Tag: Bagration

Tiger Tiger, Burning Bright

With Casey

I, like most people, love the idea of fielding captured equipment as evidenced by my Das Reich T-34 Beute Panzerkompanie.

The tide has now turned back to the Soviets. Back when they first appeared in Version 3 in Hammer & Sickle a pair of captured Panthers were a mainstay of any tank army that I built as it was one of the cheapest and easiest ways of getting some anti-tank 14 into my army.

Fast forward a few years and captured tanks are back, and better than ever!

The Captured Tank Command Card allows you to field a Captured Tank Platoon in place of a BA-64 Scout Platoon. I plan on painting up a platoon of Captured tanks because they look cool.

I’m planning on painting a platoon that consists of 2 Panthers and one Tiger. To fit in with my Winter-wash paint scheme I’ve chosen to paint a Mid war Tiger I and 2 late Panther G tanks mainly because they don’t have zimmerit and are easier to paint in my version of whitewash.

I started with the Tiger I as a test piece as the colours and process are slightly different to my white washed green.

I have always liked solid yellow on Tigers, so I have kept the basecoat plain and just added green squares and red stars where the original German markings were. I stole an idea off Victor and also removed the tow cable on the side to add more flat panels for whitewash and make it look more used. I have assembled my Panthers, but these will get a 3-colour camo treatment before getting their whitewash.

Captured tanks in the game

On the card you get options for Panzer IVs, StuGs, Tigers, and Panthers. I’m not really going to talk about Panzer IVs or StuGs here though.

The obvious comparison to the captured tanks are IS-2s. Three IS-2 tanks come in at 22 points, while three captured Panthers come in at 21 points (22 points if you replace one Panther with a Tiger, but for the ease of comparison I’ll stick with Panthers).

Looking at the main stats, the IS-2 has Anti-tank 14, ROF 1, Firepower 2+ with Brutal, as well as Front Armour 10, Side Armour 8 and Top Armour 2.

Panthers on the other hand have Anti-tank 14, ROF 2, Firepower 3+, but only have Front Armour 9, Side Armour 5 and Top Armour 1.

You are essentially trading the better armour of the IS-2 for slightly better mobility and the higher ROF and longer-range gun. You are also giving up your recon slot by taking the captured tanks as well, but your captured tanks do have Spearhead.

Another note to make is that the captured tanks are also Green, so won’t really be able to pull off many tricky movement orders.

I don’t think a captured tank platoon is an automatic choice, as they do slightly different jobs. IS-2s have a slight advantage because they are now cheap enough to take a whole formation of them now and have them count towards morale.

Where captured tanks really shine in a Rota Razvedki, or Reconnaissance Company. Here they can replace your BA-64 platoon and give you a tough tank platoon inside your formation. The added bonus here is that they will now count towards morale, and you can still take a divisional support platoon of BA-64s for a second Spearhead option.

Funnily enough, a Rota Razvedki is a list that I have always wanted to make, more on this later…

~Casey

Army Building With The Heavy Assault Group Starter Box

With John Lee

With the launch of the Bagration: Soviet release, I thought I would look at both new starter boxes to see what sort of force you can put on the table.  This article covers the Heavy Assault Group starter box.  This box is ideal for someone either starting out or for the veteran player who needs to add some additional firepower to their existing force.  For the new player, it opens the door to playing Flames Of War without needing to buy, assemble or paint too much and get into playing the game quicker.

So, if we look at what we get in the excellent value starter set (Heavy Assault Group), that will help decide what Formation(s) to run.  The starter set contains the following:

  • Complete A5 Rulebook
  • Soviet “Start Here” guide
  • 4 x IS-2 or IS-85 Tanks
  • 4 x ISU-122 or ISU-152 Assault Guns
  • 4 x SU-76 Assault Guns
  • 3 x BA-64 Armoured Cars
  • 4 x 57mm or 76mm Guns
  • 1 x Hero Shock Rifle Company
  • 2 x Decal Sheets
  • 12 x Unit Cards

The bonus here is that the rulebook is included in the box – so the new player makes a saving right away.  Now if we look at what Formations are in the Bagration: Soviet book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the starter box.  The best Formation to maximize this straight out of the box is the Heavy SP Regiment.  Let us look at what units comprise this Formation:

  • 1 Heavy SP Artillery Regiment HQ
  • 2-4 ISU-122 Guards Heavy SP Battery or ISU-152 Guards Heavy SP Battery
  • 0-1 SMG Company or Hero SMG Company or Engineer-Sapper Company

Looking at the Formation and what we get in the starter box, we can use all the Heavy Assault Guns in the Formation plus one IS-2.  To maximize our investment, we can add an IS-2 or IS-85 Guards Heavy Tank Company in Formation support along with a SU-76 Light Artillery Battery and a Hero Shock Rifle Company. We can also add the following support options; 57mm or 76mm Gun Battery and an Armoured Car Platoon.  This means we can use everything in the box for our list!  So how does this look from a list building perspective:

