"Thinking about creating a Soviet rpg-tactics like Campaign" Topic

I have slowly getting a friend of mine interested in World War II miniatures wargaming via Bolt Action. After trying a couple of armies that I have, he has settled on the Soviets. Since he really isn't a wargamer, he doesn't really like to change his army list all that much especially since I write it for him based on his feed back from the previous game.

After creating his current list, I noticed that it could work quite well as something in Stalingrad and made a counterpart German army list that I think would be appropriate.

This had me thinking, maybe we could do an rpg-tactics like campaign where my friend basically plays the same platoon from Stalingrad to Berlin. His force would slowly evolve over the campaign which I think he would be on board with while I get to change my German lists pretty much every game to suit the progression of the war and the battle the game scenario is trying to simulate.

The first question I had is which battle group, I believe that is the right term, to make the stars of the campaign. The 101st Airborne or 2nd Rangers so to speak. I am leaning toward the 1st Guards which I think were involved in some of the more important battles of WWII. However, my knowledge is only a little better than the average person on the subject.

What I would like is a battle group that fought in Stalingrad preferably one that became Guards for their valor and then were involved in the push west ultimately ending end the Battle of Berlin.

Any suggestions on which battle group and the battles they were involved with?

How about 62nd Army? Fought at Stalingrad, were (uniquely) awarded the Order of Lenin and upgrade to 8th Guards Army in 1943.

Took part in most of the major battles in the Ukraine in 1943/44 and was moved to participate in the assault in Berlin in 1945.

link
link

If you want a specific division, then 35th Guards Rifle division fought with it for the entire war.

8th Guards could even go on to a cold war campaign afterwards :-)

They do seem like a really good division to go with. Upon further research myself, I also think the 13th Guards Rifle Division could be a contender.

The 35th Guards Rifle Division fit better to what I am describing, but so far the descriptions of the battles in which 13th Guards Rifle Division in appear to fit Bolt Action platoon level better to me.

I have decided on the 13th Rifle Division. They still work out for what I want for the most part. I just have a couple of scenarios that occur before Stalingrad. So far, this is my outline for the campaign:

**Scenario 1:** Escaping the Storm, Battle of Kiev, September 1941
The 87th Rifle Division are attempting to breakthrough the envelopment of the German forces in Kiev. I plan on using a modified of the Bolt Action Scenario 1: Envelopment.

**Scenario 2:** Staryi Saltov Bridgehead, Battle of Karkov, May 1942
The 13th Guards Rifle Division is spearheading the attack to take/hold the Staryi Saltov Bridgehead in Karkov.

**Scenario 3:** There Is No Land East Of The Volga, Battle of Stalingrad, September 1942
I think I want this to be cliche under equipped, straight off the River Volga Soviets with Commissars urging them forward with, "Not One Step Back!" rhetoric.

**Scenario 4:** Railroad Station, Battle of Stalingrad, September 1942
Soviets as the defenders of the Railroad Station in an infantry only, smallish game that I will try to figure out how make a fun room-to-room battle using Bolt Action.

**Scenario 5:** Mamaev Kurgan Park, Battle of Stalingrad, October 1942
I will have to check how involved the 13th Guards Rifle Division were involved with Pavlov's House for this one. I am thinking of modified Point Defense scenario, though; I want to make sure it is different from the Railroad Station.

**Scenario 6:** Battle of Kursk,
13th Guards Rifles vs. Waffen-SS in maybe just a straight up kill scenario.

**Scenario 7:** Liberation of Ukraine, September 1943
Maybe a modified Point Defense with the 13th as the attacker. I want to include some of the river crossing stuff.

**Scenario 8:** Operation Bagration, 1944
I don't know exactly what I want out this scenario yet. As I want to have at least 10 scenarios, I am hoping to get 2 out this time period.

