Soviet Rebellious Republics version 1.1

 

Soviet Rebellious Republics is intended to explore the possibility of widespread revolts among the Red Army and ethnic minorities within the Soviet Union in the Team Yankee timeline. Hopefully, it can also provide a more interesting framework for Red-on-Red games. Bashkir ASSR, Chechen-Ingush ASSR, Dagestan ASSR, Kirghiz SSR, Tatar ASSR, Turkmen SSR, Uzbek SSR and Tajik SSR are some more likely candidates for Rebellious Republics. The Baltic, Georgian and Armenian SSRs are also plausible locations of conflict, but somewhat less likely. Strangely, the Kazakh SSR seems to have both the most loyal (outside of the the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) and arguably, the most rebellious regions within the USSR. Some believe that if Kazakh SSR were not to be ruled with a constant iron fist that it would become the new land of revolutions.

Scenarios: Skirmishes rather than large scale battles would be most likely among the revolts within the Soviet Union. Team Yankee Quick Missions is ideal for Rebellious Republics. However, any Team Yankee missions should be suitable. Just find something agreeable to both players. 

https://www.team-yankee.com/Portals/0/Documents/TeamYankee/QuickMissions.pdf

Force Size: 30 to 60 points (45 points seems to work well)

Universal Special Rules: Prior to setup, both players secretly write down their option on whether or not to invoke rules CHEMICAL WEAPONS and HUMAN SHIELDS on a piece of paper. The paper should then be folded and placed on the tabled. The result should not be revealed until either rule is invoked in game or until the end of the game.

 

Soviet Forces Special Rules:

MOTHER RUSSIA - After choosing the scenario, the Soviet player has the option of choosing to be the attacker. If the option is declined, the roles of attacker/defender are chosen randomly.

I'M NOT GOING OVER THERE - Soviet category III troops had notoriously low levels of initiative. Combine low initiative with an enemy's proficiency in ambush and reconnaissance becomes a serious issue. Only half of eligible Soviet units (rounded up) may perform SPEARHEAD as defined in the TY rules.

CHEMICAL WEAPONS - The Soviet player may opt for artillery and salvo weapons to use chemical ordinance on rebel units. The infantry save is reduced by two (increasing infantry casualties by double) for rebel infantry units. If the Soviet player decides to invoke this optional rule, the victory level is shifted on level in favor of the rebel player. If CHEMICAL WEAPONS and HUMAN SHIELDS are both in play, these rules cancel each other out in every way (even though CHEMICAL WEAPONS modifier is one higher).

SOVIET INTERNAL SECURITY FORCES – The Soviet player may opt to

choose a T-80 Shock Tank Company. This represents elite Soviet internal

security troops. By fielding this unit, no other T-80, T-64 or BMP-3 units may

be purchased except allowed within this formation. The following special rules apply:

MOTHER RUSSIA – the Soviet player must choose to be the attacker, I’M

NOT GOING OVER THERE – does not apply to units in this formation,

CHEMICAL WEAPONS must be chosen as an option by the Soviet player.

Soviet Forces:

Use the Soviet book with the following restrictions:

• T-80: a maximum of 1 formation and additional units within other formations as allowed.
• T-64: a maximum of 1 formation and additional units within other formations as allowed.
• BMP-3: a maximum of 1 formation and additional units within other formations as allowed.
• Afghantsy: not allowed
• Shock Battalion: see special rule SOVIET INTERNAL SECURITY FORCES
• 2S3 Acacia Krasnopol not allowed

Rebellious Republics Special Rules:

LAND OF MY FATHERS - The rebels are fighting on lands that they have inhabited, in some cases, for many generations. One infantry unit from each formation may be held in ambush or used to spearhead. this is in addition to any other units permitted by scenarios. This does not include infantry transport vehicles. Infantry must be dismounted. 

MAINTENANENCE IS A LUXURY - The rebellious republics do not have the extensive supply chain networks to properly maintain combat vehicles. Rebel vehicles have a cross check one worse than their Soviet counterparts

HUMAN SHIELDS - Although rebels are idealistic, they are also often heartlessly cruel. Rebel infantry may improve their infantry save by 1 point from artillery and salvo weapons by hiding behind civilians. This will result in a final victory shift one level in favor of the soviet player. This rule is invoked only at the option of the rebel player.

Rebellious Republics Forces:

Use the Soviet book with the following restrictions:

• One infantry formation required for each tank formation
• T-80 not allowed
• T-64 not allowed
• 2S6 Tunguska not allowed
• BMP-3 not allowed
• T-62M ATGM not allowed
• T-55AM ATGM not allowed
• Afghantsy: not allowed
• Shock Battalion: not allowed
• 2S3 Acacia not allowed
• BM-27 not allowed
• TOS-1 not allowed
• SA-8 not allowed
• SU-25 not allowed
• MI-24 not allowed

 note: RPG-7VR upgrade is available to rebel forces on a unit basis. If one unit chooses to upgrade, the entire force is NOT required to upgrade.

