Dealing with Russian SMG troops in CMBB

[Der Kuenstler]

This is a picture no one wants to see in a PBEM game - your men are in a thick bunch of woods and stumble upon a Russian SMG platoon. These guys usually come in squads of nine and all carry the dreaded PPSh SMG. Though their ammo load is only 25, the fire is so devastating at close range that it usually more than enough to do the job.

You will be able to recognize SMG troops by the distinctive "B-r-r-r-r-t" sound they make and the way your entire squads panic or turn into dead man icons instantly.

While a Panzergrenadier squad in 1945 might have a FP of 189 up close, the Russian SMG squad has a FP of 450! How do you deal with these guys?

Well, the most effective thing you can do is don't put yourself in a position to have to fight them in their element. You don't want to be fighting Russians on a map chock full of summer heavy trees - you will probably lose. Don't fight on a map like that. What you want if you are fighting Russians is a more open map - with scattered trees and meadows. Then the Germans will be able to use their longer range rifle platoons against the SMG platoons, whose FP drops off considerably after 100 meters or so. If you are on a map of mixed terrain, and there are three flags, and one of the flags is in the middle of thick woods, by all means, let his SMG troops have that flag and go for the other two in more open terrain.

What if you are in a position where you have to fight them? You want to get them in a position where they are pinned - then they aren't shooting at you. And the next step from pinned is panic. Here are some ideas:

- Have a +2 command and +2 heart platoon leader if possible
- 50mm mortars - they have a shorter range and if your platoon leader is strong they can drop HE on top of the enemy and this will pin them much quicker.
- Keep your squads spread at least 25m apart - then enemy fire can't hurt multiple squads.
- Bring multiple shooters from different directions. Troops take a huge morale hit when fired on from behind.
- HE chuckers - fire them into the woods first
- Artillery - drop it on them first.
- pioneers - their demo charges can really disrupt
- Further emphasis - outnumber them. Do not take one platoon into the woods to fight one SMG platoon - take a whole company if possible.
- MG42 HMGs - you can get them up where they are close enough to area fire at the SMG troops or let them set up just behind your fighting platoon and then when the platoon gets shot up and runs, the HMGs will be ready to blast the pursuing Russians.
- Retreat your men back to the edge of the offending patch of woods where they can be supported by your 251/1s and tank mgs in the open behind them - when the smg troops pursue they will get more fire than they can handle.
- Be very fast and get into the woods first - then you can fire out of the woods into open areas and hopefully ambush them.
- Play during times in the war when you can get your own SMG troops. (But these still won't be as good as the Russians have - so be careful)

Any other ideas?