**Scenario 9:** Battle of Berlin, May 1945
Probably something to deal with the Teltov Canal.

Here is Scenario 1 so far. It is pretty basic, but I want to ease into scenario design as I have a lot of research to accomplish still. I personally like the idea of the force list being pre-built for the scenario, but I understand not all Bolt Action players like that.

Scenario 1
Escaping the Storm
Battle of Kiev, September 1941

As part of Hitler's Operation Barbarossa blitzkrieg the city of Kiev has been encircled cutting of the 5th Army resulting in a three month long siege. With supplies dwindling and the chances of reinforcements becoming more bleak each day the 87th Rifles along with the other Red Soldiers are readying a counter-attack in a desperate attempt to fight their way out of the encircling Axis troops of the 1st Panzer Group.

87th Rifle Division (Soviet Player)
Use the Battle of Kiev Theater Selector (600 pts)
Or:
Senior Lieutenant , Officer + 1 man, 2 SMGs (Inxp) 67 pts
LMG Squad, NCO + 10 men, 1 SMG, 1 LMG, 10 Rifles (Inxp) 107 pts
Rifle Squad, NCO + 10 men, 11 Rifles (Inxp) 84 pts
Rifle Squad, NCO + 10 men, 11 Rifles (Inxp) 84 pts
Rifle Squad, NCO + 10 men, 11 Rifles + AT Grenades (Inxp) Free
Captain (Inxp) Officer +1 man with SMGs
Commissar (Inxp) 15 pts
Medic (Reg) 25 pts
Medium Machine Gun Team (Reg) 50 pts
Medium Mortar Team + Spotter (Inxp) 45 pts
Truck (Reg) 39 pts
Truck (Reg) 39 pts
Truck (Reg) 39 pts

2nd Panzer Group (German Player)
Use Operation Barbarossa Theater Selector (600 pts) + 1 unit must be a tank
Or:
Leutnant (2nd Lt) Officer + 1 man, 2 SMGs (Reg) 78 pts
Heer Infantry Squad NCO + 9 men, 1 SMG, 1 LMG, 8 Rifles (Reg) 123 pts
Heer Infantry Squad NCO + 9 men, 1 SMG, 1 LMG, 8 Rifles (Reg) 123 pts
Medium Machine Gun Team (Reg) 50 pts
Medium Machine Gun Team (Reg) 50 pts
Panzer IV Ausf B, C, D, E 175 pts

Setup
This scenario is based on the Scenario 1: Envelopment from the Bolt Action main rulebook. The Soviet Player is the attacker and the German player is the defender. The German player sets up all their units within 12" of their long table edge with the exception of the tank unit they have which is in reserve (see page 119 in main rulebook).
The Soviet Player's units are not placed on the table at the beginning of the game. Instead they are all in the First Wave with the exception of any Spotters, Snipers, or Scout units they may have which do start on the table as per the rules for setting up observers and snipers (page 118). At the start of the game the Soviet players units deploy from the opposite long table of edge of the German player. Neither player is allowed to make use of the Outflanking maneuver as Kiev is entirely encircled.

Objective
The Soviets are attempting to breakthrough the German siege of Kiev. The Soviet player is trying to get as many of their units off the table via the German player's long table edge. Note the Soviet player is allowed to deliberately move units off the German player's long table edge to reach their objective.
The German player is attempting to destroy or otherwise prevent the Soviet units from escaping off their long table edge before the end of the game.

First Turn
The Battle Begins. During the first round, the Soviet player must move all of their units onto the table. This means these units can only be issued an Advance or Run order. These units enter the table on the opposite long table edge of the German player.

Duration
The game lasts a total of 7 rounds. If there are no longer any Soviet units on the table the game also ends.

Victory!
The Soviet player wins if they have more units (2 victory points per unit) make it off the table and 1 victory point if for any surviving unit within the German deployment zone. The German player gains 2 victory pints for each Soviet unit they destroy, and 1 victory point for any Soviet units on the table not in their deployment zone. The player with the most victory points is the winner.