Veterin wrote: Wed May 04, 2022 8:40 am
What's the most effective way to use Soviet brigades (infantry, navy, paratrooper)? I'll attach directly to Corp or Guard units but what about the rest? Should i attach to Army group or individual divisions?
this is a tricky one to answer as I think the Brigades have 6 roles and which is most important is situational:
a) they can readily merge into beaten up rifle divisions, this is invaluable around Leningrad if its cut off (as you can allocate from Stavka-Len Front) or the Caucasus as both these sectors are slow to gain normal replacements
b) attached, to key formations, esp Corps, they are invaluable force multipliers, attached to your initial Gds Rifle Corps they will probably win enough to become Gds themselves
c) as a normal SU, not a bad use as they get committed fairly often and have a decent cv
d) on map as a screen, the pro to this is they consume MP/CPP but I think they rout/shatter so this can be very expensive over time in terms of actual losses
e) on map to hold a fort line - sometimes very useful say in the Winter offensive when you might move from a level 3 fort line that you may well retreat back to
f) you can merge them to form new rifle divisions, sometimes exactly what you need - esp if they are Gds themselves
I tend to a+b+e but clearly which really is the best is dependent on your game
Remember that they cease to be available (unless you have a minimal number) at the end of 1942.
re (a), I've found this is the only way to get reinforcements to formations in Hungary etc come the late war.
the paras that don't disband are a route to Gds Rifle divisions, but this can be badly exploited
the naval infantry are ok for all the above, just they can't become Gds (& I don't think can make normal rifle divisions - but not sure over this). The specialist Naval formations can't be merged etc but you only have a few of these
