Two rine divisions of the 27 th Army assaulted Targu was the mdVemenr of much of the German armour north
Frumos, overwhelming the Romanian defences. However, cluri ng 'the Summer.
the Germans quickly responded and dispatched the
On 20 August the Second Ukrainian Front broke through
GroHdeutrchland Panurgrmadit rdivision to H.rgu Frumos ro
north of I~i and the Third Ukrainian Front anacked out
l ,'i{" ~F"U" the town. 48 hours afrer receiving the initial order of its bridgehead across the Dnestr near Tiraspo[ towards
April), the Grtmdrotschlalld division had sufceeded
Chi§inau. llle assault led to the double envelopment of
retaking the town and establishing a new defence. The
tile German Sixth Army and pans of the Eighth Army. The
27'" Army continued to anack in an aHempt to encircle the
German-Romanian from line collapsed wirh in twO days of
" .Germans until 12 April.
the start of the offensive, and Soviet 5'h Mechanised Corps
With the attack on TIrgu Frumos beaten back the Second (later 9"" Guards Mechanized Corps) was inserted as the
Ukrainian Front redirected the 2nd Tank Army tOward the main mobile group of the offensive. By 23 August, rhe main
village of Podu iJoaiei, 25km (15.5 miles) northwest of l~i. German armoured force, 13. Pllnurdivisioll, had dissolved
The 2nd Tank Army das hed with the Romanian I" Armoured and [he German Sixrh Army was encircled. The Soviet
Division just south of Podu lloaiei who were able to hold off spearheads had peneualed as deep as 100km (62 mile) imo
Sovier tanks for a day, giving time for German panzers the Axis posirions. The Red Army mobile forces CUt off the
,.,r:_•.. ,..• and drive the Soviets back. retreat of the German formations in[Q Hungary and only
small isolated groups managed to escape the encirclement.
second battle soon developed at Targu Frumos as the
6'hT:lnk.f;o rps of the 2nd Tank Army attempted ro dear the As a consequence of the complete success of the OF""H"'"'~?
~••~::;~,:~ from their posirions, A series of engagements and the Romanians quickly came to terms with the Union
I, actions were fougnr between 2 and 4 May. However, and joined the war effon on the side of the Allies and the
P[oi~ti oil fields were denied to the Germans. Soviet losses
I:~ ;~':~:;~:,;' 'Grossdt
resistance and determined counterattacks by the
utscbland, Division and 24. Pilnu rdivision were relatively [ow considering the size of the operation,
held off-the Red Army aHacks. During the battle, Hasso .:0n while the twO German armies suffered about 200,000
,
, commander' of rhe Grossdtutschumd Division, casualties berween them .
the new Soviet IS-2 heavy rank, 'It was a
The Red Army was rhen able to advance into Yugoslavia
to find thar, :l[rhough my;;rigers began ro hit them at
forcing the rapid withdrawal of the German forces in Greece,
range of 3,000 metres, our shells bounced off, and did nor
Albania and Yugoslavia to avoid being Cut off. Ir R enrually
I~,y"n"""'h,'m until we had dosed to half thar distan,ce.' led ro the capture of Belgrade on 20 October and opened the
r~~~~~~~i:~; ~~~positions
second battle offirgu Frumos, the Ger~ans way for an assault on Hungary.
esrablished during the firs t barde.
. f~f' Romania and Hungary, the 6'h G uards During the Battle of Debrecen the 9'h Guards Mechanised
one of the key armoured formations of the Corps played a secondary role to [he Pliev Cavalry Mechanised
~<ond ~ yrh" n",'" Front. It included the yh Mechanised Group, which acted as [he exploitarion force probing ahead
(I~tq 9'" Guards Mechanised Corps) and Sth Guards of the main forces. During the bartle, [he corps auacked
Nagyvarad on 2 October to draw artemion away from the
P[iev Group.
"",m .••·,,"
,
GllardsTank Army was in almost continuous combat
the Winier of, 1943 ro the Spring 1944. It rook>' part in After the Germans had been pushed back to the Tisza R.i~er
the encirclc:nent of Germans forces during operations across beyond Debrecen at the end of October the 9'h 'GuardS'
the O nestr River. Mechanised Gorps finally got to rest and refit. Th-ty"ph,,",;
As the mobile group of the SecQnd Ukrainian Front It t~ok rheir old 75mm gun Emcha tanks with n';~:6~~;~:IT,,~:':
ra nks (M4A2 Sherman - pronounced, Em-cha
part III [he ll4i-ChJ~inau Operation that knocked Rqrnama
looks like a R,,llssian letter U-cha).
out of the Axis before heading to the frontiers of Hting.ary.
For its part in the crossing of the Dnestr rhe 5'b Mecl-knlsed They were pushed back into action in december [cadin!
Corps qecame the yh DnesrrovrkiklJ Mechanised Corps. the way during the nonhern thrust towards Budapest and
, the Danube. 1hey attacked through tht hills and mbuhrai~s ·
The corps was nono ured with the Guards tirle Jll Seprember
. . ' d. 1-.. to the., north of Budapesr, raking [o wn afrer ~own. The, lead
1944 fo r Its parr In the defeat of RomanIa a11 Jr became t'Je I f h 6,h G rd T: k A · To
9'h Gu,ards>Mechaniscii Corps, the [ast Mechanised Cor~ to , ~menrs 0 ~ e ' f"~a d s an ;~yOrner u~ with 1S' TQJlk
1>< ,o,honoured sluring ~he.wa;. rps non e;lSt 0 u apest on· ecem er to complete-
, the·encirclement of rhe city.'
I " . ./
cowplcre victory of the Red Army over the Romanians The Axis troops held on to Debrean until 20 October.
Germans following the I~i-Chi~inau offensive left Red Army troops dashed with Germans and Hungarians
w:ly open for the Soviets to immediately move on in heavy street-fighting, while mobile trOOps by-passed the
~ ]'l "".""" Hung-dry became an important target for the city. The Soviet Pliev Cavalry-Mechanised Group thrust
Soviets to its status as the Germans' laSt ally and as an past Debrecen into the rear of the German Eighth Army
important supplier of oi\. While Red Army forces marched and captured the town of Nyfregyhaza on 22 October. The
across Romania the Hungarians had launched an offensive Germabs counterattacked on 23 October with armoured
lnto Romanian Transylvania in a vain attempt to seize the forces and from the norrhwest with mixed armour and
C" p,uh'", Mountain passes before the Soviets. However, infantry. The German thrust threatened to CUt off the mobile
.", ~om''' ' ''" troops were able to slow them enough to allow force and they were forced to withdraw towards Debrecen.
rapidly movi ng Soviet forces to arrive in Transylvania and Nyiregyhiza was recaptured on 29 October. The Germans
rhe arrack to the Germans and Hungarians. By October had bought enough time for their troops to withdraw,across
the Hungarians were pushed out of Transylvania and were the Tina. The Red Army's next target was the Hungarbn
., retiring into Hungary. capita!, Budapest.
The Red Army launched a massive offensive on 6 October
aimed towards the Hungarian Ciry of Debrecen . In just TO BUDAPEST
three days, despite German counterattacks, Soviet forces had Further south along the Tisza a Soviet offensive was launched
advanced as much as 50 miles (80 km) in some sectors. on 29 October against the Hungarian Third Army. Newly
formed and pardy trained the Hungarians quickly broke
.'I'i;J'D'(At~<;E ON THE T ISZA RIVER before rhe Soviet onslaught and Kecskemer was captured bn
31 Ocmber opening up a southern approach m Budapest.
Getman and Hungarian forces on the: TUB the Soviets
'pl,i ~,,,,,1 ~o Cut them off in eastern Hungary before they Remembering the: near desrrucrion of rhe Pliev C,,,],,y-T
,
cross the'Tisza River. The Soviets launched attacks on Mechanised Group at Nyiregyhaza, the Soviets made
October ~o cut-off the withdrawing German Eighth Army their spearheads were not overexposed and protected
Hungarian Fits[ and· Second Armies. Fighting centred flanks from potential German counteranacks .
....
. n the:'city
. . . .. . and along the River.
· fn the north, bridgeheads were eSlablisned across the T isza STORMING BUDAPEST
and by early November the Soviet 7'h G uards Army had
Budapest was defe nded by 33,000 German and 37,000
taken Cegled and advanced to wirhin iO miles (16 km)
Hungarian trOOps. The city straddled the Danube River,
of Budapes t. The Soviets began to prepare for an offensive
with the hilly suburbs of Buda on the western side and Pest
.-a much broader front in early November. In itially the
occupying the eastern bank.
i!1;r::~:" of the figh.t ing was carried by the Second Ukrain ian
, bui they were joi ~ed from the south by the '1?i rd Through December the Soviets made many attempts to
Ukrainian From, which had taken Belgrade in Yugoslavia'On penetrate into the city. They selected sectors held by the '
19 OctOber. The Second' Ukrainian From, which included Hungarians because Germany's allies tended to be less well
, I
Rom;inians, was east lm d no rtheast of Budapest. equipped . However, Hungarian and German counterattacks
threw back many of the Soviet thrus ts.
7 November the Third I.Jkrainian From began its
on the H ungarian capital and by 8 December, in They had formed a tight ring arou nd the city by 10 December
deterio rating weather conditions, they were in slriking and began.. to pound it with heavy artillery. The Soviets
,*t<!;'c"", 01' ",.k, Balaton-Lake Velence line. . launched a full scale assault on the city on 25 December, bm
defenders fie rcely fo ught for each inch of ground .
Ukrainian Front launched a major offensive on
~§i1W'","R,,;"" n"~," ,"o>nl<" than expected, forci~g Gains were made on 28 December and on 30 December Red
fi ght for every inch of ground. They 'finally Army units broke through Hungarian lO th Infantry D ivision
M;Skbli' on 4 Deceml1er. The Second Ukrainian Front lines near Garnor. The Soviets and Romanians pressed the
pushed intd the Marra Hills, northeast of Budapest. defe nces and by 31 December they had German HOOpS
5 ; D~e mbe r, the Pliev Cavalry-Mechanised Group, pushed back to within half a mile of the Danube.
G uard; Tank Army, and 7,h Guards Army attacked in
Between 31 December and 15 January the Red Army made
HarVari sector, at the junction of the German Sixth a series of concerted attempts to throw the Axis forces OUt of
Eightht\Imies, The area, defended by three German Pest. Massive artillery barrages were unleashed followed by
~;, ;, ; " n '" was hit by over 500 Soviet tanks and assault guns infantry assaults. Each time the Germans and Hungari~ s
the fi rst day. The Soviets punched through the frllntlines were forced to shorten their lines, decreasing the defensive
and d rove ~rm our through the gaps. The advance halted in pocker. Axis Forces in Pest withdrew across the Da~ube
the southwest outskirts of Budapest on 8 December. The 6tl! Buda on 16 January.
I' Guards Tank Army the n thrust north of Budapest and into
the Barzsonyi H ills on II December. Fighting continued with savagery and on 5 Fdo,"",".
Soviets rook their first hill in the west of Budai
On 20 December the 6 th Guards Tank Army crushed the tightening their hold on the dec reasing po~ke[. The end ·
German 357. Infonuridivision and sped south oUl:},f the very near.
