By Special Guest: Michael Ovsenik
We have about two months left to get ready
for AdeptiCon, the best minis tabletop gaming con in the USA! I have signed up
for combat patrol and the Bolt Action US National event on Friday / Saturday.
For the combat patrol I’m bringing US Marines – that was a pretty easy
decision.
For the national event I’ll be bringing my
Slovak Rapid Division. This one wasn’t as easy. Initially I was going to paint
up a French Senegalese Tirailleur force with a Char B1 Bis in support, but I
lost a lot of time over the holidays and I have 50 dudes with a tank sitting in
front of me to paint – not gonna happen.
Instead, I’m going to bring my Slovak Rapid
Division force. I used these dudes at AdeptiCon last year (indeed I barely
finished them for it – dullcoating in the hotel room) in the Tank War event. It
didn’t go to well for me. I hope to do better this time. (I did pull off ‘Pass
and Review’ or best overall army, though. That was super sweet and validated everything.)
This force is probably my favorite army of
all the games we play. I have put in more time, research, and effort to making
these dudes look just like they were in the field than any other force I’ve
done. Sourcing the models is fun, because they look different from other
nations' uniforms, equipment, etc.
I am going to paint a few models up for
AdeptiCon to get closer to finishing this force. I’m adding in some more
mobility and AT firepower. Let’s break down the list and talk about each element.
Overall, this is a 1250 point list using
the German selector. I have played a lot of German lists since I started
playing BA, and I’m not super enthused about it, mostly because I wanted to try
out a minor powers list, but a lot of the elements of this list are only
available in the German list. I didn’t include any LMGs because they’re not
using the BAA season rules. The max dice cap is 16.
German
Reinforced Platoon
|
Order Dice: 16
|
||||
Officer
|
|||||
First Lieutenant (page: 20)
|
Regular
|
85
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
First Lieutenant
|
||||
with Pistol
|
6"
|
1
|
n/a
|
Assault
|
|
1
|
Infantry (equipped as modeled)
|
-
|
-
|
||
I believe it was on Down Order podcast
where Dave talked about always using a First LT. when you’re using regulars. It
makes a ton of sense. Otherwise when you start taking pins it’ll be impossible
to do anything. I’ve been using this for the last few times I’ve played.
Infantry Squads
|
|||||
Kradschützen squad (page: 22)
|
Regular
|
90
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
NCO with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
5
|
Infantry with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
Entire squad mounted upon motorcycles and sidecars
|
Motorbikes
|
||||
These are new for the list. I purchased a
bunch of motorcycle troops from Warlord and I’m painting them now. The Slovak
army did employ a number of motorcycle troops, mostly in recon duties. I love
the look of them. Haven’t used them yet in a game, so I hope they do decent.
I’m trying to have a mobile force – everything is either mounted or in a truck.
Heer Infantry squad (page: 20)
|
Regular
|
110
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
NCO with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
9
|
Infantry with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
Entire squad mounted upon bicycles
|
Bicycles
|
||||
I purchased some bicycle troops from Dixon
Miniatures and they look sweet. They produce Japanese infantry on bicycles which
match up pretty well with a head swap. Bicycles are a little zanier than
motorcycles – you have to give a run order or they dismount. If they receive a
pin they also dismount. On roads they can run 24” which is pretty cool.
The Slovak Rapid Division did use many
bicycle troops, especially in their first major engagement at Lipovec. It is an
opportunity to paint some really cool models.
Waffen-SS Cavalry squads (page: 26)
|
Veteran
|
150
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
NCO with Cavalry Carbine
|
||||
9
|
Infantry with Cavalry Carbine
|
||||
Cavalry Carbine as Pistol
|
6"
|
1
|
n/a
|
Assault
|
|
Cavalry Carbine as Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
||
Entire squad mounted upon horses
|
Cavalry
|
||||
I’ve had these guys painted for a while and
they look amazing. They’re mostly Crusader German Cavalry with headswaps. I am
not super enthused at using them as SS cavalry, mostly because they were not
that elite nor that invested in the war, however it’s the only way I can use
them in this list. I also don’t really like the minor Axis nations’ having cavalry
that can’t engage and don’t have carbines.
Heer Infantry squad (page: 20)
|
Regular
|
100
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
NCO with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
9
|
Infantry with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
Heer Infantry squad (page: 20)
|
Regular
|
100
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
NCO with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
9
|
Infantry with Rifle
|
24"
|
1
|
n/a
|
|
These dudes don’t have bikes or
motorcycles, just riding in trucks. I’m hoping to use them in outflank to do
some damage and take some objectives. None of my main infantry squads are
really that survivable except for the cavalry, so I have to be really careful
with them. If they outflank, they’ll likely not have HQ support.
Heavy Mortar team (page: 33)
|
Regular
|
75
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
Spotter
|
||||
1
|
Heavy Mortar team
|
18"-72"
|
1
|
HE
|
Team (4 men), Fixed, Indirect fire, HE (2D6)
|
I’ve been playing BA for a few years, I’m a
Sarge, I have a ton of armies, and I haven’t yet used a heavy mortar. I think
I’ve used a light mortar once. The medium mortar is a staple in my diet and I’m
straying from that a bit to use this heavy mortar.
