Best campaign for new Soviet player?

[Panzer_Leader]

Hi Guys

I've just purchased FC:RS after playing the demo a number of times and am keen to specialise as a Soviet player, at least initially. I have a good understanding of Soviet tactics and Operational Art but would like to understand the most forgiving campaign as a Soviet player so I can start with that to work out how best to implement a Soviet style of game play in FC:RS without becoming too frustrated and/or dejected. Any pointers on the campaign I should start with?

Thanks in advance.

[Mad Russian]

There is only one campaign to be played as the Soviet player.

That will change, hopefully before the end of the year, as soon as I get some time.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Panzer_Leader]

Ah yes, Red Hammer, that makes it easy, thanks.

[Panzer_Leader]

I ended up choosing A Time To Dance as the scenario to test my application of Soviet tactics to FPC-RS. I think the regimental-sized Soviet force is ideal for learning how to apply Soviet tactics within the game. I've played it twice now as the Soviets and achieved a Contested Battle both times with a score in the high 60s to low 70s - leaving room for improvement. The game is realistic enough that I need to plan my mission in advance, applying map graphics and control measures to manage my forces effectively during the battle. I agree with other commentators that the imposition of Sudden Death ends the game prematurely, generally just as I'm about to launch my last thrust to capture the final objectives. I understand this is addressed in 2.04 so I'm not too concerned. There's still a lot I need to learn about the ins and outs of the game engine and how best to represent Soviet tactics in-game, but I'm loving it so far. As a Cold War gone hot fanatic with a serious affection for 11th ACR and BAOR, I'm also looking forward to playing as NATO but only once I'm fairly comfortable as an OPFOR practitioner.

[Mad Russian]

Well, Panzer Leader, I have the right avatar for playing Soviets. We will in the future restrict you to the command of West German forces!! [:D]

Good Hunting.

MR

[Alex1812]

oh, the "A Time To Dance" is a very nice scenario. It's my favorite [:)]

For represent soviet tactic you may be need some additional information on force composition. The Soviet force generally do not used in direct regiment/battalion formation. Usually they mixing in several Kampf Groups (in Russian it called Battalion Tactical Groups - BTGR).

For example if you have tank regiment with 3 tank battalions (TB) and 1 motorized rifle battalion (MRB) you may create 3 BTGR by divide motorized rifle battalion and append one motorized rifle company (MRC) for each tank battalion. So in such example each BTGR include 3 tank company, 1 motorized rifle company and may be addition forces like scout or AA team.
The same situation if you have motorized rifle regiment with 3 MRB and 1 TB. You may divide TB and create 3 BTGR with 1 MRB + 1 TC in each group.

[Panzer_Leader]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

Well, Panzer Leader, I have the right avatar for playing Soviets. We will in the future restrict you to the command of West German forces!! [:D]

Good Hunting.

MR

Well, I can't disagree with you there! Perhaps think of it as maskirovka if it helps

[Panzer_Leader]

I just played A Time To Dance as 11th ACR for the first time and am quite pleased with the result - the mission ended with Sudden Death and I achieved a 66% rating with 76% of my starting forces, or a Decisive Success. Despite my fascination with Soviet Operational Art and tactics, I've always known deep down that I'm a cavalryman at heart...

At 66% there's still room for improvement though.

[Panzer_Leader]

ORIGINAL: Alex1812

oh, the "A Time To Dance" is a very nice scenario. It's my favorite [:)]

For represent soviet tactic you may be need some additional information on force composition. The Soviet force generally do not used in direct regiment/battalion formation. Usually they mixing in several Kampf Groups (in Russian it called Battalion Tactical Groups - BTGR).

For example if you have tank regiment with 3 tank battalions (TB) and 1 motorized rifle battalion (MRB) you may create 3 BTGR by divide motorized rifle battalion and append one motorized rifle company (MRC) for each tank battalion. So in such example each BTGR include 3 tank company, 1 motorized rifle company and may be addition forces like scout or AA team.
The same situation if you have motorized rifle regiment with 3 MRB and 1 TB. You may divide TB and create 3 BTGR with 1 MRB + 1 TC in each group.

Yeah, thanks. In the last scenario I played as the Soviets I retained the Motorized Rifle Battalion but cross-attached one of its companies for a tank company to have an infantry-heavy force to capture and hold the bridges on the south-eastern edge of built-up BAD NEUSTADT. That left me with a tank battalion with a cross-attached MRC for the bridges south-west of HEUSTREU and a pure tank battalion for the depth objectives north-west of BAD NEUSTADT and west of WOLLBACH. This seemed to work OK and I'll probably use the same organisation for my next attempt but further refine my approach as I learn more about the game engine. Agree it's very fun scenario with lots of replay potential.