Barzsanyi Hills past lpolysag. The Third Ukrainian Fro m
attacked nort~ on both sides of Lake Velence. The jaws of ll1e Germans and Hungarians made a breakout on IDO'''g'" :,1
the trap closed on 24 Decel1;lber. The 18'" Tank Corps of the of 11 February,
, bm it was quickly spotted , by
Th ird Ukrain ian Fro m and the vanguards of me 6,h Guards observers and the lead elements were slaughtered under
Tank Army of~th.e. S"econ'd Ukrai nian Front linked uE. at heavy artillery fire . .A second wave did Htde better. Variolls
Esz(ergom and Budapest Was enci rcled, groups made it our in small numbers, but the majority were
, f· '
r ,
"""" ' ::: raken prisoner. On 13 February rhe Soviets
tOo k the remaining defenders' surrender.
Lods experience and high initiative gave him a good feel for
any Perdovoye Otryad (page 104) or [he batdefield, the enemy's plans and how to deploy against
Tankovy Batalon (page 138) and replaces them. It also him the confidence to act
or M4 76mm tank,in an Inomarochnikiy
for an additional +80 points. T/g Hen and Chicks speciaL rukdoes not apply to LoZi/. The
mt of his bwmaroclmikiy Tankovy Company stili obey tbe
IhI COMMAND , Hm and Chicks speciaL rule, but the plnyrr may choose to
Loza was often left in charge of (he battalion during me ignore movemelll by LOM. Ifthey do not, then the Hm and
fighting in Hungary. Chicks special mle applies as normal.
HEADQUARTERS
PODPOlKOVNIK
M4 (M1A2 SIH~rm.lIl)
Company Command
M4 ""6111111 (MiA2 Slu:rman) lank
OPTIONS
• Arm M4 or M4 76mm tank wim .50 cal AA MG for
+5 points.
• Mown a SMG Tank Escon on the Company
Command tank for + 10 points.
Many Guards units have (he honour of being armed with and ~Il GVllrdeyskiy Mechlmizirovanniy Koprus both
Inomllrodmikiy (foreign - pronounced, in-o-ma-roch-nik-iy) their tank brigades to plough through the broken d:'I:::;~~
tanks, the 3JIl Gvardeyskiy MeciJanizirovllnniy Korpus the Germans, destroyed by the ini dal shock assaultS
(3',) Guards Mechanised Corps) and the ~Il GvardryskiJ the way for the mechanised brigades ro follow.
MrchllnizirovanniJ Koprus (9,b Guards Mechanised Corps)
As a battalion commander of a tankovy batawn it is your
among them. After months of imensive training we Emcha
ro drive deep behind the enemy lines and take key oh;",,~
tankers (Lend-lease M4 Sherman tank - pronounced, Em-
rives before the fascistS can reorgan ise thei r defences. ~
cha, because a 4 looks like the Russian letter 4 -cha) are ready
your EmciJll ranks to smash enemy positions once you
to play our part in crushing the fascist dogs. A new offensive is
close, with fire suppOrt provided by the Vauntina (L""I.I'4<
under way and the 3JIl Gvardeyskiy Mechanizirovllnniy Korpus
British Valemine rank) of rhe light tankovy company,
tank guns, assault guns and artillery. Lead yo ur forces with
decoy rank or Spetsnllz platoon and foo l (he gullible
into letting you past their first line of defences;
or all M4 or M4 76mm tanks with .50 cal
Dimensions Perfonnance
Weight: 68,119IW30,900kg Max level road 5p«d: 33mphl53km1h
length: 21 ' 10·' 6.68m Min turning diameter: 24' 1 I "17.6m
Width, 9' 10· /3m
Trench crossing: 116"/2.9? 111 I~;;J~~
Height: 8'12.4 5m Maximum vertical obstacle: 28"/71cm
Maximum fording depth: 54"/ 1.37m
Armour & Armame.nt Maximum climbing grade: 39%
Designatio n: T·34 obr 1942 Armour: 20-45mm
Hull con.$lruction: Wdded Main Gun: 76.2mm F-34 ran k gun Crew: Four
Engine: Diesel 12.0'1. modd V-2, Armour Penetration: Commande.r/gunner in turret
500hp 80mm:l.T 200 m, 58mm at !OOO m Loader in m rret
Secondary Armll.m~nt: D rive r in left hu ll fro nr..
2" 7.62mm DT machine guns Hull machine-gunn er in ri~ht hull '."u..a
Reliable Valmtilltl tanks come from our Olher ally, the British.
The Stour workers of British industry have built a sturdy and
dependable light tank. It is not as fast as our superior Soviet
machines, but they do have good armour and a good gun for
destroying fascist tanks.
However, it has no machine-gun and we must use it with
.....
Mark III (Valentine Villi
TANKOVY PLATOON
Mark III (Valentine Villi
TANKOVY PLATOON
~..~~~~~~~c~o~mr~ad;e;S;':Le~
With our own
-<---~~ rheGun
t us compare the American Emcha.
T-34/76 . Height
Some Emcha tankers have reported the She.rma.n
unga.tnJy due to its high centre of graVity.
The gun of the American SheI'DlB.n and our T-34/76 Reme.m ber comrades, if driving Sideways along a
~ are eqU8.lJy gOOd against soft:. targets. Enemy slope it can sometimes roll over. The T-34 is not
infantry and guns tremble before them. However, as tall, With a lower centre of gravity, and is less
the American 75mmM3 gun, liketheBrit1sh6 pdrin likely to roll Sideways on steep slopes.
the Valentine, is superior aga.inst armoured targets.
Turning
A tribute to the American worker I However, It does
not compare to the 86mm in the new T.34/85. The American Emcha turns by uSing both
differentials, and can only turn &I'Ollild by moving
Reliability
forward or backwards and holding one track
Unlike our workers who must work With the threat stationary. On the other hand our T-34 has a
of the fasCists at their door, the American workers Superior neutral steel' capabWty. Simply put, the
take their time to build their' tanks. Because of driver can cause one track to go forward and the
this the Emcha is reliable and has few mechanical other backward turning the tank &rollild on Its
breakdowns. axis.
In the Snow _
Climbing
The 6-speed gearbox of the Emcha gives It great During recent icy cond1tions the EmcM has had
Climbing abWties. The geats are relatively close less grtp than the T-34 due to its rubber track
together, allowing it to Climb a grad1ent of up to Pads, but clever field improvisa.tion has been
60%. In comparison the Simple 4-speed gearbox used. Cleats ha.ve been fitted in the field, which
of the T-34 was built for speed; It doesn't handle qUlckl,y reSolved this problem. American factory
steep slopes well. representatives have been informed.
ARTILLERY
~l\A
Artillery Batta!lon t
MOTIVATION AND SKILL
77;( mon reliable find txperirnced sIren fighters are chosen to form special Shrurmovye
Groups (storm or msault grollpS) to take m emy positions during city fighting. 7hry arr thm
rdnforced by skilled speda/im from around the division such sappeN, gunnuT and mortar
ttams. A SlJtllrmollye Bataioll is mud Fearless Trained .
HEADQUARTERS
--
PODPOLKOVNIK
PODPOLKOVNIK
I
I
.,...~)
Command
1t
SMG team
.,...U~ .,...U~
SMG leam SMG team
SMG team
SMG leam
SMG team
•
Storm team
Storm team
Storm team
~
Storm team
•
o o
ASSAULT GROUP EINF R EMENT R
oMG uam, • 76mm obr 1927 glln, or
• .,...~)~ .,...~)~
o PTRD anti-fIlnk rifle team, • Heavy Glln teams (ue
below).
o Maksim HMG team, SMG leam SMG team Storm team
Each Shturmoyve Group cannot have more thm four Storm
!Cams oftlu same type. Storm learn
~
Storm team
~
Storm team Storm team
Up 10 four Heavy Gun uams can be takrn. There can be lip RESERVE GROUP
to two tach of the fliiowing teams. SHTURMOVYE GROUP
76mm 21S-3 ami-fIlllk gun, or
A ShtumlOvye Group is III/usual in that Ihe composition
122mm ohr 1938 assault howitzer and SfIlli"m tractor. of the company can challge from game to game. You ml/st
choose the composition ofyour SlOrm Group for each gaml'
Each Henvy Glln repulCes two Storm teams.
bl'gins.
actions of the Shturmovye Group (storm or assaulr
w oup) are shorr, fast and daring. The commander prepares A Shtunnovye Grollp IIUS the Smoke Pots special rule on
;:8 his Shturmovye Group for the mission at hand, tailoring the
-,:t:~':~:;.~; and reserve groups to suit what is needed
the enemy and take the objective .
to
page 161.
••
II
II -
II
• • II•
!~ J!
i 10 pOlllts :
190 p01rl1s i
I)) POIIIIs I
M)~ M)~
Add Komissar team for +15 poinu. Rille/MG team Rifle/MG team
• Add Maksim HMG tam &:tr +25 points.
• Replace all Rifle/MG tams whit SMG teams in one
M)~. ~~., ~~.,
Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rille/MG team
Rifle Platoon at no c:ost.
~)~.~~., ~)~. ~~.,
While the battalion's SIJlurmovyr Groups lead the artack on Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG learn Rif le/MG team Rifle/MG team
the enemy positions the rest of the Smiki (riAemen) follow
behind as the reserve and ro mop up isolated pockets of
M)~. ~~., ~~.,
Rifle/MG learn Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team
resistance .
. The Strefkovy Companies retain all their standard weapons.
Their Mosin Nagant riAes, D P lighr machine-gun and
Maksim heavy machine-guns are ideal for me reserve ~~., ~~.,
where they can provide covering fire for the ~"ul'ing I Rille/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team
have moved on to their next, the Smikovy Company moves I~=~;;;;;;;~ RiFlE PLATOON
forward to take over the captu red ground and prepare [0
defe nd agai nst counterattacks.
LEYTNANT
--
Flame-thrower team
1111
Flame-thrower team
un 1111
1ft
Command Rifle team
PT-34 Idnks equipped with mine rollers use tilt Mbu Flails
and Rollm rule. found on page 226 of tiu rulchook.
Whrn you deploy your force at tlu $lart of II game, YOIl PT·34
may elect to remove the mine ToluN from any or ali a/your MINE ROLLER PLATOON
PT-34 tanh corll/erfing them into ]:34 obr 1942 tanks. MINE ROLLER TANK COMPANY
- --- - -
, OT~34/85 and the KV~8s Aame tanks advance on FLAME TANK PLATOON
and trench lines, spew fire, panic the enemy into FLAME-TANK COMPANY
their defences, {hen machine~gun them down and
them beneath {heir cold steel uacks. F"lme~ tank Rrgimmu led attacks against rig Grrman
fortifications. Thry aff rdtrd as Con6dent Trained.
00"-""'" are perfect fOr demoralising [he enemy as they
fl ames into !.heir fo rtifications . Strelkovy and sub~
,fu"d,io" -gun companies rush in to desuoy whatever is left!
Pioneer
Rifle team
SAPPER COMPANY
LEYTNANT
-u-u
Flame-thrower learn
-uu
Flame-thrower team
-Utt -UU
Flam(-throw~r Platoons must make Combat Attachmmts
companies with all ofthrir srctions if tiuy are
10 following
Combat or Weapons Companies in your forer:
Smikovy Companies
-U-U
Flame-thrower team
tt-U
Flame-thrower team
Submachine-gun Companies
Udarny Stre1kovy Companies
-u-u tt-U
Shock Submachine-gun Companies
,.,U~ ,.,U~
SMG team SMG team
,.,~"'~
SMG team
~"'~t
SMG learn
,.,~"'~
SMG learn
~"'~t
team SMG
,.,~U
SMG team
~"'~t
SMG team
,.,~U
SMG team
~"'~t
SMG team
.~"'t
SMG team ~"'~t
team SMG
.~"'t
SMGteam
~"'~t
team SMG
infamous Order 227-Nol One Step Back-formed
~'<fo.iy' R,ti or Penal Companies in each Army. These we re
as maul! troops and for risky tasks like mine-clearing
fire where they could redeem themselves with thei r
KAPITAN
KAPITAN
Ml
Command Rifle team
HQ SECTION
... ...
