Editing Bolt action German tactics

Disclaimer: Although experienced, my experiences are of one individual.

Color Code: <span style="color:cyan">Cyan</span> is a great, <span style="color:green">Green</span> is good, <span style="color:orange">Orange</span> is average or situational and <span style="color:red">Red</span> is just bad

 <span class="bbcode-size-32"><u><b>Army Special Rules:</b></u></span>

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Blitzkrieg:</u> </span> All Officers can activate an additional unit when using "You men, snap into action!" rule. Makes German officers incredibly points efficient for their costs.

<span style="color:green"><u>Initiative Training:</u> </span> If a squad loses its NCO, roll a d6. On a 2-6, another soldier takes the mantle. Select another model in the squad and remove them instead. This makes German NCOs very difficult to remove with snipers of exceptional shots. The enemy player is likely to remove the enemy machine gunner instead due to Hitler's Buzz Saw but still a useful if situational rule.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Hitler's Buzzsaw:</u> </span> All LMGs and MMGs shoot an additional shot. An incredibly simple yet useful special rule as German machine gun infantry basically have medium machine guns.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Tiger Fear:</u> </span> March 2022 FAQ: If an enemy unit within 18" that draws line of sight to a vehicle with the rule, they suffer a -1 leadership penalty and must roll for an order test even if they have no pin markers. Not as good as before where it would be with any unit that draws line of sight but it does force enemy bazooka teams in a predicament of risking an orders test or shooting from more than half their max range. The models with the rule tend to be expensive but can be used to great effect against ill prepared players.


 <span class="bbcode-size-32"><u><b>HQ, Observers and Medics:</b></u></span>

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Officers:</u> </span> Your standard array of officers as seen elsewhere but superior to the rest due to Blitzkrieg. Can only be taken as regulars or veterans.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Medics:</u> </span> Standard medic. Medics in bolt action are very situational as they can only save men from small arms fire and only on a six. Additionally, medics are also very fragile on account of being a single model. Decent source for an extra order die.

<span style="color:green"><u>Forward Observers:</u> </span> Standard forward observers. Nothing much more to say than that.


 <span class="bbcode-size-32"><u><b>Infantry Squads:</b></u></span>

<span style="color:green"><u>Heer Infantry Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Bog standard regular rated infantry squad armed with rifles. Can be mounted on bicycles for extra mobility on roads and their machine gun is a must take in most situations. Obligatory squad leader can buy a SMG if you want to be historically accurate.

<span style="color:green"><u>Heer Veteran Infantry Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. See Heer Infantry squad but they are veterans, cost 3 more points per man.

<span style="color:green"><u>Kradschützen Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 8. A Heer Infantry Squad that can take motorcycles for 5 pts per man and can't take AT grenades. An additional man can take an SMG. Excellent for if you want a highly mobile infantry without needing to buy a transport.

<span style="color:green"><u>Heer Grenadier Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Late war German Heer Infantry Squads that have been renamed as Grenadiers to improve morale. Superior to Heer Infantry due to the ability to take panzerfausts and assault rifles. Panzerfausts are one shot Panzerschrecks with a 12" range. Excellent forcing enemy armor to maintain their distance.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Heer Veteran Grenadier Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Following the pattern of a Veteran Infantry Squad. Like their Regular counterparts, they can take panzerfausts and assault rifles but can have entire squad take assault rifles instead of just 3 men. Additionally, they can take a second LMG which greatly improves their defensive capabilities.

<span style="color:green"><u>Heer Pioneer Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A veteran infantry squad that can take up to 7 submachine guns and a flamethrower. An excellent source for a flamethrower and can also function as a cheap assault squad as they have the largest source of SMGs for the Germans. However they are overshadowed by...

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Sturmpioniere (Assault Engineer) Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A superior Pioneer squad that can take panzerfausts, a sturmpistole (panzerfaust with +3 Pen but doesn't have the one shot rule) and a special rifle grenade launcher. Can take the same amount of submachine guns, same points per man but more options making them a strictly superior version of their Heer counterparts.

