"How to design your Soviet force for TY" Topic

Okay I have my 9 T-72s and 2 Hinds from the starter set. I am looking at purchasing a box set of Soviet Rifle company which appears to have two platoons plus the support units and of course the set of 5 BMPs. So does this seem like a good start for those of you who have played or should I add more tanks or Hinds? Thoughts. Sorry I am not sure what points base my local group is going for. I assume 50 to as much as 100 for now.

According to the TY rulebook a Soviet Motor Rifle Company has either 4, 9 or 12 BMP's. If you're planning to run a T-72 tank battalion with infantry support, all you really need is to buy a Motor Rifle Platoon pack (24 figures) which only requires 4 BMP's and call it a "company". It can be confusing because the minimum "Motor Rifle Company" of 4 BMP's embarks 4 AK-74 and 3 RPG-7 teams and the "Motor Rifle Platoon" pack sold by BF has 4 of each of these teams.

If you're planning to run a Motor Rifle Battalion, you'll need a minimum of 9 BMP's so that you can have two small "companies" of 4 BMP's plus one BMP command. However, to use the PK LMG team(s) you'll need the larger companies with 9 or 12 BMP's plus command.

If you go with the minimum sized Motor Rifle Company requiring 9 BMP's all you need is to buy the Motor Rifle Company pack (79 figures). If you want larger companies you'll need to add more Motor Rifle Company and/or Platoon packs depending on the size.

My 2c with infantry, start with the one platoon and see how they work for you. If you like what they bring to your game you can get more.

Maybe go in phases though, I'd get another starter box and four Shilkas before mucking in with the PBI, paints faster and really the game is all about the tanks and helicopters.

Why don't you just use the actual TO&E in Team Yankee? Seems a bit odd to me – admittedly I don't have the rules but things like this make me wary of them.

Also how do you get artillery on the table? You'd be very worried if you could actually see the fighting from your battery position.

Also how do you get artillery on the table? You'd be very worried if you could actually see the fighting from your battery position.

I am guessing TY uses the same logarithmic distance system as FoW (?), in which case 10" = 200 metres, but 20" = 2000 metres. That way artillery on the table at 4' is actually someling like 20km away. (I made the figures up, but you get the idea) :-)

The Gophers are a key item I think, you need AA and the Shilka's range is just to short. (although the Shilka is the coolest model ever… so maybe get those too!)

Or when you really absolutely positively need to upset their air attacks from much further away… ;-)

link

And

Actual TO&E? Where is the massive air strikes and the follow on artillery barrage,the RAG or Regimental artillery group, which would be throwing down tons of HE down range prior to a break out!
This is before the troops get on table.
And then you have enough AA to cover every range and height a rotary or fixed wing aircraft can operate at? Where are the basic SA-7's?

I am not sure where he meant 'actual', as in the TO&E as described in the book, or 'actual' as in the TO&E given in the rules, but I don't think he meant the actual actual TO&E (complete or otherwise) that would have been present in the region described in the Team Yankee book (or possibly game) which we do know to not be correct to the actual actual actual TO&E that could have been encountered (assuming they were able to field the actual TO&E, taking into account combat losses, maintenance, sickness, etc).

Let me clarify some things, I am approaching this first from the stand point of what I can feasibly purchase. My local game store is well stocked currently in the Team Yankee merchandise that has been released. So I have been looking at the Rifle Company pack which 28mm Fanatik has correctly noted has 79 figures in it. The basic BMP1 or BMP2 box has five vehicles. What I was trying to figure out was if I purchase the Rifle Company box and a box of BMPs did I have a enough of what I needed along with the 9-T-72s and 2- Hinds. I admit the one thing I have not liked about the TY rules is the force organization charts are less clear regarding infantry than how they are presented in all the Flames of War WW II supplements.

I will agree with that Team Yankee is all about the tanks but I am a die hard believer that regardless of the rule system a combined arms approach is always best and gives your tactical flexibility. Of course there are limits to this in a game such as Team Yankee as you are talking a high points game to be able to have all your various units.

28mm Fanatik and McWong73 you may have solved my issue as I could just start with the smaller platoon pack and they could be transported in either the Hinds or in BMPs.

@kyoteblue, I am still not sure if I am going to make it to Twister Con. Originally I was going to game master at the convention but realized I could not afford the hotel costs on my own and I could not get firm commitments from any of the other gamers here in Dallas to share gas and lodging. I might day trip (even though that means three plus hours alone one way) just to play a game and maybe sell some stuff in the flea market. Or I may just host my own "Not going to Twister Con" game here in Dallas.

