Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Force Based on the VDV Starter Set

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Force Based on the VDV Starter Set
With John Lee

With the launch of Red Dawn, I thought I would look at how a new player, or someone on a budget, could get a force on the table that would be competitive or at least hold its own with new equipment such as the BMD and T-64BV. For the new player, it opens the door to playing WW3 without needing to buy, assemble or paint too much and get into playing the game quicker.

So, if we look at what we get in the excellent value army deal (BMD Air Assault Battalion), that might help decide what formations to run. The army deal contains the following:

  • Complete A5 Rulebook

  • Red Dawn “Start Here” booklet

  • 9 x BMD-1 or BMD-2 Transports

  • 9 x Assault Rifle teams

  • 6 x RPG-7 anti-tank teams

  • 3 x BTR-D, BTR-RD or BTR-ZD

  • 3 x T-64BV or T-64 

  • 2 x Mi-24 Hind Helicopter with rare earth magnets and flight stands

  • 1 x Red Dawn Objective Marker

  • 1 x Exclusive Alternate Command Team

  • 16 x Unit Cards

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

The bonus here is that the rulebook is included in the box – so the new player makes a saving right away. There are FOUR very cool features about this army deal that makes it unique compared to previous WW3 Team Yankee (and indeed Flames of War) army deals:

  1. The infantry is superb METAL sculpts – a first for an army deal

  2. RESIN BTR-D variants (all three variants included in the box)

  3. Objective Marker (designed for this release and the 2022 season)

  4. Exclusive alternate Nicaraguan ‘Advisor’ command team

As this army deal has a mix of plastic, resin, and metal in it, it is a bit more expensive than your standard army deal – costing $130 instead of the standard $110. This is still an amazing deal though and worthwhile getting to consider what you get in the box!

Now if we look at what formations are in the Red Dawn book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the army deal. The best formations to maximize this straight out of the box are the VDV BMD Air Assault Battalion, VDV Afgansty BMD Assault Company, and the T-64BV Tank Battalion.

We are going to look at the VDV BMD Assault Battalion formation first:

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

Straight out of the box we can use pretty much everything. Looking at 100pts, this is what we could build by combining TWO army deals and a couple of extra boxes:

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

So aside from not using a couple of BMD sprues, we are using everything from the two army deals plus the extra boxes. The formation has seven units for the formation break. The infantry has the upgraded RPG-7VR – never leave home without them unless you need to shave points, and take the BMD-2 with its 30mm cannon and AT21 missile. The HQ is in a BMD-1 (from a points perspective). They are supported by the formation units with more AA, AT21 missiles, artillery and assault guns to help push the assault on objectives home. Also, note that all these units are air-droppable by parachute, so when playing the Airbourne mission, these form part of your overall airdrop. Supporting this formation is the T-64BV which can shrug off most infantry AT when going into the assaults and four Hinds to provide air support with their AT24 missiles! An OP vehicle to provide that extra ability to range in the impressive 2S9 Nona-S artillery that also can fire direct AT20 out to 20”!

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $376:

2 x TSUAB05 BMD Air Assault Battalion

$260.00

1 x TSBX33 2S9 Nona-S SP Mortar Battery

$37.00

1 x TSBX34 ASU-85 Assault Gun Company

$54.00

1 x WW3-07 World War III: Red Dawn

$25.00

TOTAL: 

$376.00

If you want to add more ASU-85s or max out the 2S9 Nona-S and Mi-24 Hinds, just look at dropping a couple of T-64BVs and/or reduce one Air Assault Company to a small one or downgrade to BMD-1s.

Next up is the VDV Afgansty BMD Assault Company. This formation is comprised of:

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

We can use one army deal box fleshed out with a few extra boxes and again only have a couple of sprues left over.

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

Again, we have seven units for the formation break and we have smaller infantry platoons, but they are now hit on 4+ and have better skill also. Supported by 4+ to hit mortars we now have two artillery templates and additional AA and AT support from the BTR-ZD and VTR-RDs. Again, more T-64BVs to provide that extra oomph alongside the Hinds.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $380:

1 x TSUAB05 BMD Air Assault Battalion

$130.00

1 x TSBX30 T-64 Tank Company

$50.00

2 x TSBX32 BTR-D Platoon

$74.00

1 x TSBX33 2S9 Nona-S SP Mortar Battery

$37.50

1 x TSBX04 Mi-24 Air Assault Company

$40.00

1 x TSU716 Air Assault Weapons

$24.00

1 x WW3-07 World War III: Red Dawn

$25.00

TOTAL: 

$380.00

If you want to add more 2S9 Nona-S and add in some ASU-85s (or anything else that you want to add), just drop out two to three of the T-64BVs.

Finally, the T-64BV Tank Battalion. This formation is comprised of:

Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

Whilst this is a tank formation, we can take advantage of the new army deal to help flesh out the force.
Building a WWIII: Red Dawn Forced Based on the VDV Starter Set

Five units for the formation break and we are using most of the army deal (excluding one BMD sprue, one BTR-D and the two Hind sprues). Thirteen T-64BVs to take on enemy tanks or to assault infantry off the objective supported by a medium BMD-2 Air Assault Company along with AA from the Gaskins and artillery template from the Acacias.

 

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $360.50:

1 x TSUAB05 BMD Air Assault Battalion

$130.00

2 x TSBX30 T-64 Tank Company

$100.00

1 x TSBX17 2S3 Acacia Heavy SP Howitzer Battery

$41.50

1 x TSBX24 BRDM Platoon

$40.00

1 x TSU716 Air Assault Weapons

$24.00

1 x WW3-07 World War III: Red Dawn $25.00

TOTAL: 

$360.50

If you want to change it up some, maybe change the T-64BVs to two companies of five and use the points for Hinds or additional BMP infantry or recon and Shilkas.

The same approach can be taken to apply to the other tank formations. Got existing formations already but want to add some new cool kit to them, then consider this army deal.

There you have it – some options to ponder for getting started with different formations with the new army deal.  Enjoy!

~ John Lee


Last Updated On Thursday, December 1, 2022 by Ryan Smith