This is a fragile build with only three units in the Formation, but the ISU’s have FA9 SA8 TA2 and the IS-2s are even better with FA10!  So, if handled with care, they will still be deadly.  The other benefit with this list is that it has three artillery templates.  That is right – three!  The ISUs pull double duty, they can bombard and have high AT.  The IS-2 is a beast with AT-14 but nearly impervious in assaults.  You can assault with the IS-2s and infantry after pinning the enemy down with your three templates.  There are Fearless Careful 57mm AT11 guns for defending your objective or rolling up the guns to help the assault.  Shturmoviks (Flying tanks) to provide ability to either take on enemy heavy armour with rockets AT5 against TA2 such as Tigers and Elephants or drop a fourth template on some hapless infantry and gun teams.  Armoured Cars to provide spearhead in those missions where it can be used to get your army into a better attack position.

To buy this army you need to only purchase the following for $155:

1 x SUAB13 Soviet LW “Heavy Assault Group” Army Deal $100
1 x FW266 Bagration: Soviet Book $20
1 x SBX77 IL-2 Shturmovik Assault Company $35
TOTAL $155

Now if we look at expanding this starter set with another couple of boxes, we can fortify the above Formation and look at the Guards Heavy Tank Formations.

So, adding a box of five ISUs will allow us to have a stronger Formation with four or five units and we can use the infantry in the box to become a Hero SMG Company to become part of the Formation.  This is how it could look with two batteries of four ISU:

Costing:

1 x SUAB13 Soviet LW “Heavy Assault Group” Army Deal $100
1 x FW266 Bagration: Soviet Book $20
1 x SBX63 ISU Heavy SP Battery $45
TOTAL $165

Or with three batteries instead:

Costing:

1 x SUAB13 Soviet LW “Heavy Assault Group” Army Deal   100
1 x FW266 Bagration: Soviet Book     20
1 x SBX63 ISU Heavy SP Battery     45
1 x SB76 BA-64 Armoured Car Platoon     18
TOTAL $183

Now we can add a box IS-2 tanks to create a Guards Heavy Tank company, we can use most of the starter box.  The IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment which is made up of:

  • 1 IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment HQ
  • 1-3 IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company
  • 1 IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company or IS-85 Guards Heavy Tank Company
  • 0-1 SMG Company or Hero SMG Company or Engineer-Sapper Company

Running a mix of IS-2 and IS-85 gives you flexibility around ROF and AT.  We can also change out the ISU-152 battery with the SU-76s and the 57mm Tank-Killer Battery for the same points which are part of the starter box.  Armoured Cars to spearhead your assault tanks into position.  This will cost:

1 x SUAB13 Soviet LW “Heavy Assault Group” Army Deal   100
1 x FW266 Bagration: Soviet Book     20
1 x SBX62 IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company     45
TOTAL $165

There is also the IS-85 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment which is made up of:

  • 1 IS-85 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment HQ
  • 2-4 IS-85 Guards Heavy Tank Company
  • 0-1 SMG Company or Hero SMG Company or Engineer-Sapper Company

IS-85 has ROF 2 with AT-12 so you will need the ISU-122s for the AT14.  This is still a hard-hitting force – needs a bit of finesse to run it.  You can always change out the Hero SMG Company for Shturmoviks if you want that extra AT hitting power.

There are so many more options you could run with this box – get the book or hop online to forces website to see what you can out together for under $200 that suits your playstyle.

Even if you run other tank or infantry Formations, adding this box provides you a range of support options to go with them – great value for $100!

~John

Painting Winter Whitewash

Over the past year you may, or may not have been following the Big Four Of Late War, otherwise known as Chris, Casey, Wayne and Victor as they head down the Late War Journey, building completely new armies.

Casey, as our resident Soviet-o-phile decided to paint Soviets (as you would expect) but came up with a very unique winter scheme.

If you would like to check out his full step-by-step guide you can check out the article here…

T-34s, The Hammer

With Casey

I have finally finished my Big Four Of Late War T-34 company. Its only taken a year but it was worth it, and just in time as Soviet T-34s get a massive upgrade in Bagration: Soviet!

Under Fortress Europe Soviet players were limited in the number of T-34 (85mm) tanks that they could take, however now there are no limits and the cost to upgrade them got cheaper. Let’s compare the Hero T-34 lists to see how much bang for buck you get.

In the Hero T-34 (85mm) Tank Company it only costs 6 points to upgrade all of the T-34 (76mm) to T-34 (85mm) tanks, which to me is a no-brainer! I’ll get slightly less support, but the core of the formation will be much more useful.