.lI.~U,
Anti-tank gun
[,
.lI.~J\
Anti-tank gun
[,
Trllck
ANTI TANK PLATOON
.w..~
Anti-tank gun
Tr
ANTI TANK PLATOON
c.
TANK DESTRUCTION COMPANY
Truck •? •
HQ SECTION
Truck
•?
• Truck
- ~\)!
r #'4.-."-
76mm 21$·3 field gun
- "'~u.u.
76mm ZIS-31ield gun
- ~~u. ~~u.
76mm 21S-3 field gun 76mm 21$·3 field gun
~~:;:,:,~~::~::::
:II
+15 points.
anti-tank rifle reams to Howitzer Platoons
+10 points per team.
honc-drawn horse-drawn limbers and -~~"
76mm ZIS-3 field gun
- ~~u.u.
76mm 21S·3 field gun
4\" ""'"'Y things in the Red Army, the artillery lacks suhrlery.
",;k~;
other side of rhe equation, me 'Red God Of War'
up for chis in sheer weight offire.
- -c ..".~
P"A&U-
76mm ZIS-J fie ld gun
- ~~u.u.
76mm 21$·3 field gun
an entire anillery battalion firing on a target, the effect
• ;~~:;:;:gprediCrable, the rapid end of hostile activiry and rhe
II survivors waiting to be mopped up by the in&ntry.
~1l1l.1I. ~IIJlll.
122mm obr 1938 gun 122mm obr 1938 gun
....
HOWITZER BATIERY
PODPOlKOVNIK
H 1';1111111 uhr PH ~
~~
4 I ';lmrn (lhr 194 ~
Howitzer
~~
H 111rnm r\ 19 ~6() pmnl'
I, 112111m A · 19 11tl pmnls
Howitzer Howitzer
~~ ~~
OPTIONS
• Add Observer Rifle team fOr +15 poinu.
• Add Truck and St:aIineIs traaon for +S points per Howitzer Howitzer
~~ ~~
battery.
Howitzer
You may not jirld a Rrs(7vr Artillery Baffalion in a Sovin
[orer Imlm you art jielding an Artiliery Battalion with
at It!llSt four 122mm obr 1938 howit=rs and at ledIt as
many gum in total, or a Artillrry Group or MOlostrrikovy
Artiliay Battalion with at It!ast four 76mm Z15-3 firld
and at Irast as many guns inlotal.
U
Command Observer
Rifle team Rifle team
~ ~
Rocket Mortar Btltttdioll is mud Fearless
,a.lr ,a.lr
SUPER HEAVY ROCKETS
A Guards Rocket Mortar Ballalion equipped with BM-
31-12 Karyusha rockel launchers uses fhe Super Heavy
Rockets special rule.
At the flart of the: game, piau a Frill Saivo marker with a
Guards Rockel Mortar Smrlll/ion equipped with BM-3}- MOBILE ROCKET LAUNCHERS
}2 Katyllshtl rock" Immchers. Remove this marker tlftrr Guards rocker monar bana!ions used 'shoot n' scoot'
jiring tin Artillery Bomhtlrdmem. taeries like their German coumcrpans.
!fa battalion with BM-3}·/2 Katyusha rockn launchers A Guards Rockn MOrlar Batla/ion that jired may wke a
does 1Iot have a Full Sa/llo marker whfll it jirYS all Artillery Skill ust in the: Assault Step instead of taking part in an
Bombardment, roll a Ski" Test for each Rocket Launcher Assault:
able 10 jiu in the Bombardment. Only those that pass the
. !f it passes tJu Skilt ust, remOlle aIL Smoke Trail marken
SkilL Uff can jire as part ofthe Bombtlrdm(llt.
from alt Rocket Launcher team, in the battalion.
Place a Full Salvo marke:roll a battalion with SM·3}·12
· Or/Jerwiu, tbry au too slow in gettillg away. le{lIIillg them
Kntyusha rockn launchen fll the end of any shOOlillg Step
vuj,umblt to counterbtlttery artillery fire wing the Fire In
in which e//fry Rocket Launcher ill the platoon was able 10
the Sky rult on page 138 ofthe ru/ebook.
fire 1111 Artillery Bombardmem, but nOlle did so.
,4li
Command Rifle team
The hard work of the crews of the 37mm obr 1939 ami-
aircraft guns goes a long way rowards victory.
They keep the German Luftwaffi and the Royal Hungarian
Air Force at bay, allowing [he troops on the ground to focus
on winning the battle withom the worry of being bombed .
37mm abr 1939 gun 37mm obr 1939 gun
~u.
.... ....
37mm obr 1939 gun 37mm abr 1939 gun
LEYTENANT
7
4.
4.
Co-:lXMG,
Standard Tank 6
2
,
9 3.
Co-ax MG. Hull MG, Fas, tank, Umit"":! vision. Wide-tracks.
32"/SOcm
Siandard Tank 7 , Co-ax MG, Hull MG .
3rlsOcm
Slandard Tank
32"ISOcm
2
7
2
,
12
12
3.
Slow Tank
24"16Ocm ,
7 6
7
2
4.
Co-ax MG, Unrelia ble.
Slow Tank 7
2
6
,.
2 Co-.:vc MG, Unreliable.
24"/6&",
Standard Tank
24-/6Orm
, 5
J
4.
Co-ax MG, Cupola MG.
3 7
32"ISOcm 2 10 3. Hull mOlmted
Sland"dTank 6 4 Co-ax MG, Hull MG.
32"/SOrlll 2 10 3.
Siandard Tank 7 4 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Protecled Ammo_
32"ISOcm 2 12 3.
D GERMAN TANKS
Standard Tank 6 3 Co-ax MG, Hull MG. ['rotecl....:! ammo, Schiinro, Unrdiabk
32"/SOrm II 3.
Standard Tank 7 3 Hull MG, ProtectM ammo, Schiiru:n, Unreliable.
32"/SOnn 1 II 3. H"U moullfrd.
Slow Tank , 8 1 Co-ax MG, HIIII MG, I'rme(;tw ammo, Wide lrach,
Unreliable.
40"1J0Qr", 13 3. Slow mw(.u.
Standard Tan k
32"/SOrm
10 ,
14
• ~:ir
ENGINEERING TANKS
OT-34 Srandml Tank , 5 Co-ax MG, nSl tank. Limited vision. Wide-tl'llcks.
76mm F-34 gun
ATO-42 jiamt-throwrr
32 "/8fkm
4"lJ(km 2
/ 9
,
3.
Ffttmt-Ihrowrr, Hull-mqunud.
OT-34/85 obr 1943 Sland2rd Tank 7 5 Co-ax MG, Limitoo vision.
85mm D-5T gun 32 "/8Ocm / /2 3.
AT0-42 fozmr-lhrown-
ICY-8s
rllOrm
Standard Tank
2
8
, 6
2
Flamt-Ihrown; Hull-maunud
Hull MG, Turret-rear MG, Wide-tracks.
ATO-42jlml1t"rhrowrr 5. Flamr-lb,ol«7.
45mm ob, J938gun
4"//(km
24"/6lkm
3
2 7 ,.
Standard Tank 7 5 Co-all MG, Mine roller, Limited vision.
16mm F-34 gun 32"/8Ocm 2 9 3.
TANK KILLERS
SU-57 Half-tracked 1 1 0
M157mmgun 24 "/6fkm 3 10 4. Hul! moun/rd, Voflq fiTt.
M-IO Standard Tank 4 2 0 .50 cal AA MG.
M73ingun 3rJ8Ocm 2 12 3. Slow rrllWfSt, Cal kith
SU-85 Standard Tank 5 5
85mm D-5Sgun 32"/8Ocm 2 12 3. Hull mounud. Car kilfa.
SU-85M Slow Tank 9 5 Overloaded.
85mm D-5SXUrl 32"/8Ocm 2 12 3. Hull mounud. Calti/In.
Slow Tank 9 5 Overloaded.
40 "IJOOcm /6 Hull moumd, Cal kith
lOOmmD-1OSgun /
"
ASSAULT GUNS
$U-76M Standard T~nk , 1 0 Wide-cracks.
76mm ZlS-3 gun 32"18fkm 2 9 3. Hull mc"nud. VofWy fin"
SU-!22 S!~J1dard T~rJk 5 5
122mm flbr 1938 howitur 24"/6Orm 2 10 2. Hnl1kthrougb gUll, Hull moulIIrd. Volley fif(.
SU-152 Slow Tank 7 6 2
152mm ML-2OS gun 32"18Ocm /3 /. Bunfur bUSU1; Hull ml1rmlrd, Volky ftrt.
Slow Tank 9 7 2
122mm D-25Sgun 32"/8Ocm /5 Brtaltthrough gun, Hull mo"nrrJ. l1;/ky fin.
I$U-152 Slow Tank
/
9 7
"
2
152mmML-2OSgun 32"/8On" / /3 /. Bu,,/ur busln; Hull mounltd. Vollty fir,.
ARMOURED CARS
J~P 0 0 0 AA MG, Reece.
Willi PTRD IUlfi-fl",k riJIt 16"f4Or:m 2 5 5. Hufi mou1llrJ.
MOTORCYCLE RECONNAISSANCE
Motorcycle MG team J~P Motorcycle rcconnaisunce, Dismount as MG learn.
MG 16"/4fkm 3 2 6 Hull moul/ltd, Vrhicb MG.
Motorcycle KomiS$af learn J~P MOIorcyde ruonnaissance,
MG rllOcm 6 Hull maul/ud.
ROCKET LAUNCHERS
BM-13-16 Katyusha Wheeled Mobile Rocke! Launcher.
BM-/3-J6 roclmi4unckr 64"Il6Ocm 2 4. Rock" /"'mchn
BM-3I-lZ K"tyulha Wheeled /l.Jobilc Rocket Launcher.
BM·3J·J2 r(ldutlaunth~r 48"112Ocm 3 /. R(Jdm launrlxr, Sup" Hia", RDrkm.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT VEHICLES
DShK AA truck Wheeled
DShKAAgun 16"J4Or", 4 4 5. Anti.aircraft. Porta.
15U MI7 MGMC(quad 50 cal) Halr·tracked 1 0 0
M45 quad .50 (at gun 16"/4Ocm 6 4 5. Anti.aircraft·
CAVALRY MACHINE-GUNS
Wagon
J6"/4Ocm 6 2 6 Hull mountrd, POTta.
®'iIi.
rifl~
Mobiliay
M~n-p~,kro
Rwg<
16"/4Ocm
ROF
2 , NOles
Tank Assault 3. Volley fir(.
M~n-~,kM 24"/6Ocm 6 2 "6 ROF 3 wh~n pinnM down or moving.
M~n-~ 24"/6Ocm Minumum nn~ S"/2Ocm. Volley fire.
40"/ IOOcm
2 2
,
2 "6
monar Light 56"/ 14Ocm
16"/4Ocm ,, " Gun shield. Voney fire.
