Workers Unite!

Some time ago, I wrote an article detailing an SSU list with an emphasis on all the cool stuff – namely, giant chainsaw-toting walkers and Molotov-chucking Commie fanatics! Well, with Campaign Book: Hades on the shelf and the new Red Platoon option, I felt it was time to revisit this concept and see if it could be made any more absurd.

Here is the original list, from back when Campaign Book: Zverograd was released:

Dust Warfare – Force Builder
Faction: SSU (300 / 300)

—  Heroes

Yakov (21)

—  Political Platoon (157)
Upgrade: Political Importance (5)
Command Section: Nikolaï (20, Hero)
1st Section: “Ohotniki” SSU Rifle Squad (20)
2nd Section: “Fakyeli” SSU Close Combat Squad (21)
4th Section: “Fakyeli” SSU Close Combat Squad (21)
Commissar: “The Sumarokov” (5)
Commissar: “The Derzhavin” (5)
Support: KV47-C “Natalya” (30)
Support: KV47-C “Natalya” (30)

—  Defense Platoon (122)
Command Section: “The Medvedi” SSU Command Squad (25)
1st Section: “Fakyeli” SSU Close Combat Squad (21)
3rd Section: “Ohotniki” SSU Rifle Squad (20)
4th Section: “Fakyeli” SSU Close Combat Squad (21)
Commissar: “The Sumarokov” (5)
Support: KV47-C “Natalya” (30)

Bringing the pain!

The idea here was Nikolai with combined Rifle Squads put Suppression at 30”, while two combined Close Combat Squads ran up the board (one with Yakov) alongside the Natalya with the express purpose of tearing stuff up.

Now that we have the Red Platoon at our disposal, let’s see just what we can muster given this existing theme, shall we?

Dust Warfare – Force Builder
Faction: SSU (300 / 300)

—  Red Platoon (150)
Command Section: “Red Command” Red Guards Command Squad (25)
1st Section: “Red Storm” Red Guards Assault Squad (26)
2nd Section: “Red Storm” Red Guards Assault Squad (26)
3rd Section: KV47-C “Natalya” (30)
4th Section: KV47-C “Natalya” (30)
Commissar: “The Sumarokov” (5)
Commissar: “The Karamzin” (8)

—  Red Platoon (150)
Command Section: “Red Command” Red Guards Command Squad (25)
1st Section: “Red Storm” Red Guards Assault Squad (26)
2nd Section: “Red Storm” Red Guards Assault Squad (26)
3rd Section: KV47-C “Natalya” (30)
4th Section: KV47-C “Natalya” (30)
Commissar: “The Sumarokov” (5)
Commissar: “The Karamzin” (8)

Would you look at that! Not three, but four Natalya (or eight giant chainsaws, for those of you keeping count). That is 5/1 per chainsaw, per walker. So, each one is tossing a buckets worth of dice in close-combat at anything that has the plums to get near it. Oh yea, they each have Berserk, too. Utterly horrifying!

Each Red Storm squad is like your average Frontoviki Battle Squad, but on steroids. They have four UGLs and five Molotov Cocktails, meaning all sorts of unpleasantness. The UGLs can put Suppression down on multiple units, meaning an easier time for the Natalya to get in and start hugging it out with the enemy. Or, they can combine the two to wreak havoc on nearby armor. All of this comes with the standard anti-Soldier 2 firepower, too.

The Red Command, when joined with the Karamzin, will have a pair of PTRS-47s for anti-tank work, as well as four UGLs and Grenades. Really, these will help make mincemeat of light and medium armor, while helping to pile on Suppression with the UGLs.

This list takes little explaining as to why it can work – hell, with only three real unit types,

Big Nasty!

it’s the definition of simplicity. Split fire UGLs to put Suppression on the enemy, close in with the Natalya and then cut them to ribbons. Nothing complicated, but not everything needs to be!

Clearly, this list isn’t an optimal, All-Comers style deal, but more of a metagame call if you don’t expect any Aircraft, because that is the one thing that this list is not able to combat (much like the original list). If you expect your enemy will be groundpounding, take this and have a blast shredding and torching your enemy (for the good of the Worker, obviously!).

Let us know what you think of this revisit to the concept and if you have any ideas or thoughts on it over at our forums!