[IronMikeGolf]

Panzer_Leader, could you discuss how you used your Soviet recce elements?

[Panzer_Leader]

ORIGINAL: Iron Mike Golf

Panzer_Leader, could you discuss how you used your Soviet recce elements?

That's a great question Iron Mike Golf. I had two main thrusts to secure the bridges in HEUSTREU and BAD NEUSTADT. As mentioned above, this was a MRB with TC in the south and TB with MRC north of that. The northern TB would be followed by the remaining pure TB, which would pass through and secure the depth objectives. Given I would be operating the two forward battalions with a company-sized Forward Security Element (platoon-sized Combat Reconnaissance Patrols are too hard to model) that would move one turn (or ~20 minutes) ahead of its parent battalion, and we would need to move fast along roads to secure the crossings, I didn't see an actual reconnaissance role for the reconnaissance (recce) battalion. So, in true cavalry-, if not Soviet-, style I decided to use them on a wide flanking maneuver north of HOLLSTADT and HEUSTREU and through UNSLEBEN, using the amphibious BRDM-2/AT to make a crossing of the river, and secure the depth objective west of WOLLBACH. As it turned out the BRDM-2/AT didn't have the combat power to secure the designated objective and I intended to divert a TC towards the end of the mission from the depth objective west of BAD NEUSTADT, which they had secured, to the one west of WOLLBACH and was getting this underway when Sudden Death intervened, prompted by NATO losses, and the mission ended with a 69% Contested Battle for me.

I've scanned my map and plan from the mission, some of which was added during the course of the scenario, so you can see the northern hook planned for and carried out by my recce battalion: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/716 ... 5JUL14.pdf

Let me know what you think

[smithcorp]

I think I should reconsider our PBEM.... [;)]

[IronMikeGolf]

I've not played this scenario, but after loading it up and looking things over, I think it does have one thing that could enable us to do the red recon part: enough time. I like you plan, though, as you know and can see, recon units don't have the survivability to hold anything. The AT BRDMs can be disruptive to NATO on occasion.

I tried doing a 'doctrinal' rgt recon in the red campaign's CS1 and just about the time I had a good intel read, the scenario ended. This scenario has 9 hours, right? Granted, there's a great incentive to get as west as you can as fast as you can, what with US units deploying from garrison during the scenario. But, there's enough time, I think, to use recon elements like recon and have it help you.

There's no Div recon units and I am taking the knowledge of scenario obstacles and minefields as being the result of Div recon's work the previous 24 hours or so. I am pretty sure Ivan knew where the LDAs (Local Deployment Areas) were just as they knew where the POMCUS sites were. Div Recon would likely be tasked with confirm/deny US units had deployed to them.

Rgt Recon should be 4-12 hrs ahead of the main body. In this game, I'd want to compress that.

I am going to try this scenario over the weekend using a technique that seemed to work OK for me in CS1:

1. Take the Regt Recon and organize them into 3 recon elements (1 x BRDM-2 and 1 x BRDM-2 AT) and run them to scout the three axes in your plan. Use covered and concealed routes (i.e. stay off the highway) as much as possible). Get their eyes on the objectives.
2. Plot out assault orders for the rest of the regiment line units. Give them a 2 hour delay to waypoint 1.
3. Move arty forward so anything the recon elements see can be engaged by indirect.
4. Be prepared to adjust main body waypoints depending on what the recon finds.

When I did this in CS1, it saved an MRB from running on top of a German M48 tank company. I'll also try to get the two lead bn's to hit the river at the same time.

[Panzer_Leader]

You've clearly given it a lot of thought Iron Mike Golf and I look forward to seeing whether you can use the recce battalion as proposed. I'll be interested to see whether dispersed patrols of a BRDM-2 and BRDM-2 AT platoon each gives you a much better reconnaissance picture along your axes of advance than fast moving TC and MRC FSEs can. As you noted, you'll also have to balance any improved reconnaissance picture against consolidation of 11th ACR over time. Good luck and I hope you post the outcome here.

[Panzer_Leader]

ORIGINAL: smithcorp

I think I should reconsider our PBEM.... [;)]

I don't think so