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Hello lads!

It's Unit1126PLL here, and I've got a Soviet Late-War Guards Heavy Tank Regiment list at 1750 (out of Red Bear) here for you to critique. I also have some comments about it, found below:

1x IS-2 obr 1943 Command Tank
-.50 AAMG
-Tankodesantniki

4x IS-2 obr 1943
-4x Tankodesantniki

4x IS-2 obr 1943
-4x Tankodesantniki

Strelkovy Company (Red Army)
-2 Platoons

Limited Air Support
-IL-2 Shturmovik

Comments:
Well, here it is. I've considered dropping the air support for proper artillery (and therefore four platoons), but I'm using the IL-2s to knock out KTs and Panthers (when necessary) and artillery cannot do that. I've also considered turning the Strelkovy into sappers or udarny, but I like having the fifteen teams (so at least I get QoQ for one shooting phase), sappers seem unnecessary with the IS-2s to kill tanks, and Udarny seem too few in number for their points.

The only tanks I'm super afraid of are Panthers and King Tigers, because they're freaking impossible to hit (thank you ROF 1) and they have guns that can shoot back and do significant damage. The Blood, Guts, and Glory book Sherman army is also disturbing, but is expensive and AT13 is meh. British fireflies / TDs are also a concern, but at least (unlike KTs) a solid hit from an IS-2 will paste one and I can gun tank it if I am particularly lucky.

The reason for tankodesantniki on the IS-2s is to assault. I believe that the strength of the IS-2 lies in engaging enemy infantry, both with it's main gun and in close assault, with turret rear MG and top armor 2. Tankodesantniki are gravy on top, allowing the IS-2 two rolls to hit in assault, and additional vehicle MG (effectively) and the ability to roll to hit in terrain without entering it during an assault.

Hello

This is a list I have looked at quite a few times and I think I have come up with a list I like. But first let talk about your list. Firstly I would save points and drop the Tank Escorts off of one of the tank platoons, You only need one dedicated assault platoon, the other platoons can assault if needed and with top armour 2 and rear mg they will be quite safe.

I know why you are scared of Panthers but artillery is probably your best bet to go with the artillery as they are better against other armies, and with Firepower 3+ and AT 4 Panther have to respect it. I would also look at taking some IS-85's the AT 12 and ROF 2 will help take on the sherman hordes of the US and British and Panzer IV's are becoming very common which they can equally deal with.

The list i would look at would be

IS-2 HQ + Escort
4 IS-2 + Escorts
3 IS-85
3 IS-85
8 122mm artillery + observer

1745pts

This list gives you a 5 tank assault force with breakthrough gun. 6 IS-85's to compete with the tank hordes of medium and light tanks and an 8 gun battery to pin and deal with anything dug in before you assault.

Just my thoughts and I hope it's helpful.

Ben

Take the barrels off your IS-2s and convert them into IS-85s.

A bit snarky, but honestly the RoF 1 just kills the IS-2. You will rarely if ever fire the big main gun but meanwhile you are bleeding points out the nose for it. The IS-85 is just as good an assault machine but you'll get more hulls and get to fire your guns!

The problem with the IS-85 is no tank escorts, thats why I would have one platoon of IS-2's to have a 10 dice assault where you need it while the IS-85 does the shooting.

Ben

Although I haven't played it in awhile my KT list would have a much harder time against Grey Hunters' list than the first list. The artillery is a worry for me when playing KTs. Air I can mitigate to eliminate easily.

The IS-2 + IS-85 combo is a really good mix game wise.

 Consul Scipio wrote:
Although I haven't played it in awhile my KT list would have a much harder time against Grey Hunters' list than the first list. The artillery is a worry for me when playing KTs. Air I can mitigate to eliminate easily.

The IS-2 + IS-85 combo is a really good mix game wise.

I do think you need the mix, all IS-2's and you have to few shots, +1 to hit if you move and will struggle against the medium tank hordes that are common these days. All IS-85's and you'll struggle against Panthers, Jumbos' and the likes.

Ben

Your Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Companies must be equipped entirely with the same tanks as the Battalion HQ.. says page 45 in Red Bear. So no mixing.

Honestly I have looked at the list and without recon you are kind of toast against ambushes and the army has a lot of problems against other tanks. I use the Heavy Assault Gun regiment that can get V.S Rat who makes them very survivable, small recon squads and volleyfire when they open up. Remember with the 5+ to hit veterans in the open when you move limits a lot of the damage from the IS2.

 Papadoc wrote:
Your Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Companies must be equipped entirely with the same tanks as the Battalion HQ.. says page 45 in Red Bear. So no mixing.

Some body needs to update Easy Army then as easy army lets you do that.

ya..the must take all the same rule is why I wouldn't run the Guards heavy. its a really restrictive list.
Your better off taking the Heavy Self-propelled Artillery Regiment as an example so you can take a more broad mix of tanks.

