LW Soviet Rifle Battle Group - Wargames Design

COMBAT HQ
Late War Soviet Rifle

Battle Group
Research and Design
Jim Bambra
Research, Fact Checking and Editing
Karl Bergman
Editing
Catherine Bambra
Version 3.0
First published in 2020 by Wargames Design.
© 2020 Jim Bambra. All rights reserved.
Jim Bambra has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as
the author of this book.
www.wargamesdesign.com
1
SOVIET RIFLE BATTLE GROUP 1944-45
Rules on how to create a Battle Group are included in the Battle Group Builder and Commonwealth Infantry
Battle Group PDF (Battle Group Builder). This battle group roster allows players to create a Late War Soviet
Rifle Battle Group. The following battle group provides a starter list for infantry units from early 1944 through
1945.
Training
Rifle Battalions: Inexperienced or Regular
Other Support Units: Regular or Experienced
Rifle regiment and battalion units are Inexperienced or Regular. Other Support units may be assigned as
Regular or Experienced. All units in a company or battery should have the same training level.
Troop Training RD FP AT
Inexperienced - -1D -1D
Regular - - -
Experienced +1D - -
Battle Group Profile

Doctrine CD Divider SO Divider Rally Comms Supply
Limited 3.5 4 3D 3D 6D
High Level Assets

# Support Groups TN Points Per Dice
0 1-2 3 4
General Support Dice - 6 7 8 4+ 40
Air Power Dice - 3 4 5 4+ 72
Manpower Core Units

The Rifle Battalions, Ski Battalion and the Rifle
The battle group allows units from a full-strength
Regiment are core units. and operate under a
Rifle Division (used to lead a major offensive) to be
Flexible Doctrine. Any core unit may be included in
fielded. Other Rifle Divisions were severely under-
any core Command Group.
strength and lacked certain units. When fielding an
under-strength battle group, any units listed in Support Units
brackets cannot be selected. Eg (1x Anti-Tank Rifle Other units must remain in their listed Command
Platoon).
Groups, but can be redeployed with Staff Orders. A
Support Unit may be redeployed to another
Limited Doctrine Command Group (one Staff Order per unit).
The Rifle Battle Group operates with a limited
tactical doctrine which restricts is ability to change
Command Groups.
2
CORE BATTALION
Assign one Core Battalion
Rifle Battalion
1x Headquarters & Support Company 2x SG-43 Machine Gun Platoons
(1x M-42 Anti-Tank Gun + Horse-Team
or 1x ZiS-2 ATG Platoon + Horse-Team)
(1x Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon)
1x 82mm Mortar Platoon
2x Rifle Companies 2x Rifle Platoons
1x Sub-Machine Gun Company 2x Sub-Machine Gun Platoons
DIRECT SUPPORT
Assign 0-3 Direct Support Batteries
Artillery Battalion
0-2 Extra Light Support Batteries 1x 76mm Field Gun each
0-1 Light Support Battery 1x 122mm Howitzer each
Support Groups
Assign 0-4 Support Groups
Restricted Support Groups are indicated by one or more • after their name
RIFLE DIVISION SUPPORT

Rifle Division Troops
0-1 Headquarters Company 1x GAZ-AAA Truck with 4-M Quad AAMG Platoon
0-1 Reconnaissance Company 2x Recon Infantry Platoons + Light Trucks
RIFLE REGIMENT SUPPORT

