Warhammer Great War Eastern Front

[janner]

Okay - with no list on the horizon thought we could share some ideas on Eastern Front lists.

I'm going to concentrate on a 1914 list that can morph painlessly into a list suitable for Brusilov's Offensive of 1916 by adding grenadier platoons to each company etc.

Initial thoughts are for:

Infantry/Rifle Battalion
Guards/Grenadier Battalion
Cavalry Regiment

With options drawn from:

Command Group
Infantry Companies (suitable for Infantry and Rifle Battalions)
Guards Companies
Cavalry Squadrons
Cossack Squadrons
Machine Gun Sections
Scout Section
Medium Field Gun

Any other ideas out there?

[Poliorketes]

I guess you mean russians? Just don't take to much HMGs for 1914, I guess one is more than ebough for even a larger force.

[janner]

Yes, Russians - sorry.

The title originally clarified that but I changed it in the hope that people might wish to discuss Austro-Hungarians, Serbs, Romanians, Bulgarians etc

I was thinking only one HMG for 1914 (obviously more later), some restriction on Artillery to reflect the shortage of ammunition but lots of reasonable Infantry and Cavalry.

The special rule would either be aimed at their tenacity in defence or 'Urah' giving D6 movement in the Shooting phase instead of firing?

[Poliorketes]

No extra move, as they frequently shattered against the german defenses. I'd say give them a morale boost for the first tests, and later a morale malus after loosing x%

[janner]

Yes they did but only when used in blunt, direct assaults without the necessary offensive support  - much like the Germans against the BEF.

The Imperial Russians always suffered from a lack of research and post war propaganda from both the German and Soviet sources. When used properly they proved to be a cut above the other armies on the Eastern Front (less the Germans) and comparable to the French in the West (with a similar dependancy on the cult of the offensive) - although they did lack sufficient munitions and a Russian Infantry Regiment had less machine guns than its German Regiment equivalent, they were tactically proficient and their reservists were as well trained as in any large conscript army.

Even the Germans didn't have it all their own way in 1914 with XXVII Corps suffering a significant defeat on 20th August - leading to the redeployment of three Corps and a Cavalry Division from the Western Front; critically weakening the Right Wing of the German Army. Again between 16-25 November the German IX Army was roughly handled by Plehve's V and only just escaped an encirclement that would have been comparable to the recent German success in East Prussia.

Regards,

[Poliorketes]

The russians have fought rather good (their performance in 1914 against the austrians was vey succesful), but not that good to allow for such a good special rule. The rule might work for special scenarios as the Brusilov offensive to represent the russian forward trenches digged very close to the kuk positions, but most time they charged over open terrain up to 2 miles!

[janner]

most time they charged over open terrain up to 2 miles!

Exactly - the fact that they were able to charge for 2 miles and still reach enemy lines only reinforces my point and certainly presents as strong a case as the French 'elan' rule. 

However, maybe a leadership bonus to characterise their tenacity in defence might be more acceptable to other gamers 

[carlos marighela]

God that's a lot of figures! What's the nominal man to figure ratio for Warhammer? 1:3 isn't it? So 4 X coys of roughly 70- 80 figures + command. Whats the machinegun to figure ratio? 1:1? 1:2?

I'd say one would be more than enough as on paper there were only two per battalion fo the early part of the war, which incidentally is exactly the same ratio as for the Germans, who just grouped 6 per  3 btn regiment as opposed to the Russians with 8 per 4 btn regiment.

[janner]

God that's a lot of figures! What's the nominal man to figure ratio for Warhammer? 1:3 isn't it? So 4 X coys of roughly 70- 80 figures + command. Whats the machinegun to figure ratio? 1:1? 1:2?

I'd say one would be more than enough as on paper there were only two per battalion fo the early part of the war, which incidentally is exactly the same ratio as for the Germans, who just grouped 6 per  3 btn regiment as opposed to the Russians with 8 per 4 btn regiment.