Heres a list I've been working out for 1750


HQ
1 IS-2 obr 1943 with .50 cal AA MG 140


3 ISU-122 with .50 cal AA MG SMG Tank Escort Warrior Leytenant S Rat in the Command Assault gun 435
3 ISU-122 with .50 cal AA MG SMG Tank Escort 390

3 KV-85 335
2 Platoons Inzhenerno-Saperniy Company with Warrior Lt. Ivan Zabolotny 450
(2 Pioneer Faustnika teams per platoon)
Company Points: 1750

bloodydrake wrote:
ya..the must take all the same rule is why I wouldn't run the Guards heavy. its a really restrictive list.
Your better off taking the Heavy Self-propelled Artillery Regiment as an example so you can take a more broad mix of tanks.

Heres a list I've been working out for 1750


HQ
1 IS-2 obr 1943 with .50 cal AA MG 140


3 ISU-122 with .50 cal AA MG SMG Tank Escort Warrior Leytenant S Rat in the Command Assault gun 435
3 ISU-122 with .50 cal AA MG SMG Tank Escort 390

3 KV-85 335
2 Platoons Inzhenerno-Saperniy Company with Warrior Lt. Ivan Zabolotny 450
(2 Pioneer Faustnika teams per platoon)
Company Points: 1750

Without recce you are going to have a lot of trouble attacking veteran infantry. The ISU-122's simply won't kill them quick enough (you are looking at a kill rate of approx 1 base a turn per platoon, about 1.5 within 16") and an assault against a prepared position will be very risky. I'm not sure what the special character does though so he may mitigate that somewhat.

Almost more KV85s in this thread than the real war... In terms of Russian tanks, a rare beast with less than 150 built. Virtually all lost during the 1944 summer offensives.

Why is it so readily available in FOW? Are there no restrictions based on relative availability?

Just wondering as I have never played the game, so intrigued.

Big P wrote:
Almost more KV85s in this thread than the real war... In terms of Russian tanks, a rare beast with less than 150 built. Virtually all lost during the 1944 summer offensives.

Why is it so readily available in FOW? Are there no restrictions based on relative availability?

Just wondering as I have never played the game, so intrigued.

I would say that the soviets aren't the most thought out faction in flames of war. Most of the iconic stuff from the war like IS-2, T-34 and SU-76 are horrible gamewise but the things that didn't perform that great, like SU-122, M3 Lees and KV85s are excellent. As long as you think of it as warhammer 1944 and not a historical simulation then most things will make sense.

 Palindrome wrote:


Without recce you are going to have a lot of trouble attacking veteran infantry. The ISU-122's simply won't kill them quick enough (you are looking at a kill rate of approx 1 base a turn per platoon, about 1.5 within 16") and an assault against a prepared position will be very risky. I'm not sure what the special character does though so he may mitigate that somewhat.

its abit of a toss up sure. You don't get recce but you get the warrior which allows his two company of sappers to infiltrate 16inches. they all have body armor,smoke pots, motivation on a+2 and 4 of the 15 bases are Faustnika aka panzerfausts..Tank assault 6 , Antitank 12 bunkerbusters infantry teams that can't be specifically targeted..its one of the few lists that seems to have them..which should be good for the surprise factor.

depending on the mission your playing you can leave some of them behind to defend an objective and the rest i think will be a wrecking crew of an assault force.

I've come to hate my T34's due to the mess that is Hens&Chicks..so I'm looking at the KV85s(have some coming in this week) as an alternative Rof2 tank ..the IS85's are almost the same cost as an IS2 for some reason I'm hoping they will work well with the the isu-122's+rat.

but yes there is no historical supply constrants in this game so You end up facing alot of German super tanks all the time..I'd love more campaign based scenarios that limit the forces total available for certain things..would change the game alot

Big P wrote:

Why is it so readily available in FOW? Are there no restrictions based on relative availability?

Effectively none. There were (I think) a grand total of 2 BunkerFlaKs built for the battle of France yet they are still widely available in the Blitzkreig book and there will certainly be more examples than that. Battlefront definately uses history as a guide, after all its rare to see a late war German army that doesn't have either a platoon of Panthers or a Tiger.

One of the things I love about running pure infantry lists in FoW is that there are so few people who actually take lists that can effectively counter them, its all big cats and as many tanks as possible. It brings joy to my heart when I tell them just how many Panzerfausts are in the platoon that they just assaulted.

I'm not aware of any vehicle in FoW that you can field more of in a single Company/Battalion than actually existed.

I wonder how close FoW players across the world have got towards the full production run of Shermans, T-34s and Panzer IVs if all their models were fielded at once?