<span style="color:orange"><u>(Early War) Fallschrimjager Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A Heer Veteran Infantry squad with stubborn. Can take 2 more SMGs but lose the ability to buy bikes. A very mediocre unit, especially with the additional supplements providing much superior early war Fallschrimjagers.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>(Late War) Fallschrimjager Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A Veteran Grenadier Squad with stubborn. Their ability to take 2 LMGs, 10 assault rifles or 7 SMGs as well as panzerfausts make them a much better unit. Rifles and Light Machineguns can be use to hold ground while assault rifles or SMGs paired with panzerfausts allows them to be a very good assault albeit expensive assault unit.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>(Early War) Gebirgsjager Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A Veteran Heer Infantry squad that can take an extra SMG and trades bicycles for skis. Their relevance is dependent on the terrain present.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>(Early War) Gebirgsjager Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A Grenadier Squad at Veterans that can take skis but can only take one LMG still. Again their effectiveness really depends on the terrain. A Veteran Grenadier Squad is much more flexible with weapons but Gebirgsjagers can move much more effectively on snows if skis are brought.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>(Early War) Waffen SS Squad:</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. The infamous Schutzstaffel, their preferential treatment means that they can take a second LMG and be given 2 additional SMGs. Fanatics can be purchased at 3 pts per man making them much harder to rout.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>(Late War) Waffen SS Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Late War Fallschrimjagers but replace stubborn with the ability to buy fanatics. Their purchase options allow them to be very flexible.

<span style="color:green"><u>Waffen SS Cavalry Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Early War Waffen SS squad with the ability to buy horses for 3 pts. A cheaper motorcycle squad that is used to quickly hold a position before dismounting. Terrible at fighting on horseback due to rifles counting as pistols while mounted.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Ostruppen Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Despite the beliefs, you cannot always count on Ostruppen. Inexperienced Infantry with Shirkers, these guys will crumple under any sort of fire but are dirt cheap at 4 points per man. Great for filling out the last points in a list and providing extra order dice.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Volks Grenadiers Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A green squad that has the starting squad priced at Veterans but each subsequent man can be taken at 8 pts. They can be uprated as Veterans if they become Regulars as part of the Green rules and have a Late War Fallschrimjager like TO&E but can have everyone take SMGs. Ultimately overpriced.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Luftwaffee Field Divisions Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Green infantry that can't take LMGs. Can take bicycles. Overall a cheap way to fill out points if you want infantry that are slightly better than Ostruppen. With the FAQs, they can take a single LMG.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Volkssturm Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. Another cheap Green infantry squad but they can take up to 4 panzerfausts and can take bikes. With the FAQs, they can also take Luftfausts which are 48" one shot light autocannons with Flak and Krumlauf Assault Rifles. Assault Rifles that can be fired at -1 to hit even if the unit is Down.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Hitler Youth Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A Volksgrenadier Squad but cheaper (gain Fanatic instead of Veteran). In exchange for less options in the firepower department, up to 5 guys can take panzerfausts and they can also take bikes.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Kriegsmarine Squad</u> </span> Max squad size: 10. A non-green Inexperienced Infantry squad that can take a LMG. Effectively becoming an inexperienced LMG team with 3 ablative wounds. Strictly inferior to the Luftwaffee counterparts.

 <span class="bbcode-size-32"><u><b>Infantry Teams:</b></u></span>

<span style="color:orange"><u>Medium Machine Gun Team</u> </span> A bad choice made even worse with Hitler's Buzzsaw and the prevalence of 2 LMG infantry squads in the German army lists.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Panzerschreck Team</u> </span> Although the Panzerschreck is the best infantry based anti-tank weapon in the game, German infantry can take panzerfausts which have the benefit of being much more durable. Will fuck up light tanks if the shot connects.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Anti-Tank Rifle Team</u> </span> Great way of throwing pins on light tanks and threatening armored cars and soft skinned vehicles for a cheap price.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Goliath</u> </span> A 3 man infantry squad that can be taken as regulars or veteran. They come with a Goliath remote controlled mine. The primary issue is that the Goliath cannot target vehicles that have moved, cannot threaten Reece vehicles and has a 2/3rds chance of having nothing happen. Can utterly fuck up units in buildings and vehicles if it blows but as the unit is a 3 man squad, it does not benefit from the small size special rule.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Sniper Team/u> </span> Bog standard sniper team, a must have for threatening enemy weapons teams and artillery.