Light
64"/16Ocm
2
"6
assault howilZCt Ho.,
Man-pKhd
Immobil~
32"/SOcm
16"/4Ocm
24"/6Ocm
•
•
1 7
•
6 .."
2,
",
Bunhr buster, Gun shield, Volley fire.
Anti-aircnft, Turmable.
Ami-aircraft. Tumtabl(.
gu"
Immobile
Light
Light
MMium
32"/SOcm
24"/6Ocm
24"/60cm
32"/SOcm
,
,
,
2 12
7
8
11
..,
,
,
HeaY)' anti·aircnfl. Turntable.
Gun shield, Voney fire .
Gu n shirld, VolJry fire .
Gun shield, Voney fire.
Gun shidd, Volley fire.
anti-nnk gun MMium
Immobile
32"/8Ocm
40"/IOOcm
2 9
16 "2, Gun shield, Volley fire.
field gun
Firing bom~rdmenl5
MMium 32"/8Ocm
SO"'200cm
2 9
, "6
Gun shield, Volley fitt.
1938 howinet Immobile 24"/6(km 7 2, Breakthrough gun, Gun shield, Volley fi re.
80"I200cm
• "2, Breakthrough gun. Gun shield, VoU.,. fire.
Immobile 32"/8Ocm
96"124Ocm "• "
Immobile 24"/6Ocm
SO"/200cm ,
10 I,
2,
Bunker buster, Gun dlield. VolI.,. fitt.
",
32"/8Ocm I, Bunker buster, Gun shield. Volley fire.
96"/24Ocm 2,
INFANTRY TEAMS
Rw•• ROF Anti-tank Finpower Wcaporu and NOlu
16"/4Ocm 2 6
16"/4Ocm
16"/4Ocm ,,
2 2
2
6
6
4"/lOcm
16"/4Ocm
2
.,,.
6 Full ROF wh(n moving.
un fir.. ov~r fri(ndly learns.
T,mk Auauh 6. F.msmika.
4"' IOcm 12
learn 4"IIOcm
4"1I0cm
• 6
6
Flame-thrower.
Armour
MobililY Fronl Side Top Equipm~nt and NOles
~",pon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower
Jeep
Ford GPA amphibious jeep J~P Amphibious
ZIS-5 3-lOn, ZIS-6 4-too, Dodge -l4-100. or
Studebekker 2!1Hon truck Wheeled
Horse-dtawn wagon Wagon
TRACTORS
M2 or M3 half-tracks Half-trncked 0 0 Optional l'assenger-fired
M3Al armoured mClor J~P 0 0 Optional I'am:nger-fired
Swinet! Slow Tank
Hor~-dtawn limber Wagon
ARMOURED TRANSPORTERS
M3Al armoured transporter Jeep 0 0 Passenger-fired AA MG.
Turretlcss BA-IOM armoured tf:lll,pof{er J~P 0 0 Passenger-fired Hull MG.
Captured Sd Kh 250 or 251 h"J(.lrack Half-tracked 0 0 Pass.:nger-fired Hull MG.
Half-tracked
J6~/4Ocm
0
2
0
4 ,.
0 Passenger-fired Hull MG.
Hull-mounud
DOCTRINE
DECOY
medium self-propelled guns wefe used as long-range Forward elements of the Soviet forces use captured
weapons to support ranks and infanrry against menr and special ist troops in captured uniforms ro
tanks. Often their rate of fire was slow, but their Germans. lllcsc (roops lead the advance inm the German
>~!io"",ywas good when the crew took their time to line-up posllions and rely on the enemy not immediately idcnrifying '
ruem to penerrarc through the lines. They then create havoc
to disrupt the defence before (he main force hits.
MID, SU-85, SV-B5M, and SU- lOO asstluh guns do nrH
Wt tht Volley Fire special rult. Instead, MIO, SU-85, A Decoy Platoon must be identified brforr the Wfflly
SU-85M, and 5U- IOO assault guns tbat did nor mOlle ill can shoot at it or assault it. These units start tbe game
thr Movement Sttp nUl) r(-I"011 fo&d roils To Hit when unidwtified.
shooting ti}(ir main g ll ns at platoons wit/} ali uams more
than 16"!4ocm away. If a Decoy Platoon shoots or lauflchrs an assault,
immediately identified by all enemy platoons.
In order to identifj a Decoy Platoon, an enemy platoon must
attempt to shoot at it or uteet it as the target for ilIl artil-
lery bombardment. Brfort rolling to hit with tlu shooting
platoon, roll a Skill TiS! for the platoon.
If they pass the Skill Ttst,
they identify t/u Soviet platoon or
company (lnd shoot al it as normal The Soviet unit is now
identified to all owny platoons.
if they foil,
they do lIot idwtifj the ullit, but may shoot at
other SOViN IInits instead.
Aircraft cannot choose all unidemi/ied team as the target of
all air strike.
Enemy rtcolmaisJallu teams automatically itkmifj a Decoy
Platooll if they are withill 8 ~/20cm whell they attempt to
shoot at them.
Sometimes your Decoy teams will befacillg enemy other tban
the Germans. On theu occasions the Decoy Platoon r((aim
alilhe Decoy SpeciaL Rules as it is assumed that Soviets are
using their new enemy's captured whir/ts. Howevt " you Cilll
stili model , and the characteristia
eqllipmem.
SHTURMOVYE AND SAPPER A t(dm with Sapper Body AnnO/a rolls II die when hit
during an AJSflU/t.
SMOKE POTS
If they score a 6, they are unharmed, bur srili count as hit
Assault Groups and Engineer-Sappers used smoke potS and for the purpom of requiring II Motivation Test to Carry on
smoke grenades to mask their assaults against enemy strong- with the Assault or Fight Back.
points. Special teams within each platoon bravely placed the
smoke screen for their advancing comrades. roll (lny other score, they are Dmroyrd and removed
the tabk as usual.
A platoon (SoIJia company) with Smoke Pot! may designate
Rifle, Rifle/MG, MG or SMG learns as Smoke Por teams to
FAUSTNIKA
Iny smokefor IlII asmu!t. A Smoke Pot t(l1m cannOI shoot in
the Shooting Slrp nor assault in the ASiflU/t Step, but acts as During Operation Bagration many thousands of
ifgiving Covering Fire during t/g Atsauit Sup. Pnnutjnuslami-tank launchers were captured .
[Q use in aggressive ami-bunker tanies by
When the platoon (Souin company) launc/us its IIJsauit, Emire teams were equipped with multiple
ro1l a SkilL ust for tach Smoke Pot uam within 4"/1 Ocm of tank launchers and transformed into fouJtnika teams.
a platoon bdllgllJJallfud. !fany Smoke Pot tram pasUJ the
Skill ust then all I/!ams from that platoon (Souitt company) Faustnika teams that mOil( in the Mouement Sup can only
participating in the assault art COl/uafed. shoot in the Shooting Step ifthq are shootillg at an enemy
Bllnlur or an Infontry or Gun I/!am in a Building.
SAPPER BODY ARMOUR Famtllika uams flre BUlIker Bmurs when shooling alan
The cngincer-sappers wore body armou r to protect them- enemy Bunker or fln Infontry or Gun uam in a Building.
selves during dose combat against the enemy in trenches and
bunkers. Their steel body armour also gave good protcction
from knives, bayonets and spades wielded as weapons, as
well as grenade fragments and ricocheting bullets.
Orl'Augu>t J, 1914, Ilt about 5:00 pm, 1 heard machine-guns and grtnadts exploding. From my balcony at 28 Kopernika Strut,
the attRck on the {Warsaw} University. the boys positioned themuives along fhi! Jtn:N; the giris were delivering weapons and
The fim days 0/ the Uprising wert sucC(ssfof. and we wt:rt! given hope. Fru warsaw!
,
- Sylwtsttr Braun 'Kri;; photograpluT during the warsaw Uprising
.,.ru,,, Poland fell under the German war machine in 1939, liberating themselves and then hopefully installi ng the free
defeated trOOpS immediately organised a resistance Polish government exhiled in London.
;~~~::;::'~:;;; For many years the Polish partisans operated InJune 1944 the Soviets launched Operation Bagration which
't 'the Germans, launching small raids and making
swept across Byelorussia like a wild fire. By the end of July the
~" .''''ful observations of {he enemy force.
Red army was ncar Warsaw. After a false stan the day ~efore,
of [he Polish resistance movements were consolidated Bor declared W-Hour ('W' fo r wybuch, or outbreak and aJso
under the Armia Krajowa, or Home Army, in February 1942. for woinoii, or freedom) at 1700 hours on I AugusL
From there (he pan isan strategy was !O limit any offensive
When W-Hour was announced, the underground AK
action undl such a time that a concerted effort could be
bartalions formed in the streets and allyways and then
made when the Germans were most vulnerable.
sprang into action, seizing important buildings and setting
In July 1943 Genaal brygady (Brigadier General) B6r- up barricades.
Komorowski assumed command of theAK. B6rwas a cavalry
However, not all the AK battalions managed !O secure th'eir
ill" ffiw,havingserved in WWI in rheAustro-H ungarian army.
objectives straight away, The AK battal ions in Zolib6rz
I Q.39 commanded the rem nants of several cavaJry uni ts
were triggered toO early and went into action against
!';,,,,,h"'l<>V!'"
i'n eastern Poland. After the occupation of
well-defended Warsaw Citadel. The Germans rallied
the underground.
launched an effective counterattack that forced m"yof,h,C,"
" OW .n'" the undergrou nd's inexperienced soldiers AK fi ghters in Zolib6rz to retreat into the Kampinos Forest
t ;~::~~;~~~:r~:i:::?~: i~ open
to rally.
in this case the combat
Soviets,against
directlythe Germans
inte rvened .
Other pockets of German resistance were contained within
painfullybbvious\when the Warsaw Ghetto u pr1 s~ng
buildi ngs until the Krdyw arrived to flush them Out with'
ruthlessly and absol4tely crushed in 1943, with the Joss
heavy weapons.
Polish citizens.
In rhe early hours of the rebellion a few Krdyw units 'liberated'
~." ",u. other consideration was that the Soviets were hardly
a large quantity of Waffin-SS uniforms from a warehouse
preferable choice for allies. In 1939, Poland was invaded
and incorporated them into their units.
both German and Soviet forces. As a result, tre AK
~~;~::r'~I,~s,~alin's intentions. It became critical, therefore, O ther AI<' un its used captured 55 uniforms, but also
Y people themselves to overthrow the Germans managed to get a hold of all sortS of German and ex-Polish
9wn free Polish government before Stali n army uniforms. Wherever possible, AK troops attempted to
".' U."'-.._ puppet ,government in control. make themselves into a regula r army using uniforms, drill
practice and officers.
~~~~;i;;:~;h:~'~v'e !O wait/or the arrival of the Soviet army
~i before launching a full-scale insurrection, By the fi rst few days the AK managed to secure the majority
of its initial objectives. The Germans had anticipated an
uprising, however they completely underestimated irs sheer
scale. As a result the majority Qr the troops that bore the brunt
of the uprising were a few scattered police units. Some of these
managed ro hold up in buildings for some days, while others
collapsed completely.
Most of the German army was tied up in trying to contain
Soviet advance, so there was little that"~h~'~Y":"'~b~".:I:dj~:~~:;;~~
rapidly put d~wn the rebellion, so the f( i I
to the Waffin-SS.
