Great video. These overviews are really useful for someone who is thinking about jumping into Bolt Action. Please also remember that the Red Army also fought against the Japanese towards the end of the War.
This was my starter set. FYI, the soviets are the swiss army knife of Bolt Action. No faction can beat the options of play style more than the Soviets (sorry German players, it's true). That said, this is my advice on a few tips when building this set. I equipped all my great-coats troops with rifles, except their squad leaders who I gave SMGs (one single exception, always equip one Squad leader with a rifle for your free-be squad whose NCO must carry a rifle). All my wool/cotton uniformed troops are SMGs. This makes identification on the battlefield easy. Don't worry about finding the correct color of the uniform, because soviet factories produced the same pattern of uniforms, but with whatever cloth they could get their hands on from light tan to dark green. That means you could furth identify squads by color, or just use a hodgepodge of colors in each squad for flavor. But if you are like me and forget what colors/wash I used last time, don't worry about getting the uniforms the same, historically uniforms did fade fast in combat too. Build at least five SMGs with cocktails or grenades in their second hand. These guys can be formed as an anti-tank team or just used in your normal squads. Since your free Rifle squad can get free anti-tank grenades as an upgrade, consider building them a lot of grenades/cocktails. This will make it easier to distinguish them from other squads on the field. If for some reason, you do want to issue another squad or two anti-tank grenades, swap out one or two of their riflemen, with grenadiers from your freebee squad. Build 5-6 LMGs (I love fielding cheap five-man 2xLMG Squads), 2 anti-tank rifles, and one Sniper rifle (I can always proxy it as an anti-tank rifle or the opposite). I use my second officer as either a commissar or an artillery observer. Additional packs to buy as supplements: ZIS-3 anti-tank gun, Assault engineer squad box, bomb dogs, and a Katyusha. Honorable additions: An armored car, T-26, T-34, truck, and tank riders. Finding an extra 40k flamer tank bitz, to tacky gum onto the back of one of your engineers, is a good cost-saving idea to field a flamer (Don't worry about changing out the rifle/SMG for this one. The Soviets historically would disguise their flamers to look like rifles/SMGs).
I don't have the rulebook yet but is it legal to have 60/70 men in squads of ten each with 5 carrying smg's and 5 or 6 carrying rifles? Do certain lists stop that?
Yes & Yes. Most infantry units allow a mixed loadout. Early war theatre selections do limit you to the few infantry units that do not allow mixed. But by mid-war almost all units allowing mixed, are available. If you are just playing a generic Army List you can easily find a units with a mixed loadout option. I personally don't mix units (to include NCOs and LMGs). I like my "rifle" squads firing all members at 24" range. While my SMG squads need to dump 2 shots each, after I'm done running them up. (No time to slow down in order to shot only half the squad when over 12" away.) I seldom even put LMGs in the squads anymore. If I'm going to use LMGs. I'll take an LMG squad with two LMG teams and a Rifle NCO (5 men total). Those will normally be my objective holders or units set on ambush for area deniability. Let the units do what they do best. Don't create a Jack of all trade squad like the German Squads. Because you will be a master of none. One large 50%/50% squad is a waste of capabilities. I find braking the squad into two pure weapon type smaller squads are more of a flexible option. @@frogblasttheventcore69
There is also that what if scenario where WWII rolls right into WWIII against the US and UK forces. The real big advantage is you can use US and UK equipment and vehicles through Lend Lease for them, I have a M3A1 halftrack as a M5 export model, Dodge 3/4 ton with DShk HMG, Valentine III Mk X infantry tank, White M3 Scout car, and my trolly GPA Seep which is just an amphibious Jeep in a boat hull. I totally made a German player mad when I ran it across the river and then have my dog mine team jump out go 6 inches and released the hounds against his Panther, that was on over watch of the lone bridge across said river. So the Seep is the same price as a Gaz 67 or regular jeep, since the only place Warlord mentions them is in the Lend Lease box in the Soviet Army book.
Heads up: Tamiya does make a quick-set plastic glue for those fiddly bits. And for the record, I prefer weapons that I can glue on; it makes kitbashing easier.