I’m still happy that I painted up all of the 76mm turrets though, as it means that the army can still be used in Mid-war.

To pad out the Hero T-34 (85mm) list I’m going to add most of the in Formation support options from the list, and add an extra ZSU M17 platoon, BA-64 armoured cars, and a platoon of IS-2s to give me some high anti-tanks and a strong assault platoon.

Most of these extras are already painted, although I’ve just started the IS-2s and I’m still waiting to get my hands on some ZSUs…

~Casey

Army Building With The T-34 Starter Box

With John Lee

With the launch of the Bagration: Soviet release, I thought I would look at both new starter boxes to see what sort of force you can put on the table.  This article covers the T-34 starter box.  This box is ideal for someone either starting out or for the veteran player who needs to add some iconic tanks to their existing force.  For the new player, it opens the door to playing Flames Of War without needing to buy, assemble or paint too much and get into playing the game quicker.

So, if we look at what we get in the excellent value starter set (T-34), that will help decide what Formation(s) to run.  The starter set contains the following:

  • Complete A5 Rulebook
  • 21 x T-34 or T-34/85 Tanks
  • 2 x Decal Sheets
  • 10 x Unit Cards

The bonus here is that the rulebook is included in the box – so the new player makes a saving right away.  The benefit of the T-34 sprue is you can make both the 76mm and 85mm variants as both turrets are on the sprues – just swap out the turrets when you need.  Now if we look at what T-34 Formations are in the Bagration: Soviet book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the starter box.  The best Formations to maximize this straight out of the box is the T-34 Tank Battalion and T-34 (85mm) Tank Battalion.  Let us look at what units comprise the T-34 Tank Battalion Formation first:

  • 1 T-34 Tank Battalion HQ
  • 1-2 T-34 Company
  • 1 T-34 Tank Company or 1 T-70 Tank Company or 1 Valentine Tank Company
  • 0-1 ZSU M17 Anti-Aircraft Platoon
  • 0-1 82mm Mortar Company
  • 0-1 45mm Anti-Tank Company or 57mm Anti-Tank Company or 76mm Anti-Tank Company
  • 0-1 SMG Company or Hero SMG Company

Looking at the Formation and what we get in the starter box, we can use all the T-34s!  This means we can use everything in the box for our list.  Now we need to look at what else we need to round out the Formation.  Some infantry and intrinsic mortars would be useful.  So how does this look from a list building perspective:

So, a relatively strong Formation with 21 tanks and infantry and mortars.  Heavy tanks for high end AT and assault monsters!  BA-64s to get the Spearhead to gain an attack platform for your horde of tanks to be attacking and assaulting on turn 1 or 2- the T-34 is a fast beast and can move through terrain on 2+!  Make Your Own Luck Command Card to round it out – use it for a Last Stand Test at the crucial moment in the game.  NB: You can also take a few less T-34s by upgrading some of them to T-34 (85mm) for 2pts each up to half the company.  Play round with the numbers based on your preferences.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for under $300:

1 x SUAB12 Soviet T-34 Tank Battalion Army Deal $100
1 x FW266 Bagration: Soviet Book $20
1 x FW266C Bagration: Soviet Command Cards $10
2 x SU781 82mm and 120mm Mortar Company (Plastic) $27
1 x SBX80 SMG Company (Plastic) $54
1 x SBX62 IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) $45
1 x SBX76 BA-64 Armoured Car Platoon (Plastic) $18
TOTAL $274

Now if we make a few tweaks here to the list, we can get more value for our choices.  If we look at purchasing the other starter box (Heavy Assault Group) we get a lot of support options that we can swap in and out for what list we might want to run and save money at the same time!  Getting this starter set gives us the IS-2s, BA-64s, 57mm or 76mm guns and infantry straight out of the box for less than the cost of buying the individual boxes and you get ISUs and SU-76s on top of that too.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $220:

1 x SUAB12 Soviet T-34 Tank Battalion Army Deal $100
1 x FW266 Bagration: Soviet Book $20
1 x SUAB13 Soviet LW “Heavy Assault Group” Army Deal $100
TOTAL $220

Let us look at the T-34 (85mm) Tank Battalion Formation:

  • 1 T-34 (85mm) Tank Battalion HQ
  • 2 T-34 (85mm) Company
  • 0-1 ZSU M17 Anti-Aircraft Platoon
  • 0-1 82mm Mortar Company
  • 0-1 45mm Anti-Tank Company or 57mm Anti-Tank Company or 76mm Anti-Tank Company
  • 0-1 SMG Company or Hero SMG Company

We can use most of our T-34s and if we utilize the other starter box (Heavy Assault Group) we can provide flexibility with our lists.  Here is an example of what we can take:

This Formation has more firepower with the T-34 (85mm) having AT12 and no longer has the overworked rule that the 76mm version has.  The ISU-122s pull double duty of high-end anti-tank duty of AT14 and provides an additional artillery bombardment giving you options.  You can play around with providing different support options and with how many T-34s you want on the table!