Rifle Regiment (1)
0-1 Headquarters Company •• 1x Recon Infantry Platoon
1x Engineer Flamethrower Platoon
0-1 Anti-Tank Company 1x M-42 ATG + Horse-Team

or 1x ZiS-2 ATG Platoon + Horse-Team
0-1 Regimental Gun Company 1x M1943 Regimental Gun Platoon + Horse Team
0-1 Heavy Mortar Company 1x 120mm Mortar Platoon + Truck
0-1 Sub-Machine Gun Company 2x Sub-Machine Gun Platoons
0-1 Anti-Tank Rifle Company 2x Anti-Tank Rifle Platoons
(1) Two rifle regiment companies count as one support group choice.
3
RIFLE BATTALION SUPPORT
Rifle Battalion
0-1 Headquarters & Support Company •• 2x SG-43 Machine Gun Platoons
(1x M-42 Anti-Tank Gun + Horse-Team
or 1x ZiS-2 ATG Platoon + Horse-Team)
(1x Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon)
1x 82mm Mortar Platoon
0-2 Rifle Companies 2x Rifle Platoons
0-1 Sub-Machine Gun Company 2x Sub-Machine Gun Platoons
Or
SKI BATTALION SUPPORT

Ski Battalion
0-1 Headquarters & Support Company •• 1x Ski Rifle Platoon
1x Ski Machine Gun Platoon
1x Ski Recon Platoon
0-2 Ski Rifle Companies 2x Ski Rifle Platoons

1x Ski Sub-Machine Gun Platoon
ANTI-TANK SUPPORT
Anti-Tank Battalion
0-1 Anti-Tank Rifle Company 3x Anti-Tank Rifle Platoons
0-3 Anti-Tank Gun Companies (1) 1x M-42 ATG + Horse-Team

or 1x ZiS-2 ATG Platoon + Horse-Team
(1) Three Anti-Tank Gun companies count as one support group choice.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT SUPPORT
Anti-Aircraft Company
0-1 Anti-Aircraft Company 3x GAZ-AAA Trucks with Triple AAHMG Platoons
ENGINEER SUPPORT
Engineer Battalion
0-1 Engineer Company (1) 2x Engineer Platoons
0-1 Engineer Flamethrower Company (1) 1x Engineer Platoon

1x Engineer Flamethrower Platoon
(1) Both engineer companies count as one support group choice.
4
ARMOUR SUPPORT
Attached Tank Regiment
0-1 Headquarters • 1x T-34/43 or T-34/85 Platoon
0-1 Headquarters Company • 1x Recon BA-64 Armoured Car
0-4 Medium Tank Companies (1) 2x T-34/43 or T-34/85 Platoons
0-1 Tank Desant Company 2x Tank Desant Infantry
(1) Two medium tank companies count as one support group choice.
Lend-Lease Units
The US began to supply the Soviet Union with Lend-lease
equipment in late 1941. The Soviet player has the option of
fielding Lend-lease units instead of Soviet ones.
1944: Replace T-34 tanks with M4 75mm tanks.
Late 1944: May replace M4 75m tanks with M4 76mm tanks.
5
UNIT STATISTICS
Change to Reaction Dice Format Multiple Weapons
An asterisk has been added to a soft unit’s Reaction Some units are equipped with more than one
Dice Statistic to indicate that it is a Firepower target. weapon. These units may only fire one weapon per
This is shown as xD*. turn (player choice).
Units without an * are targeted by AT Direct and Indirect Fire Units

4D* - the unit has four Reaction Dice and is a soft Units with direct and indirect fire capabilities may
target only use one form of fire per turn (player choice).
4D - the unit has four Reaction Dice and is an

armoured target
INFANTRY
Rifle Platoon
The Soviet rifle platoon has no anti-tank capability making it vulnerable to enemy armour.
Rifle Platoon
Type Move RD Weapons Range FP AT
Infantry Slow 4D* Rifles & DP-27 LMGs 4/8/16 5D -
-
Inexperienced 20 Regular 24 Experienced 28 Veteran -
Add skis for +5 points.
Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon

Anti-tank rifles rapidly fell out of favour with other armies and were replaced by the more effective PIAT,
bazooka or panzerfaust. The Soviet army continued to use the PTRD-41 and PTRS-41 anti-tank rifles up to
the end of the war.
The Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon is armed with a limited number of Sub-Machine Guns and some rifles. and has
been rated as a weak sub-machine gun unit.
Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon

Infantry Slow 4D* Sub-Machine Guns 2/4/8 2D -
Anti-Tank Rifle 1/3/5 - 5D
+2D Short Range and in Close Assault. Deployed Anti-Tank Teams,
Skis
Units equipped with skis treat snow and ice as Open
Ground and move at Average speed.
6
Sub-Machine Gun Platoon
The Soviets made extensive use of sub-machine gun units. Often these troops rode to battle on the decks of
tanks. When doing so they move with the tanks and do not require any separate orders until they dismount.
After dismounting they may be part of a Command Group containing tanks or form a separate Command
Group.
Sub-Machine Gun Platoon

+2D Short Range and in Close Assault.
Tank Desant Platoon

Tank desant (tankodesantniki) infantry are Soviet troops trained to ride on the backs of tanks and to defend
them in combat.
Tank Desant Platoon

+2D Short Range and in Close Assault.
Inexperienced - Regular 18 Experienced 23 Veteran 25
Tank desant use the rules for AFV Riders (see Total War). In addition, when mounted on their tank, desant
infantry increase an AFV’s firepower at close range and make it more effective in Close Assault.
FP Bonus: An AFV with mounted desant infantry gains +1D to FP when firing at Short Range.
Close Assault Dice Bonus: An AFV with mounted desant infantry gains +2D to Close Assault.
AFV vs Infantry in Cover: An AFV with mounted desant infantry ignores the +1 TN modifier when in close
assault with infantry in cover.
▪ It costs desant infantry one Fixed Move to remount their AFVs.
SG-43 Machine Gun Platoon

The lighter SG-43 Goryunov machine gun began to replace the old Maxim 1910 machine gun in 1943
increasing the mobility of Soviet machine gun platoons from Very Slow to Slow.
SG-43 Machine Gun Platoon

Hvy Wpns Slow 4D* Machine Guns 6/12/24 6D -
High Suppression. Sustained Fire.
Inexperienced 35 Regular 40 Experienced - Veteran -

7
MORTAR PLATOONS
A mortar is an Indirect Fire weapon that may fire at any unit in its range and LOS; it may also fire at any enemy
unit that another unit in its battalion has LOS to.
82mm Mortar Platoon

The M-41/43 82mm mortar is effective against soft targets and can be used to create a smoke screen.
82mm Mortar Platoon

Hvy Wpns Slow 4D* 82mm Mortars 3-30 4D -
High Suppression.
120mm Mortar Platoon + Truck

The M1938 120mm mortar is effective against soft targets and can also damage armoured targets. It can create
a smoke screen.
120mm Mortar Platoon + Truck

Hvy Wpns Average * 4D* 120mm Mortars 4-40 5D 3D
High Suppression. Towed.
Inexperienced 74 Regular 94 Experienced 99 Veteran 119
ENGINEER PLATOONS
Engineer Platoon
The engineer platoon’s primary role is combat engineering, but it has some combat ability with its 4D FP.
Engineer Platoon
Engineers Slow 4D* Rifles & DP-27 LMGs 4/8/16 5D -
Engineer: 5D.
8
Engineer Flamethrower Platoon
The ROKS-2 flamethrower is a deadly close assault weapon. The ROKS-2 was designed to conceal its true
purpose by making its operator appear as a standard rifleman. The flame projector was built to resemble a
Mosin-Nagant rifle and its fuel tanks were hidden inside of a sheet-metal knapsack.
The later ROKS-3 model didn’t hide its fuel tanks within a backpack.
Engineer Flamethrower Platoon

Engineers Slow 4D* Rifles & DP-27 LMGs 4/8/16 5D -
Flamethrower CA Only 8D 5D
Engineer: 5D. Flamethrower.
ANTI-TANK GUN PLATOONS

Anti-tank guns are towed by horse-teams and must unlimber to fire and limber to move. Anti-tank guns have
the Ambush ability.
M-42 Anti-Tank Gun Platoon + Horse-Team

