The Quick And Simple Counter To NATO Uber Tanks That The Soviets Never Got!

A fellow Team Yankee comrade over at Reddit has a cool KA-50 model and wants to play in in TY. Although its a late development for a standard 1985 timeline, it would fit into an expanded timeline and be a hoot for friendly house games. 

The Kamov KA-50 was designed for the Soviet army, but did not enter service until 1995, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Based on what we now know of the helicopters development, it could have easily entered production years earlier if the need presented itself. 

Intended to fulfill the role of a pure attack helicopter without the Hinds limited transport capability, the KA-50 is often considered it vastly superior to the American Cobras and the Soviet equivalent to the Apache attack chopper. In its primary role as an anti-tank hunter killer, the KA-50 dramatically increases the capability of the Soviet (Russian) forces. The KA-50 is an excellent counter to M1, Chieftain and Leopard 2 MBTs. 

CAPABILITIES: The KA-50 is definitely a hunter killer and is known to be equipped with a full suite of enhanced thermal imaging. The chopper has armor almost equal to the MI-24, but has additional defensive systems that far exceed the Hind. It seemed reasonable to assign a save of 4+. 

WEAPONS: The are a multitude of possible weapons load-outs for the KA-50. The ATGM/rocket pod configuration is one of the most common. The Spiral-2 specifics are based on a review of published data and comparison to other in-game ATGMs. The Spiral-2 has a Thermobaric variant and a common load-out would have 2 of these resulting in Brutal special rule.

POINTS: The MI-24 has a point value of 2.5 points. After reviewing the capability of other choppers, I assigned the KA-50 a point value of 4 points. The main reason for the increase is the HUNTER KILLER ability. However, this ability is mitigated by the base hit number of 3+. Before using this unit in your game, discuss it with your opponent and get their agreement. Vary the points of this unit as you and your opponent see fit. If you cannot agree on a point value, don’t use this unit. 

This unit is intended for non-competitive house games and is home brewed by http://siberianreds.blogspot.com/ which makes no legal claims to Team Yankee and all that lawyer stuff. This is just for fun.  

      

Zvezda BTR-80 Review and Soviet APC Paint-up

I bought the Zvezda BTR-80 to add some diversity to my soviets and use it as an Observer Post in lieu of a BMP-1. The model cost around 10 USD. It was simple to put together and all the parts fit properly. So far, I have not had any problems with Zvezda kits. The models often lack detail, but this was not the case with the BTR-80. Overall, I was happy with the kit and would rate it a 7.5/10.


This BTR-80 is painted with the typical Siberian Red Quick & Dirty Soviet Green.

Step 1 - Primer Light Grey
Step 2 - Paint hull, turret and hub caps with 2 coats of watered down Olive Green.
Step 3 - Paint tires, gun ports, optics and gun barrel with Black.
Step 4 - Dry brush select edges and panels with Light Rust.
Note: For table top quality models you need more rust than for contest quality models. On the gaming table, subtle rust is not noticeable. So you usually need to go a little heavier than usual. Still, do not go too crazy with the rust.
Step 5 - Cover the entire model with an uneven coat of Seraphin Sepia. I prefer more on the sides and front.
Step 6 - Apply a thin layer of spray dull coat or matte.
Step 7 - Apply decals
Step 8 - Cover decals with paint on varnish
Step 9 - Cover decal unevenly with Seraphin Sepia.
Step 10 - Apply multiple thin layers of spray dull coat or matte until surface appears 'rough'

This method won't win any awards, but it will get a reasonably painted army on the table pretty quickly.


BTR-80 side view


BTR-80 front view


BTR-80 rear quarter



BMP Battalion commander top front view.


BMP Battalion commander side view.


BMP side view


BMP rear view


BMP company commander front view


BMP company commander side view.

Open request to Battlefront Miniatures: Please add North Koreans to Team Yankee! (Part 2)

MAIN BATTLE TANKS: The Korean Peoples Army Ground Force is ready to crush any opposition with armored columns of Ch'ŏnma-ho tanks. These are locally constructed based on the export version of the T-62. This series of tanks has seen constant upgrades and is so envied by the entire world that even Iran has purchased a precious few from generous and benevolent North Korean government.



LIGHT TANKS: It's hard to get respect as a bloated North Korean copy of a Chinese copy of a Soviet PT-76, but that is exactly what this bad boy does. Meet the PT-85 light tank built exclusively in the DPRK. Mounting an 85mm gun and Sagger ATGM (mounted in front of tank commander), this is the Kim family's version of a Bradley recon vehicle.



ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS: The VTT-323 (say that 3 times fast) is a license built Chinese APC. If a BMP and a BTR-60 were to get it on, this would be their offspring. The KPAGF typically arm the vehicle with a turret mounted 14.5mm gun and a co-axial 7.62mm MG. Dual 14.5mm guns is a secondary option. What makes this APC Bob Bitch'n is the optional armament that can be mounted in the back:  107mm MLRS, 82mm mortar, AT-3 Sagger or SA-7 Grail. However, with these weapon systems mounted, it seems the troops in the back are kinda screwed.

LOTS OF FUN: I hope I have convinced you that having North Koreans in Team Yankee would be a worthwhile addition, but if you are still undecided, this video should help.

When pigs fly: Team Yankee Alternate A-10 that plays and feels more like the real thing.

Full disclosure (for those that haven't figured it out): I play Soviets in Team Yankee. So somehow, I feel like I am helping the wrong team and ultimately cutting my own own throat, but so be it! When it comes to gaming, I am good at making bad decisions. 

Here we go.....The Team Yankee A-10 SUCKS!  

This is a plane built around a bad ass 7-barrel 30mm gun that shoots up to 4200 depleted uranium rounds per minute and sounds like gawd almighty breaking wind when it does, but in Team Yankee, it is pretty much just another 30mm gun. Yes, it has a little more ROF and penetration, but most players will decline gun-play and elect to use the far more effective (in game) Maverick. We need to up gun this pig!

The second issue of pain is the lack of armor on the TY A-10. It gets 1 (3+) better save than an SU-25. As an American taxpayer, I simply find this unacceptable! It needs some way to show its resistance to small arms yet still be vulnerable to large SAMs. 

The Third and final point of dissatisfaction is the number of A-10 on the battlefield. A flight of four A-10s on a TY sized battlefield is beyond the ridiculousness of 20 pounds of bovine feces in a 10 pound bag. Four gimped out A-10s won't unbalance the game, but a 100-150 point battlefield shouldn't be seeing 4 real A-10s. Flight size needs to be reduced and they need to operate solo or in pairs without running away.

Take a look at Siberian Reds' Alternate A-10 Warthog. 

Try it out for your friendly home games and let me know what needs tweaking. Leave your comments below.

Also, let me know what planes you would like to see in Team Yankee.

Open request to Battlefront Miniatures: Please add North Koreans to Team Yankee! (Part 1)

LEADERSHIP: Team Yankee is all about leadership and the DPRK has the most bad ass generals around. As can be seen in this picture, some senior officers have begun wearing medals on their pants due to lack of available space on their coats.

LIGHT INFANTRY: The armed forces of the North Korean workers paradise is fully integrated and does not discriminate among the sexes. When these women are not cleaning or cooking for the men, they too are fighting imperialism. Organized into so-called 'babe-battalions' these women specialize in domestic warfare.

SPECIAL FORCES: Look at them. These boys is just special. 'nuf said!

NAVAL INFANTRY: If cuties in skirts and sailor outfits doing the goosestep floats your boat, then this should do the trick!

The foot troops alone are a great reason to add the North Koreans to Team Yankee, but wait until we start adding in their awesome Eastern bloc and domestic vehicles! 

The Siberians are coming!

 
2117 hrs, T-72s boldly leading the 12th Motorized Rifle Division across the dinner table.


Earlier in the day, NATO reconnaissance aircraft photographed the 12 MRD forming up at a pre-assault staging area.


We have a lot of guys to cram into the ass end of these BMP IFVs (infantry funerary vehicles), but the real party doesn't get started until they close the hatches. That,s when we can start basking in the glory of a pressurized cocktail of yak butter farts and Vodka burps.



These BMPs do not appear to be well maintained, but the commander seems sure that his armpits are dry and odor free...lets move'em out!

A trained observer may notice the Frontal Aviation has failed to provide this regiment of SU-25s with a runway. Silly Uzbek! These are fixed wing aircraft!


This is rotatory wing aircraft. THIS NO NEED RUNWAY! Silly Uzbek!

The commissar reports 12 MRD still has some incomplete BM-21, an unpainted motorized rifle company, 2 unfinished SU-24 and  requires at least 10 more un-purchased BMPs and 10 more T-72.