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Looking at making a Soviet Bolt Action force, aiming for 1,000 points in the long run and for now have gotten a few box sets including; SU-76, Churchill, Infantry box set of 40 guys, and anti-tank mine dogs.

I am planning to get a KV-2 so I can switch up my armor for different kinds of games and I know dog mines aren't that reliable as anti-tank but I am seeing that I can get anti-tank grenades for an infantry heavy army. If I run Churchill I will most likely use it as cover for infantry as they advance, an SU-76 would most likely be used for more of a defensive list, and a KV-2 would be a nice mix of both as I am seeing it could be possible to field a decent amount of anti-tank without needing to run an actual tank. Rule of cool kind of makes me want to run a tank just to have a piece of armor on the field.

My major questions are what to do with the infantry. I believe you can only run one tank or SPG per platoon and I would like to run both a tank and an SPG but from what I gather of the rules you can only run one tank/SPG in a game unless it's part of a campaign or something different. I am not sure what the rules mean when it comes to force organization yet, I'm just starting this game after all. So yeah, I want to focus some more on infantry.

I see that I can easily field several veteran squads with anti-tank grenades and panzerfausts and then get a free squad on top of that with anti-tank grenades. I am wondering if SMGs are worth it at all for this kind of army and if I do SMGs should I bother with the Tough Fighter's upgrade? I don't believe they stack so I'm sure that paying for both SMGs and Tough Fighters is a waste of points. Should I mount them in trucks, should the trucks have an MG, should the trucks be regulars or just inexperienced? Are LMGs or MMGs even worth the points? Are anti-tank rifles worth the points in a late-war setting? Would you consider running more than one platoon in order to get more than one armored option into the fight? Those are the questions I need help with.

Keep in mind I do plan on using the anti-tank dogs for S&G and they can target friendly models on a roll of 1 so I don't really want to have any friendly vehicles within range, again I know it's not really worth it because I can easily put those points into a Zis which can't hit friendlies, but I like the idea of having the dogs.

After I get the handle of the rules and have a number of games under my belt I hope to transition to some of the Polish forces, they seem pretty interesting and I have read that they can combine with the British and the Russians.

Thank you for any advice and feel free to suggest anything to me. I'm new and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in with this hobby, I love WW2 tanks and models and this combines my love of those models with the love of wargaming.

I find the Churchill and KV-2 to be too expensive for 1000 point games and maybe even 1250 point games.

In a generic list, you can take one tank/SPG per reinforced platoon and you can take as many reinforced platoons as you’d like so long as you meet the requirements (one lieutenant and two infantry squads) and have the points.

Your free inexperienced infantry squad can’t be counted on as reliable anti-tank; they suck too bad to be reliable for anything except for dying. That being said, always give them whatever they can take because it’s free and you never know what could happen during a game.

LMGs are generally worth the points in a squad built for range. MMGs are generally not seen as worth it for most armies though. Soviet anti tank rifles are great for the points as a cheap sniper that can put out pins and can kill important enemy units. Weapons with the assault characteristic, like SMGs, give the model holding it Tough Fighters.

You typically want to make each squad good at one thing: a long range squad with LMGs and rifles, a close quarters sqaud with assault weapons, etc.

The ZiS-3 is one of the best all-around units for the Soviets since it’s both an anti-tank gun and a howitzer. If you can find a way to bring one, do it.

I was looking at squads and it looks like the basic rifle squads come in as green as well, I don't believe it would make too much of a difference to have some Inexperienced LMG squads comprised of 4 men and 1 gun each.

I am also looking at the suggestion with the tanks, yes the Churchill and KV-2 are definitely points heavy and I do understand that and I can definitely drop the Churchill down to an inexperienced unit because it really is just going to be moving cover for some squads. This allows me to field a regular Zis divisional gun.

I am also crunching numbers and it seems that with some sacrifices to some regular troops I can field a regular SU-76 and an inexperienced Churchill along with a regular Zis divisional gun.

The SU-76 seems to be an okay option if you give it armor piercing ammo as well. It looks like it's a more mobile Zis but doesn't lose morale if a sniper picks off a few crew members.