Introduced in 1942, this anti-tank gun has a longer barrel than the M1937 Anti-Tank Gun (53-K) which it was
designed to replace.
M-42 Anti-Tank Gun Platoon + Horse-Team

Lt ATG Average * (1) 4D* 45L66 ATG 7/14/28 4D 6D
Ambush. Towed.
ZiS-2 Anti-Tank Gun + Horse-Team

The ZiS-2 (Zavod imeni Stalina – a factory named after Stalin) anti-tank gun was originally introduced in 1941,
but was issued in limited numbers. After the deployment of German Panther and Tiger tanks, this ZiS-2 was
issued in 1943 to replace the 45mm M-42 anti-tank gun.
ZiS-2 Anti-Tank Gun Platoon + Horse-Team

Med ATG Average * (1) 4D* 57L70 ATG 7/14/28 4D 7D
Ambush. Towed.
9
INFANTRY GUN PLATOONS
Infantry guns are towed by horse-teams and must unlimber to fire and limber to move. Infantry guns may use
direct and indirect fire.
M1943 Regimental Gun Platoon + Horse-Team

The M1943 entered service in 1943 and replaced the M1937 Regimental Gun. The M1943 was issued with
HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) shells which gives it a AT of 6D.
M1943 Regimental Gun Platoon + Horse-Team

Med FG Average * (1) 4D* 76L16 Howitzer 7/14/28 6D 6D
Towed.
Horse-Teams
Horse-drawn units break down from either
freezing temperatures, sickness, lack of forage, or
overwork.
Horse teams have Poor Reliability (1).
RECON PLATOONS
Recon platoons are trained to locate the enemy. Their Recon ability gives them a -1 TN when spotting enemy
Blinds and allows recon vehicles to move multiple times in a turn. When fired at, recon platoons can Break-off
gaining a rolled move backwards and an extra +2 Reaction Dice.
Recon Infantry Platoon

The Soviet recon platoon is armed with sub-machine guns. Use them to locate the enemy and then use break-
off to avoid enemy fire.
Recon Infantry Platoon

+2D Short Range and in Close Assault. Recon. Break-Off.
Add Horses for +3 Points. Add truck for +5 points.
Horses
Horses increase Speed to Average and have Poor

Reliability (1).
10
BA-64 Armoured Car Platoon
The BA-64 (Bronirovaniy Avtomobil-64) armoured car entered service in 1942. Modelled on the SdKfz 221
and 222, the BA-64 has better Reaction Dice and was also more reliable than the BA-20 that it replaced.
BA-64 Armoured Car Platoon

Lt AFV Fast (2) 5D Machine Guns 6/12/24 5D -
Recon. Break-Off.
AFV PLATOONS
T-34/43 Platoon
The T34/43 is an improved version of the T34. Fast and armed with a 76mm gun the T34/43 has sloped
armour but retains the Two-Man Turret of early versions.
T-34/43 Platoon
Med AFV Fast (2) 8D/7D 76L43 8/16/32 6D 7D
Sloped Armour. Two-Man Turret,
T-34/85 Platoon
The T34/85 was developed to carry a larger gun capable of dealing with the German Panthers and Tigers. Its
increased armour, 85mm gun and three-man turret make it one of the best tanks of World War Two.
T-34/85 Platoon
Med AFV Fast (2) 8D/7D 85L53 10/20/40 6D 9D
Sloped Armour.
11
M4 75mm Platoon
Mass-produced and mechanically reliable, the M4 75mm is under-gunned compared to German armour and
has less armour protection and range than the T-34/43.
M4 75mm Platoon
Med AFV Average (3) 6D 75L38 7/14/28 7D 7D
-
M4 76mm Platoon
The 76mm gun provides this M4 with an effective anti-tank weapon that makes it a match for the Panzer IV.
It has better AT than the T-34/43 but suffers from its 6D for Reaction.
M4 76mm Platoon
Med AFV Average (3) 6D 76L52 8/16/32 6D 8D
-
ANTI-AIRCRAFT PLATOONS
GAZ-AAA Truck with 4-M Quad AA Machine Gun Platoon