There are also two other T-34 Formations in the book – the Hero equivalent of the above.   These Formations tend to be smaller and get the crafty tactics rating making them 3+ for tactics skill checks such as Blitz.  The Formations themselves are like their regular equivalents except the tank companies comprise of 3-4 tanks instead of up to 10 tanks.  Cost ranges from 9pts for 3 x T-34 (76mm) to 18pts for 4 x T-34 (85mm) – so still gives you some flexibility but due to their size, you need to be more careful with them.

There you have it.  For as little as $220 you can field four different T-34 Formations that allows you to get into Flames Of War, that is great on the budget and gives you the most bang for your buck starting a new force and the foundation to expand upon your Soviet force.

~John

Bagration: Soviet Community Previews

Breakthrough Assault No Dice, No Glory Blitz and Peaces
 Going Forward with the Forward Detachment…
 Have You Seen the Carnage? – Buidling lists in Soviet Bagration… FoW Bagration: The Liberation of Minsk…
Using the Heavy Assault Group Army Deal… Bagration Preview…
Unbagging “Bragration Soviet”… Bagration: Soviet Command Card Review…
Bagration: Soviet – Sapper Engineer Battalion…

Race To Minsk: Ace Campaign

Contains ten Story Episode Mission Cards, eight Story Epilogue Cards, ten Side Mission Cards, 16 Ace Cards, 20 Reward Cards and one Ace Campaign Rule booklet.

What Is Race to Minsk?
Race to Minsk is the second in a series of Ace Campaigns, a narrative-driven system of Flames Of War battles. Ace Campaigns are extremely flexible in allowing players to tailor their campaign to fit their playgroups needs. There are three different modes that you can play the campaign in: Story Mode, Extended Mode, and Aces Mode. Story mode is your shortest campaign that only uses the Story and Reward cards, while Extended allows you to play longer campaigns by adding in side missions. The Aces mode can be used with Story Mode or Extended Mode and allows players to create their own unique commander with special abilities that will give them an edge during the course of the campaign.

Click here to view the Race to Minsk: Ace Campaign in the online store here…

Story Mission Cards
The first thing to do is to play the current mission. In the first turn, Episode 1: Storming Forward. Read the narrative text to give you and your opponent context for your battle. Then follow the instructions on the mission card to set up your game. Once everything is ready, play your game!

Once the mission has been resolved, locate the next mission indicated on the Story Mission you just completed. That will be your next Story Mission. Then discard all other Story Mission Cards with that same Episode number as the new mission.

In this Example if the Allies win the Storming Forward mission, then the next mission will be Smash the Defences. If the Axis win, then the next mission would be A Strong Position.

Side Mission Cards
Side Missions are used in the Extended Play mode, for those who want a longer campaign. In the extended mode, more missions and rewards are added to the mix. Side missions are played between the story missions and all missions grant players rewards that they can use in future games. This mode is ideal if you want to spend a little more time playing games and earning rewards.

Side Missions are bonus games that you can play after the main Story Missions. They give you an opportunity to try out new Ace abilities (while playing Aces Mode) and earn valuable rewards. Once a side mission has been played, set it aside and do not shuffle it back into the deck, this means that you never play the same Side Mission twice in a campaign.

Reward Cards
Completing missions will earn you rewards that you can use in subsequent missions. Rewards are sorted into tiers, one for each phase of the game following a Story Mission. The higher the tier level, the more powerful the effect the reward will have.

Once used, reward cards are shuffled back into their respective tier decks.

Ace Choosing an Ace
Before playing their first game, players choose an Ace set to use throughout the campaign. This set includes two Infantry Ace sets and two Tank Ace sets. These Aces will have abilities better suited to their type, so for example, a tank ace is better off leading a tank force.When a player chooses an Ace, one of that player’s formation commanders becomes the Ace for the campaign. Any abilities and special effects granted by the Ace are limited to Units in that Ace’s Formation.

Ace Abilities
Completing missions will earn you rewards that you can use in subsequent missions. Rewards are sorted into tiers, one for each phase of the game following a Story Mission. The higher the tier level, the more powerful the effect the reward will have.

Once used, reward cards are shuffled back into their respective tier decks.

Flexible Campaign System
The Ace Campaign system is meant to be flexible, and fit your group’s needs making even easier for you and your friends to set up and play in a campaign, or to set up a story driven Tournament, the set can do that too.

The system can grow as well, as more and more sets come out you will gain more and more cards to add to your Ace Campaign sets, giving you even more Aces to choose form, new story missions, more side missions and even more Reward cards.

