Box Contents
The Soviet Army (1940-43) Starter Army is a mix of plastic and metal models containing:
- x8 Soviet Army (Summer) sprues (64 Infantry) – Plastic
- Soviet HQ (Officer, Medic, Commissar) – Metal
- Soviet MMG Team – Metal
- Soviet Light AT – Metal
- T-34/76 – Plastic
The Vets Vets Vets List
| Generic Reinforced Platoon | |
|---|---|
| Officer | |
| Junior Lieutenant (2nd Lt) (Pistol) – Vet – 65 x1 Buddy (SMG) – Vet – 13 | 78pts |
| Medic – Vet – 30 | 30pts |
| Infantry | |
| Free Rifle Squad – Inexp. – 12 men – 0 Anti-Tank Grenades – 0 Green | 0pts |
| Veteran Squad – Vet – 8 men – 104 x2 Panzerfaust – 10 Tough Fighters – 8 | 122pts |
| Veteran Squad – Vet – 8 men – 104 x2 Panzerfaust – 10 Tough Fighters – 8 | 122pts |
| Veteran Squad – Vet – 7 men – 91 x1 Panzerfaust – 5 Tough Fighters – 7 | 103pts |
| Tank Riders Squad – 7 men – 112 x7 SMG | 112pts |
| Anti-Tank Rifle Team – Vet – 39 | 39pts |
| Anti-Tank Rifle Team – Vet – 39 | 39pts |
| Anti-Tank Rifle Team – Vet – 39 | 39pts |
| MMG Team – Vet – 65 Gun Shield – 5 | 70pts |
| Artillery | |
| Light Anti-Tank Gun – Reg – 50 Gun Shield | 50pts |
| Tanks | |
| T-34 Medium Tank – Reg – 195 Armor 9 Medium AT Gun w/ coax MMG Hull MMG | 195pts |
| Total – 13 Order Dice | 999pts |
Breakdown
- Pistol – 1
- Rifle – 35
- SMG – 8
- Anti-Tank Rifle – 3
- Panzerfaust – 5
- MMG – 1 (2)
- Light AT Gun – 1
- Med. AT Gun (1)
(x) denotes a vehicle-mounted weapon.
Notes and Analysis
The objective of this list is two-part – 1) use as much of the Starter Army as possible and 2) make a List that works at a competitive level. Please keep in mind, this List was written using only the contents of the Starter Army.
Although this box was released in August 2023, the Soviet Army (1940-43) Starter Army contains no new kits. It’s the same Soviets models, both infantry and vehicle, that have been available for many years. However, this is a new collection put together in this box and might be the best Soviet Starter Army yet. We are going with a Generic Reinforced Platoon themed on the post-Stalingrad Soviet counter-attack that pushed the invading Germans back out of the Soviet Union.
With the Lt and Buddy, three Veteran Squads and Vet Tank Riders with SMGs, his list contains 32 Vets with Tough Fighter. This is a full-on infantry rush army with solid AT capabilities. Your focus is to push these three Veteran squads and the Tank Riders directly into the face of the enemy. The Free Rifle Squad can either join the rush or hold back to cover an objective (depending on the game). There are also three Vet Anti-Tank Rifle Teams. Three. Not only do these Small Teams help with the Order Dice count, they also are built to harass anything with Armor 8 or less. If you opponent is looking to rollup with some Trucks they are going to have a hard time. Finally, you have a dedicated Light AT Gun, MMG with Gun Shield and the always dependable T-34. You shouldn’t have any issue with enemy armor. Oh, and the five Panzerfausts.
As with all our other Starter Army Box Breakdowns, we try to make use of as much of the box as possible. I wouldn’t typically spend the points on a Gun Shield for a MMG Team. Or, for that matter, even rock a MMG Team in a non-German army list. But we got on in the box and we are gonna use it! With all these Vets running forward it’s not half bad to have a 36″ five-shot MMG giving a bit of cover. Plus, MMGs are often bait for Snipers and Mortars and that’s no problem. Anything to take the focus on your 32 Tough Fighting Vets.
For the Tank Riders, remember, they don’t have to arrive on the back of the T-34. You can deploy them like any other Infantry unit or even keep them back in Outflank. Depends on the mission and layout of the battlefield. Make sure to take advantage of any roads and get that sweet double movement to really get those SMG Tank Riders up and into the fight.
Keep your Lt and Medic with the Vets. Move forward in a concentrated front of attack. Although those Vet Squads only have Rifles and pose a relatively minor threat at range, they are absolute monsters in close combat. The Great Patriotic War Army Special Rule will ensure your troops hold their nerve as the enemy attempts to blast them off the table. You’d have to fail two Morale Checks in a row before they flee.
I like this list. It’s something a little different than most Soviet army lists. We are not running a horde or a massed artillery battery. It’s just four big squads of angry Vets. If this isn’t the list for you, not a problem! There are almost 30 more plastic Soviet Infantry to spare in this box! It’s a tad absurd how many men they packed into this Starter Army. So get out those files, you’ve got a lot of mold lines to take care of.
– Andrew
What’s Next?
Thoughts and musings on where to go from here:
- Get some indirect support – It’s a glaring omission. I highly recommend adding some indirect fire support. A Howitzer or a Mortar would do nicely. If you want to keep the Light AT Gun, go with a Mortar. If not, a Light Howitzer.
- Swap the Light AT Gun for a Howitzer – If you are not feeling the Light AT, a Light or Med. Howitzer is a fantastic option for your Artillery slot of the army list. You already have triple ATRs and a Med. AT Gun on the T-34. There is almost certainly more utility in a Howitzer.
- Get Campaign: Stalingrad – If you want to expand the options for your new Soviet army, Campaign: Stalingrad is the book you want. This weighty tome contains a load of new Soviet units and Theater Selectors. It’s perfect for making an army set during this pivotal battle.
Chicago Dice 
Hu, great list, I’m curious, how many weapon sprues comes on the 190-43 box set?
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Im not sure. Best guess is five or six weapon sprues based on the other Soviet Starter Army and the Soviet Infantry box.
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