Is it efficient to have 5 man LMG squads? I think I can run 2 5 man squads with an inexperienced junior officer to bring in another tank, sorry I am almost dead set on bringing something heavy to the fight at the moment.

But I am looking at organizations and will take that specialized squad suggestion, Looking at 2 10 man squads of rifle(one is free), one 10 man squad of regular SMGs, 2x 5man squads of inexperienced LMGs with 1 LMG a piece.

Backing these guys up with a Zis divisional gun, SU-76, Churchill, and 2 anti-tank dog mines.

I will look into the anti-armor guns for the next go around.

 halonachos wrote:
I was looking at squads and it looks like the basic rifle squads come in as green as well, I don't believe it would make too much of a difference to have some Inexperienced LMG squads comprised of 4 men and 1 gun each.

Never take inexperienced squads a minimum strength. Five inexperienced troops are going to probably all die or be broken the first time they're shot at.

I am also looking at the suggestion with the tanks, yes the Churchill and KV-2 are definitely points heavy and I do understand that and I can definitely drop the Churchill down to an inexperienced unit because it really is just going to be moving cover for some squads. This allows me to field a regular Zis divisional gun.

I am also crunching numbers and it seems that with some sacrifices to some regular troops I can field a regular SU-76 and an inexperienced Churchill along with a regular Zis divisional gun.

Don't field inexperienced tanks as they can be pinned by anything with at least +1 pen even if the weapon cant damage them. It's pretty easy to pin them out of the game and their low morale make it difficult to recover from them.

The SU-76 seems to be an okay option if you give it armor piercing ammo as well. It looks like it's a more mobile Zis but doesn't lose morale if a sniper picks off a few crew members.

Yes, but the cheapest SU-76 is open topped and can be pinned by small arms, indirect HE hits it harder, and is destroyed if infantry scores a hit in assault. And yes, the SU-76 is a mobile ZiS; it was a ZiS-3 divisional gun mounted on a modified T-70 chasis

Is it efficient to have 5 man LMG squads? I think I can run 2 5 man squads with an inexperienced junior officer to bring in another tank, sorry I am almost dead set on bringing something heavy to the fight at the moment.

No. When they shoot, you're only getting the LMG and three rifles (with a penalty to hit for being inexperienced), so almost no firepower. In return, they can be annihilated quite easily by larger squads or a well placed HE round.

But I am looking at organizations and will take that specialized squad suggestion, Looking at 2 10 man squads of rifle(one is free), one 10 man squad of regular SMGs, 2x 5man squads of inexperienced LMGs with 1 LMG a piece.

Backing these guys up with a Zis divisional gun, SU-76, Churchill, and 2 anti-tank dog mines.

I will look into the anti-armor guns for the next go around.

There's not nearly enough infantry in that list and what you do have will struggle to do anything. If you want to run inexperienced infantry, you need to have lots of it. With what you have, you'll struggle to hold and take objectives while your opponent pins your tank out of the game (if your dog mines don't blow them up first). The small five-man squads will be almost a non-factor because they'll probably be killed quickly or scatter because of failed morale.

Talked to some people at the local game store that play. Some of them mentioned that Soviet infantry can field a lot of inexperienced SMGs but those would require a transport to be viable. I'm not trying to buy a lot of trucks or tankettes tbh.

However, how do you feel about 8 man Guards squads with panzerfausts instead of LMGs?

Right now I'm trying to build an army out of one box of infantry and that only comes with 40 guys. Once I get more my options will change.

I'd not worry too much about vets and inexperienced units right now until you've played a few games.

Personally with a 40 man box and wanting maybe 2 tanks in a force I'd take 2 regular platoons and don't worry about anything fancy.

2×Regular 1st/2nd LT
4×6 man Regular squads (Lmg team and 2 PPSH each)
1×12 man free inexperienced squad with no upgrades.
Then add your tanks and worry more about playing and learning the rules.
Don't worry about how good or bad stuff is.

 halonachos wrote:
Talked to some people at the local game store that play. Some of them mentioned that Soviet infantry can field a lot of inexperienced SMGs but those would require a transport to be viable. I'm not trying to buy a lot of trucks or tankettes tbh.