Bagration: Soviet Spotlight

with Wayne Turner

With the D-Day series of books coming to a close it is time to shine the spotlight on the Eastern Front. The first in our series of three Bagration books is Bagration: Soviet covering the Soviet forces on the Eastern Front in 1944.This book is jam packed full of interesting Soviet Formations and Units, as well as plenty of background, and three new river crossing themed missions.

The Bagration: Soviet book starts with background covering the pivotal events of Operation Bagration, the Soviet Army’s massive offensive against the Germans centred on Byelorussia that began on 22 June 1944.

Check out Bagration: Soviet in the online store here…

The front end of the book also features a comprehensive special rules section, Know your Tanks and Know your Infantry section to familiarise you with what you will find in the following pages.

The Force diagram is packed full of choices with nine Tank, five Infantry, and one Recon formation to choose from, as well as expansive support choices.

You will also find scattered throughout the book plenty more background covering the units and battles of Operation Bagration.

IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment

The first Formation is IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment. This hard hitting formation is equipped with IS-2 heavy tanks organised into a HQ of one IS-2, two to four IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Companies of 3-5 IS-2 tanks. One of these can be armed with the IS-85 instead, for less hitting power, but a higher ROF. These Guards tanks are rated Confident 4+, with a Counterattack 3+ and Last Stand 3+. They are Veteran Skill 3+, but are Hit On Aggressive 3+.

The fifth Unit can be an infantry choice of a SMG Company, Hero SMG Company or Engineer-Sapper Company.

IS-2 is a formidable beast with armour front 10, side 8, and top 2. It is armed with a 122mm gun with a range 28”/70cm, ROF 1/1, anti-tank 14, with Brutal and Slow Firing. Additional armament includes a 12.7mm AA MG, and a MG.

IS-85 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment

Our second Formation is the IS-85 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment. This is organised in a similar manner to the IS-2 formation, but equipped with the IS-85 tank. The IS-85 was created from an early batch of IS tanks when the 122mm guns were not ready for production. Three Guards Heavy Tank Regiments were equipped with them in early 1944.

IS-85 has the same thick armour as the IS-2, with armour front 10, side 8, and top 2. However, it is armed with a 85mm gun with a range 28”/70cm, ROF 2/1, anti-tank 12. Additional armament includes a MG (the 12.7mm AA MGs were not fitted until IS-2 production was in full swing).

This will also see the release of the plastic SBX62 IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company, which can do both the IS-2 and IS-85 tank. Keep an eye out for the Spotlight on this great kit.

Heavy SP Artillery Regiment

The third Formation in Bagration: Soviet is the Heavy SP Artillery Regiment armed with the ISU-122 or ISU-152 heavy assault guns. These powerful weapons are almost as heavily armoured as the IS tanks with armour front 9, side 8, and top 2. The ISU-122 is armed with a 122mm gun and can fire both direct or as artillery. Artillery range is 72”/180cm, with AT 3 and FP 3+. Direct fire range is 28”/70cm, ROF 1/1, AT 14 and FP 2+ with Brutal, Forward Firing, and Slow Firing. They also have an option to be fitted with a 12.7mm AA MG.

The ISU-152 is similar, but armed with a 152mm gun. Artillery range is 64”/160cm, with AT 3 and FP 2+. Direct fire range is 20”/50cm, ROF 1/1, AT 13 and FP AUTO with Brutal, Forward Firing, and Slow Firing.

These ISU assault guns are rated Confident 4+, with a Counterattack 5+ and Last Stand 3+. They are Trained Skill 4+, Assault 5+, and are Hit On Aggressive 3+.

Formation allows you to field a mix of ISU-122 and ISU-152 in Heavy SP Batteries of two to five ISUs, commanded by an HQ of one IS-2 tank. The fifth unit of the formation is an infantry unit of a SMG Company, a Hero SMG Company or an Engineer-Sapper Company.

Both the ISU-122 and ISU-152 can be made from the ISU plastic kit, an excellent kit that will be released with Bagration: Soviet. Check out the Spotlight featuring this fantastic plastic model SBX63 ISU Heavy SP Battery.

Medium SP Artillery Regiment

The fourth Formation is the Medium SP Artillery Regiment. This Formation is commanded by an Headquaders of one T-34 (85mm) and made up of two to four Tank-killer Batteries armed with SU-85, SU-85M or SU-100. A fifth unit can be either a SMG Company or a Hero SMG Company. As specialist tank-killer formations they are rated Fearless 3+ with Counterattack 4+, Skill is Veteran 3+ with Assault 5+, and they are Hit On Careful 4+.

SU-85 will be familiar to those who have built Soviet forces for Mid-war. It was armed with an 85mm gun with range 28”/70cm, ROF 2/1, anti-tank 12 with Forward Firing. It armour is front 5, side 5, top 1.

