Barbarossa Army Boxes

The release of EW Eastern Front is coming with 6 Army boxes (at time of writing), 4 of which are limited edition (FOMO is rising!).

What has struck me about these boxes is that BF have listened to some feedback and created some really good value boxes which actually give you a pretty good balanced list out of the box. With access to a preview copy of the book, I will look at how close these boxes get you to that magic 100pt sweet spot and how it is likely to play.

White Death – Finnish Force – Limited Edition

The first of our limited editions with a 2 x formation army, a T26 Company and a few infantry Formation options. It also comes with a special sniper model Simo Hayha.

T26 Company
Hq – 1 x T26 3pts
3 x T26 – 10pts
3 x T26 – 10pts
2 x T28 – 13pts
1 x T34 – 24pts
60pts

Light Infantry Company
HQ 2 x rifle stands 2pts
7 x rifle/mg, 1 x Lahti ATR 9pts
7 x rifle/mg, 1 x Lahti ATR 9pts
4 x HMG 6pts
4 x 81mm mortars 5pts
31pts

Simo Hayha 5pts
Close Defence Card x 2 4pts

Total = 100pts

There you go bang on 100pts. The close defence card gives you AT3 for an assault phase for each of your infantry platoons which is definitely needed as the Finnish struggle with AT. I am not going to sell that this is likely to be a competative tournament winning list but it will hold its own. It has 2 platoons of Cautious, Fearless infantry with an answer to infantry waves (HMG) and a template with smoke. It also has 10 hulls all of which have AT7 plus (so above average). AT9 from the T34 is actually pretty nasty and its FA6 makes it survivable against most things short of a 88. The Low number of tanks in the platoons makes the formation a bit brittle. Given the lack of AT guns this probably isn’t a list to defend with but you could run it in attack (infantry cross mine fields on 3+) or Manoeuvre taking advantage of your infantry’s ability to Cross Country Dash in woods and forests. Your sniper can then pin down enemy HMG or AT gun platoons.

Kampfgruppe Klink – German Force – Limited Edition

Next up is the limited edition German offering, based around a infantry formation and packing some serious AT options.

Motorised Infantry Company
HQ 2 x SMG teams 2pts
7 x MG teams, 1 x 5cm mortar, 1 x ATR 11pts
7 x MG teams, 1 x 5cm mortar, 1 x ATR, 4 x Sd Kfz251 (inc x 3.7cm) 21pts
3 x 5cm AT Guns 13pts
4 x HMGs 6pts
4 x 8cm mortars 6pts
59pts

2 x Bunkerflak 20pts

Total = 79pts

So not the magic 100pts and 21pts is too much of a stretch for command cards! In reality you will need something else and likely some armour which will provide a flexibility of stances. You already have 2 x good AT assets so 4 x Panzer 38(t) at 20pts is a good pick or 5 x Panzer IIs for 19pts if you want that extra hull.

T-26 Tank Company – Soviet Force

T26 Company
HQ 1 x T26 2pt
5 x T26 12pt
5 x T26 12pt
3 x BT-7A 8pts
34pts

2 x T34 28pts
11 x rifle stands, 2 x HMG, 1 x Kommisar 10pts
38pts

Total Force 72pts
Another force that isnt a 100pts out of the box. If the T-26 sprue can make the T-26E (FA3 and SA 2) then the list changes 79pts and that’s a steal when FA3 is equivalent to FA7 in LW.

My issue with this force is that its incredibly fragile. The T26 is FA1 and hit on 2s, it also remounts on a 5+. Enemy AT will have a field day and it wont have the mass to soak up that fire. There is definitely a place for the T-26 horde but I would be another 12 or so to make this more viable. Even then some would be T26E to soak up those shots.

I am a fan of the T34s where you get twice the hulls for only 4pts more than a single Finnish version. Sure you get hit on 2+ but FA6 can negate most of it.

To sum up expect to buy 2-3 more T26 boxes here.