The first GeJ:;man attacks were hastily organised and "'"('~
with little or no support. 111ese were shattered against
organised Polish defences and made little progress. The troop's
committed lacked much training and most were no~ at aU
high-qual i ~ fi"ghters. .,- ..
-
'the Germanslost ~,OOO killed and 9,000 ~Qunded , totalling
Howcv~r, me wglerii Allies d~~"'!!\!.>: approximately h~fits cJ)mmirred force.
--
.
c~ 'v- .". m~tK:som'e
;;: ,-,::;
The dg< of Warsaw was split into several major districtS: Home-made weapons supplemented the lack of guns and
Old Town, the City Centre, Zolib6l7., Kaminos Forest, mortars. ll1cse were initially made in secret workshops. Once
Wol;t., Ochota. Mokot6w, Powislc, Praga, and Okede. Other the uprising began the AK set up a workshop for producing
I-"n"'k, districts that fell outside of the city were referred to and repairing weapons for the rebellion.
as Greater Warsaw.
,
What limited defensive weapons the AK had at ilS disposal,
Each district was then divided into sections each defended such aJi the heavy machine-guns, morrars and anillery were
by several AK battalions. The elite Kdyw units were not allocated to the AK battalions and not the K~dyw ro hulk up
assigned to any specific locarion and were instead held as a defensive positions.
mobile reserve that would be dispatched to handle trouble
In contrast, lhe K~dyw units were well equipped and
l:~(,,~", 0"'" do< uprising began.
sufficien tly experienced with offensive weapons. They held
•Each AK barralion usually consisted of twO to six companies
the bulk of the AK's submachine-guns and A.ame-thrpwers.
of about 100 soldiers. At W-Hour the companies assembled Captured vehicles were also operated by the Krdyw which
and each fight er was issued a white and red armband to put rhe precious tanks under the command of relatively
, identify them as AK soldiers. experienced rank crews.
When the uprising kicked off many of the AK troops didn't l1le K~dyw battalions fought as a fire brigade, reinforcing
have weapons and had to rely on capturing or securing them whatever part of the line the AK either planned to launch an
from the Germans or fallen comrades. offensive, or expected a serious German counterauack.
' ]h ,A,·",iaKmjolVlf (Home Army, known simply as the AK) was bOlh cunn ing and resourceful during the Warsaw Uprising
contend with an enemy tha t was superior in both train ing and equipment. They called on ex-weaponsmims, mechanics and
other skilled labour to build much of their stockpile of weapons and raised many &talion Armii Krnjowq (AK Battalions).
also carefully map ped out lhe sewers and alJyways as well as paths through the Kampinos wood and trained scoutS who
w,m," ,;u"" AK members through the maze of the underground. The Arm~tI Krnjowa would be ready for the uprising.
.. =-" - -
more weapons and vehicles.
-
Wrapons that art: listtd in the ArsenaL as Home-built flrt
German strongpoims.
You must field one company from each box shaded black and may fi eld one company or platoon
from each box shaded grey.
- •
ARTILLERY
l;ltJIJI.
-'-
AI{ Mortar Company ?)
MACHINE-GUNS
~n
AK Machine-gun J'.>...
Company
ANTI -TANK
~ll
AI( Anti-tank Gun J'.>...
Company
FORTIFICATIONS
.....-.-...
Street Barricatles ~?
.
INFANTRY
~~ ~
Kedyw Company
I
-'()- I
MOTIVATION AND SKILL
Hider's orders to GamfUl troops in Wanaw wae to give flO quarter and to level theciry.
Polish witnessed theu orders bdllg e:ucuted fwd were under no illusion whlll fiue awaited
IIJtm should thry surrender. As a T?SlIIt the civilian fighters of the Armia Krajowa (Home
Army) wert evm mort: motivllted and fought to the idSt mlln and woman.
A Bma/ion Armii Kmjowtj is mud Fearless Consuipt.
HEADQUARTERS
PODPULKQWNIK
PODPULKOWNIK
COMBAT PLATOONS
KAPITAN
2 Rdk PlalOom
OPTIONS
• Replace up to one Rifle leam with a PlAT team at M)~. M)~.
Rifle team Rifle team
no cost.
• Replace all RiAe teams in up to rwo Rifle Platoons M)~.M)~. M)~.M)~.
with $MG teams for +20 points per RiOe Platoon. Rifle learn Rifle team Rifle team Rifle learn
• Replace all RiAe teams in up to one RiRe Platoon M)~.M)~. M)~.M)~.
with Pioneer RiAe teams fo r +25 points. Rif le team Rifle team Rifle team
~I
~1t
Command
SMG learn
H SECT I
You may replace up to 011( SMG uam with a Fltl1ru-throUJ(~ A Kedyw Company is mud Fearl ess Trained.
tmm ar the stnrt of the game before deployment. I
the occupation, the Kedyw conducted a long partisan
the Germans. They horded the weapons and
The Kedyw was held in reserve under central control. Once
they had collected after successful ambushes and
German stongholds could be identified, they would be sent
and buried and hid them in stashes inside and out of
out to reduce the defenders and capmre the building.
Group Radoslaw and Banalion Kilinski both made signifi-
'w' Hour signalled the beginning of the Warsaw
cant contributions to Ihe AK. Radoslaw captured the AK's
lVIP" 'i"g, the Kedyw assembled in the Old Town Disrrict. first armoured vehicles and used [hem TO liberate a Jewish
units were already rising up and caplllring che few
prisoner camp. Battalion Kilinski used Aame-throwers
defended objectives.
and dose combat ro capture Warsaw's tallest building, the
~o'w~"', once [he word gO[ ou( ro the German defenders Prudential Building.
Ihe Uprising was in full swing, they fortified themselves
buildings across che city. Local AK uni(5 were
to comest these SHong poims, despite their brave
;,.,Wo,m, so the comba[~experienced Kedyw weill to work.
PORUCZNIK
Mt
Command Rifle team
JAn
Monar Mortar
JA~~
Mortar Mortar
Polish Home Army needed artillery so they could pin AK MORTAR COMPANY
the German defenders. When the uprising began they
Once rhe uprising was in full swing, AK trOOpS began ac-
large collection of home-built mOrtars made from
quiring captured German mortars ro replace their own less
materials. They horded stolen ammunition and
reliable ones.
for when it would be needed.
HQ Section with:
6 MG.H, ,\ 1G42, ~1akslln,
Mt
Command Rille team
PORUCZNIK
HQ Section with:
:; \. ~ \':11I P,IK '16
Mt
Command Ril le team
2 ~.-lnl P.IK~6
i 'iun PaK58
..
1 'em PaK '8 -Wili\.U . ~
Anti·tank gun Anti·tank gun
FORTlf[CAnON
FORTIFICATION
7
7
7
Street Barricade Street Barricade
7 7
Street Barricade Street Barricade
7
Street Barricade
STREET BARRICADES
Strert BarricadrJ are Area Dqellcrs, ur pagr 228 of thr
rulebook. The Armin Krajowa established hundreds of b",d;,~iilt'
throughout the ciry, turning [hem into death traps as
Germans tried to clear them . Snipers, explosives and
A Bata/ion Armii Krajowej containing Street Bnrricadrs iJ
machine-guns defended these choke poims.
flot a Fortified Company.
l1l!r!IDt
MOTIVATION AND SKill
7h~ AK used its brst troops to as,oul! difficult positions and mml its Iimiud armoured
fighting vehicles, 7", support platoons of fI l3awliollowy Armin Krajol/Jll are fXCl:ptiol/S
to the Crnmdised COlllrol spain! rule. thq opemu tIS normal pialOolls. 77Jf) are raud
Fearless Trained, IInlns otberwise IIOUd.
Command
Captured tank
1
KEDYW TANK PLATOON
[he nrsr few days of the uprising, Battalion Zoska were destroyed laler the same day. Battalion Kilinski captured
~"u"d fWO Panther ranks and used them in an assault to a Hetzer and TWO armoured cars using Molocov cocktails
prisoners from [he Gesi6wka prison camp. during the early fighting in the Old Town. Although the
Heuer was badly damaged in the aHack, the AK managed co
Ochota disrricl, Battalion Gustaw captured a Panzer
get it up running again .
a Tiger on 4 August. Both were pressed into service but
PORUCZNIK
PORUCZNIK
O PTION
• Add an Observer Rifle team for + 15
~
10.5cm leFH18 howiller
~
10.5cm leFH18 howiller
An AK Artillery Battery is rated Fearless Conscript.
~
IO.Scm leFHl8 howiller
~
1O.5cm leFHl8 howitzer
By the end of [he firsr day o f fighting the AK had
captured six howirzers, seven mortars, twO anti-tank guns,
27 Pam.erfaust anti-ran k launchers, 70 machine-guns, 373
~
IO.Scm leFH18 howitzer
~
1O.5cm leFHl8 howiller
riRes and 103 pistOls. TIle six howitzers were centralised and
put to use whereever artillery was needed most. An observer
team scrounged for radio sets to use and evellIually got one
l~=~~~~~~~~;, ~\:;:~:~~~~=:J
AK ARTILLERY BATIERY
running. The ban ery was manned by umrained personnel.
"dU.
~1 t,l.lr.
-II. ~
A Polish Smlkovy Company is a Soviet company and uses ,,~)~. ~~.~ M)~. ~~.~
all ofthe Sovin special rules found on pages 249 to 251 of Rifle/ MG learn RiflefMG learn Rifle/MG learn Rifle/MG team
the rulebook as welL as rhe Fate of the Nation special rule
found on page 167.
5I:~nd.ard Tank
32i8(km
10 , Co-u MG. Hull MG. Wtde Tncks, Unreliable.
Slow Tank 9
"8
j.
CARS
Wh~"" 0 0 AA MG, Unrdiablc.
riRe Man.p.u;k«!
Range
W /40cm 1 , ,. T.-,mk Au:mh 3.
Man'p"ckcd
<lO"/IOGem
24"/6Ocm 1
1
1 ,.
6 Smoke bombardment.
Minimum range 8"12Ocm.
,
Lighl
40"/ IOOcm
24"/6Ocm , 2
6
6
,.
4. Gun ,hidd.
8"/2Ocm
, 12
lighl 24"/6Ocm
,8 4.
4.
Gun shield.
Gun shield.
;= 24i'GOcm
,.
.- ,-
Medium 32"1SO<:m 2 12 Gun shield.
• to 2.
4.
-&:'"rhidd. Breakthrough gUll, Smoke.
moliCbom~raiimfr:"'-
16~/4Ocm 2 6
16"'40cm 2 2 6
4"IlOcm 3 6 Full ROF whcn moving.
&zoob Or PlAT team
Flame-thrower tcam
S"/ 2Ocm
4"/10cm ,
1 10 5.
6
Tankassaulc 4.
Flame-thrower. Home-buile.
Staff tcam J6"/40cm 2 6 Moves;u a Heavy Gun (Cam.