@MordianGlory I do find that the starter armies is just the surface of what you could do. To summarize if you want to take full advantage of artillary and maxamize fun(for yourself), I bult the Stalins Hammer(original name) list: seelow heights list 2x M_30(MRL) Vet with spotters 1x katyusha(MRL) vet 1x B13 katyusha(MRL) vet 1x first leutenant iex(or try with major inex, aswell as inex second leutenant, and see your oponents reaction when you activate all your artillary) 2x sthrafbat units(play with points here) 2x forward artillary vet 2x Heavy mortor reg 1x free medium mortor(if your oponent agrees with this optional condition ofcourse or the free rifle squad) This will let you bomb the hell our of anyone or die horribly if he gets close. PS.All love from here in South Africa.🌍
The Soviets are my main bolt action army and I usually have a different perspective on bolt action tactics than Mr Mordian Glory. But yeah, I think everything Mordian Glory says is bang on. Just build loads of rifleman! SMG squads are great too, being able to take squads of 12 SMG troops as regulars I think is so powerful it almost counts as a soft faction trait. Although with the price of the KV2 (which you will definitely want to take over the KV1) you can probably only afford the one squad and have a decent core of riflemen and support units. I'd consider some tank hunting squads as well, 2 to 4 forward deploying soldiers armed with SGMs or rifles and a single Panzerfaust each. It's just another tool to have in the toolbox. They occupy the Anti-tank team slot so I think the anti-tank rifles are still probably a better pick for the points... but if you're being tormented by a sniper these guys can deal with him. The panzerfausts are obviously are much more effective than Anti-tank rifles too. Talking about snipers I'd recommend building one with the scoped Mosin Nagant. If you end up not liking snipers he can just be demoted to a rifle squad. Snipers are pretty divisive, they do nothing for me but everytime I face one on the table it picks up two LMG's and a officer. Also it's in enemy at the gates so it's sort of obligatory. If you know a Japanese player grab one of his flagpole and arms (fits perfectly on the Soviet torsos) and stick a helmet on it for the assistant. Another obligatory thing you have to do, again with the Japanese flagpole. Print out a Soviet red flag for one of you guys, (don't use him as the banner bearer he's got terrible rules held over from first edition just use him as a regular rifleman.) It just looks amazingly cool.
Da Da Da Komrade! Finally you come to Glorious Soviet Army! Most Infantry, Stronkest Tenk! Come with armour made of Stalinium! Komrade Stalin demands our Victory! For the Motherland!!
Remember kids. Nothing (but your opponent) stops you from using these in the universe of 40k. If there is feudal planets... there for sure are WW2 tech planets too :p
Pro tip for new Soviet players: model your free 12 man squad as an inexperienced squad from the 2nd ed rule book, not a rifle squad from the army book. some Soviet units from that book are a bit out of date. (Something to bear in mind.) An inexperienced squad, unlike the rifle squad, can get an LMG, an SMG and Molotov cocktails for free! Take full advantage of this. 😜
Great video. These overviews are really useful for someone who is thinking about jumping into Bolt Action. Please also remember that the Red Army also fought against the Japanese towards the end of the War.
This was my starter set. FYI, the soviets are the swiss army knife of Bolt Action. No faction can beat the options of play style more than the Soviets (sorry German players, it's true). That said, this is my advice on a few tips when building this set.
I equipped all my great-coats troops with rifles, except their squad leaders who I gave SMGs (one single exception, always equip one Squad leader with a rifle for your free-be squad whose NCO must carry a rifle). All my wool/cotton uniformed troops are SMGs. This makes identification on the battlefield easy.
Don't worry about finding the correct color of the uniform, because soviet factories produced the same pattern of uniforms, but with whatever cloth they could get their hands on from light tan to dark green. That means you could furth identify squads by color, or just use a hodgepodge of colors in each squad for flavor. But if you are like me and forget what colors/wash I used last time, don't worry about getting the uniforms the same, historically uniforms did fade fast in combat too.
Build at least five SMGs with cocktails or grenades in their second hand. These guys can be formed as an anti-tank team or just used in your normal squads.
Since your free Rifle squad can get free anti-tank grenades as an upgrade, consider building them a lot of grenades/cocktails. This will make it easier to distinguish them from other squads on the field. If for some reason, you do want to issue another squad or two anti-tank grenades, swap out one or two of their riflemen, with grenadiers from your freebee squad.
Build 5-6 LMGs (I love fielding cheap five-man 2xLMG Squads), 2 anti-tank rifles, and one Sniper rifle (I can always proxy it as an anti-tank rifle or the opposite).
I use my second officer as either a commissar or an artillery observer.
Additional packs to buy as supplements: ZIS-3 anti-tank gun, Assault engineer squad box, bomb dogs, and a Katyusha. Honorable additions: An armored car, T-26, T-34, truck, and tank riders. Finding an extra 40k flamer tank bitz, to tacky gum onto the back of one of your engineers, is a good cost-saving idea to field a flamer (Don't worry about changing out the rifle/SMG for this one. The Soviets historically would disguise their flamers to look like rifles/SMGs).
I don't have the rulebook yet but is it legal to have 60/70 men in squads of ten each with 5 carrying smg's and 5 or 6 carrying rifles? Do certain lists stop that?
Yes & Yes.
Most infantry units allow a mixed loadout.
Early war theatre selections do limit you to the few infantry units that do not allow mixed. But by mid-war almost all units allowing mixed, are available. If you are just playing a generic Army List you can easily find a units with a mixed loadout option.
I personally don't mix units (to include NCOs and LMGs).
I like my "rifle" squads firing all members at 24" range.
While my SMG squads need to dump 2 shots each, after I'm done running them up. (No time to slow down in order to shot only half the squad when over 12" away.)
I seldom even put LMGs in the squads anymore. If I'm going to use LMGs. I'll take an LMG squad with two LMG teams and a Rifle NCO (5 men total). Those will normally be my objective holders or units set on ambush for area deniability.
