Matrix Games Forums

Hi everyone, just wanted to pass on my ideas for build/research in the USSR, since people ask again time to time.

My ideas of what to build as USSR:

Priority 1 Builds (in order):
Artillery units (try to have ca. 15 by Su41)
Anti-Air units (try to have ca. 10 by Su41)
Infantry (try to have ca. 30-35 by Su41)
Tanks (I usually only have 5-8 ready by Su41)

Priority 1 Research:

Inf Evasion->5
Artillery Attack->7
Tank Attack->7->then 8
Inf Attack->7

Priority 2 Research:
AA Air Attack->7
Fighter Attack-> 6
Fighter Speed-> 2
Fighter Eva-> 6
Artillery Eva->6

After these specs are upgraded, only then do I usually look at any other upgrades

Build USSR units in the interior of the country (urals), so they won't be destroyed in the first attack.
Builds in Kharkov & Leningrad should be 1 Art + 1 AA until Barba. That way, German gets no 'easy' kills from the Luftwaffe, and the panzers that attack either region will get fired on by the Arty.
 
It's not that big a loss to lose Leningrad (or the north for that matter) as the Axis need to repair a ton of rail to make it anywhere near useful, and they already need to repair rail in the south of russia. Building units to the rear (ie Infantry and Artillery) in the Urals also allows you to prepare for the now very common double-slam from Japan too. Try to strike a balance between research and unit production. As russia, don't build supply unless you absolutely have to. Try and have the WAllies give them it, because Russian production is so important early on. I usually invest between at least 8 and 12 Research points a turn with Russia, and the rest units. I generally use Kiev and Belarussia for research. You can use them to produce units instead and use the Ural factories for research. You may also use the last turn pre-Barba to build Militia in all frontier factories to hamper the germans, or just continue to build research with them.

Once the attack comes, assuming the germans decided not to take Leningrad, defend heavily at Moscow, Rostov, Leningrad and Stalingrad in that order. I generally build around 15-20 Artillery by Su41, so try and place roughly 2-5 in each of those locations, with an equal amount of AA guns if possible.

Why should you take Artillery/Inf/AA over Tanks? Because while Tanks might be a truly great offensive weapon, they aren't so great in defense. You can get 2 units for the price of a Tank, and numbers are what you really need for a Soviet defense, especially if Japan gangs up on you too. However, later on, ca late 42-43, you should start thinking about building a real tank force, because you will need them once USSR recovers. As I said though, they are really not that helpful at Barbarosa time as other units (IMO).

If the Germans attack in Fa40, then you have not made a mistake choosing this building/research strategy. If you are caught building masses of Tanks, then you will really be on your butt if Germans attack in Fa40. A Fa40 attack is the toughest for the Soviets because they haven't had enough time to pump out units. Don't worry, just defend fewer areas then, let the germans/japs take a bigger chunk, just try not to lose Caucasus/Moscow and the Urals of course. Wallies should be as aggressive as possible if this occurs, and will grow quite strong. As soon as the Americans declare war, if the Axis haven't won the AV yet, then its game over for them. Fa40 attack for Germans is strong vs Russia, but only a good option if they actually win massively on the east front. The above strategy should provide enough units to Russia to prevent such a quick collapse.


Asking whether the Germans should attack Russia in Fa40 or Su41 is a tough question. It makes for a vastly different game, which is always a good thing! But is it effective? I don't believe so, because you're really ignoring England, and ignoring England is bad business. You're also forgoing taking Gibraltar and MidEast, and by 43, you'll be kicking yourself for doing so. Also, if attacking Fa40, you haven't had a large time window to build up the Wehrmacht and LW. You might also be having Manpower problems by 41-42, which wouldn't normally happen with a Su41 attack. Anyhow, that's my 2 cents. Feel free to comment on my Russian Strat.

The first turn I pause the contruction of the Heavy fleet in Leningrad.
I might want the Heavy fleet but not until late in the game.

I don't upgrade the AA guns but instead upgrade the Attack Aircraft rating of my Artillery and use the Artillery in a multi-function mode.
And build tons of it.

The first 3 turns I upgrade Artillery Attack, Evasion, Attack Aircraft while building several AA guns, a few infantry and a few Artillery. I also work on the upgrades to infantry but it takes a long time to complete.
I am careful not to build so many artillery that it bumps me up to having to pay more for research. Remember for every 5 units you have it costs an extra research point. And in the case of Artillery, that would bump you from 3 turns to research it to the next level to 4 turns.

On the fourth turn I switch to almost all Artillery while i finish upgrading the Infantry Evasion and Attack.

Once Infantry gets upgraded I make mostly Inf/Artillery. I might build 2 tanks for limited counter attack missions. Its nice to push them thru a conquered territory to capture an unguarded rear area thus destroying a railroad, a resource center and maybe even a factory.

I like to build 1-3 Bombers and 1-2 Carrier Air Group if it appears Barbarosa will be late. I really like the CAG for attacking German naval units and its pretty good at defending against bombers and in tactical strike roll. The Bombers are great for striking at whatever the Germans don't defend with AA which seems to be a common German mistake. I generally use the Bombers to strike infrastucture,
the factories of Romania, resource points anywhere or use as support for attacks. Generally the Bombers are worthless against tanks but Artillery is an easy kill.

Once my defenses are in pretty good shape, I upgrade my fighers evasion/air attack and them build a few.

I don't upgrade the AA guns but instead upgrade the Attack Aircraft rating of my Artillery and use the Artillery in a multi-function mode.
And build tons of it.

Maybe this works against the AI, but Germany could just up the evasion of tactical bombers and fighters and pound your artillery with impunity.

I like to build 1-3 Bombers and 1-2 Carrier Air Group if it appears Barbarosa will be late. I really like the CAG for attacking German naval units and its pretty good at defending against bombers and in tactical strike roll.

CAG? A German fighter strike would rip them apart.

How many people build up a Russian airforce?

I never until around 44-45 because Russia needs those points much much much much more for Inf/Art/Tanks than Air. Air doesn't hold the ground, isn't very good the first years anyhow, and needs a relatively long period of prolonged investment, making it a bad decision. However, it does make for a fun game . I think the Russian HB is really useful though, and sometimes have built another in addition, plus upped Land Attack -> 6. Then the German player really has to pay attention to each region in range of that HB.