21 July, 1941. East of Smolensk, relief offensive
After the initial battles, you're surrounded by germans. Time for a breakout attempt!
Break the encirclement of the 20th army. Close the front east of Kiev.

Objectives[]

You must hold your field HQ!
Punch a hole in the enemy position and drive west!

Battle of Smolensk

Map Type:

Battle Zones & Domination

Doctrines[]

Soviet Skirmish Missions Overview[]

Difficulty Rating: Easy - Normal[]

The Soviet faction is an excellent choice for beginners, offering a well-rounded selection of units in the early war period. Soviet forces dominate through sheer numbers and firepower, relying on the KV series’ near-impenetrable armor, the versatile T-34, and an extensive arsenal of heavy artillery. In the early war, they can steamroll German forces with superior numbers and resilience. By the late war, while German tanks gain a technological edge, Soviet forces counter with larger-caliber guns and overwhelming firepower.

Soviet tactics focus on brute force and relentless bombardment. Their response to enemy threats is simple yet devastating—massive high-explosive (HE) artillery barrages. With an abundance of 122mm and 152mm artillery, available in both towed and self-propelled variants, Soviet forces can dismantle enemy positions through sheer firepower. Against fortified defenses, they can deploy 203mm howitzers or devastating Katyusha rocket barrages to shatter enemy lines.

While Soviet firepower is unmatched, their infantry and static defenses are functional but not exceptional, often relying on numbers and support rather than superior quality. Throughout the four skirmish missions, their units receive only moderate upgrades, reinforcing their doctrine of overwhelming force rather than technological superiority.

Skirmish Mechanics[]

The primary objective in Soviet skirmish missions is to capture and hold seven control points (CPs). Each CP (except for the final victory point) unlocks additional reinforcements.

Unit Deployment & Resource Management[]

There are four main categories of unit call-ins:

Infantry
Support weapons
Light vehicles
Tanks

Each unit costs Manpower (MP) to deploy, which increases over time based on the number of CPs controlled. Additionally, destroying enemy vehicles grants bonus MP, allowing for a faster reinforcement cycle.

At the top of the call-in list, there are limited special call-ins, which are tied to the selected Doctrine. While some doctrines may share certain units, most have unique call-ins tailored to their playstyle.

Soviet Doctrines[]

Before starting a mission, players must choose one of four available Doctrines, each emphasizing different strategic strengths:

1. All-Round Doctrine[]

A balanced mix of units without any major weaknesses.
Special Call-in: Artillery Signaler, available in all scenarios.

2. Defensive Doctrine[]

Focuses on support weapons, artillery, and infantry-based defenses.
Features a variety of weapon teams, cannons, and engineers who can construct fortifications.
Special Call-in: Long-range artillery, useful for clearing early CPs.

3. Offensive Doctrine[]

Prioritizes aggressive tactics, with access to advanced vehicles and tanks to spearhead assaults.
Special Call-in: Assault vehicles or self-propelled guns.

4. Irregular Doctrine[]

An unconventional doctrine that appears similar to Defensive at first, featuring heavy anti-aircraft guns as its Special Call-in.
However, later in the game, it unlocks some of the strongest units in the Soviet arsenal.

Mission 1-1: Battle of Smolensk – General Call-Ins[]

The following units are available at the start of the mission, regardless of the selected doctrine:

Infantry Units[]

Medic[]

Can revive wounded soldiers in a bleeding state if reached in time.
Equipped with a smoke grenade (for blocking enemy vision) and a pistol for self-defense.
Can set up a medical tent, allowing troops to resupply bandages.

Tank Crew[]

A 4-man squad specialized in operating captured or repaired tanks.
While normal infantry can crew vehicles, tank crews have better handling for armored units.

Auxiliary Riflemen[]

A 2-man unit with basic weapons, suitable for manning captured support weapons or artillery.
Most artillery requires four crew members for maximum efficiency.

Anti-Tank Squad[]

A 2-man team equipped with:
- AT rifle (effective against light vehicles and cover destruction).
- Rifle grenade launcher (fires HE rounds from behind cover).
Has limited effectiveness against heavily armored targets.

Sniper[]

Specializes in eliminating enemy troops at long range.
Extremely effective in the early game, capable of clearing control points with proper micromanagement.
Can also serve as a spotter for artillery strikes.

Commissar[]

An officer unit equipped with binoculars for scouting enemy positions.
Can detect hidden enemy units in foliage.
Useless if Fog of War is disabled.

