[updated 19 July 2023]
Theater of War Mission Pack: The Southern Fronts
Mission: Breaking Lines
“Breaking Lines” is a large 3v3 map on which Russia initially controls the territory, fuel and muni points while Germany holds the three VPs. So for Russia there is some urgency in the task of recapping VPs.
There is no inherent difference in strategy for the three bases. You can play along the left, right, or center of the map, regardless of your base, and your CPU-allies will mostly adjust.
“Play from the left”
This is probably the easiest strategy for this mission. Run your initial two conscript squads up the left edge of the map towards the left VP. They should stop well short of the VP, as there is an HMG guarding it.
Meanwhile use your starting engineers to build the tech building for penals and scout cars, and bring in a scout car. Upgrade the engineers with a flamethrower, and the conscripts with the molotov/AT-nade package. When the scout car arrives, use it to drive the engineers up the left side of the map. Now the scout car with flamethrower-equipped engineers can circle around to the left of, and behind, the left VP, to get the German HMG turned around. It can then hose down the HMG crew and the panzergren squad in the VP, dodging MG42 and AT-rifle fire as well as it can, while the conscripts charge and use their molotovs as needed. Cap the VP, and crew the MG42 when the flames die down. The MG42 can go in the building at the VP, for now.
At your base, you should have brought in another engineer squad, which can tech for T-70s and M5s. Bring in one of each in that order. Your force at the left VP, other than the MG42, can now move cautiously east to take points, including the fuel point and the point on the rise overlooking the German base. The T-70 will be needed soon—you will face increasing German resistance as and after you take the fuel point. There will be opportunities for capturing more German HMGs and mortars.
Tech for T-34s asap, and start bringing them in. When you have your first one, which should be around the 10-minute mark, start nosing into the German base. Kill HMG bunkers, infantry, and tank buildings first. It will be a tough fight initially, and you won’t want to go all the way into the base until you have multiple T-34s (Su-85s, Su-76s, and IS-2s also work well). But, as the Germans are forced to devote more and more resources to defending their base, your CPU allies will sweep the rest of the map. (You can bring your MG42 from the left VP to cover the left side of the German base, once the Germans start focusing on base defense.) After 15 minutes or so your CPU allies should join you with their own armor and infantry in the base. Don’t forget to keep bringing in T-34s as soon as you have the manpower points and fuel—you might lose a few on the way to victory.
“Play up the center”
Use your initial conscripts and engineers, upgraded with molotovs and flamethrower respectively, to take the center VP asap (you’ll face two panzergren squads and two Paks). Crew the Paks. Bring in another engineer squad, and use it to tech for M5s. Bring in an M5 and use it to reinforce your squads at the center VP. Tech for penals and bring in a couple of those, and upgrade them with PTRSs. Move your force forward through the muddy valley towards the German base. Watch out for mortars, MG42s, and bunker-HMGs. You should capture at least one mortar. Take the point at the top of the valley. Try not to lose any units. Move forward carefully and knock out the bunker-HMGs guarding the left side of the German base.
Now move to the NW end of the German base, in range of base buildings, and start shooting with your captured Paks, captured mortar, and PTRSs. If you have the munitions points, your penals can throw satchel charges. Bring in another M5 and an Su-76 if you can. Use your M5s to reinforce/heal, and keep firing away at the base buildings and any defenders. Use any new units at your base, e.g., engineers with flamethrower, to retake the center VP if the Germans take it. Try also to cap the fuel point to the W of the center VP. Replace lost infantry with armor.
At first this may seem like a crazy strategy. The map may turn red except for the points you’ve just taken. But as you start reducing the German base buildings, from left to right, the Germans will be weakened and also will start recalling units to the base, which will allow your weak CPU-allies to control their parts of the map. Ultimately you and your allies will control all three VPs, and your allies will join you in attacking the German base. Destruction of the German base should be finished by 15-17 minutes into the mission.
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