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I see in the editor for the 41-45 scenario that Shock Army HQs have a start date in 1941, but I can't actually create a Shock Army HQ, right?

Another question... a Shock Army... does it have a Combined Arms HQ capacity with 24/21/18 cp, or a Tank Army HQ capacity of 15?

You can't create Shock Armies. In the full campaign there is 5 of them, coming as reinforcements. They have normal CP limit, like the Combined Arms Armies, but differ from them by having admin bonus. Regular Combined Arms Armies can be promoted to Guard Armies, having the same bonus as Shock Armies. This will be done automatically, provided said HQ has enough victories. Tank Armies have "Tank Army" in their name, so it's easy to differentate them from regular armies. Besides, you have to build those HQs by yourself. Tank Armies can become Guards Tank Armies.

Xth Army - combined arms army (24/21/18)
Xth Guards Army - combined arms army promoted to guards status (24/21/18)
Xth Shock Army - shock army (24/21/18)
Xth Tank Army - tank army (15)
Xth Guards Tank Army - tank army promoted to guards status (15)

Appreciate it, morvael.

In Soviet writings sometimes they use the term Assault Army, which is probably just their way of saying Shock Army.

Just wondering, do shock armies have have a moral bonus? If shock armies have a moral bonus, then would I be better off assigning guard units or regular Russian units?

ORIGINAL: Maximeba

Just wondering, do shock armies have have a moral bonus? If shock armies have a moral bonus, then would I be better off assigning guard units or regular Russian units?

Guards units don't again by being in a shock army (ie the Gds bonus and the shock bonus are the same), so that might argue for moving them out to other commands and replacing with line units.

However, this depends on how you are using your shock armies. One problem I have with the Red Army is keeping an eye on specialist formations - in part as up to the end of 1942 you are mostly reacting so its hard to get particular units in a particular place.

One advantage of the Shock Army is it has a different name so I don't need to write on a piece of paper that such and such an army has more than the usual heavier artillery (you will need these for breaking fort lines etc). So I quite like to leave better units in the Shock formations even if they are Gds merely as a means to keep some formations optimised for breakthrough work.

Shock and Guards armies give +1 admin rather than morale. Use them for units that you wish to keep reinforced and supplied well and have more movement points on average (if paired with good leader).

Thanks, for the info. I guess I will have to rethink the use of guard units in shock armies, as I'm trying to get ready for the Axis summer offensive in 42.