Sometimes transports are a necessity in BA.

However, how do you feel about 8 man Guards squads with panzerfausts instead of LMGs?

I would recommend taking panzerfuasts in squads that can take them, but not in lieu of something else. One faust is not going to turn your Guards into a tank hunting unit, but it will keep enemy armor honest if it decides to get near you.

Right now I'm trying to build an army out of one box of infantry and that only comes with 40 guys. Once I get more my options will change.

Try something like this:

1x regular senior lieutenant (with assistant)
2x 10-man regular Guards squad (1 LMG, 1 panzerfaust, 9 riflemen)
1x 12-man inexperienced rifle squad (12 riflemen, anti-tank grenades) [always take the free squad at full strength]
1x Veteran sniper team (2 men, one with a sniper rile)
2x Regular anti-tank rifle team (2 men, one gunner and one assistant)

As described, that forty infantry models at 460 points and you should be able to build it with one Soviet infantry box. It gives you three decently sized infantry squads and leaves you over 500 points to add whatever kind of goodies you would like.

Awesome! Thank you both. I will give both lists a try and proxy my guys before I put them together with the equipment.

My brother is running Heer with some Fallschirmjager, but so far in the local community I have seen US airborne, Italians, Japanese infantry spam(bamboo spear fighters), and some British. They kind of vary but overall it is infantry focused. Have seen people running armor and LMGs, but armor has typically been things like a Pz. IV, Sherman, and Cromwell. There was one guy with two tanks on the field but I couldn't see them that well.

Found out we also have two people who run flamethrower tanks. From what I understand those are kind of broken and the general consensus has been that they are not very fun to play against.

 halonachos wrote:
They kind of vary but overall it is infantry focused.

Bolt Action is an infantry focused game and everything about it revolves around infantry squads.

Have seen people running armor and LMGs, but armor has typically been things like a Pz. IV, Sherman, and Cromwell. There was one guy with two tanks on the field but I couldn't see them that well.

Generally, if you see a tank in a standard BA game, it's a light or medium tank because heavy and super-heavy tanks aren't worth the points in a 1000-1250 point game. My Soviets have an M3 Stuart and a T-34/85 and I use the Stuart way more (and all of those tasty machine guns!). I also like to use an M3A1 scout car for my assault engineers to drive around in. My USMC have an M4A2 Sherman and an M5 Stuart, but I typically use the Sherman since it fits with my late war theme. They also have a couple of Jeeps that my bazooka and flamethrower teams ride around in.

Found out we also have two people who run flamethrower tanks. From what I understand those are kind of broken and the general consensus has been that they are not very fun to play against.

Flamethrowers in general are pretty nasty. I always find a way to include at least one in a list (my Marines have two: one in an engineer squad and the other as a two-man team).

I forgot to add that if you end up buying the Warlod KV-1/2 kit, it comes with a Soviet infantry sprue so you'll get another 8 dudes.

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
I forgot to add that if you end up buying the Warlod KV-1/2 kit, it comes with a Soviet infantry sprue so you'll get another 8 dudes.

The IS-2 also. But apparently NOT the Italeri versions.

Makes buying 3 single from discounters better than buying a platoon box.

I thought it just came with some of the tank rider models, not actual infantry. But that does increase it's value if it is actual infantry.

Was looking at the platoon boxes, wasn't sure if that would be worth it unless I found someone to split it with. I know I want 2 tanks in my list, but three is silly imo.

Got the warlord kit for the SU-76 though, holy crap does it have resin left on galore. Like I'm sure I could cast a few infantry from the leftover resin.

They call them tank riders for convenience. It's just the basic infantry sprue.

The platoon boxes are useful in some cases. For the price you may only use 2 but you get the 3rd for...let's say half price.
You now have a piece of terrain.
Or a captured vehicle for another force.
Heck it may be as simple as 3 different variants.
Or make something up. Search for bolt action vehicle creation rules.
Slap a long 57mm into a T34.
Stick a 105mm AT gun into a KV-2.
Etc

Maybe I could do that and talk my brother into running a captured KV-1 for his Germans.