Four Maxim machine guns mounted in a row on the back of a GAZ trucks provides the platoon with its
firepower.
GAZ-AAA Truck with 4-M Quad AA Machine Gun Platoon

Lt AA Average 4D* 4 x Machine Guns 6/12/24 7D -
High Suppression. Sustained Fire. Portee with 360° Fire.
GAZ-AAA Truck with Triple Heavy Machine Gun Platoon

Three DShK heavy machine guns (Dushkas) mounted on the back of a GAZ truck.
GAZ-AAA Truck with Triple Heavy Machine Gun Platoon

Lt AA Average 4D* Heavy Machine Guns 6/12/24 7D -
High Suppression. Sustained Fire. Portee with 360° Fire.
12
DIRECT SUPPORT BATTERIES
Meeting Engagements
Towed Soviet artillery relies on horse and heavy tractors to move the guns into position. When fighting a
Meeting Engagement, Soviet Direct Support batteries are not available as they are still moving up to the
battlefield and have not zeroed in their guns.
In a Meeting Engagement the Soviet Rifle Battle Group cannot conduct Preparatory Bombardments or use
Planned Fire Missions. Any points spent on Direct Support Batteries should be used to purchase other
Support Groups such as AFVs.
In all other missions (Attack/Defense etc), the battle group has access to Direct Support Batteries.
3D Comms
With a Comms of 3D the Battle Group’s Direct Support is slow to respond to On-Call Fire Missions and is
more suited to using Planned Missions. As it is well-supplied with artillery ammunition, its Planned Missions
rarely run out of ammunition.
Extra Light Direct Support Battery

The 75mm battery provides extra light direct support to Soviet units.
Extra Light Direct Support Battery

Type RD FD Supply
Extra Light Battery 4D 4D Good (6D)
High Suppression.
Points 113
Light Direct Support Battery

The 122 mm battery provides light direct support to Soviet units.
Light Direct Support Battery

Type RD FD Supply
Light Battery 4D 5D Good (6D)
High Suppression.
Points 162
13
SPECIAL UNIT RULES
+2D Short Range and Close Assault Portee

+2D for short range fire and close assault.
Guns carried portee on the back of trucks do not
need to unlimber to fire and may Shoot and Scoot.
Ambush
Unless otherwise listed, portee guns have 180° Fire.
When revealed unit gains +1D to FP or AT.
Recon
Break-Off
Spots with -1 TN. May increase size of a Command Group
Unit can move backwards with +2D to RD when fired at.
to 5.
Deployed Anti-Tank Teams

Recon Vehicles Multiple Activations: Unit may be
Non-moving infantry add 3” to Anti-Tank weapons range.
activated each Command Pulse until the unit Breaks-
Engineer Dice off.
Used for Engineering Tasks.
Sloped Armour
Flamethrower Use the first number for frontal attacks and the second for
Ignore cover dice and automatically suppress any target other attacks.
hit.
Sustained Fire
High Suppression Unit may fire at multiple units within 4” of each other. -1D
Target must roll more 6s than the firing unit or become per target.
suppressed.
Towed
High Suppression vs Armoured Units Unit must limber to move and unlimber to fire.
Fully Armoured Target: May be suppressed, but Towed Mortars, Light and Medium Guns: Fixed
ignores Disruption and Forced Back results. Move
Open-Topped Target: May be suppressed, Heavy Guns: Fixed + Variable Move
Disrupted and Forced Back.
One or Two-Man Turret

-1D penalty when moving and firing turret weapons
(excluding machine guns).
14
COMBAT HQ: TOTAL WAR
Advanced Rules, Starter Battle
Groups and Missions
Additional Rules Battle Group Builder Eight Missions