During the first production run of what would become the SU-100, the 100mm gun was not initially ready, so a batch was made with the new hull mounting the 85mm gun. These became known as the SU-85M. These have the same gun as the SU-85, but their armour is front 7, side 5, top 1.

The third unit option is the SU-100 which mounts the 100mm gun on the above hull, giving it a range 32”/80cm, ROF 1/1, AT 15, FP 2+ with Forward Firing and Slow Firing.

All three models are available as plastic kits in SBX64 SU Tank-killer Battery.

Light SP Artillery Regiment

This section ends with the Light SP Artillery Regiment, a simple formation with an HQ of T-70 light tank and two to four SU-76 Light SP Batteries, and either a SMG Company or a Hero SMG Company. The Light SP Artillery are rated Confident 4+, with Counterattack 6 and Last Stand 3+, Skill Trained 4+, with Assault 6, and Hit On Aggressive 3+.

The SU-76 assault gun can either fire as artillery or in direct fire. Artillery range 72”/180cm, AT 2, FP 4+. In direct fire it has range 24”/60cm, ROF 2/1, AT 9, FP 3+ with Forward Firing. It is also lightly armoured with front 4, side 1, top 0.

A new plastic SU-76 kit makes this formation a really interesting option. See the SBX65 SU-76 Light SP Battery spotlight.

Engineer-Sapper Battalion

The first of the Bagration: Soviet infantry formations is the Engineer-sapper Battalion. This offers the unique Soviet assault engineers with their camouflage suits and body armour. The formation is organised as an HQ of two PPSh SMG teams, and two to three Engineer-Sapper Companies. They can also take an attached tank unit of IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company, ISU-122 Heavy SP Battery, ISU-152 Heavy SP Battery, or OT-34 Flame-tank Company.

The Engineer-Sappers have some diverse options with which to tailor your unit. The basic build is made up of 8-20 PPSh SMG teams with one or two DP MG teams for extra long range firepower. However, they are also armed with Smoke Pots which can be used once per game to drop a two-gun Smoke Bombardment before they assault. They are also Pioneers who are expert at clearing mines. Their body armour gives them a save on a 6 in Assaults.

The tailoring comes in the unit options with Panzerfausts, anti-tank rifles, Maksim HMGs, Flame-throwers, and 82mm mortars all available to enhance their fighting abilities.

Check their excellent models in the SBX67 Engineer-Sapper Company spotlight.

Hero Shock Rifle Battalion

In the opening battles of Operation Bagration it was the men of the Hero Shock RIfle Battalions that initially assaulted the German front lines supported by the Guards heavy tanks or heavy SP artillery.

This formation can be made up of Hero Shock Rifle Companies, Storm Groups, or Hero SMG SMG Companies. The formation also has machine-gun, 82mm and 120mm mortars, scouts, and 45mm anti-tank companies.

The Hero Shock Rifle Companies are a little larger than the Hero RIfle Company found in Fortress Europe, having benefited from reinforcements in preparation for Operation Bagration. These troops are excellently rated being Fearless 3+, Veteran 3+ and Hit On Aggressive 3+. They can have 9 to 13 DP MG & M1891 rifle teams and Komissar giving them Motivation 2+ while the Komissar is still with the unit. They can also add anti-tank rifles, HMGs, and Flame-throwers for additional firepower.

These troops can be represented using the excellent plastic troops of SBX79 RIfle Company.

Instead of one of your Hero Shock Rifle Companies and your Hero SMG Company, you can choose to take up to two Storm Groups. These troops are armed with 6-7 PPSh SMG teams, a PTRD anti-tank rifle, a Maksim HMG, and a 82mm mortar, and can add an additional Maksim HMG and a Flame-thrower. There are very experienced troops rated Fearless 3+, Veteran 3+ with Assault 2+ and are Hit On Careful 4+.

These troops have their own box, SBX81 Storm Group.

Rifle Battalion

Not all the troops assaulting the Germans on 22 June 1944 were veteran shock troops, some from the Rifle Battalions that made up the bulk of the Red Army. These troops can be just as determined.

A RIfle Battalion is made up of an HQ, two to three Rifle Companies, one of which can be a Penal Company, and a SMG Company. The formation also has its own machine-guns, mortars, anti-tanks and scouts.

The riflemen have motivation of Confident 4+, but the presents of their Komissar gives them 3+. Their skill is Green 5+, but they Assault on 4+. Their Hit On is Aggressive 3+. These can be big units with 15 to 22 DP MG & M1891 rifle teams and a Komissar. To this they can add HMGs, anti-tank rifles and flame-throwers.

The Penal Company offers you some assault troops with which to soften up the enemy. These troops have nothing to lose, so have motivation Fearless 3+ with a Komissar bringing that to 2+. They are skill Green 5+, but Assault on 3+. However they only pass Tactics on 6. Their Hit On is Aggressive 3+ and Save on 4+.

