Smolensk Tactics & Strategy Options

[ScrapyardBob]

Now that Smolensk (a.k.a. Barbarossa II) is out, we can start taking a more in-depth look at it. This is a larger map the original Barbarossa and effective gameplay is going to require communication and flexibility.

First off, a review of the terrain. Slyk has assigned "official" names to most locations using the in-game map graphic. I've provided some other alternative names that I've heard folks refer to these spots as.

A. German spawn (a.k.a. Collective Farm #36)

This is the very west end of the map. Similar to Barbarossa where the germans are in the west and the russians are in the east. There is a pak gun in the spawn with limited visibility.

B. Hill #54 (W of G1)

Holds a pak gun that overlooks G1 along the south flank. Might get referred to as the "G1 pak" or "H54".

C. German #1 base - South flank (between Hill #54 and Hill #49)

Nestled inbetween a few hills along the south flank. It's an easy trip from the german spawn along the south flank to reinforce this base. Also known as "G1" when typing chat in-game in order to keep things short and sweat.

D. Hill #49 (E of G1 / W of swamp)

Hill #49 is where the tank scrape has been built that overlooks the stone bridge / G2 / G1 areas. There is also a tunnel that leads between the two sides of the ridgeline. Could end up referred to as "south hill", but probably "H49" when typing for brevity.

E. Wheat field (E of german spawn)

The wheatfield is a picturesque section of terrain between the german spawn and G2. A destroyed tank and a small copse of trees provide cover for infantry attempting to move through the field.

F. German #2 base - Middle flank (near stone bridge)

Controls the middle of the german defensive line. (a.k.a "G2")

G. Stone bridge (E of G2)

Um, it's the low stone bridge over the middle river near German #2! A key defensive position to take and hold.

H. Pillbox trenches (a.k.a. the "AT bunker")

This is a white concrete pillbox that houses a 45mm gun (only in CNQ play) surrounded by an extensive network of trenches and barbed wire fencing. There is also a tunnel that leads back through the hillside allowing infantry to infiltrate the town.

I. North HIll #62 (a.k.a. G3 hilltop)

German #3 base is located here. There are multiple trenches, defensive positions and a pak gun that looks east towards R3. Will probably end up referred to as the "G3 hill". It might get referred to as "NH62" or "H62".

J. Stary Petrovka Village (a.k.a. "The Town" or "The Village")

Contains multiple houses, a church, the Russian #2 base (a.k.a. "R2") and a russian 45mm stationary gun. Combat here tends to be fierce and heavy as fighting goes house-to-house. Communication will probably refer to sectors ("N village", "S town", "E Stary", "Church", etc.).

K. Swamp (south flank)

A patch of water / bullrushes and a few trees along the south flank. There is a russian 45mm gun (a.k.a. "R1 45mm" or "swamp gun") that overlooks this area.

L. Swamp 45mm (a.k.a. "South AT Trench")

The gun that overlooks the swamp along the south flank. This weapon will probably be called the "widowmaker" because of all of the newbies who will slaughter themselves while attempting to use it. (It's extremely easy to kill yourself by shooting the post in front of you.)

This area may also be referred to as the "south trench" or "swamp trench" or "S trench" or "S gun".

M. Russian #3 (a.k.a. "R3")

This base lies in a sheltered vale along the north flank. Reinforcement of this base will be tricky for the russians due to the need to come through a narrow bottleneck.

N. East Trench (a.k.a. "the trench line")

The main defensive works to the east of the village. There is a moat-like river that runs in front of it and it guards the approaches to the russian spawn area.

O. Russian spawn (a.k.a. "Forest")

The "old house" objective for CNQ is in this area. Russians spawn on this heavily forested hilltop during BAS.

P. Gorshanov House (a.k.a. "R1")

A set of houses by the Russian #1 base along the south flank.

Q. Depot

A train depot that lies in the far eastern part of the map. This area does not get much play during a BAS game but is a major facet of CTF/CNQ play.

R. Collective Farm #42

The farm houses and fields to the east of the depot.




This post has been edited by ScrapyardBob: 02/13/06 1:37am

[ScrapyardBob]

Base Assault - Vehicle Inventory

German Spawn
(2) Horch (jeep)
(2) PzIII (medium tank)
(1) PzIV (heavy tank)
(2) SdKfz (half-track)

German #1 (south flank)
(2) Horch (jeep)
(1) PzIII (medium tank)

German #2 (stone bridge)
(4) Horch (jeep)
(1) PzIII (medium tank)
(1) PzIV (heavy tank)
(1) StugIII (heavy tank)

German #3 (north flank)
(2) Horch (jeep)
(1) PzIII (medium tank)

Russian #1 (south rear flank)
(1) BT7 (light tank)
(2) GAZ67b (jeep)

Russian #2 (village)
(1) BT7 (light tank)
(3) GAZ67b (jeep)
(1) KV1 (heavy tank)

Russian Spawn
(1) BT7 (light tank)
(4) GAZ67b (jeep)
(1) GAZAA (truck)
(1) KV1 (heavy tank)
(1) T34_76 (medium tank)

Russian #3 (north forward flank)
(1) BT7 (light tank)
(1) GAZ67b (jeep)

...

German Summary
(10) Horch (jeep)
(5) PzIII (medium tank)
(2) PzIV (heavy tank)
(2) SdKfz (half-track)
(1) StugIII (heavy tank)

Russian Summary
(4) BT7 (light tank)
(10) GAZ67b (jeep)
(1) GAZAA (truck)
(2) KV1 (heavy tank)
(1) T34_76 (medium tank)

I may have overlooked a vehicle somewhere, or screwed up my arithmetic...