Armour
N=. Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and NOles
~apo" Range ROF Anti-t/mk Firrpow",
-- - - - -
the Germans in Stalingrad surrounded.
in May 1944. only a handful of Romanians were left to be
evacuated. J
In me meantime the remnants of the Third and Fourth
The Siege of Odessa was an epic 73-day struggle between
Armies smashed at Stalingrad were rebuilding in Romania,
the Romanians and the defending Red Army and Soviet
ret ~ning to the fight, when the advancing Soviets ~hed
Black Sea Fleet. Romania led the assault, commitri ng
the full strength of the Fourth Army to the Struggle. The battle for Stalingrad shows how much Germany's
The bitter and pronacted siege COSt the Romanians allies contributed to the fighti ng in southern Russia. 'The
93,000 casualties (from the over 340,000 trOOps com- German Sixth Army fighting in the immediate vicinity
mitted to the battle). The three main assaults on Odessa
of Stalingrad numbered 300,000 men , the Romanians
were marked by grim Romanian determination. much on their flanks totalled a similar number, including their
bloody street fighting, and blazing summer heat. On troops in the Caucasus region , wh ile furthe r north on
15 October 1941 the Romanians fi nally captured their the Don River the Hungarians and Italians contributed
prize, an important Black Sea porr, bur not before the over 200,000 men each . To put this in context, the
Soviets evacuated the remnants of the garrison and civil- Romanians alone outnumbered the combined British
ians to Sevastopol. and US forces in North Africa at the same time.
•
•
•
SOVIET
ROMANIAN
-+
I- - -t 1944 FRO""
1941-1943 FRONTS
In June 1944, the Soviets pushed [he The 2"" and 4,10 II1fantrY Divisions of the IV Corps were
Germans back across the Bug River and to the north of them at Smolok. These twO newly-raised
entered Bessarabia. The Red Army was on [he very doorstep divisions had to COntend with determined frontal attacks
from the Hungarian I" Infantry and Cavalry Divisions
on 19 October, followed by a German breakthrough by
r" D'EFENDING THE HOMELAND the 24. Ptmzerdivision , 4. S5-Ptlnurgrmadi~rdivisioN and
The advancing threat of me Red Army prompted the Germans 503. Schwa? Panumbtei/,mg. The 4'" Infantry Division
and Romanians to establish a defensive line along the was destroxed on 20 October arrer thirty hours of fighting.
Bessarabiiln frontier. This line held until the Soviets launched For some time the only troops opposing the German
a massive offensive on 20 August 1944. Two Soviet thrusts breakthrough were the guns of the corps' artillery and anti-
were directed at lhe cities of Iassi and Kishinev. Powerful aircraft. The Soviet 7,10 Guards Army retook the ground in
,~" o,'" armoured forces smashed through the Romanian Jines the following week.
the limiled Romaniiln and German armoured reserves The Hungarians attacked with three divisions into the
bridgehead of the Romanian 2'" Infantry Division on
With his failure to protect Romanian soil, Antonescu was 25 October. 111e Romanians were pushed back across the
ilrrested and King Mihail formed a new government. Shordy river, attempting to avoid the f.11e of their sister division.
afterwards, to save Romania from total desuuction, an agree- AI Alpar, south or Kecske, the Hungarians atracked the
ment was reached with rhe Soviet Union for Romania to swap 19,10 Inf.1ntry Division on 26-29 October. The more
sides and join the Allies. experienced 19,10 Infantry Division was able to repulse the
arrack.
FIGHTING FOR THE ALLIES
From late October the Romanians were forced by the Soviets
Romania Set about reassembllng their scmered army in the to reduce their number of divisions. They were allowed to
, of the defeat by the Soviets in Augusr·1944 . Some
field sixteen divisions, but only if they were kept at the ,"c""' .';
. intact and could be used immediately to cleilr
All captured Soviet equipment was confiscated by'"' >0""",
i cou~.~rr of the Germans.
However, local industry did keep up 00'''' 'qu'f,m"" ,upplio1'
, ~Romanian
·s .• t~pS were soon
. in action clearing Romania of
such as the excellent R~ip 75mm gun as
, German lrqops and defending the Transylvanian border from riAes, submachine-guns, machine-guns and mortars.
tf ungarial,1 troops trying to capture the viral passes through
the Carpathian Mountain~. ,. BUDAPEST
However, all was not roses with the new allies. The Soviets FollOWing the banlcs on the Tisza, the Romanian VII Corps
[he numblr of troops the Romanians could field, was reorganised to contain the 9,10 Cavalry, 2"", and
19'10 Infantry Divisions and fought under the command of the
~
~;:~:~ all Clprured Soviet equipment, used Romanian
Soviet 7,10 Guards Army as pan or the Second Ukrainian Front.
(TOOpS to suppOrt Soviet forces, and generally treated
units as linle more than eannon fodder. Despite By December it had advanced to within striking distance or
rJle Romanians continued to fight wim great courage the Hungarian capital. The Romanian VII Corps took pan in
Hu~gary ending the war by liberating Czechoslovakia. the assault on Pest (the eastern side of Budapest).
From 1 to 15 January 1945, rhey ground their way forwa rd
TRANSYLVANIA through the suburbs and sneets of Pest, advancing six
~~:n::~::~1t,the imeri9r, forces were rushed to the
kilometres (3.7 miles). 111e fighting was heavy and the 9,10
1j 'Romanian and Soviet forces clashed with Cavalry Division, fighting on foot as infantry, encountered
Germa~'apd H~ngar ians through September and into fierce resistance at the Racecourse, which was being used as
~ ~b~:~:;"Finally, the combined weight of the Soviet and an airfield. The Romanians captured it during the second
~l forces pushed the Axis Out of Transylvania in mid week of January.
Just as the VII Corps was making serious progress in Pest,
they were pulled out on 15 to 16 Januilry and sent north to
"'[)EBRE(:~N, ~ND THE TISZA liNE join (he IV Corps on the Czechoslovak frontier.
Romanians ha·d achieved their main goal of reclaiming In the meantime, the 4,h , illso part of the
lost parts or Transylvania from the Hungarians. However, Ukrainian FrQnt, continued
11 they were quickly committed to the next objective: the
Hungary wit.h me Soviets. The IV Corps took·
capture of the city of Debrecen in eastern Hungary. The 2""
of the 2nd and 3.... Moumain divisions on 22 ,
and 3'" Mountain Divisions were subordinated to the Soviet
where they took part in rhe struggle to push the Germ"iln.q
27'h Army. They were heavily involved in the sroT1ing of " ,'7.0'7;1'
and Hungarians out of the hills and mountains of norther~ .-
'Debrecen ilnd its final conquest on 19 and 20 October.
Hungary. The Czechoslovak fromier was crossed on .~~
Other Rom.anian units pushed on to the Tisza River. The November.
9,10 and 10,10 tnranrry Divisions crossed the 1151.3 and by , .
Many other Romanian divisions were seanered am~ng the
'30 Oc~obe~ had. brok~n through the Hungarian 20,h Infantry
Soviet armies fighting through eastern Hungary. In .fact
DivisiQn aT K~ke. from there they headed west towards
KeGS~emet-. ~ . the Romanians made up over a third or the Soviet Second
Ukrainian From's infantry divisions wi rh 210,000
;
' £,& 0"1' 0;"",0") 00 despite casualties, Sandu escaped unscathed.
Company whert: he began traini ng.
Afte r the Romanians and Soviets had come to terms i
1943 Sanqu was involved in the upgrade of an old mine- August, Sandu foun d himself and his compan y shipped off to
field near Odessa. The olq mines were tricky to disarm and a new fro nt to fi ght alo ngside the Soviets against the Germans
' ;" m,,,, . During tbe. opera tion, Sandu's commander assigned and Hungarians. In O ctober 1944 Sandu was in Hungary
,him ro 30mher job and replaced him with Sergent Georgescu. pushing Germans back to the TIsza Ri ve r. Following the suc-
While removing the minis one of the old mines w e Of 9ff, cessful advance ac ross Hungary, Sandu's regiment ended the
causing ' 3 chain reaction throughout the minefield , creating war in Czechoslovakia.
massiv'elblas[ aod ,killing 17 soldiers. Georgescu's body was
During his time in the army Sandu was awarded [he
2~h~~". found and Sandu had a lucky escape!
Manhood and Loyal ty Medal. This medal was awa rded to
,,-,,--, .. fo ught in many banles ; nd he was never far away Noncommissioned Officers and enlisted me n fo r service to
_;"" ,~ ... death. He had many near misses where artillery, \ockets the C rown of Romania as well as for lesser acts of b~ve ry.
CHARACTERISTICS
n~~j~~~~.::;~~;iS a Warrior Pioneer Rifle/MG team . UNSTABLE MINES
;~ Rifle/ MG team in a -Puscasi 'Pioneer
O ne of Sandu's fi rst jobs in the army was relaying out-of-
,2pot or a "'ioneer Platoon (page 202) fo r
date minefields, they had plenty of mines, but the ones they
were replacing were old and rickety. The old antiqua ted
(944 and 1945 and can be taken with m illefields we re ullstable, so relaying them with new mines
was a risky
Tan~
BATIALION HQ
TANCURI PLATOON
711e armollred troops 0/ the Romanian army were alw'lyJ wdi motivated and tmiflf'd. 'IIII' troops 0/
rhe medium tank compllllin have undergon e additional training with the GemlllnS in their new T-4
ranks and TA assauit guns. A Companie umcuri Medii is mted Elite.
.",.,
I" Armoured Division had a number of armoured TS half-track TS half-track
ibn"'" pb,,",,m,,,;bb,kl mOWlted in TB (Sd K& 251) half-
. Twenty half-tracks were supplied by the Germans and
were concentrated in a banalion and used 10 support
required 1944.
MG team MG team
V,mfllori Blindata Platoons uS( similar tactics to German
Gepanzeru Panzergrmadier Platoon, aTld may uS( the
German Mounted Assault special role iTl the ruiebook. TS half-track
.",.,
TS half-track
.. ~
Mitral 20mm gun
l"he TACAM T-GO is an ingenious combination of twO
bits of captured Soviet equipment, the T-60 light tank
and the 76.2mm obr 1936 field gun (FK36(r) as used by
TACAM TACAM
the Germans). 34 vehicles were completed by the end of
1943 and assigned to the training unit of the I" Armoured
Division where they were split into the Gl " and 62nd TACAM TANK-HUNTER PLATOON
companies. They saw service in Transnisrria and Basarabia in
TACAM R-2. This also saw actiOn against the G,·,m"nuj
February to August 1944.
Hungarians.
One company of TACAM T-60 rank-hunters continued
fighting in Transylvania after the Romanians had joined A Tank-hunter Platoons equipped with TAC4M R-2 tank-
the Allies. The Romanians also used their old R-2 tanks humers may only be takm in a So/lin aiiied Romanian
combined with the Soviet 7G.2m m ZIS-3 gun w create the company (marked;S().
1\,\
Company Comm~nd
1\,\
2iC Command 1.5·ton truck
Rifle team Rif le team
BATIALION HQ
elY"
The Vandtori Motorizllu (mororised light infantry) provided
the 1" Armoured Division with mobile infantry support.
During 1944 the 8'~ Cavalry Division was fully motorised
and was in the process of retraining as the 20<1 Armoured
Division before the 20. Pllnurdivisoll absconded with their
tanks in August.
1\,\
Command MG team
~
Z853 HMG
~
l853 HMG
~
ZB53 HMG
mororised machine-guns give the vanotori fire suPPOrt,
the enemy down as they arrack. [n defence, their
rate of fire mows down massed Soviet atracks.
LOCOTENENT
'A~\ II.