Let the units do what they do best. Don't create a Jack of all trade squad like the German Squads. Because you will be a master of none. One large 50%/50% squad is a waste of capabilities. I find braking the squad into two pure weapon type smaller squads are more of a flexible option. @@frogblasttheventcore69
Don’t forget that the Soviets invaded Japanese Manchuria in 1945
I've been eyeing this kit for a while now, real tempted to get into bolt action
There is also that what if scenario where WWII rolls right into WWIII against the US and UK forces. The real big advantage is you can use US and UK equipment and vehicles through Lend Lease for them, I have a M3A1 halftrack as a M5 export model, Dodge 3/4 ton with DShk HMG, Valentine III Mk X infantry tank, White M3 Scout car, and my trolly GPA Seep which is just an amphibious Jeep in a boat hull. I totally made a German player mad when I ran it across the river and then have my dog mine team jump out go 6 inches and released the hounds against his Panther, that was on over watch of the lone bridge across said river. So the Seep is the same price as a Gaz 67 or regular jeep, since the only place Warlord mentions them is in the Lend Lease box in the Soviet Army book.
I haven't build the Soviet winter infantry, but I have the summer/spring infantry, just be aware that certain arm pairs are for certain weapons :)
Heads up: Tamiya does make a quick-set plastic glue for those fiddly bits.
And for the record, I prefer weapons that I can glue on; it makes kitbashing easier.
@MordianGlory I do find that the starter armies is just the surface of what you could do.
To summarize if you want to take full advantage of artillary and maxamize fun(for yourself), I bult the Stalins Hammer(original name) list:
seelow heights list
2x M_30(MRL) Vet with spotters
1x katyusha(MRL) vet
1x B13 katyusha(MRL) vet
1x first leutenant iex(or try with major inex, aswell as inex second leutenant, and see your oponents reaction when you activate all your artillary)
2x sthrafbat units(play with points here)
2x forward artillary vet
2x Heavy mortor reg
1x free medium mortor(if your oponent agrees with this optional condition ofcourse or the free rifle squad)
This will let you bomb the hell our of anyone or die horribly if he gets close.
PS.All love from here in South Africa.🌍
The Soviets are my main bolt action army and I usually have a different perspective on bolt action tactics than Mr Mordian Glory.
But yeah, I think everything Mordian Glory says is bang on. Just build loads of rifleman! SMG squads are great too, being able to take squads of 12 SMG troops as regulars I think is so powerful it almost counts as a soft faction trait. Although with the price of the KV2 (which you will definitely want to take over the KV1) you can probably only afford the one squad and have a decent core of riflemen and support units.
I'd consider some tank hunting squads as well, 2 to 4 forward deploying soldiers armed with SGMs or rifles and a single Panzerfaust each. It's just another tool to have in the toolbox. They occupy the Anti-tank team slot so I think the anti-tank rifles are still probably a better pick for the points... but if you're being tormented by a sniper these guys can deal with him. The panzerfausts are obviously are much more effective than Anti-tank rifles too.
Talking about snipers I'd recommend building one with the scoped Mosin Nagant. If you end up not liking snipers he can just be demoted to a rifle squad. Snipers are pretty divisive, they do nothing for me but everytime I face one on the table it picks up two LMG's and a officer. Also it's in enemy at the gates so it's sort of obligatory. If you know a Japanese player grab one of his flagpole and arms (fits perfectly on the Soviet torsos) and stick a helmet on it for the assistant.
Another obligatory thing you have to do, again with the Japanese flagpole. Print out a Soviet red flag for one of you guys, (don't use him as the banner bearer he's got terrible rules held over from first edition just use him as a regular rifleman.) It just looks amazingly cool.
"If you come from wh40k where everything is moulded in"
**laughs in Catachan**
Perfect timing - this is arriving in the mail tomorrow for me!
Mordian Glory: "5+5=8"
Hope we will get pure plastic kits someday.
Da Da Da Komrade! Finally you come to Glorious Soviet Army! Most Infantry, Stronkest Tenk! Come with armour made of Stalinium! Komrade Stalin demands our Victory! For the Motherland!!
Remember kids. Nothing (but your opponent) stops you from using these in the universe of 40k. If there is feudal planets... there for sure are WW2 tech planets too :p
That was my reason for getting them myself. But I've started playing Bolt Action so much that I have not played 40k for over a year.
Pro tip for new Soviet players: model your free 12 man squad as an inexperienced squad from the 2nd ed rule book, not a rifle squad from the army book. some Soviet units from that book are a bit out of date. (Something to bear in mind.) An inexperienced squad, unlike the rifle squad, can get an LMG, an SMG and Molotov cocktails for free! Take full advantage of this. 😜
Yay! My boys! 💪 Horde armies FTW! 😎
"If you come from Warhammer 40k..."
::checks wallet:: Nope, there's still money in there, so I obviously don't do Warhammer 40K.
Dont forget about poland in 1939
First
Before watching the video, I just orderd this box.
Rrodina!!