• Tactical Doctrines Late War Battle Groups • Meeting Engagement
• Air Power • Commonwealth Infantry • Attack and Defend
• General Support Batteries • Commonwealth Armour • Flank Attack
• Airborne Assault • German Grenadier • Hold the Line
• Beach Landings • German Panzer • Take and Hold
• Combat Engineering • US Infantry • Counter-Attack
• Infantry Transports • US Armour • Rescue
• Weather • Capture the Bridges
• Supply
www.wargamesdesign.com
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COMBAT HQ

Late War Soviet Rifle

Research and Design

Research, Fact Checking and Editing

First published in 2020 by Wargames Design.

© 2020 Jim Bambra. All rights reserved.

Other Support Units: Regular or Experienced

Battle Group Profile

High Level Assets

Manpower Core Units

2x Rifle Companies 2x Rifle Platoons

1x Sub-Machine Gun Company 2x Sub-Machine Gun Platoons

0-1 Light Support Battery 1x 122mm Howitzer each

RIFLE DIVISION SUPPORT

0-1 Reconnaissance Company 2x Recon Infantry Platoons + Light Trucks

RIFLE REGIMENT SUPPORT

0-1 Anti-Tank Company 1x M-42 ATG + Horse-Team

0-1 Heavy Mortar Company 1x 120mm Mortar Platoon + Truck

0-1 Sub-Machine Gun Company 2x Sub-Machine Gun Platoons

0-1 Anti-Tank Rifle Company 2x Anti-Tank Rifle Platoons

0-2 Rifle Companies 2x Rifle Platoons

0-1 Sub-Machine Gun Company 2x Sub-Machine Gun Platoons

SKI BATTALION SUPPORT

0-2 Ski Rifle Companies 2x Ski Rifle Platoons

0-3 Anti-Tank Gun Companies (1) 1x M-42 ATG + Horse-Team

0-1 Engineer Flamethrower Company (1) 1x Engineer Platoon

(1) Both engineer companies count as one support group choice.

0-1 Headquarters Company • 1x Recon BA-64 Armoured Car

0-4 Medium Tank Companies (1) 2x T-34/43 or T-34/85 Platoons

0-1 Tank Desant Company 2x Tank Desant Infantry

1944: Replace T-34 tanks with M4 75mm tanks.

Late 1944: May replace M4 75m tanks with M4 76mm tanks.

Units without an * are targeted by AT Direct and Indirect Fire Units

4D - the unit has four Reaction Dice and is an

Inexperienced 20 Regular 24 Experienced 28 Veteran -

Add skis for +5 points.

Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon

Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon

Inexperienced 16 Regular 18 Experienced 23 Veteran -

Add skis for +5 points.

Sub-Machine Gun Platoon

Inexperienced 15 Regular 17 Experienced 21 Veteran -

Add skis for +5 points.

Tank Desant Platoon

Tank Desant Platoon

Inexperienced - Regular 18 Experienced 23 Veteran 25

SG-43 Machine Gun Platoon

SG-43 Machine Gun Platoon

Inexperienced 35 Regular 40 Experienced - Veteran -

Add skis for +5 points.

82mm Mortar Platoon

82mm Mortar Platoon

Inexperienced 32 Regular 39 Experienced 44 Veteran -

120mm Mortar Platoon + Truck

120mm Mortar Platoon + Truck

Inexperienced 74 Regular 94 Experienced 99 Veteran 119

Inexperienced - Regular 28 Experienced 33 Veteran 41

Engineer Flamethrower Platoon

Inexperienced 29 Regular 34 Experienced 40 Veteran 49

ANTI-TANK GUN PLATOONS

M-42 Anti-Tank Gun Platoon + Horse-Team

M-42 Anti-Tank Gun Platoon + Horse-Team

Inexperienced 56 Regular 67 Experienced 71 Veteran 81

ZiS-2 Anti-Tank Gun + Horse-Team