Command
Rifle team
HQ SECTION
----
LOCOTENENT
~ ~
TAC 47mm Schneider gun TAC 47mm Schneider gun
IS-len truck
~
TAC 47mm Schneider gun
• q
EL-
1.5-tol1 truck
~
.-
TAC 47mm Schneider gun
t _
I StOll truck
LOCOTENENT
J\'H
Command Jbse
Rille team Rlfl I ar
HQ SECTION
~~
~~~ 120mm
120mm Resita
Resita
~~~
120mm Resita
mortar mortar mortar mortar
"."., "."
The I" Armoured Division was supplied with captured Soviet
120mm mortars and later with Romanian Rqip copies. The
120mm monars are trans ported in trucks designed to keep up
with the mororised infantry and tanks. The 120mm mOrtars
are easy to semp and can be pm into action quickly. ~~
120mm Resita
~~~
120mm Resita
They provide excellent indirect fire capable of knocking out mortar mortar
..
Anti·tank gun
I "
~
Anti-tank gun
~~"'
Cavalry Heavy Mortar ~.l1;.
Platooll ..
ARTILLERY
~
Horse Artillery Battery It
ANTI-AIRCRAFT
wu.
Cavalry Anti-31H:rafl ~%
Platoon
7JJt Romanian Cavalry had man} of the best , ..cruits, oftm voluflturr would join with th..ir own
horr .. or motorcycle. A Compalli.. d.. Cavaleri.. is mud Elite.
~~
Company Command
~~
2iC Command
Cavalry SMG team Cavalry SMG team
COMPANY HQ
Command Cavalry
RifleJMG team
~~~~
Z B53 H MGs to provide fi re support.
lO(OTENENT
1\,\
Command
U
Obse,,'er
Rifle learn Rrlle leam
HQ SECTION
~llll ~ ~llll ~
81.4mmBrandl Cavalrvw gon 81.4mm Brandl lvalrv ,agon
mortar mortar
~u.
81.4mm Brandl
~ ~u. ~
lvalry wall 81.4mm Brandt C" Wl\lon
mortar mortar
ROMANIAN
Command Rille team
~ ~
Anti-tank gun Anti-tank gun
LOCOTENENT
lOCOTENENT
1\,,\
Command
Rifle team
HQ SECTION
~~
120mm Resita
~~
120mm Resita
mortar mortar
!dcl O""""~ lUlL team for ... 15 points.
... S points for the platoon. ~~
120mm Resita
~~
120mm Resila
cavalry divisions were supplied with captured Soviet mortar mortar
UO,om mOrtars and later with Romanian Re~ip copies. The
~" u" m monars are rransported in light wagons designed to
up with the cavalry. The 120mm mortars are easy to set
and can be put into action quickly. ~~
120mm Resita
~~
120mm Resita
provide excellem indirect fire capable of knocking our mortar mortar
"",,,,01,,,, enemy and the occasional vehicle. MORTAR SECTION
StaHteam
HQ SECTION
,
( • • WI,
Gun or Howitter
The horse artillery are provided with more horses (0 allow HORSE ARTILLERY BATIERY
them (0 keep pace with the cavalry. They are also uained
to get into action as quickly as possible. They gallop imo A Hom Artillery Battery um tbe Hone Artillery speciaL
action, swinging the limber around at the last moment to ml.. (ue tbe mlebook).
unhirch and get the gun ready to fire in JUSt momems.
HorSt! Artifiuy Battuies eqflipptd with Skoda
M 14 or Skoda IOOmm M30 howitzl!rs may 110/ be placed
witbin J6"/40cm o/enemy trams.
LOCOTENENT
~ ~
Ami-aircraft cover for cavalry is provided by the divisional
ami-aircraft company armed with the German 20mm Flak38
guns, known as me Mitral. .. ..
Milral20mm gun Mitral20mm gun
"UtlJu,
Mitral20mm gun
i"\
Company Command
i-'\
2iC Command
Rifle team Rifte team
R.p/ace either ... boch _ ....... with Command BATTALION HQ
Pa"k' (-8" SMG tams fOr +I S points per team.
V!~ ~Idd. SOrio< BatcaIioo Komiaar tam. for +25 poinu.
IMI Pa............ _ .. ,,, +25 poIou ............
Add up to tilde SnIpe:r tams for +50 points per
......
BATALION PUS(ASI HQ
H~_Dwlth
~ Pll~(;,ISl PLuoom
I
f
1
I
I'lI~l.:.\SI I'l.iI()Om
I'US(dSI "laiOol)
OPTIONS
• aq,Iace me Command Ri8elMG team with a
Command Panzerfauat SMG team for +10 points.
• Add 60mm Btandt mortalS for +20 points per ~i-'\\. ~i-'\
Rifle/MG team Rif le/MG team
mo.....
Add Platoon for ~i-'\\. ~i-'\
Rifle/MG learn Rifle/MG team
The Romanian infantryman has benefited from the experience
of those that fought during 194143. Though still of mixed
Rille/MG team
q uality, they have a determinadon to defend their homeland
and fight with stubborn imensity in the right situation. ""A"A-'\\. ~i'\
RillefMG team RillefMG team
Though they may not have the same amount of artillery and
other specialists, they do get modern German weapons such
as the Panurfoust and Panzenchrtck as well as closer support
/Tom German units fighting alongside them , and later the
~i-'\\. ""A"A-' \
7"ll.'
support of the Red Army as they joined the Allies.
The Romanian Puscasi (RiAe) Company is a simple forma- Rille/MG team Rifle/MG learn ZB53 HMG
tion. With riAemen, machine-guns and GOmm mOrtars they
can hold their own againsr attacking infitntry. The ZB53
l...d1'-ll. ~i-'\
team Rifle/MG team
machine-guns of the mach ine-gunners lay down well set Out
fire thai will stop any attack, providing crossfire support from
dug-in posidons.
111e company can call on the heavy weapons from the bat-
Rif lefMG team RillefMG team
talion, regiment and division for furrher supporr.
PUSCASI COMPANY
Command Rifle team
LOCOTENENT
LOCOTENENT
1\,,\
Command
Rille team
HQ SECTION
LOCOTENENT
1\,,\
Command Rifle team
Anti·tank gun
Anti·tank gun
Anti-tank gun
. ~ . ~
Anti-tank gun
.
Anti·tank gun
~
light aori-tank guns provide (he infantry with a level of
from Soviet light and medium tanks. Positioned
can halt Rt:d Army tank assaults.
l'::===;.;;; Anti-tank gun
~'H
Command
Rifle learn p
~,,\
Command
Rifle/MG team
-
• RepIao: aU Ri8elMG ICaID8 with SMG tean¥ at no
SERGENT
""A.~"\
Rifle/MG team
~1.'nlJ,.
Pioneer Rifle/MG team Pioneer Rifle/MG team
SERGENT
Soviet aircraft
guns as wellexcellem
can provide as additional I1re supporr
protection
"".k"'g Soviet infil.l1try and light tanks.
against
from maraud- J:-:~;:1i~~~:~~~:::::~m[-~:
Command Staff team
Rifle team
HQ SECTION
~J. ~
"
GUN BATIERY
ARTILLERY BATIALION
MOTIVATION AND SKILL
Romllnian divisions Ilrc supportrd by a 'lumber of dijfrrt'1It platoons, sam/" are particular to til(' rype
of division (found in ((feb Company or Batraliani Intdligmu Brirfing above), but others are of a
commonly shard oTganiJation. 71u rating of the .following Divirionni Support Platoon, arr Elite,
LOCOTENENT
1\'H
Command Pioneer
Rifle/MG team
1\~\"- 1\1\,,\,,-
Pioneer Rif le/MG team Pioneer Rille/MG team
1\1\,,\ 1\1\,,\
.. ..
all RIIIoIMG ...... _ SMG ......... no
Pioneer Rifle/MG team Pioneer Ritle/MG team
poIna.
+25
~
AntHank gun ..""~
Anti-tank gun
I'» POlIl I\ I
\05 POUlts
~ ~
TAC 43 Resita 75mm TAC 43 Resila 75mm
for the platoon.
in 1944 each division's artillery organised a second battery
of ami-tank gu ns. These divisional level anti-tank guns were
75mm guns for taking on the increasingly heavier Soviet
ranks.
The I" Armoured Division is equipped with the native
43 Re§i{a gun. This gun tOok (he best of the German PaK40 ~
TAC 43 Resita 75mm
and Sovier ZIS-3 and combi ned them into a design of i
ANTI -TANK SECTION
--A-'\ Itt~t
Command StaN team
Rifle learn
H SECT I
ll.aw.
Howitzer
~
Howitzer
Howitzer Howitzer
LOCOTENENT
LOCOTENENT
~ Gun or howitzer
~
Gun or howitzer
Command Panzer IV H
Panzer IV H
PANZER PLATOON
LEUTNANT
Command
RiflefMG team
Du ring thei r fighting in Crimea and Besarabia the Romanians ~'Al\ ~'A~\
alongside many diff"e renr German Infonurie divi- Rifle/MG team RiflelMG team
sions. Some of these grenad ier units were fighLing in direct
reinforcing or counrerattacking from reserve or UNTEROFF IZIER
~::::~d:;i vjSjOns in the line fighd ng off heavy
1.,,\
Command SMG team 1~ held far
"
.. ..
~ ~
....., ScI K& II 1Wf_ _ fi>r.5 ....... , ,, ....
7.5cm PaK40 gun 7.5cm PaK40 gun
platoon.
One asset the Germans could back up the Romanians with
was a good number of anti-tank guns. Supporting and
neighbouring German anti-tank units have the firepower 10
hold off the Soviet tanks that the Romanians don't always
have on hand. ANTI TANK GUN PLATOON
HAUPTMANN
1.,,\ •
Command
's,
KII 15 field car Staff learn KIz 68 radiO
SMG learn lruck
HQ SECTION
u ...
Observer Rifle team Kiibelwagen
lllI. ...
Observer Rille learn Kubelwagen
~
.. ..
HowiUer
~
.. ..
Howitzer
Sd Kllll hall-trad
Hcwiller
Sd KrIll h~lf·tr8ck
Aft" deployment, but bifore the first turn, rofi a die for SOVIET BATTALION KOMISSAR
each Romanian platoon and Independent Warrior team. Often Romanian units would be assigned a Soviet advisor
Consult fhi! Peasant Army tabu to determine thdr Skill or liaison officer to help co-ordinate operations with the
and Motivation ratings. Platoons held in Reurves de not Red Army. The role would sometimes involve sustaining
roll until thry arrive, the Romanians' morale to keep advancing accordi ng to the
Soviets' plans and timetables, often with little regard for the
PEASANT ARMY TABLE lives of their Romanian allies.
Rnll ReguJar Elite
A Soviet Battdlion Komissar team in a Romanidn Battd/ion
Reluctant Trained Rel uctant Veteran HQ is an Intkpomdent team.
2 Rclucram Veteran Reluctant Veteran If a Soviet Battalion Komissar team joim a Romanian
company or platoon in the Shooting or Afsault Step brfim:
3 ConfidentTrained Confident Trained
the company or platoon takes any hits from shooting, they
4 Confident Trained ConfidentTrained must attempt to sustain the Romanians' morak.
5 Confident Trained Confident Veteran Ifthe company or platoon takes jive ofmon hitsftom shooting,
roU a die after aU shooting at the platoon is completed.
6 Confident Veteran Confid ent Veteran
On a rolL of 2+ you must immediately Destroy any Other
Infimrry or Gun tea m from the company or platoon within
RE~ICH DOCTRINE Command Distance ofthe Komissar team.
