Box Contents
The Soviet Starter Army is a mix of plastic and metal models containing:
- x8 Soviet Infantry sprues (64 Infantry) – Plastic
- x5 Soviet weapon sprues – Plastic
- Soviet Officer – Metal
- Soviet Medic – Metal
- Soviet Medium Mortar Team – Metal
- T34/85 medium tank – Plastic
The SMG Rush List
| Standard Reinforced Platoon | |
|---|---|
| Officer | |
| 1st Lt (SMG) – Regular – 75 x1 Buddy (SMG) – Regular – 10 | 85pts |
| Infantry | |
| Medic – Regular – 23 | 23pts |
| Free Rifle Squad – Inexperienced – 12 Men – 0 AT Grenades – 0 Green Full Strength | 0pts |
| Rifle Squad – Inexperienced – 12 Men – 84 Green Full Strength | 84pts |
| SMG Squad – Regular- 12 Men – 156 x12 SMG – 0 Full Strength | 156pts |
| SMG Squad – Regular- 12 Men – 156 x12 SMG – 0 Full Strength | 156pts |
| LMG Squad – Regular – 5 men – 50 x2 LMGs – 40 | 90pts |
| Anti-tank Rifle Team – Regular- 30 | 30pts |
| Anti-tank Rifle Team – Regular- 30 | 30pts |
| Sniper Team – Regular – 50 | 50pts |
| Medium Mortar Team – Regular Spotter – 10 | 60pts |
| Tank | |
| T34/85 – Regular – 235 | 235pts |
| Total – 12 Order Dice | 999pts |
Breakdown
- Rifle – 27
- SMG – 26
- LMG – 2
- Sniper – 1
- Anti-Tank Rifle – 2
- Medium Mortar – 1
- MMG – (2)
- Heavy AT Gun – (1)
(x) denotes a vehicle-mounted weapons.
Notes and Analysis
The objective of this list is two part – 1) use as many of the components from the Starter Army as possible and 2) make a List that work at a competitive level. Please in mind, this List was written using only the content of the Starter Army.
Like the Soviet (Winter) Starter Army, this box has no shortage of infantry (66 in total). Although it’s a trope, I couldn’t help myself from making a horde-style list. This list hits the table with 24 riflemen and 24 SMG-men all ready to charge forth supported by 2 LMGs, 2 ATRs, a Med. Mortar, a Sniper and the excellent T34/85. Oh, and a Medic as well. It’s a a lot of bodies for a 1k list and is built with one objective in mind – overwhelm the enemy.
You’ve got two Full Strength Green Rifle Squads. They may be Inexp. but Green is an incredible rule that could turn these squads (one of which is free) into a legitimate fighting force. At the onset, keep your 1st Lt close (for that reason, give him and his buddy an SMG) to these two squads and let them screen your two Full Strength SMG squads. That’s right, you’ve got two squads each containing 12 SMGs. If you screen their advance correctly, you’ll be able to unleash a torrent of SMG fire with 24 shots per squad at 12″ range. These two squads are the finisher. Soften up your targets with the rifle-squads, the double LMG squad, the Med. Mortar, Sniper and the T34 to ensure the safe arrival of the SMGs. Oh, and get that Medic in there as well. I have a feeling the Medic will be awfully busy during this infantry rush.
For additional AT support, and for some cheap Order Dice, I’ve added two Anti-tank Rifles. The ATRs should harass and annoy your opponents light armor and trucks. Reminder, the free 12-man Rifle Squad has ATGs. I’ve never given ATGs to a unit that had to pay for them, but you better believe that free squad is getting them. If you can Pin the enemy armor with just the ATRs that opens up the T34 to focus on softer targets. But, if you need to bring in the Heavy AT gun to bear, you have that option as well.
With 12 Order Dice you shouldn’t have a problem getting consistent activations. This Soviet Starter Army may not have many tricks but it packs serious bunch. The large size of the infantry squads combined with The Great Patriotic War Special Rule (re-roll failed moral checks) will keep your units on the table.
I like this list a lot! I think this would be a fun army to play. However, I cannot recommend this Starter Army over the other Soviet offering. The Winter Starter Army is just better. Mainly because the winter infantry are much newer and much easier to build. But if you don’t mind these old fiddly summer Soviet plastics, you’ll have a great time running this army.
Push it forward, use cover and annihilate anything that comes within 12″ range.
What’s Next?
If you’d rather not run the KV-2, consider these changes and additions:
- Add a Commissar – Not only is a Commissar another way to add Order Dice (they are 15pts), these political officers work to ensure your units keep moving. The Commissar allows a reroll of failed Order Tests at the cost of one model from the unit. A small price to pay to ensure the pressure stays focused on the enemy.
- Add a Howitzer – In my experience, a single indirect support units is not enough. This army could use a howitzer. Luckily, the Soviets have access to the incredible ZiS-3 Divisional Gun that can fire as both a Med. AT Gun and a Light Howitzer. Only downside is that you cannot add a Spotter.
- Get some Trucks – Or any kind of transport really. This list is slow. Really slow. Get some Trucks, Bren Carriers, or Field Cars to add some speed.
- BA Armored Car – The Soviet BA armored cars are wonderful and all lists can use one. The BA-10 stands out as the best option. For only 120pts you get a fully enclosed armored car (7+) with a turret Light AT Gun, two LMGs and Recce. Not bad, not bad at all.
– Andrew
Chicago Dice 