Where does TY come up with 4 BMPs to a platoon from?
All my references show 3 BMPs to a platoon in 1985.
A company was 10 BMPs including one for the company CO, and from 86(?) on, might have two extra BMPs for the MG platoon with either SFMG or 40mm GLs.

Where does TY come up with 4 BMPs to a platoon from?

They didn't. The smallest Soviet unit (T-72 or BMP) is the company. As I mentioned earlier, a Motor Rifle Company can either consist of 4, 9 or 12 BMP-1's or BMP-2's, though nothing in between.

The 12-vehicle BMP company can carry a motorized infantry company comprising of 10x AK-74 teams, 9x RPG-7 teams and 2x PKM LMG teams. A 9-vehicle BMP company can transport 7x AK-74 teams, 6x RPG-7 teams and 2x PKM LMG teams. The smallest company with 4x BMP's can squeeze 4x AK-74 teams and 3x RPG-7 teams into their cramped compartments.

You'll need a minimum of two Motor Rifle Companies plus one BMP command vehicle to make up a Motor Rifle Battalion. That's why you'll need a minimum of 9x BMP's to have a Motor Rifle Battalion using TY's TO&E.

The confusion arises from the fact that the smaller Motor Rifle infantry pack from BF consisting of 24 figures (enough to make 4x AK-74 teams and 4x RPG-7 teams) is more than enough for a "company" of 4x BMP's but is called a Soviet Infantry Platoon, which isn't wrong from a strictly PBI standpoint.

link

Platoon x 3, Coy Command x 1. TY lists require you to take MRR companies, even if only one platoon.

With you mate on the combined arms front, and I've got a full company of Khurasan's wonderful soviet infantry in a box so in all honesty you should ignore my advice!

Gopher vs Shilka, the Gopher has the range but the Shilka can tear up infantry and soft skins. Get both, then you can switch either one depending on your opponent?

Don't forget the BMP-2 can be used in an anti-helo role in a pinch.

You'd be very worried if you could actually see the fighting from your battery position.

Actually Soviet doctrine made a point of facilitating direct fire from artillery when required…For example the Regt Recce group included 6 x 122mm CARNATIONs.

Thoughtful chaps. And they say romance is dead!

McWong73 I saw what you did there.

28mm – If attack helicopters were about, pretty much everything in the battalion becomes a temporary AA weapon, whether suited or not. AK's, RPG, BMP guns, army rations…

Just bought a Soviet motor-rifle company pack and a platoon pack,along with the rulebook and a paint box,to start with. Got some objective markers free with one of my buys. Also looked at some WW2 French FFI figs who could stand in for civilian resistance in some scenarios.

Just finished spray priming those ground pounders and basic painting and mounting currently in progress. Will be ordering a "Potecknov's Bears" box soon, hopefully followed by some BMP's,BM-21's etc.

"Actual TO&E? Where is the massive air strikes and the follow on artillery barrage,the RAG or Regimental artillery group, which would be throwing down tons of HE down range prior to a break out!
This is before the troops get on table.
And then you have enough AA to cover every range and height a rotary or fixed wing aircraft can operate at? Where are the basic SA-7's?"

Tis a game, do not get too hung up on reality, or what could have happened. The size of formations one will find in TY would hardly warrant anything above a Bty of D-30/2S1, both of which were trained to fire in the direct role and as Bruce 417 alludes could be found in the FEBA. As with most modern games by the time the troops arrive on the table the depth fire/DAGs etc would have switched targets and the Recce would have gone on, not be hanging around to fight!

Tally Ho!

The Bears arrived Tuesday,and am currently assembling the chassis of my first T-72 from the set.

Tanks are coming along OK,assembled about 6 so far(just need to paint),Hinds seem to be more of a challenge to put together right. Especially the main rotor and shaft assembly.

Where does TY come up with 4 BMPs to a platoon from?

As has been said, platoon of 3 plus company command BMP.

Anyone looking for a Team Yankee Game to play in should consider Little Wars at the end of April. The game I am running will have in it over 500 pts per side. 3 M1 Tank Coys, 1 Mech Inf Coy, Bn Scout Platoon, Mortar Platoon, & AA. Also some air support. The Soviets will have 2 and 1/2 T-72 Tank Battalions, 1 BMP-2 Inf Bn, off table artillery, AAA support, 4 Hinds, & 1 Recce Company. Table size is 12 feet by 8 feet.

Wow, I wish I could make that…

Oh, and I forgot. Prize support from Battlefront for the game.