Romanian troops are trained in the French doctrine of
Otherwise on roll of I, the Romanians rebel and shoot the
warfare. Their plan is to make a short
Komissar team, which is Destroyed.
advance [hen
If the Komissar team survived the attempt to sustain the
Romanian Infantry and Gun teams attempting to Dig In Romanians'morak, the company or platoon, ifit Jlarted the
succud on a roli of3+. sup with at least fifteen Infantry or Gun teams (including
Whom conducting Deftnsive Fire, Infantry and Gun teams the Komissar team and any attached teams) In Command,
that are Dug In or in Entrenchments can shoot Over any now must take at least ten hits in a singk Shooting Sup
Mall-packed or Light Gun teams that are also Dug In or before they become Pinned Down.
;11 Entrenchmomts. A single hit from an Artilkry bombardmmt still pins them,
however.
FIRE CONTROL A Soviet BattaLion Komissar may attach to Allied Soviet
the US Army, the Romanians were great fo llowers of Companies and uses the normal Battalion Komissar rules
doctrine during the 1920's and 1930's and their when they do so (see page 249 ofthe rukbook).
methods reflect this.
ROMANIAN
The French R35 tank only has enough room in its turret to have one man, who has ro command the tank as well as
fire the gun.
Any tnnk with a On~-man Turrfl that movtf adds + J to the score required to hit when shooting with its turrN main gun.
Machine-guns and Flame-throwers do not !uffir this penalty.
In addition, a tlmk with a One-man Turret may not fire both the turret main gun and the turret machine-gun in the same turn.
liGHT TANKS
R·2 (l'an~r 35{t)l Standard Tank 2 I
3.7.m KwK35{t) gUll 2-f"(6fkm 2 6 4.
R-35
37mmSA18gun
Slow Tank
J6~/4&:m
3
2 ,
3
4.
Co-ax MG.
Ont-mllll turrrt.
R·35 Vanawrul de Care Slow Tank 3 3
45mm ob, 1938gun 24"16Onn 2 7 4. Ont-mlllllurrrt.
T-38 (Pan~r 38(tl) Standard nnk 2 I Co-ax MG. Hull MG. Protectai ammo,
3.7cm KwK35(l) XUn 2476fkm 2 6 4.
MEDIUM TANKS
T·3 (Pan~r III N) Standard nnk 6 3 Co-ax MG. Hull MG, Prote(;lai ammo.
7.5cm KwK36 gul! U"/6Ocm 2 9 3.
Panler IV H Standard Tank 6 3 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Pro tectai ammo, Schiinen.
7.5cm KwK40 xun 32"/8&:1'1 2 II 3.
T-4 (Pan~r IV H) Srandard Tank 6 3 Co-ax MG. Hull MG. Protected ammo, Schiirun.
7.5cm KwK40 gun 32780cm 2 /I 3.
ASSAULT GUNS
TA (StuG G) Standard T:mk 7 3 Hull MG. Protectai ammo, Schiinen.
7.5cm 5ruK40 gUll 32"18Ocm 2 II 3. Hull mounud.
SmGG Srandard Tank 7 3 Hull MG, Protected ammo, Schiinen.
7.5cmSJuK40gull 32"/8Ocm 2 II 3. Hull mou11f(tl
SmH42 Standard Tank 7 3 Hun MG. Protected ammo, Schiinen.
/O.5rm SJuH42 gull 32 "/8Ocm 2 10 2. Hull mounud. B"lllrlh,ough gull. 5mol«.
SELF-PROPELLED ANTI-TANK
TACAMT-60 Standard Tank I 0 0 AA MG , Overloaded.
76"1"1 F-22 gun 32"/8Ocm 2 10 3. Hut! mou1ll(d.
TACAM R-2 Standard Tank I 0 0 Hull MG, Unreliable.
76.2"1"1 Zl5·3 gun 32"18Ocm 2 9 3. Hull moun/(d.
ARMOURED CARS
AB (Sd Kn 222) 'Wheeled I 0 0 Co-ax MG.
2tm KU/K38 gun 16"/4Ocm 3 5 5. &/f,uftnu Illlli-Ilim"lljt.
VEHICLE MACHINE-GUNS
16"14Orm 3 2 6 ROF f ifolh" Wfnpom firt:·
Man-packed , 2 , ROF 3 when pinned down or moving.
Man-packed 24-'6Ocm 2 3, Can fill: ~r friendly troops..
32"/SOcm 6
Man-p;Kktd 24"/6Ocm
40"/ I()(km
2 2
2 ,
3, Smoke. Minimum nnge S"/2Ocm.
Smoke bombardment.
Ughl 56"1l4Ocm
, 3 3.
gun (2cm FlaK38)
gun (obI 1937)
Ughl
Ughl
IG"/4Ocm
24"/6Ocm 3
5
7
.,.,
" Anti-aircnfl. TUlnl<lble.
Gun shield.
Ught
Man-j»dted
24"I6Ocm
24"/6Ocm
3
3
8
7
.,., Gun shield.
Ugh!
Medium
24"/6Ocm
24"IGQcm
3
3
8
9
., Gun shield.
Gun shield.
75mm gun (7.5cm PaK38/97) Medium 24"/6Ocm 2 \0 3, Gun shield.
gun (7.5cm I':IK40) Medium 3rJ8Ocm 2 12 3, Gun shield.
H~" 3r/8Ocm 2 13 3, Gun shield.
(76K102) H~" 24"'6Ocm 2 8 3, Gun shield, Smoke.
64"Il6Ocm 3 6 Smoke bombardment.
Heavy 24"'6Ocm 2 8
,
3, Gun shield, Smoke.
.,
64"/IGOcm 3 Smoke bombardmem.
Ml4 howiner ( IOO/Jn Immobile 24"/6Ocm 9 2, Gun shield, Breakthrough gun.
72"/ ISOcm
•
Immobile 24"/6Ocm
8S"/22Ocm
9
• .,
2, Gun shield, Breakthrough gun.
Immobile 32"/8Ocm
88"f220cm
12
• .,
2, Gun shield, Break!hrough gun.
Immohile 24"/6Ocm
80"/200cm ,
10
.,
2, Gun shield, Brtaklhrough gun, Smoke.
Smoke bombmlmem.
Immohile 3r/8Ocm 13 I, Gun shield, Bunker buster.
88"f22Ocm 5 2,
Immohile 24"/6Ocm 13 I, Bunker buner. Smoke.
80"/2O<km 5 2, Smoke bombardment.
Cannon ",.
2,
5
11
.,
Cannon 9
" Flying Tank.
SID ....................................~:;~;;::!!;:~
.......;;::;;. 1ltilr.r;'IDJ~f
...rr. . ..... ·.·~~
T. . . . . . •. ,. . . . ........ Ho. ." '
Armour
Mobility Front Side Top ~Uipmenl and NOles
Horse-drawn
Slow Tank
Half-tracked
HOr!;e-drawn limber Hor~·drawn
- ...........
... . -.... _..
-~--
-. ....
,
- .
Russian Green (894), or
Luftwaffe Camo Green (823)
['aimed melal
Khaki (988)
Satchel
Caprured equipment presents a perfect opportunity to Plentiful stars and slogans, in either red or white, were
broaden your research, modelling and painting skills. Some common . Panially repainted vehicles, with a mix of
historical photographs do exist, for ideas and inspiration, bur green and German three~colour camouAage, are p,,,',,"II,
feel free to let your imagination run wild. Some vehicles may eye-catching. For a Decoy Tank Company,
have been resprayed, but more would have received makeshift over the German markings or using an
,repainting in the field, using whatever paint was available. vehicle is also perfectly acceptable.
~~j~_Wdi--~~~~
. ;~~r~-k~~~~~~~~~
1-70 OBR 1943
Armour: IO-GOmm Armour: 15-60rnm
Main Armamem: 45mm gun Model 38 Main Armament: 76.2mm F-34 cannon
SU-85
Armour: 45mm
Main Armament: 85mm 0-5T gun
®'mil
KY-85
Armour: 30-160mm
Main Armamem: 85mm D-5T gun
,1>.........d back of an AK riRe team £rom my AK fora. I intentionally went with thn:c 6gures On th~'U.!Id JO that I could add mono
Polish hands, some AK squads painted the
Once I gOt all o£ the assembly things worked our, it was
Polish eagle on them.
qnto painting-and lots of it! As demonstrated by the his-
torical photos, the AK troOps had a large variety of uniform On some of the figures' helmets without
colours. covers, I painted the Polish eagle emblem. I
painted a very simple 'V' with a line down
Painting civilian troops is rathcr
the middle. Then, anorher small line at the
fun because you r colour selection is
bottom to simulate the eagle's feet. Rifleman with
widened beyond the usual camo tones
to include whites, blues, reds and The most Hicky of these eaglh"m b,'om
Ie hrrnel
other bright colours. would be the 55 camouflage
smocks and trousers. The AK's 55
You can also conven military mniC5
flage was in the Pea Dor pattern, so I
into civilian ones JUSt by changing
the painting guides found in Grey Wolf
its colour. Civilian dress will yield all
Panisan figu~ rrom the sorts of colour combinations if you paint my Ked}/() uniforms. For some
.pecial order catalogue h· k ·d h b painted both fUnic and trousers in Pea
t In ours! et e ox.
!-tee. Panz.erfau5t while for others I mixed in a few .
figu ~, with h d h
I also painted the AK identification armband on each figure's civilian Irousers pantS ere an t ere.
right arm, and a similar band around most of the German
helmets.
NON-URBAN BASES
There was a fair amount of fighting in non-urban
such as parks, airfields, and forests so AK troops based
and liuer, such
cordingly would be JUSt as accurate.
u nCWllpapc'"
and recruiting
poole", made fr(lm
aluminium foil
AK captured'several armoured vehicles during the
including rwo Pamhers, a Tiger, a Panzer IV, a
and some armoured cars. l nese were left in the
J colours that they were captured in. The AK paimed
'"0" I""l';,h symbols all over the rank, including Polish flags,
other such nationalistic markings. They were
oversized so that they could not be mistaken for
tanks.
common marking was 'WP' which stood for Wojsko Po/.skir
""i,hA,m,'), This originated from the Polish underground
which itself was also commonly found painted on Polish
~id"d", ,;;ng the up rising.
MODELLING AK VEHICLES
Paineing AK vehicles is quite simple. Basically, paine
them as though they are German and then pain! Polish
markings all over it.
There are numerous pictures of an AK Pamher tank.
which appears to have no discolouration that one would
expect from a camouflaged vehicle, indicating that it
might have been paimed in just standard dark yellow
(Middlestone 882).
As you can see from the photo above the German
Balkenkreuz was not paimed over and was still visible.
The crews painted several Polish flags and insignia all
around the turret and hull [Q help identify the vehicle.
Inspirational and patriotic slogans and other such graffiti
were also applied [Q vehicles
Khaki (988)
Bread bag
GunmetaJ (863)
Gun merai, [Qol heads
Tracks
Gu.nmetal Grey (863)
painted dark green without camouflage. Most Romanian and German supplied ranks
to individual vehicles. Many German vehicles were jnitially supplied in
rc-painled
EUROPE, DECEMBER 1944
"It requires a brave man to be a coward in the Red Army. "-JosefStalin
"it is a foct that under equal (a"ditio,,,, ge-s.cale battles and whole wars
are won by troops th,,, hay,. d "fTo
high moral standards,
dear goals before them,
under which they go into
. r
battle. "- Marshal a/the
.:
, . •
•