This fan work is not a challenge to any of the Battlefront copyrights or trademarks. Team Yankee is an awesome game. Buy their stuff and support the game as much as you can. Also, I am not making any money on this or anything. I am just a fanboi doing this for fun. I have links below. You can use these links or whatever you like. All good. have fun.  

Team Yankee Website     

Team Yankee Soviet Page

Thanks to everybody for the comments, feedback and encouragement. Special thanks to Ralnai for the patience working with me and the awesome idea for the internal security troops.

Team Yankee - Soviet Rebellious Republics

 

With the release of the new Soviet book and the awesome new Soviet models (not to mention the can't pass-up starter boxes), a lot of people have been talking about Soviet-on-Soviet games. A straight up two sided Soviet game seems like it would likely get old pretty fast. However, I have always been fascinated by the Chechen wars and thought there may be a place in the TY timeline if altered slightly. Thus was born...Soviet Rebellious Republics. 

I plan for this to be an alteration of the new Soviet list with some special rules and expect this to be completed by the end of the year.

Lastly, I teased KPA way back in September and have them mostly done. I was hoping to have a few playtest games done before posting, but COVID has put the brakes on that. I am still unsure if they will be in a playable state by the end of the year. 

Coming Soon...Team Yankee North Korea UNOFFICIAL

 

Upcoming Soviet Goodies

The new era of Team Yankee version 2 is upon us. The Americans and Brits have already got their new stuff and it looks great. Later this year, BF will be showing the Soviets some love with some awesome new vehicles.

  

The first new Soviet vehicle is the long awaited T-80. Like all Soviet MBTs, this is expected to have decent stats, but likely not worth the point value assigned by the counter-revolutionary Bourgeoisie at BF. I believe the model is supposed to be a T-80U. The expected armor is FA20, SA10, TA2 and reportedly the first TY unit with ERA. The AT-11 Sniper missile is expected as an upgrade option.

  

The long awaited BMP-3 with three weapons systems (100mm gun, AT-10 Stabber and 30mm autocannon) will likely expand Soviet MRD capabilities if it is reasonably priced as its predecessors. This should be a fun vehicle, but likely not a game changer.

  

The less well known, but absolutely awesome TOS-1 Buratino fills the previously unoccupied niche of short-ranged rocket artillery. An impressive ordinance load of thirty 220mm thermobaric rockets allows this vehicle to literally rain down Hell. Based on the T-72 hull, this is likely the most heavily armored artillery in the game and it will need this protection due to the short (3500m) range of the 220mm rockets. The TOS-1 should significantly outperform the US MLRS in all categories except range. The TOS-1 has the capability to launch 2.5 as many rockets as the MLRS and each TOS-1 rocket is estimated to have a warhead 3-4 times the size of MLRS. This would result in a TOS-1 salvo having 9 times the power of an MLRS (although at a significantly shorter range). The TOS-1 could easily have an anti-tank value of 5 and a firepower of 2+ or 3+. Expect these guys to be expensive (even with Soviet 5+ skill) and limited in numbers.       

Here is the TOS-1 in real life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q91yFP9E9Yg

The Tunguska 2K22 tracked anti-aircraft vehicle is a long time favorite and welcomed addition to TY. It is the Soviet equivalent of a Gepard and Roland on a single chassis. The 30mm guns provide more punch than the 23mm guns of the ZSU-23/4 and the missile system is somewhat comparable to the SA-13. These should be fun, but don't expect any drastic increase in capability by deploying these instead of the typical ZSU/SA-13 mix     

Here is a video that shows the Tunguska along with ZSU-23/4 and SA-13:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVPsBxkDLi0

Filling the role of an upgraded, heavier and modernized BM-21, BM-27 Uragan will likely be comparable to U.S. MLRS with inferior Soviet skill of 5+. As with BMP-3 and Tunguska, this is unlikely to be a game changer, but still fun to play. It will be interesting to see the actual model when released by BF. 

Mi-8 Hip enables Soviet players to play full scale VDV rather than the Afghansty (AKA VDV lite) units carried solely in Mi-24s. Hopefully, a gunship version is also available. This new chopper has the potential to really expand Red Army capabilities in TY. With a real life capacity of 24 troops (compared to the Hind's 8 troop capacity), the Mi-8 will hopefully have a 6 stand capacity thus allowing significant heliborne operations.     

Overall, these 6 new additions to the TY Soviet arsenal will be fun. If the point values are accurate, these vehicles should allow the Red Army some competitiveness in V2.  

Hopefully, other Pact nations will get some of these new vehicles...Lets see!