"Russians: How many is too many?" Topic

I'm in the assembly stages of my Khalkhin Gol Campaign using the lists from the Flames of War Rising Sun book. I like to use a lot of the scenarios already created on the web (why do the work when some one else has already done it for you?). The problem I'm running into, however, is how many Russians is too many to play on a 4 x 6 table? In trying to convert Orders of Battle, I'm finding a call for up to 50 stands of Russian infantry in a game. That seems like an awful lot. What experience do you have fielding large Russian forces and is it worth it?

I have more than 650 infantry.

It is too many for a 4x6 table. You should aim for less than that.

Quantity has a quality all of it's own.

Medium bases are 30x50mm, so 50 bases would be 2500mm, or 8.2 feet in a single line.

Stagger them into 3-4 lines and it will give you some space between the bases without it completely taking over your deployment zone. It will still look like a dang hyuuuuge number of Russians, but there *were* a huge number of Russians involved!

To paraphrase Stalin….how many FoW companies does the Pope have?"

We were playing a scenario a week ago, about the Spviet attack on Berlin in April 1945.
I sneakily suggested that both forces come in on the same side of the river that bisected the battle.
My C-in-C pointed out that we could not both fit. Literally.
And we play on a 9' x 5' table.
I can field 3 full companies plus one of SMG. it is not enough but then I am nuts.

If you are going to stoically "take it" while your tanks do sneaky things, don't forget to get the full complement of PTRDs and sappers to bulk up your companies too. Some SPEZNAZ would not hurt either.
As The Duke observed, "It will take a long time to kill them all, and they will not run away." Well, if they think about it don't forget a Komissar or two. Pour encourager les autres.

I'd love to see 650 Russian guys lockarm, chanting, and vodka-powered advancing across a four foot front.

Let's put up some barb wire and a few MG42's and toss some artillery down the chute and see if they can get to the other side of the board.

Too much Russian infantry was rather the rule than the exception. For some reason the Skirmish Campaign scenarios we have played NEVER have enough Russians. So, for me the questions is really how FEW Russian infantry are Not Enough.

Too true.
I will probably pick up a box of PSC Russkis at the next con.

Don't forget Cossacks. For some strange reason, they are counted as infantry with strange special rules.
So in addition to my 600+ infantry I have 1-1/2 full Polk of Cossacks. I need more dismounted ones.

To be serious, though…
FoW intends for each army to be played differently. The first time I saw a Russian army list in Ostfront I thought that having 30+ stands in a company, let alone the possibility of having 3 companies, was just permission, and that no one EVER put that many on the table. I was wrong. It really gives you a feel for the Russians.
I play on a much larger table than 4x6 and I do not play "missions" but scenarios.
So, embrace the "horde" mindset. They may get in YOUR way, but they certainly frustrate the Germans and his lackey running dog fascists.
Clearly playing platoons of 8 stands is different from playing "platoons" of 40+ stands. With a backup platoon of 30 right behind.

When you have more figures than the Soviet Army had manpower, you've got too many!

Sundance for the win!

I have an Engineer-Sapper Battalion that I'm working on. It's "only" 35 bases of infantry in two (technically 3) companies. Two Engineer-Sapper companies and a flamethrower company. Where people should start panicking is the armored and artillery support: 5x OT34 flame tanks, 5x T34 minerollers, and the full Red God of War artillery battery of 8x 76mm and 4x 122mm guns (it's either tubes or Katyushas, and I prefer tubes!)

I prefer Katyushas, but that is mere preference. I just love the weird combo of Cossacks and Katyushas. How can you not have fun with that combo?

Most I've ever seen was about 250 bases of Russian infantry in one game. As conscripts (2+ to hit) they disappear fast.

I love horde armies. Go ahead shoot me. I've got plenty more right behind them.

When you have too many to deploy on the table at one time, then you do not have too many. No what you have then is a need for a bigger table.

This was taken in 2008. I have added added 4 more Katyushas, 8 more artillery pieces, a full Udarny Strelkovy Battalion, a Naval Infantry Company, about a dozen T-34/85s, 5 JS-2s, 4 ISU-152s, 4 ISU-122s, some SU-100s…

I also have a comparable number of Germans.

Most I've ever seen was about 250 bases of Russian infantry in one game.

o_O !!!!!! what the …. I mean, that's seriously like 1000 or more Russkies?!?!!!

I am not worthy.

Most of my painted Soviet infantry:

Some of my Soviet armour, this was taken a fair while ago and their numbers have increased significantly since:

FWIW my plans are to be able to field a battalion of infantry either with summer or winter basing. A battalion of T-34s for summer or winter. Regiments of all the different types of heavy tank (KV, IS, Churchill). Regiments of every type of assault gun. Battalions of most other types of tank (BT-7, BT-5, T-26, Matilda, Valentine, T-28) and companies of the rest (T-60, T-70, T-35)

All in all it will probably be getting on for 1000 infantry figures and 400 vehicles.

There is no such thing as too many Soviets ;)

Wow. I'm not sure if I should be envious or if I should be staging an Intervention. Perhaps there is a need for a Russian Army Collectors Anonymous?

jameshammyhamilton, we should get together and take on some Germans…

My name is Hammy and I like collecting Soviets