The Scout Platoon, which can be taken with the Hero Shock Rifle Battalion and Rifle Battalion, provides the formation with some Spearhead troops to infiltrate the enemy’s positions.

These troops can also be represented using the excellent plastic troops of SBX79 Rifle Company and SBX80 SMG Company.

The third section of Bagration: Soviet covers troops given the job of rushing through the broken German lines to cause havoc among the retreating troops. These are the troops of the Motor Rifle Divisions.

Hero T-34 (85mm) Tank Battalion

Hero Troops are the troops that have been in battle for a while and have been reduced down to a core of competent soldiers.

The Hero T-34 (85mm) Tank Battalion is the first of out all T-34/85 formations. With an HQ of a T-34 (85mm) and two to three Hero T-34 (85mm) Tank Companies this formation has plenty of punch. It is further backed up by its own anti-aircraft platoon, a Hero SMG Company, a 82mm Mortar Company, and choice of 45mm, 57mm or 76mm Anti-tank Companies.

These Hero troops are rated Confident 4+, Trained 4+ with Tactics 3+, and are Hit On Aggressive 3+.

Hero T-34 (85mm) Tank Companies are compact Units of three or four T-34 (85mm) tanks. These tanks have good protection with armour front 6, side 5, and top 1. They are armed with the 85mm gun with range 28”/70cm, ROF 2/1, AT 12, FP 3+, and MGs.

These are available in plastic where you can either get a box of five with SBX66 T-34 Tank Company or jump in with both feet and grab 21 T-34 tanks in the SUAB12 T-34 Tank Battalion.

This formation also sees a new anti-aircraft option with the ZSU M19 Anti-aircraft Platoon. This unit is armed with the Lend-lease American M17 AA half-track. Its Quad .50 cal AA MGs give it range 20”/50cm with ROF 5/3, AT 4 and FP 5+ with Dedicated AA. The half-track is lightly armoured to protect it from small arms fire with front 1, side 0 and top 0.

This will be an all plastic kit available with SBX78 ZSU M17 Anti-aircraft Platoon.

Hero T-34 Tank Battalion

The Hero T-34 Tank Battalion allows you to take a mix of T-34 (76mm) and T-34 (85mm) tank in your Hero T-34 Tank Companies. The formation also contains options for a Hero T-70 Tank Company or a Hero Valentine Tank Company. This formation offers a real variety of different tanks. It also has its own anti-aircraft, Hero SMG Company, 82mm mortars, and anti-tank guns.

The T-34 (76mm) is armed with a 76mm gun with range 24”/60cm, ROF 2/1, AT 9, FP 3+ with Overworked (+1 To Hit for Moving)

The T-70 is a light tank armed with a 45mm gun. It is quite well-armoured for a light tank with front 4, side 2, top 1. The 45mm gun has a range 20”/50cm, ROF 1/1, AT 7, FP 4+ with Overworked.

The British Valentine was supplied to the Soviets as part of the Lend-lease program. Though the British thought of it as an infantry tank, the Soviets designated it a light tank and gave it to light tank companies. The Valentine is therefore quite well-armoured with front 6, side 5, top 1. The Soviets got a mix of types, some with 2 pdr guns others with 6 pdr guns. The 2 pdr gun has a range 24”/60cm, ROF 2/1, AT 7, FP 4+ with No HE. The 6 pdr gun has a range 28”/70cm, ROF 2/1, AT 10, FP 4+ with No HE, No MG and Overworked. The Valentine (2 pdr) also has a MG.

To field these troops have a look at these for the T-34s SBX66 T-34 Tank Company or SUAB12 T-34 Tank Battalion. For the T-70s check out SBX68. For the Valentines see SBX69.

Hero Motor Rifle Battalion

The Hero Motor Rifle Battalion is a well-equipped formation with its core of infantry, its own selection of support weapons like machine-guns, mortars, and anti-tank guns, and it also has its own tanks and reconnaissance troops.

The Hero Motor Rifle Company that make up two to three of your formation units are well-rated with Confident 4+ motivation backed up by a Komissar (3+ motivation). Their skill is Veteran 3+, with 2+ in Assaults. Their Hit On rating is Aggressive 3+. They have 7-10 DP MG teams (Range 16”/40cm, ROF 2/2, AT 2, FP 6) and a Komissar. They can add PTRD anti-tank rifle teams and Maksim HMG teams for more firepower.

These troops can also be represented using the excellent plastic troops of SBX79 RIfle Company and SBX80 SMG Company.

Their fourth infantry unit is the Hero SMG Company (which is included in many formations throughout the book as you may have noted). This simple, but effective unit is armed with 5-7 PPSh SMG teams (Range 4”/10cm, ROF 3/3, AT 1, FP 6 with Pinned ROF 1) and a Komissar team. They have the same ratings as the Hero Motor RIfle Company.