<span style="color:green"><u>Flamethrower Team</u> </span> Bog standard flamethrower squad that can take 2 one shot flamethrowers instead. There is a debate regards to small size vs the protection of multiple people in regards to flamethrowers but either way, they're a great way to lay down pins and wipe non-stubborn (and due to the FAQ) and non-fanatic units in a single shot.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Light Mortar Team</u> </span> Bog standard light mortar team but can't fire smoke. Light mortars benefit from small size rule but require line of sight due to a lack of spotters.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Medium Mortar Team</u> </span> Bog standard medium mortar team. Spotter means that they can be placed out of line of sight. Excellent way to threaten enemy MG teams, artillery, AT guns and static infantry.

<span style="color:green"><u>Heavy Mortar:</u> </span> A medium mortar but larger round allowing it to better threaten static vehicle or force vehicles to keep moving. 3" HE means that it will instantly kill any inexperienced models.

 <span class="bbcode-size-32"><u><b>Artillery, Anti Aircraft Guns and Anti Tank Guns:</b></u></span>

<span style="color:orange"><u>Light Artillery:</u> </span> Light Artillery has the same issue as the Light mortars but doesn't have small squad size to compensate. Gunshield doesn't compensate as getting pin markers relies on getting hit.

<span style="color:green"><u>Medium Artillery:</u> </span> The Medium mortar's bigger brother. More expensive and harder to move if an enemy unit begins counter battery, medium howitzers can also serve anti-tank duties due to HE 3" providing +3 Pen.

<span style="color:green"><u>Heavy Artillery:/u> </span> The Heavy Mortar's bigger brother. Can utterly insta-kill regulars if it hits and easily threaten light tanks in direct fire mode.

<span style="color:orange"><u>75mm LG40</u> </span> A howitzer that lacks gunshield and you can't take spotters. Three man crew means no small squad size. 

<span style="color:orange"><u>105mm LG40/1</u> </span> A more expensive version of the previous offering that's basically the same price as a Medium Artillery piece with a spotter.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>150mm Nebelwerfer 41</u> </span> A heavy mortar with the multiple launcher rule and no option to take spotters. Can gain small unit size at the cost of -10 pts which is always worth it. Multiple Launcher is great at threatining 2nd and 1st Lts due to their morale range being 6".

<span style="color:green"><u>20mm Flak 38</u> </span> A single light automatic cannon on a rotating platform with gunshield and flak. Pretty good at mulching infantry and threating light skinned vehicles. Vulnerable to artillery.

<span style="color:green"><u>20mm Flakvierling 38</u> </span> Quadruple light automatic cannons on a rotating platform. Buy the gun shield for it. Will utterly shred any infantry squad, aircraft and light skinned vehicles but will be focused down.

<span style="color:green"><u>37mm Flak 36</u> </span> If you want to buy the 20mm Flak 38, consider buying its bigger brother instead. For a minor points increase, you get 24" of extra range and 1 more Pen.

<span style="color:green"><u>88mm Flak 36 Dual Purpose AA/AT gun</u> </span> For when you want a unit that can do it all. Murder any tanks in the way, one shot veteran squads, bring down planes and be a medium howitzer.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Panzerbusche 41/u> </span> A light AT gun that doesn't have gun shield but have +6 Pen at 12" or less but loses 2 Pen at more than 24" away. Being within 12" of a vehicle with a AT gun is pretty difficult and panzerfausts can do the job of the Panzerbusche.

<span style="color:green"><u>37mm Pak 36</u> </span> A light AT gun with the same cost of its contemporaries but for 15 more pts can become a heavy AT gun at 24" or less. The upgrade isn't worth it due to short range but it is still an okay AT gun.

<span style="color:green"><u>50mm Pak 38</u> </span> For a small pts increase, a medium AT gun grants +1 PEN and 12" of range. Pretty well worth it.

<span style="color:green"><u>75mm Pak 40</u> </span> Germany's Heavy AT gun. Similar to its contemporizes and excellent at vaporizing medium armor and lower from the front.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>88mm Pak 43</u> </span> For a points decrease, you get a 88 that can't freely rotate or act as artillery and 2 less crew. The rotating platform on the Flak 88 means that the gun shield rule is relevant against all angles of attack. 

<span style="color:green"><u>128mm Pak 44</u> </span> For when you want to snipe Bren Gun carriers and one shot light tanks. If you want to take the Pak 40, take the Pak 44 instead as it is only a little more expensive.

 <span class="bbcode-size-32"><u><b>Tanks, and other vehicles:</b></u></span>

<span style="color:green"><u>Panzer I</u> </span> A very cheap machine gun armed light tank, for 10 extra pts it can be a discount Pz II.

