No one Expects the Russian Conscripts! (Early) image - 1949 mod for Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
Imagine a world where the Allies didn't win the war, nor did the Axis. Instead, the war just continued on and on in an unsteady stalemate. Welcome, to the world of 1949. In this world Germany decided not to bomb London, but instead continued its attacks on Britain's airfields. Then, the Russians lost at Kursk. Finally, D-Day fails. With these victories, Germany has managed to halt the Allie's progress. In the Western Theatre, the Allies and the Axis each plan the invasion of the other's vital territories. In the Pacific, Japan and the United States are dueling over tiny islands with giant fleets and atomic weapons. Now, the stalemate is about to be broken. Germany is preparing an all out invasion of Britain. As tough and valiant as the Allied troops defending the Sceptered Isle are, some of their leaders are beginning to that they will be unable to hold against the Wehrmacht.
Thanks to DemoSS and Derwin23, both of whom contributed to these troops. There was some minor tweaking and such done by your's truly, but that is all.
Anyway, this is Russia's basic infantry squad. It starts with just the unit's core: an Infantry Officer, an NKVD officer (political officer, in other words), and four regular infantrymen. Two conscripts come as well, but if more are desired, they have to be added after the squad has been built. These squads, once fully formed, will move at a turtle's pace, due to the unit's core trying to keep the Conscripts in line. Morale is lower in these units than even American Draftee units. All of them will be armed with AK-47s (The Wehrmacht will be getting STG-45s like the Panzer Elite, just to be fair), as soon as an AK-47 is available. In the meantime, enjoy the placeholder STG-44s.
However, the two officers each have their own ways of making the squad more effective. The Infantry Officer can urge the unit onward at a quick pace in order to reach a new destination. However, he cannot get them to break suppression. The NKVD Officer can, by killing a member of his unit (or perhaps another). The fear of having the same done to them causes the Conscripts to risk untold dangers on the battlefield.
The Wehrmacht's response to this comes in the form of special training that can be requisitioned for German snipers, which allows them to target specific members of enemy squads. If one of the Russian officers is killed, then their squad will be crippled. If both die, then the squad will be less then combat worthy.
Numerous gameplay mechanics are being tested for the Soviets, and more information will be made available as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy.
I wonder what a grenade there would do...
Giving AK-47s to a conscript unit in 1949 is quite strange. The AK-47 was at best in a pre mass production stage at that time. The only units that would get them en masse would be the guard units. The conscript should have a mixed arsenal of rifles (Mosin Nagant, SVT40 etc.) and SMGs (PPSH-41, PPS-43 etc.).
I think they should get the SKS rifle
Well so if giving the US M46s.
AK-47s are well known for being extremely cheap and easy to produce, rather like the STG-45, which is why I decided to forget about German weapon variety, and just give the Wehrmacht the STG-45. The Russian conscript squads may start with SVTs, if I decide to change things, but the AK-47 will be their weapon of choice for now.
dude the problem was that the ak 47 wasnt cheap to produce at this time they simplified and made mass production later and it was keeeped a secret for quite some time and was issued to spetnaz and other "better unts" than consrpts :P
The weapon entered full service with the Red Army in 1949 in the real timeline. War footing accelerated its production somewhat. Also, this is one of the Soviet Army's major development projects, of which it has few. Furthermore, I'm currently evaluating armament options for the unit, and other Russian units. As I said, this is an early concept that could very well be changed before long.
Maybe svts with low powered scopes as an upgrade?
that low powered scope would be the PSO-1 optic and it wouldn't be a bad idea :P
well i just dont want the svt to be the equivelent to a qewehr and have long range benefits
I like the Cons. but dont make soo very big units again like the american draftees. The squads way to big with 12 men. Look at the germans i think the biggest squad size was ....7 i think.
Trust me, the Germans won't be having too many problems with Soviet conscripts. Also, there are 15 Draftees in a unit, but three have no population reference as an experiment.