Use SBX80 SMG Company to field these excellent troops.

T-34 Tank Battalion

The T-34 Battalion is a mixed unit with both T-34 (76mm) and T-34 (85mm) tanks. They can also have a light tank company with either T-70 or Valentine light tanks. Their formation also contains anti-aircraft, mortars, anti-tank and SMG troops.

To field these troops have a look at these for the T-34s SBX66 T-34 Tank Company or SUAB12 T-34 Tank Battalion. For the T-70s check out SBX68. For the Valentines see SBX69.

Motor Rifle Battalion

Like the Hero version of these troops, the Motor Rifle Battalion formation is almost fully contained combined arms force, with its own machine-guns, mortars, anti-tank, anti-aircraft, reconnaissance and tanks. These troops have a motivation of Confident 4+ with a Komissar making it 3+, skill is Trained 4+, but with 3+ in Assaults. They are Hit On 3+, and Save on 4+.

The Motor Rifle Companies are quite large with between 10 and 28 DP MG teams and a Komissar. They can also add anti-tank rifles and HMGs to this total.

They can also take the SMG Company with the same ratings, but armed with 15-22 PPSh SMG teams and a Komissar. They can also take a couple of additional Flame-throwers (Range 4”/10cm, ROF 4/4, AT 2, FP AUTO, with Flame-thrower, Heavy Weapon, and Pinned ROF 2).

These troops can also be represented using the excellent plastic troops of SBX79 RIfle Company and SBX80 SMG Company.

Reconnaissance Company

The final formation in Bagration: Soviet is the Reconnaissance Company. This formation has a good mix of troops and units. It is built around a core of submachine-gun infantry which can fight on foot or be transported in Lend-lease M3 scout cars or captured German Sd Kfz 251 half-tracks. Both transport options give some protection from rifle and machine-gun fire. The formation is rated motivation Confident 4+ with Last Stand 3+, skill Veteran with Assault 2+, and Hit On Aggressive.

The Armoured Reconnaissance Platoon can have 4-6 PPSh SMG teams mounted in either of the above transport options. This unit used the Spearhead rule.

If you take the foot option are four Recce DP MG teams with an option to add a Flame-thrower. They also use the Scout rule in addition to Spearhead.

To field the infantry from an Armoured Reconnaissance Platoon or a Reconnaissance Platoon use SBX80 SMG Company.

For the M3 Scout Transports use SU206 M3 Scout Transport. For the Sd Kfz 251 use GBX152 Sd Kfz 251 Transports.

The Formation can also have its own 82mm mortar Company, 76mm anti-tank Company, and tank company.

Last, but not least they come with their own little armoured cars, the BA-64. This gives you another Spearhead unit. The BA-64 Armoured Car Platoon has 3-7 BA-64s, these can be armed with MGs or PTRD anti-tank rifles. They armoured to protect them from small arms fire with front 1, side 1, top 0.

The new plastic BA-64 comes in the SBX76 Armoured Car Platoon box.

Support

The support is full of great stuff to support your Soviet force in the field. There are OY-34 and KV-8 Flame-tank Companies for burning your way through the defences of the enemy. A good selection of Tank-killer Companies, armed with 45mm guns, 57mm guns, 76mm guns, and 100mm guns. The 100mm gun packs a mighty punch with range 32”/80cm, ROF 1/1, AT 15, FP 2+, with Slow Firing and Forward Firing.

For artillery support you can have the infamous Katyusha rocket launcher, 76mm, 122mm, or 152mm artillery batteries. You can also now take the new BA-64 armoured car to mount our artillery observer.

For air support you can choose from two variants of the IL-2 Shturmovik, one with 23mm guns (Range 6”/15cm, ROF -/2, AT 6, FP 5+), bombs and rockets, or one with a 37mm gun (Range 8”/20cm, ROF -/2, AT 8, FP 4+), as well as bombs and rockets.

After the support you will find a sample army based on the new Soviet Start Force Heavy Assault Group, a painting guide, a basing guide, a Eastern Front Terrain guide, and section on City Fighting.

Bagration Battles

The final section in the book introduces River Crossing rules. River crossing were a common feature of the battles on the Eastern Front, and during Operation Bagration in particular. We have included rules so you can recreate these set piece battles in Flames of War.

You will find River Assault rules, three River Crossing missions, a Linked Campaign incorporating the new missions along with missions from the rulebook. The book ends with a comprehensive catalogue on Bagration: Soviet models, your easy guide to collecting your Soviet Force.

The book is packed full of content, and there is probably a formation or two to tempt anybody looking and getting into Flames Of War on the Eastern Front. Enjoy!

~Wayne