I have another secret – I have used smoke
maybe a handful of times. We know this was extremely valuable to infantry
commanders yet we hardly ever use it. I plan to really hammer the smoke with
this heavy mortar – 5” of low visibility to cover my advances. I’ll try to
combine this unit with outflanking to crush a flank and really drive into the
enemy line.
Sniper team (page: 32)
|
Regular
|
50
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
Sniper team (rifle)
|
36"
|
1
|
n/a
|
Team (2 men), Sniper
|
Flamethrower team (page: 32)
|
Veteran
|
65
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
Flamethrower (infantry) team
|
6"
|
D6
|
2
|
Team (2 men), Flamethrower
|
Anti-tank rifle team (page: 30)
|
Regular
|
30
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
Anti-tank rifle team
|
36"
|
1
|
2
|
Team (2 men)
|
I’ve used these weapon teams quite often.
I’m using a tank with only light AT, so I want an ATR and a flamethrower to
help out. I also don’t have a ton of volume of fire from my infantry squads
(and I don’t have a howitzer), so the flamethrower will help take down enemy
squads.
Artillery
|
|||||
50mm Pak 38 (page: 41)
|
Regular
|
75
|
|||
Qty
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
1
|
50mm Pak 38 gun
|
60"
|
1
|
5
|
Team (3 men), Gun shield, Fixed, HE (D2)
|
Once Army Group South encountered heavier
tanks the Germans realized they had to provide better AT guns to their allies.
The Slovak army received Pak 38s and 88s. I love the 88, but it is just too
many points to put on the field. I settled for the Pak 38. I purchased this one
from Army Group North Miniatures.
Armoured Cars
|
|||||
Motorcycle with Machine-gun sidecar (page: 0)
|
Regular
|
40
|
|||
Qty
|
Vehicle
|
Type
|
Transport
|
Damage Value
|
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
|
1
|
Motorcycle with Machine-gun sidecar
|
Wheeled
|
-
|
6+
|
Recce, Turn on the spot
|
Forward facing MMG
|
36"
|
4
|
n/a
|
Front arc
|
|
Going with the mobility of this force I
chose a cheap MMG bike for my armored car. The Slovak army had quite a few of
these. I love the mobility and the firepower to support my infantry advance.
Tanks and SP Guns
|
|||||
Panzer 35(t) (page: 45)
|
Veteran
|
162
|
|||
Qty
|
Vehicle
|
Type
|
Transport
|
Damage Value
|
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
|
1
|
Panzer 35(t)
|
Tracked
|
-
|
8+
|
|
Turret-mounted light anti-tank gun
|
48"
|
1
|
4
|
HE (D2)
|
|
Co-axial MMG
|
36"
|
4
|
n/a
|
||
Hull-mounted MMG
|
36"
|
4
|
n/a
|
Front arc
|
|
Ahh, the LT vz 35. This was the backbone of
the Slovak tank battalion before being lost to attrition and mechanical
problems, being replaced with 38s and some 40s. It is a pretty basic light
tank. I chose to bring it as a veteran to fill out some points, mostly, but it’ll
help get it activated as I’m sure it’ll be an AT round magnet.
Raupenschlepper Ost (page: 66)
|
Regular
|
39
|
|||
Qty
|
Vehicle
|
Type
|
Transport
|
Damage Value
|
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
|
Raupenschlepper OST
|
Tracked
|
up to 12
|
6+
|
||
Tow: Light or medium howitzer; light, medium or
heavy anti-tank gun; light or heavy anti-aircraft gun
|
|||||
Transports
|
|||||
Truck (page: 64)
|
Regular
|
39
|
|||
Qty
|
Vehicle
|
Type
|
Transport
|
Damage Value
|
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
|
1
|
Truck
|
Wheeled
|
up to 12
|
6+
|
|
Tow: Light howitzer; light or medium anti-tank gun;
light anti-aircraft gun
|
|||||
Truck (page: 64)
|
Regular
|
39
|
|||
Qty
|
Vehicle
|
Type
|
Transport
|
Damage Value
|
|
Weapons
|
Range
|
Shots
|
Penetration
|
Special Rules
|
|
1
|
Truck
|
Wheeled
|
up to 12
|
6+
|
|
Tow: Light howitzer; light or medium anti-tank gun;
light anti-aircraft gun
|
|||||
I have to finish painting two Opel Blitz
trucks. The Slovak truck pool was mostly made up of Praga RVs and some Tatra
vehicles, but I have not been able to find anything even at 1/48 scale. They
did have some Opels and definitely had RSOs, so I don’t mind using them. The
truck will carry a squad each and likely a team.
So that is a long-winded review of the
force I am taking to AdeptiCon’s US National GT. I have to finish painting a
squad of motorcycle riders, bicyclists, two trucks, a MMG motorcycle, a flamethrower team, a Pak38 and I should be set to go!
