VOTG - Russian Defence

[janusz.maxe]

I think we'll see KNVDs deployed (but not manning mortars) to have several NKVDs in several strongpoints later in the campaign. When I come down to 4-5 NKVD squads I'll protect them the way I protect engineers (for the SW replenishment).
Janusz

[Bob Holmstrom]

The 37L guns suck, they cannot place anywhere once you have lost 1/2 of the board and they have crappy firepower vs. units in buildings.

I much prefer the NKVD over the SMG due to trying to keep the NKVD units alive for later in the campaign. If they all die early, no free NKVD strongpoints when the Germans are trying to take the key mid-end game buildings.

I agree on the 37L's. I don't see their value.

It's a coinflip for me between the NKVD or SMG. You make a good point about needing those extra NKVD for later in the game, but 5-2-7's are really nice to have for the night counterattack and latter to make into 6-2-7 w/ ATR's as Bob M. points out.

I'm rethinking our initial buys. Bob and i bought this on day 1:

--2 NKVD (8CCP)
--76L (5CPP)
--SAN(1CPP)
--80mm OBA(1CPP)
--70mm OBA(1CPP)
--FPP(3 CPP)

I'm thinking now i'd rather do this:

--2 NKVD or 1 NKVD/1SMG in reserve (6CPP)
--76L (5CPP)
--76* (4CPP)
--80mm OBA (1CPP)
--FPP(3CPP)

The T-34's also look good but are pricey at 5 CPP.

[sdennis]

I bought the Dug in T34s and 76Ls, I would drop the T34s and pick up extra OBA I think.
And I bought the 527s for the night attack options it gives you.

[Bob Miller]

Is this legal? (unlike the Chinese gymnastists team)

Russian player buy 0 or 1 company(s) on Sept 14 day and then buy 3 or 4 companies on the 14th night to take advantage of the -2 Historical drm? Better chance of getting full or even reinforced companies that way.

Important theme of VotGs for both sides, time your purchases to take advantage of favorable historical drms.

From the German point of view; considering that ammo shortage penalty that starts on the 17th or 18th, buy your OBA modules that will be affected early in the CG so they won't automatically be scarce later on.

[pward]

Is this legal? (unlike the Chinese gymnastists team)

Russian player buy 0 or 1 company(s) on Sept 14 day and then buy 3 or 4 companies on the 14th night to take advantage of the -2 Historical drm? Better chance of getting full or even reinforced companies that way.

Important theme of VotGs for both sides, time your purchases to take advantage of favorable historical drms.

From the German point of view; considering that ammo shortage penalty that starts on the 17th or 18th, buy your OBA modules that will be affected early in the CG so they won't automatically be scarce later on.

Completely legal. You probably want to save some points from the day scenario to help pay for them, but it's completely legit to do that as well. Might mean the Germans make a major breakthrough, but isn't that historically accurate?

For the German OBA, I think once the ammo shortage goes into effect, even previously purchased retained modules suffer. Check some of the other threads on the OBA.

[pward]

Another defensive tactic question. How about the use of dummy 5/8" counters to draw Stuka attacks?

Place in Concealment terrain, with reasonable "fields of fire", but somewhat behind the current lines. Preferably with an excuse to be a gun and not be HIP, such as debris on a paved road. Or as a vehicle setup in a building... Just make sure you do between 2-3 of these to appear to be a tank platoon. One probably won't be enough to fool an opponent.

Opinions on the merits of 2FPP per location spent in this manner?

If it suckers in a bomb attack, then I'm all for it. Recycling Stukas reduces the return on investment, but still takes the pressure from the planes off real units.

[John McDiarmid]

Buying more units at night works for the DRM, but the At-start companies are a one-time purchase. If you don't get em, you lose em.

The impact is extra troops, no matter the DRM for them.

Always buy infantry in in reserve, you can always use the points somewhere else.

T-34 "bonus" platoon is only useful dug-in due to the cost.

As to what troops to buy, the 4-2-6 units will either die or battle harden to 5-2-7 units fast enough, counterattack options will be very limited unless against a very poor German player so the handful of extra regular troops is not really that important the first night. The NKVD units will run down really fast by the end of Day 3-4. Trust me, I am down to maybe 7 squads after 7 scenarios and will no longer put any of them near the front lines in case they get hit by a 36 factor MG death star (of which the Germans will usually have ~3 at any point in time).

[Bob Miller]

I forgot about "the buy them the first day or lose them rule". I guess that was put there for a reason.

[Tom Morin]

Buy me now!

_or_

Buy me never!


The devil's in the details..........


Tom

[Bob Holmstrom]

Another defensive tactic question. How about the use of dummy 5/8" counters to draw Stuka attacks?

Place in Concealment terrain, with reasonable "fields of fire", but somewhat behind the current lines. Preferably with an excuse to be a gun and not be HIP, such as debris on a paved road. Or as a vehicle setup in a building... Just make sure you do between 2-3 of these to appear to be a tank platoon. One probably won't be enough to fool an opponent.

Opinions on the merits of 2FPP per location spent in this manner?

If it suckers in a bomb attack, then I'm all for it. Recycling Stukas reduces the return on investment, but still takes the pressure from the planes off real units.

I set up 2 5/8 dummy stacks on day 1 and they worked well in camouflaging where the tanks were at. Plenty of orchards to park your tanks and big dummies in. My opponent never bit with his stukas. I lost one unconcealed T-34 to a stuka but it didn't burn and i recovered it.