CMBB v CMAK

[Mike Abberton]

Before long-barreled panzers show up, T-34s and KV-1s (with possibly non-historical veteran crews) can rule the game, especially since their 76.2mm HE ammo is a lot better than the PzIII's 37/50 mm ammo. So while the Soviet player can buy one all-around tank with good armor, the German has to choose a mix of PzIII and PzIV specialist tanks. KVs in particular are just about immune to German AP rounds except 88mm guns (which are vulnerable to HE fire).

Once the long-barrel PzIVs, Vs, and VIs, the T-34 loses much of it's luster. At that point you can just about substitute T-34/43s for Sherman 75s and T-34/85s for Sherman 76s (or a better comparison might be Fireflys) tactics-wise. Not sure off had how the point prices compare though.

IS-2's can sort of go up against the German heavies (moreso Panthers than Tigers, though), but they have a very slow rate of fire, and 1-on-1 engagements against the 88's in Tigers will go against the IS's most of the time, except maybe at short-range. To go up against Tigers at long/medium range, I think the SU-100 SP-gun is the best choice.

Where the Soviets gain on the western allies are in SP-guns. I like SU-152s better than Priests due to the all-over armor vs. open top configuration.

For infantry, nothing beats soviet SMG squads for close quarter fighting in woods/urban fighting, but they don't have much staying power with very small ammo loadouts. To me, the biggest soviet infantry drawback is the basic absence of AT weapons. No bazookas, just anti-tank rifles that would be lucky to kill half-tracks in most cases. Molotov cocktails are not much good, except for maybe open-top vehicles/armored cars.

Soviet AT guns leave something to be desired, too, except for the nasty little 57mm gun. T-34/57s can be nasty, too, in the middle years if rarity is off.