The reason for the size difference is that Germany is a comparatively small country that is fighting several nations with much larger populations (only Britain had fewer, which will be reflected in game). The Russians are known for human waves, so by thunder, they'll have human waves. If you're worried about computers being unable to handle the size, then all I can say is that you might want to have a powerful system if you play this mod. I might create a "light" edition as well, to soften the blow on less advanced systems.
Why is numerical superiority represented as bigger squads? It doesn't make sense as the reason why the germans had less riflemen in their squads was because they wanted to have more operational units to be useful in outmaneuvering the enemy instead of bigger units.
That's what the red army also thought but they having more trained manpower available meant that they could make the same kind of squads the americans and the british could but still maintain a surplus amount of units for assault, manuevering and reserves.
Wow, you ask a lot of questions. I'll try to answer them.
The Russians have smaller units than this called Shock Troops, which are basically the real fist in the Soviet Armed forces. Russia is the attacker to oppose the Ostheer Division's defensiveness. Russia gets only two base buildings, and calls the rest of its forces in from off map.
The conscripts shown here are an early version, and they are going to be reequipped with SVTs. AK-47s will be a late game or doctrine upgrade. All of them will have weapons, because Russia at least has enough weapons for its men, and it is receiving some monetary assistance from the U.S.
Anyway, massed up units is one of the Soviet's strategies, though it is entirely possible to fight a battle without ever using conscripts. However, Russia's Army is a lot like a big box store: the more you get, the cheaper it is. Discounts are available to purchase specific call in battlegroups from off-map. This may be comprised of only one unit, or several units of varying type. In other words, Russia is a complex faction, which you will hear more about in the upcoming update.
Is there a good explanation for why the soviets are able to supply and train all their riflemen for a kalash?
I believe that even though the AK's were known for their and reliability and ease of maintenance (not for their ease of production until the AKM) they couldn't be able to train every rifleman with an assault rifle in the middle of a war.
Not sure how much your timeline in the mod differs though but could someone tell more about the morale and the officer corps of the red army in your 1949 timeline?
Though they didn't quite steamroll over the germans at 1945 now maybe you should give them conscripts a break from this "bad morale" and "poor officer corps" thing, wasn't this an issue only back in the start of barbarossa?
And regarding the soviet command:
What is the soviet doctrine to war, massed operational units or what?
sorry about double post.
for sure their commander saying "COMEONE GUYS I SAW THERE HOT PIZZA LETS GO!!"
remeber conscripts in russia all didnt have a gun to use keep them like they are in EF cannon fodder just with bigger squads but only around 10 of them should get a actual weapon
That's not true, it would be far too easy to pick up a gun in the first logistics depot or the battlefield or like that. The real problem as most people should know is actually getting the stuff that is used such as ammunition because it's possible that an enemy with air superiority will choose to bomb your supplies and logistics.
dude it was true not every single soldier had a gun and these are conscripts meant to be spam units hence cannon fodder
Rare occurences are rare and movies are mostly more wrong than true when it comes to depicting history, so would you tell me when were soldiers across the front sent into combat unarmed?
Prison inmates from russia used as cannon fodder was true not a lot but some seriously didnt have guns and these are just conscripts its also in EF where a couple conscripts dont have guns, look most have Did have guns like 85% 90% earlier years really
It's true that Stalin used penal units and others for all kinds of gruesome things if just to slaughter those who would oppose him. But these were not proper and worthy military units, what I want to know is why do you believe that red army soldiers had to make do without weapons deliberately in the frontlines?
What do you mean with "these are just conscripts" and "it's also in EF"?
It IS in EF but that doesn't mean it's true to history or right by everyones opinion as many have pointed out at their forums that it shows neither sense or truth.
yaya maybe ive heard wrong idk ive read a couple things on russian infantry and such so i still dont know if i believe it or noy
Btw i imagine somebody yelling this when i was reading your comment lol
my system can run every game one highest.
But i dont like such big squads but ...maybe youre right the german grenadiers or the reichs guard can take them out easly
mg can pop them out
When 1 squad is so big and if they will have AK-47's it will be unfair.