Panzer 38(T) Comapny – German Force

Panzer 38(t) Company
HQ 2 x Panzer 38(t) (late) 13pts
3 x Panzer 38(t) (late) 19pts
2 x Panzer II 1 x Panzer I 11pts
43pts

4 x Panzerjager I 16pts
1 x Sd Kfz 222 1 x Sd Kfz 221 8pts
5 x MG teams, 1 x 5cm mortar, 1 x ATR, 3 x Sd Kfz half tracks inc 1 x 3.7xm gun 15pts
39pts

Total = 82pts

Similar to the other German force but again a bit of a weak formation with only 8 tanks, however as the 38(t) is the late version is has a mighty FA4 which is extremely good in EW (that’s like FA8 in LW) especially when combined with Cautious. The gun is a bit meh at AT6 but by dropping the ATR and 3.7cm upgrade you could squeeze in 2 x Bunkerflak for AT duties to mitigate this. You then have a pretty rounded force with decent tanks, high AT, a solid mech inf platoon, spearhead and more AT with the venerable Panzerjager I (don’t leave home without them). Alternatively bypass the Bunkerflaks and pick 4 x T38(t) (not late) for a round 100pts as well. That will help bulk out your formation.,

Not one step back – Winter Rifle Battalion – Soviet – Limited edition

Its hard to make out the exact contents as the image on the BF FB is a little low res so this is my best estimate.

Rifle Battalion
HQ 2 x rifle teams 1 pt
11 x rifle teams, 1 x 50mm mortar team, 1 x PTRD team, 1 x Kommisar, 1 x Flamethrower 13pts
11 x rifle teams, 1 x 50mm mortar team, 1 x PTRD team, 1 x Kommisar, 1 x Flamethrower 13pts
6 x 45mm guns 12pts
39pts

3 x T35 27pts

Total = 66pts

The least points for the sets and the least rounded with no HMGs (that I can see) or templates. The T35 is a fun choice with the Land Battleship rule meaning you have to roll a successful FP test twice to kill it (hard in EW) and when bailed they can still shoot. There are lots of ways you can expand this force and depending on price point it may be a good box to combine the infantry together to get a really big platoon to support a tank formation (your platoon can have up to 31 rifle stands!).

Against the other boxes in the range this would go defence and actually would be pretty hard to shift.

I should also point box contains the metal winter great coat Societ infantry and expect it to be very popular for collectors.

Waffen-SS – Infantry Company – German – Limited Edition

SS Infantry Company
HQ 2 x SMG 2pts
7 x Rifle/MG teams & 1 x 5cm Mortar 10pts
7 x Rifle/MG teams & 1 x 5cm Mortar 10pts
4 x HMGs 6pts
4 x Mortars 7pts

35pts

4 x SS Panzerjager I – 18pts
2 x SS Stug (late) 32pts

50pts

Total 85pts

The very best troops in the German book due to Cautious, Fearless, Vets that hit on 2+ in assault. However this is a challenge to round out in a force. The obvious thing is to make this a defend force and have the Panzerjager on table along with a spare 7pts which gets you a single Heer 88 (they are cautious and SS version is aggressive). Single 88s are actually a bit of a sweet point as they never fail last stand checks and distract templates from your infantry.

The challenge is the Stug(late) with AT7 and poor assault I just don’t rate them, but in the spirit of using the boxed set I would add 19 pts of armour to the reserve likely 5 x Panzer IIs. Small and elite, just as a SS force should be.

Conclusion

The new sets are a great addition but only one will actually work as a out of the box army for the typical game size of 100pts. I still feel BF are missing a trick here. Single drop armies are great for casual players buying into a new release and for stockists who have limited shelf space. I predict the Finnish set will be immensely popular.

That said apart from the Soviet infantry set you don’t need to add a huge amount to get to 100pts and outside the Stug (late) which I see as hopelessly shelved due to high points, everything is something you would want in any of your 3 nations.