Box Contents

The Soviet Army (Winter) Starter Army is a mix of plastic and metal models containing:

• x10 Winter Soviet Infantry sprues (80 Infantry) – Plastic
• Soviet HQ (Winter) – Lt, Buddy, Medic, Forward Observer – Metal
• Soviet MMG Team (Winter) – Metal
• Soviet Medium Mortar Team (Winter) – Metal
• KV-1 / KV-2 Tank – Plastic

The KV-2 Terror List

Breakdown

(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.

We’ve got an interesting Starter Army on our hands here. The box includes eighty bodies! But you’ve also got a 300pt tank. So you are at a crossroads, how are you not going to rock that beast of tank but you also want to make use of the Infantry horde that’s been provided. I tried to strike a balance with this list. The KV-2 is the rock the rest of the List orbits. Let’s break it down:

You’ve got three 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 three squads and let them screen your two nine-man, nine-SMG squads. Those two squads are the finisher. Soften up your targets with the Medium Mortar and the absolute devastation that is the Heavy Howitzer on your KV-2 and then sweep up what’s left with the SMG squads.

Now, you could have more men. A lot more. The current list uses 59 of the 80 bodies available, but do you really need more? Not for this list. Not with the KV-2. In support, and for some cheap Order Dice, I’ve added a Anti-tank Rifle and a Medic. The Medic could be extremely useful once your Infantry start taking small arms hits. The ATR is to just harass and annoy your opponents light armor and trucks. You want your KV-2 to focus on Infantry targets and not have to worry about vehicles. The ATR will help with that. Oh, and your 12-man Free 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.

I’ve also included a Forward Artillery Observer. The Observer will be able to call in a Bombardment to hopefully put some Pins onto the enemy early in the game and that will let you move your squishy Inexp. Squads forward without too much small arms fire coming at them. It may seem like a bit of a gamble, but with the Massed Batteries Soviet National Rule, when the Bombardment comes in, it will hit a wide range of targets. In this List, I think it’s worth the gamble.

At a high level you could describe this list as Push It Forward. And there is nothing wrong with that.

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What’s Next?

If you’d rather not run the KV-2, consider these changes and additions:

• Drop the KV-2 for more of everything – In case this needs repeating, this List contains a 300pt Tank. That’s almost a third of the entire army tied up in one unit. If you drop the KV-2 from the list, your options open up like crazy. Using only items from the Start Army you could:
  • Bring the SMG squads to Full Strength
  • Add a Commissar to keep those Inexp. Squad moving
  • Add a two more Anti-tank Rifle Teams
• Swap the KV-2 for a T-34 – The iconic Soviet Tank is a solid pick at just under 200pts. With this swap you could add in an Artillery piece (to keep your HE) and still have points left over to add more troops. Note that this would be an additional purchase beyond the starter box.
• Drop the Artillery Observer – It’s 100pts for one dude. Sure the Artillery can be a game changer, but it could also be a whole lot of nothing. For the same points, you could get a Commissar and a Medium Howitzer. That’s a fair trade if you ask me!
• 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.

– Andrew