Bagration:Polish

The Bagration Compilation book has kind of snuck up on everyone. While other compilations haven’t really added much int he way of new units, Bagration has added new SS options, Matildas for the Soviets and a whole new nation, the Polish and their Home Force Army.

Background

The Home Force Army or Armia Krajowa (AK) fought in 1944 and were a large resistance movement. On 1 Aug 1944 the AK rose up (The Warsaw uprising) with units forming in the streets and springing into action. While lacking regular equipment and armour (beyond some captured vehicles) they inflicted considerable damage on he German forces. Stalin refused to allow Allied Aircraft from England to fly in the Polish Para Brigade and thus Allied airpower was restricted to some aid drops inc a number of Piats. Eventually the Polish People Army linked up with the AK, but without the full support of the Soviets (who refused to commit a tank force), they were forced to surrender on 2 Oct 44 after 63 days fighting and 15,000 dead. However they killed 16,000 Germans and wounded over 9,000 tying up a large German force who could have been redeployed to counter Op Bagration.

The Polish get a single formation to represent the Partisan forces, along with captured vehicles and some Polish Peoples Army infantry. You can (and likely will want to!) take Soviet allies, but a Soviet army cant ally with the Poles. This is a big shame, but historically sound.

The infantry are really interesting, for around 0.5pts a stand you get 21 stands of infantry with a decent assault rating, and a fearless rating. Plus unlike Soviets they have a 3+ save. Let that sink in…

For 24pt you can an HQ with Faust, and 42 stands of Fearless, aggressive infantry. That is amazing value and while not great in attack they are a big board presence in defence. The tank hunter (PIAT) is useful and you will likely add HMGs to stave off some infantry assaults. So call it 30pts with addons. Also, I almost forgot that the tunnels and paths special rule allows you to cross country dash through woods and rubble.

Their partisan platoon option is also core and is smaller and almost as expensive, but the real benefit I see is 2 x tank hunter teams and double Faust providing much needed AT.

AT is a problem in the core force. You will want the 3.7cm gun which are about as cheap as they could possibly be and come with Stielgrante ammo which is AT12 and range 10, perfect for defensive fire. Get these guys backing up one of your platoons. You then have an option of more 3.7cm guns, 5cm or 7.5cm (Pak40s) guns. I would normally say the latter but you only get 2. Therefore, oddly I rate a second 3.7cm platoon. Again super cheap and perfect to add defensive fire to your platoons. They also have a 4 inch tactical move. With 2 x platoons of these you are on 36pts.

Support is lacklustre but historically accurate. Yes you can take some good German tank choices but with limited platoon size. Eg 2 x Panther, 1 x Tiger, Hetzer or 1 x PZIV. Great flavour for a historic game but not great for competitive play as it bleeds VPs and can flee from a bail.

On the plus side you get a super cheap 2 x vehicle recce, and some well priced 6 x gun artillery (but green). The Polish People’s Army Rifle Company is basically soviet 4+ save troops with better stats. Not badly priced though and worth a look.

One missed opportunity from BF is no command cards. This means that the Polish cant even take Molotov Cocktails or Lucky (ie not even the generic cards).

Its quite hard to fill 100pts with the Poles. If I was going to be pure with no Soviet allies then

HQ with Faust
Infantry Company with Tank Hunter and 2 x HMGs
Infantry Company with Tank Hunter and 1 x x HMGs
Infantry Company with Tank Hunter and 1 x HMGs
Kedyw Partisan Platoon with 2 x Tank Hunter teams and Flamethrower
3 x 3.7cm Guns
3 x 3.7cm Guns
6 x 81mm Mortars
1 x Tiger and 1 x PZIV
2 x Panther
6 x 10.5cm Howitzers
2 x sd Kfz (MG)

100pts

In reserve would be the tanks and mortars. That leaves 72 fearless infantry with 4 x HMGS, 5 x Piats and 3 x Fausts, backed up by 6 x AT12 guns (out to range 10) and 6 x guns with direct fire 9 and a green bombardment at AT3.

It will struggle vs heavy armour (as they did historically) but even medium armour needs to consider being whittled down and actually reaching the obj.

Of course there is a crutch and that is Soviet Allies.

HQ with Faust
Infantry Company with Tank Hunter and 2 x HMGs
Infantry Company with Tank Hunter and 1 x HMGs
Kedyw Partisan Platoon with Flamethrower
6 x 10.5cm Howitzers
3 x 3.7cm Guns
3 x 3.7cm Guns
6 x 81mm Mortars
2 x 2 x sd Kfz (MG)
10 x Soviet Allied Sherman 76mm

100pts

A good solid 1 drop reserve brings on a world of hurt with 10 x mobile shots of AT12 and solid FA7 armour. A good ‘fire brigade’ to rush to the rescue.

Alternatively if you like heavy support.

Again another 1 drop reserve and provides 5 x FA11 tanks with a solid gun on an assault monster, but with the considerable downside of the slow firing rule.

HQ with Faust
Infantry Company with Tank Hunter and 1 x HMGs
Infantry Company with Tank Hunter and 1 x HMGs Kedyw Partisan Platoon with 2 x Tank Hunter teams and Flamethrower
6 x 10.5cm Howitzers
3 x 3.7cm Guns
3 x 3.7cm Guns
6 x 81mm Mortars
2 x 2 x sd Kfz (MG)
5 x IS2 Late

100pts

Anyway there you have it, Poles in a nut shell. I think the route of Soviet Allies will be popular and people (My friend Richard already is) will moan that its not historical it does save painting almost 100 infantry stands. I am already going through that pain for my Japanese!