Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set
With John Lee

With the launch of the WW3 Warsaw Pact, I thought I would look at how a new player could, or someone on a budget, could get a force on the table that would be competitive or at least hold its own with new formations and equipment such as the T-72B, SU-22 Fitter.  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 starter set, that will help decide what formations to run.  The starter set contains the following:

  • Complete A5 Rulebook
  • “Start Here” booklet
  • 7 x T-72B or T-72M Tanks
  • 5 x T-55AM2 or T-55 Tanks
  • 2 x BRDM-2, Spandrel or SA-9 Gaskin vehicles
  • 2 x Hind Helicopters with rare earth magnets and flight stands
  • 2 x SU-22 aircraft with flight stands

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

The bonus here is that the rulebook is included in the box – so the new player makes a saving right away.  One very cool thing about this starter box – it includes twelve tanks.  Now if we look at what formations are in the WW3: Warsaw Pact book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the starter box. The best formations to maximize this straight out of the box are the T-72B Tank Battalion and T-72M Tank Battalion.  Each of the three Warsaw Pact nations can run both formations and we will also look at the T-72B formation for the Soviets as its also new to them and adds a sixth tank option to their arsenal now.  The composition of both formations is almost identical for each nation except the Soviets.  We are going to look at the T-72B formation first for the Warsaw Pact nations:

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

Note: East Germans can only have the BMP-1 Motor Rifle Company (No BMP-2s in this formation) and only the Czechs can take the M53/59 PRAGA AA Platoon.

Straight out of the box we can maximise all the T-72Bs and BRDM family of vehicles as part of the formation and apply the rest of the box as support.  To build a force for 100pts, we need to get two starter boxes and add a couple of extra options.  Here is a list for each nation starting with the East Germans:

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

The T-72B with its AT22 stabilised gun and optional AT-8 Songster AT21 missile that can fired on the move.  We are using everything in the two starter boxes except for three T-55AM2s.  One unit of T-72Bs equipped with missiles alongside the T-55AM2s also equipped with AT21 missiles that can be fired when stationary.  T-72Ms to flesh out the tanks for the formation.  More missiles with Mi-24 Hinds armed with AT-6 Spirals delivering AT23 goodness.  Two templates with RM-70s delivering suppression salvos whilst the SU-22 Fitters deliver AT7 FP2+ goodness under its template.  Recon BMP-1s to provide spearhead and also provide more missiles delivering AT19 and SA-9 Gaskins to provide AA cover for your force, with infantry that can be carried in the Hinds or deployed to protect an objective, or take one.

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

The main difference here between the East Germans and Czechs is that there are no T-72Ms, just the new T-72B tank and the third company is large and equipped with missiles.  This will be your reserve unit if required.  Taking DANAs to provide that clinical artillery template and can take on tanks under its AT4 template.

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

More like the East German list except taking standard T-55s and again taking T-72Ms to bolster the formation and DANAs for the rule of cool.

So, for each nation, we have six units for the formation break.  Each nation has their advantages and disadvantages but as you can see have some flexibility with their options.  The missile armed tanks can hang back and provide cover or look to take out enemy AA assets before sending in your Hinds and Fitters.

 To buy any of these armies you need only to purchase the following for $349.50:

2 x TWPAB01 Warsaw Pact Starter Force - T-72 Tank Battalion

  220.00

1 x TSBX02 BMP-1 or BMP-2 Company (Plastic)

    50.00

1 x WBX01 DANA SP 152mm or TWBX02 RM70 Rocket Launcher Battery

    41.50

1 x SU703 Motor Rifle Platoon (Plastic) or G702 East German Mot-Schutzen Platoon (WWIII x24 Figures)

    13.00

1 x WW3-06 World War III: Warsaw Pact Book

    25.00

TOTAL

$349.50

 Next let’s look at the T-72M formation:

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

NB: East Germans can only have the BMP-1 Motor Rifle Company (No BMP-2s in this formation) and only the Czechs can take the M53/59 PRAGA AA Platoon.

