T-34's in Combat Mission

[Mike Abberton]

I'm learning (very quickly, in a few PBEM games!) to use them more like my beloved Shermans on the Western front. They are great infantry support, and their mobility cannot be beat. You just need to run 'em smart, play to their strenghs (mass quantities, canister, etc.), and minimize their weaknesses (for instance, no long-range duels due to bad optics).

In my opinion, that sums it up very well for the T-34 (at least the T-34/76 versions), except in the case of early war games before the 50mm/60 guns start showing up (and maybe the short 50mm). And certainly once the long barrel German guns start showing up.

I'd agree with McIvan that the T-34 vs. StuG situation is under- (t-34's gun) and/or overmodeled (StuG's armor), but overall they are about right.

The other issue is would be the general overall "Soviet retreat" phenomenon where Soviet tanks crews, even in clearly superior vehicles, tend to retreat the first sign of a Panzer.