Received the prize support today from battlefront and 6 box sets for the team yankee game.

Using a pair of nail clippers,carefully,trimmed the main rotor shaft to fit the ring around it leaving a bit at the top to fit into the rotor center support. Just about finished assembling the tanks. Also penciling out some scenario ideas.

Painting phase currently in progress.

Painting coming along,and just placed an order for some BMP's,tokens,and spray paint.

Expecting delivery of BMPs,etc. today or Saturday.

Got 'em Monday. Tanks are in the touch-up phase,and have at least 2/3 of them "buttoned up". Will likely do same for the BMP's

Well thanks,kyoteblue. Was checking TY website for tips on assembly techniques. May have to tweak the ones I've put together already,but otherwise…

And what I mainly did ,as far as tweaking the BMP's,all I had to do was transfer the searchlight over to the right of the 30mm main gun(am making them BMP-2's except for one I'm doing as a "1" to serve as a future artillery OP vehicle. Hope to find some more at Origins in the dealer room.

Currently,BMP's assembled,painting in progress. And with 2 of the spare turrets,I put one in buttoned-up position and the other in hatch open/crewman visible; with what will likely be the company command vehicle,and same for the OP BMP.

Just ordered some Gophers,Shilkas,a box of BM-21 "Hail"s,extra motor rifle troops,and will likely orde more BMPs,some Carnation SPGs,Hind choppers in the near future. Also,I may use 2 BMP 1's as a recon platoon.

"Order",sorry 'bout that.

Why not just use the real Soviet TO&E organization?

Why not just use the real Soviet TO&E organization?

THAT would be far too simple. And "historical" (for a Cold War gone hot, that is). You're forgetting, this is TY…

Yea your correct this is TY, AKA, FOW, BF, D&D / 40K.

PS that's how I do it. You use what you really would have.

But that's what makes it fun well for me and others.

So far,I have 2 companies of T-72's(9 tanks each) and a command tank for the KomBat. A full strength Motor-rifle company w/ 13 BMP-2's,a short company(4 AK teams and 3 RPG teams) of same w/o vehicles,2 Hind choppers,and 2 BMP-1's for a small recon unit. Soon to arrive,a short company of BM-21 multi-rocket launchers,a platoon of SA-13 "Gopher" AAMs and a platoon of ZSU 23-4 "Shilka" AA,as well as more Motor-rifle troops . Next up,hopefully,a battery of 2S1 "Carnation" SP howitzers,some more BMP's and Hinds and/or Sukhoi 25's.

Got the stuff mentioned first;the AA,rocket arty and troops.

Been working on them all,and getting around to painting my Hinds(from the Potecknov's Bears set). Putting some touchups on my ground pounders(of which I can field a 7/6 company,less BMP's;in addition to the full strength MR company(w/ vehicles) and a MR KomBat force command stand.

Played my first TY game yesterday. It was a pickup match between me & a bud of mine at CincyCon. I played the Soviets(with 2 T-72 co.s and the KomBat in another;18 tanks in all) a mid-strength motor rifle company(9 BMP-2's) and a 2 BMP-1 recon platoon. My pard had a British force. Chieftans,a pair of Lynx helis,some SP guns and infantry; close to 100 pts. each. Free-for-all scenario. Long story short,I lost(only part of my motor-rifle troops remained),but my defense,and some timely die rolls(which also went the other way at times too), caused him to lose close to half of his force including his Lynx choppers(using 6 BMP-2's AA capability),2 Chieftan platoons (2 other Chieftan platoons of his, remained to win the day for my bud)destroyed or skedaddled(my remaining T-72's that weren't destroyed,lit out too)and 2 SP guns destroyed and a third tube took off. Quite a good game all around.

Also,got another box of Gophers and a box of Carnation SP howitzers at CincyCon. Will see about some Sukhois,and other stuff soon.

The second box of Gophers also solved a hiccup with mounting the magnets(polarity issue).

Got 'em put together and painted. And,last Saturday, in another game vs. another dude,who had West Germans,it came down to a timely die roll where he(the WG player) managed to remount his IFV's while holding the objective I was just a stone's throw from capturing;he already took one of his objectives(free-for-all scenario). But I also managed to take out a good number of his force,though not that easily. I had shots bounce off or miss.

And just added some BMP's to my lineup(for a 32-34 pt.MR btn) ,a couple more tanks(to field 2 full strength companies or 3 reduced strength ones) and some air support(namely MiG 23 Flogger A's)Hopefully next up,some BRDM's and those Su-25's

Got an Afgantsy heavy weps pack.