[ScrapyardBob]

Conquest - Vehicle Inventory

German Spawn
(2) Horch (jeep)
(2) PzIII (medium tank)
(2) SdKfz (half-track)

German #1 (south flank)
(1) Horch (jeep)

German #2 (stone bridge)
(2) Horch (jeep)
(1) PzIII (medium tank)
(1) PzIV (heavy tank)
(1) SdKfz (half-track)
(1) StugIII (heavy tank)

German #3 (north flank)
(2) Horch (jeep)

Russian #1 (south rear flank)
(1) BT7 (light tank)
(2) GAZ67b (jeep)

Russian #2 (village)
(4) GAZ67b (jeep)
(1) KV1 (heavy tank)

Russian #3 (north forward flank)
(1) GAZ67b (jeep)

Russian Spawn
(1) BT7 (light tank)
(4) GAZ67b (jeep)
(1) GAZAA (truck)
(1) KV1 (heavy tank)

Russian South Road (W of R1)
(1) GAZAA (truck)
(1) T34_76 (medium tank)

Russian Depot
(5) GAZ67b (jeep)
(3) KV1 (heavy tank)

...

German Summary
(7) Horch (jeep)
(3) PzIII (medium tank)
(1) PzIV (heavy tank)
(3) SdKfz (half-track)
(1) StugIII (heavy tank)

Russian Summary
(3) BT7 (light tank)
(16) GAZ67b (jeep)
(2) GAZAA (truck)
(4) KV1 (heavy tank)
(1) T34_76 (medium tank)

[ScrapyardBob]

Base Assault notes (mostly ammo locations)

Russian #1
- There are (2) bazooka boxes in the tunnel between Gorshanov House and the Swamp 45mm Gun. A 3rd bazooka box can be found inside Gorshanov House.
- The nearest satchel is probably the house on the south road, east of R1.
- Infantry will probably want to climb on the roof of Gorshanov House or hide in the trench line in front of R1.

German infantry may find it profitable to drive a jeep through the swamp and slip into the area around R1 using the tunnel. They will then be able to make use of the (3) bazooka ammo spawns to take down the base without needing tanks.

Russian - East Trench
- The satchel spawn is right at the west exit of the tunnel from the Russian Spawn. A second satchel spawns at the north end of the trench in one of the bunkers.
- There are (5) bazooka boxes spread throughout the trenchline.

Russian Spawn
- There is a naked bazooka tube on top of boxes in the tunnel leading to the East Trench. A bazooka ammo box spawns in the old house in the forest.
- A satchel spawns in the round house (octogon shaped building right by the tunnel).

Russian #2 / Village
- There is a satchel in the stables just north of R2.
- A bazooka ammo box is in the western building near the tunnel to the pillbox trenches. Another box is in a house nearby, closer to the western road.
- Another satchel spawns in the SW house, closest to the abandoned car and bathtub.
- A bazooka ammo box can be found two houses away from the bathtub.
- Another bazooka ammo box can be found in the house on the west side of the church.
- The house closest to the Swamp 45mm Gun contains a bazooka ammo box (SSE side of town).
- The church also contains a bazook ammo box.
- The trench on the N side of town (by the road) contains a bazooka tube.

Taking this base is going to be a bloody battle. The best approaches for armor is either going to be via the swamp, coming down the NW pass along the north side of town, or sweeping in from the north after taking R3. Keeping the village free of german infantry is going to be a full-time job for the russians.

Pillbox Trench Tunnel
- The tunnel behind the pillbox contains (2) bare bazooka tubes.

Russian #3
- The house upslope (west) of R3 holds a bazooka ammo box.

Russians are going to need to stay extra-alert to keep this base. Whoever controls the ridgeline to the west of the base will control this area. If the germans hold it, it gives them the ability to bring tanks / vehicles / infantry in and attack the R2 area from the north.

German #3 / Hill #62
- The northern, L-shaped trench has a panzerschreck tube.

This will be a rough one for the germans to hold. The rivers and the steep terrain make getting here quickly rather difficult. The abundant ground cover allows infantry to easily slip into the positions around the base. Whoever holds this hilltop (Hill #62) controls the north flank and can allow / prevent flanking movements along the north side of the map.

Stone Bridge / German #2
- There is a satchel charge in the NE corner house.
- A panzerschreck ammo box is in the SE corner house.
- A 2nd satchel charge is in the house just west of the bridge (by the PzIV spawn point).
- A bare panzerschreck tube spawns in the western-most house (closest to the G2 pak gun).

Another bloodbath in the making. Easily reinforced, lots of open terrain. The pillbox and trenches across the way and the houses near G2 allow abundant cover for infantry.

Hill #49 Tunnel
- There is a bare panzerschreck tube in this tunnel.

A key hill to hold for either side. If the russians hold Hill #49, they can attack G1/G2 and prevent germans from using the south flank. If the germans hold Hill #49, the russians will be prevented from using the south flank. When you stand on Hill #49 for the first time, you'll get an idea of its tactical value.

German Spawn
- A panzerschreck ammo box is in the east stables.
- A panzerschreck ammo box is in the north stables.
- A panzerschreck ammo box is in the northwest stables.
- A panzerschreck ammo box is in the west stables.
- There doesn't seem to be a satchel in the german spawn area.