So, the same as the T-72B formation where we can maximise what we get out of the starter boxes with a few extra boxes. Starting with the East Germans again:

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

Maximising the starter boxes again, there are more tanks part of the formation with a mix of T-72M and T-55AM2s.  Infantry now in the formation in BMP-1s – more missiles!  Taking a minimum T-72B company in support, again armed with missiles, and taking the older BM-21 Hail for suppression salvo.

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

Really maximising the number of tanks in the formation – 29 tanks!  No recon but taking infantry in BMP-2s (more missiles – this time AT21) and taking both DANAs and RM-70s to provide more artillery and salvo templates alongside the SU-22 Fitters.

Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

More tanks for the Poles and infantry in the formation in BMP-2s but everything else is like the East German list.

To buy the East Germans or Poles options you need only to purchase the following for $399.50:

2 x TWPAB01 Warsaw Pact Starter Force - T-72 Tank Battalion

   220.00

2 x TSBX02 BMP-1 or BMP-2 Company (Plastic)

   100.00

1 x TSBX08 BM-21 Hail Battery or WBX01 Dana SP 152mm

    41.50

1 x SU703 Motor Rifle Platoon (Plastic) or G702 East German Mot-Schutzen Platoon (WWIII x24 Figures)

    13.00

1 x WW3-06 World War III: Warsaw Pact Book

    25.00

TOTAL

$399.50

 For the Czechs, there is an additional couple of boxes to the above for $441.00:

2 x TWPAB01 Warsaw Pact Starter Force - T-72 Tank Battalion

   220.00

1 x TSBX02 BMP-1 or BMP-2 Company (Plastic)

    50.00

1 x TSBX29 T-72B Tank Company (Plastic)

    50.00

1 x TWBX01 DANA SP 152mm 

    41.50

1 x TWBX02 RM70 Rocket Launcher Battery 

    41.50

1 x SU703 Motor Rifle Platoon (Plastic) or G702 East German Mot-Schutzen Platoon (WWIII x24 Figures)

    13.00

1 x WW3-06 World War III: Warsaw Pact Book

    25.00

TOTAL

$441.00

Those are the Warsaw Pact Nations covered off.  At the back of the Warsaw Pact Book, is a section on running T-72B for Soviets along with also taking SU-17 Fitters.  So, let’s look at the Soviet version of that formation to round off the article:  

We are going to use two Starter Box’s again and only a couple of extras to flesh it out to 100pts.  We will use everything in the Starter Boxes except for four T-72Bs.

 Building a WWIII: Warsaw Pact Forced Based on the T-72 Starter Set

Five units for the formation break plus multiple missile options.  The Soviet T-72B can fire the AT-11 Sniper missile with AT22 on the move.  Great unit to bring onto reserve with a tactical move firing its missile giving a reach of 58”!  T-55AMs with missiles can fire stationary AT21 out to 48”.  Mi-24 Hinds can fire AT24 out to 28” and two templates with the BM-27 Hurricanes (AT4 Salvo) and SU-17 Fitters (AT7 template).  This army is a Swiss army knife with lots of missiles.

To buy the Soviet version, you need only to purchase the following for $292.00:

2 x TWPAB01 Warsaw Pact Starter Force - T-72 Tank Battalion

   220.00

1 x TSBX26 BM27 Hurricane Rocket Launcher Battery

    37.00

1 x SU703 Motor Rifle Platoon (Plastic) or G702 East German Mot-Schutzen Platoon (WWIII x24 Figures)

    10.00

1 x WW3-06 World War III: Warsaw Pact Book

    25.00

TOTAL

292.00

As you can see, the starter set is a very useful starting block to build your choice of Warsaw Pact or Soviet army and provides lots of different options based on what sort of list you want to run, whether you are on a budget, or want it flesh out that last part of your list.  I will be getting a couple of these boxes to upgrade my Czech T-72 formation to a T-72B one!