Yes, it would be a large force - probably consisting of a couple of companies/squadrons and limited support (1 HMG and either an artillery piece or scout platoon). The difficulty with HMGs is that the Regimental Commander could group them with whom/where they would be of most use as opposed to hanging around with the second echelon battalion/s.

However, in line with other lists, platoons will probably be best set at 16 or so figures with the option to buy the remaining 4 at Xpts each.

I'll pop a draft list up tomorrow for comment 

[janner]

Okay, I know that this will go wonkey once I post it but here goes my starter for ten (still have to think some more about the regimental scouts and cossacks:

Imperial Russian Army Units 1914

          WS   BS   S   T   W   I   A   Ld
Colonel   4   4   3   3   1   4   2   9
Lt Col    4   3   3   3   1   4   2   8
Lt           3   3   3   3   1   4   2   8
Guardsman   3   4   3   3   1   4   1   8
Soldier   4   4   3   3   1   3   1   7
Trooper   3   5   3   3   1   4   1   7

Infantry Battalion:
1 HQ
2-4 Infantry Companies
Bn Support (0-1 per 2 Core)
0-1 Machine Gun Section
Scout Platoon
Regt Support (0-1 per 3 Core)
Cavalry Squadron
Cossack Squadron
Div Support (0-1 per 4 Core)
76.2mm Gun
Guards (single Platoon or whole Company)

Guards Battalion:
1 HQ
2-4 Guards Companies
Bn Support (0-1 per 2 Core)
0-1 Machine Gun Section
Scout Platoon
Regt Support (0-1 per 3 Core)
Cavalry (single Troop or whole Squadron)
Div Support (0-1 per 4 Core)
76.2mm Gun
Infantry Company

Cavalry Regt:
1 HQ
2-4 Cavalry Squadrons
Bn Support (0-1 per 2 Core)
Infantry Company
Regt Support (0-1 per 3 Core)
0-1 Machine Gun Section
Cossacks (single Troop or whole Squadron)
Div Support (0-1 per 4 Core)
76.2mm Gun
Guards (single Platoon or whole Company)


Battalion Command:
Col or Lt Col
2 x Soldiers - Col@50pts, Lt Col@20pts
CO has a pistol, others have rifles

Infantry Company:
An Infantry Company consists of a Company Command Group and between 2 and 4 platoons.
The Company Command Group consists of a Lt + 2 soldiers@20pts. A platoon consists of 16 soldiers@75
Lt has a pistol, soldiers have rifles.
The Command Group can have up to 2 additional soldiers for 5pts each.
Any platoon can have up to 4 additional soldiers for 5pts each.

Guard Company:
A Guard Company consists of a Company Command Group and between 2 and 4 platoons.
The Company Command Group consists of a Lt + 2 guardsmen @30pts. A platoon consists of 16 guardsmen @120
Lt has a pistol, guards have rifles.
The Command Group can have up to 2 additional guardsmen for 9pts each.
Any platoon can have up to 4 additional guardsmen for 7pts each.

Machine Gun Section:
       WS   BS   S   T   W   I   A   Ld
Crew   4   4   3   3   1   3   1   7
1 Maxim HMG and 3 crewmen @50pts

Cavalry Squadron:
Cavalry Squadrons consist of a Squadron Command Group and 2 - 4 Cavalry Troops.
The Squadron Command Group is composed of a Lt and 2 troopers @45pts
A Cavalry Troops consists of 9 troopers @100pts
The Lt has a sword and pistol.
All troopers have pistols, swords, lances and carbines.
The Command Group can have up to an additional 2 troopers for 11pts each.
Troops can have up to an additional 3 troopers for 11pts each.

Russian 76.2mm Field Gun
       WS   BS   S   T   W   I   A   Ld
Crew   4   4   3   3   1   3   1   7
The unit consists of a Medium Field Gun and 4 crewman for 60pts.
All crewmen have pistols or rifles.
The Field Gun can have up to an additional 2 crewman for 10pts each.