>>Well, the 4 76L Guns are _really_ good. I just finished the second day of a CG III as the Russians. For my first day I bought a reserve SMG Coy and those 76L Guns, and the Guns really saved my day. They got lots of casualties. However, I don't think Pillboxes are the best place for them. Look at the highest buildings and place them in the second level there. If you put one in the Commisar's House, one in the two-hex house between the large factories and one in the house around J15 or something, those three will really cover _much_ terrain. With a "L" Gun they have decent hit probabilities on long range, and even have a modified TH# of "9" if using Area Target Type >12 hex range. In addition they are in +4 TEM away from enemy Infantry range.
> >It may be dangerous not to buy Infantry, but IMHO those 76L really controls the battle, until they're SMOKED.
> Well, Ole failed to note a couple of real important things here. First, these 76L's can only set up in upper level locations if those locations are Fortified. Second, to Fortify these upper levels each level underneath will have to be Fortified as well. Third, once these Guns are set-up in these Fortified locations they can not be moved again for the _remainder_ of the CG (not just the scenario). [respondent's name lost]
At least I didn't mention it, though I'm avare of it, anyway, you're correct.
> To place the three 76L's as Ole suggested (in level 2 locations) would cost 90 FFP (2 & 1/2 CPP). Add in Fortified locations for the Fourth Gun and you are looking at from 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 CPP. Now I know the Russki is starting with 5 Frt. Locations and 50FFP. However, if you use these assets for your Guns you are still going to need additional for the rest of your defense.
I guess I also should have mentioned that I placed only one of those Guns high up the first day, which cost me 3 Frt. Locations. The other three were down on the ground on day one. One was captured by the Germans while the other two were moved up on day two.
> So, based on the above expenditure (8CPP) one could purchase a Rifle Coy. with on board set-up and 1 OBA. This purchase will give you far more fire power and versatility. It will also cover more frontage of your defense.
> Considering that the Russki only startes with 8CPP the Guns are not a purchase that the Russian can really afford on the first day. This is a purchase to be made when the Russki has had a good CPP Replenishment DR (like 18CPP) or has saved up three or four CPP over the course of four or Five scenarios or the Russian has had a really good day on the previous scenario.
I think the purchase of the Guns the first day is a risky move - but a move that may pay back if you're a bit lucky. First, those Guns help you a lot if your opponent tries an armored breakthrough the first day, and second, if lucky with the ROF, these Guns are something which can really inflict casualties on the enemy.
It means that you'll be thin on Infantry with an added danger of a German breakthrough, so I'm not sure if it's the best thing to do, but it may work (it really did for me).
> Lastly, Guns in Fortified locations tend to get wasted immediatly on the next scenario because the opposition knows exactly where they are.
Yes, but there's not very much the Germans can do about it, except smoking them, and the Germans don't have _that_ much smoke availability - at least not vs a concealed target on >12 hex range. The Guns will cover so much terrain that it is impossible to hide away from them. Therefore these Guns aren't wasted until their buildings are captured.
> Infantry, OBA, Fortifications - These are the best purchases for (in order of importance) the Russian (NOTE: I consider Dug-In tanks to be more of a Fortification type expenditure, though they cost CPP). Any other purchases should be relegated to as can be afforded status, more a luxury than any thing else.
Yep, but since the Russian cannot buy more than 1 1/2 Infantry coy a day in the long run, it is very important to buy other weapons which can kill enemies. OBA is a must, but you have to pay for OBA each day. After you have paid for the 76L Guns, they remain there, and have impact on the battlefield until they're smoked out (or hit by a big OBA).