Standard Rifle Squad (10-Man Squad)[]

A well-rounded squad with medium durability and 3-star weapon proficiency.
Composition:
- 2 recon troops
- 1 senior rifleman
- 1 DP-27 machine gunner
- 2 SVT-40 riflemen
- 4 Mosin-Nagant/PPSH riflemen
Equipped with:
- 14 anti-personnel grenades
- 3 anti-tank grenades
- 1 Molotov cocktail (effective against tanks).
Versatile and useful for early-game defense but should be replaced with elite infantry later.

Support Weapons[]

Small Ammo Crate[]

Comes with two artillery crewmen.
Ideal for refilling small arms, heavy machine guns, and medium cannons.

Maxim M1910/30[]

A reliable heavy machine gun, in service since the start of World War II.
Effective for suppressing infantry

DShk M1938 AA[]

Can penetrate fences and one-shot enemy infantry.
Capable of disabling trucks and occasionally damaging scout cars or half-tracks.
Its effectiveness kept it in Soviet use even after the war.

Light Vehicles[]

Fuel Truck[]

Used to refuel tanks and armored vehicles.

Ammo Supply Truck[]

Essential for resupplying artillery and heavy weapons.

1-2 Battle of Smolensk - All-Round Doctrine[]

Special Call-ins:[]

Artillery Signaller (5 available) - A game-changer for both defense and offense. Call in artillery strikes to clear weapon teams and light vehicles. If the signaller dies, loot his flare gun and ammo to continue using artillery strikes.

Starting Support Weapons:[]

82mm BM-27 M1937 Medium Mortar - A reliable Soviet indirect fire support weapon. Best utilized in coordinated barrages to suppress enemy positions. Keep it protected, as its range matches that of medium AT guns

76mm M1927 Infantry Gun - Overpowered due to indirect fire capability. A highly effective Soviet support weapon with indirect fire capability. Excels at eliminating and sniping entrenched infantry with HE shells. APHEBC is situational, as it requires direct fire with limited penetration

Starting Light Vehicles:[]

BA-20 Armored Car - A reliable Soviet scout vehicle, offering essential reconnaissance capabilities at an affordable cost.

Starting Tanks:[]

T-40 Amphibious Tank - A versatile Soviet light tank equipped with both DT and DShK MGs, effective for early-game reconnaissance and infantry support.

Infantry CP Unlocks:[]

Conscript Squad (10-man) - A cost-effective Soviet infantry unit, providing manpower for holding the line and overwhelming the enemy through sheer numbers.

Recon Squad (6-man) - Excellent vision but struggles to spot enemies in bushes. Essential when fog of war is enabled.

Guards Squad (10-man) - High HP, good at long range, and equipped with extra grenades but lacks Molotovs.

Support Weapon CP Unlocks:[]

37mm Anti-Air Gun - Good against infantry and light tanks but requires manual targeting for AA duties.

F-22 76mm AT Gun - Effective against early German tanks. Good HE for destroying buildings.

ZiS-2 57mm AT Gun - Higher penetration than the F-22 but weaker HE.

25mm AA Truck - Mobile but fragile. Less destructive than medium AA.

Medium Tank CP Unlocks:[]

T-30 Light Tank - Armed with a 20mm autocannon, can target aircraft.

BT-7 Light Tank - A highly mobile Soviet light tank, excelling in flanking maneuvers and rapid breakthroughs. Its speed is its greatest asset, though it struggles against German medium tanks.

Heavy Tank CP Unlocks:[]

T-28 Medium Tank - Multi-turreted tank effective against infantry and light vehicles but has weak armor.

KV-1 Heavy Tank - Virtually immune to early German tanks. Can even survive Flak 88 shots but vulnerable to large artillery.

Heavy Artillery CP Unlocks:[]

85mm AA Gun - Doubles as an anti-tank weapon, capable of destroying vehicles with ease.

M-30 122mm Howitzer - Mediocre range and accuracy. Best used in groups.

A-19 122mm Heavy Artillery - Superior to the M-30. With 465m range, it outranges German artillery and is great for softening final control points.

Special CP Unlocks:[]

Airstrike - Costs 300 MP, has a long cooldown but guarantees a kill. Rarely gets shot down.

1-3 Battle of Smolensk - Defensive Doctrine[]

Special Call-ins:[]

M-30 Howitzer (750 MP, limit 3) - Despite being expensive, it helps with breaking strongpoints. Mediocre performance overall.

Starting Support Weapons:[]

25mm AA Gun - Fires faster than the 37mm but is outranged by AT guns and tanks.
Medium Mortar - Same as above: highly inaccurate, best used in massed barrages.
M1902 76mm Field Gun - A relic from WW1 but outranges most German light AT guns. HE is good, but APHEBC struggles against medium tanks.