<span style="color:green"><u>Panzer II</u> </span> A cheap light tank with light tank armor and an autocannon. Has a variant with Recce and a variant with two fixed flamethrowers and a machine gun. Overall an excellent chassis.

<span style="color:green"><u>Flammpanzer B2(F)</u> </span> A captured Char B1 bis tank that replaces the hull mounted howitzer for a flamethrower. Pretty decent all around early war fire support vehicle hampered by slow and one man turret.

<span style="color:green"><u>Panzer 38t&35t</u> </span> Germany's light tank armed with a proper cannon. The recon variant is basically a Pz II in points and stats.

<span style="color:green"><u>Panzer III</u> </span> Light tanks that either mount a light or medium AT gun depending on variant. The Pz III H,J,L,M,N and flamethrower variants have medium armor with the H&J having rear armor counted as side armor (very meh) and the L&M being able to take side skirts (situational but very good). The N is equipped with a light howitzer instead, trading Pen for HE.

<span style="color:green"><u>Panzer IV</u> </span> The workhorse of the German military. The A is a cheaper Pz III N with light tank armor. B-F are Pz III Ns but can be taken at inexperienced. G-H have the famous long 75mm AT gun, can take side skirts and also has Tiger Fear.

<span style="color:green"><u>Panzer V Panther</u> </span> The infamous medium tank of World War 2. For about 100-200 pts more, you get a Medium tank that has heavy tank front armor, Tiger Fear and a super heavy anti tank gun. A more cost effective Tiger.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Panzer VI Tiger</u> </span> The prime infamous tank of World War 2. Rather appropriately it is overshadowed by the Panther with the Tiger I being around 20-50 pts more than a Panther and King Tiger being 200 pts more for Damage Value 11. Overall a hard sell.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>StuG III and StuG IV</u> </span> The StuG family of vehicles can do what the panzer family of vehicles can do but a much more cost effective price. The casemate restriction should be a non-issue most of the time if your armor is positioned well.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Jagdpanzer</u> </span> A StuG with heavy armor in the front. The Jagdpanzer IV is a weird middle child between the Pz IV and Panther while the Jagdpanzer IV (L70) is so 4 pts cheaper than buying a Panther with Panther stats, a hard sell.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Jagdpanther</u> </span> A Tiger I that is only marginally cheaper than buying a Tiger 1.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Jagdtiger</u> </span> A Jagd tank that offers more than being marginally cheaper to its counterpart. It mounts the 128mm AT gun which means that it is effective at all ranges while being being cheaper than a King Tiger.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Hetzer</u> </span> A cost effective StuG III that can also be used as a flamethrower tank. The weak side armor rule should be a non-issue.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Nashorn</u> </span> Cheapest way to get a mobile superheavy anti tank gun. Has light tank armor and open topped which means it is extra vulnerable to indirect fire and will need to move if a mortar begins to zero in on it.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Ferdinand/Elefant</u> </span> A Jagdpanther that actually provides a considerable amount of points reduction. Unreliable can either be mitigated with Veteran Crew or by keeping your distance although inexperienced crews will render this vehicle non-operable very quickly.

<span style="color:green"><u>Brummbar</u> </span> A self propelled heavy howitzer with heavy tank armor.

<span style="color:green"><u>Sturmtiger</u> </span> A self propelled heavy howitzer that can direct fire but will collapse buildings and can rerolled failed damage incase you're facing Veterans in the open with body armor.

<span style="color:green"><u>Marder series</u> </span> Open topped SPGs that are a cost effective way of bringing AT guns and howitzers onto the battlefield. Beware of open topped and move if you are being zeroed in by arty or kill the artillery unit in question.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>RSO/Pak 40</u> </span> The cheapest way of bringing in a heavy AT gun on a mobile mount. Slow shouldn't be an issue.

<span style="color:green"><u>U304(F) Armoured Half-Track with Pak 36</u> </span> A slightly cheaper Pz III with worse armor, open topped but has the command vehicle rule. Pretty decent.

<span style="color:green"><u>Sd.Kfz 251/22 Pakwagen</u> </span> A hannomag with a heavy AT gun. A more expensive RSO/Pak 40 without slow. Honestly the RSO/Pak40 is superior.

<span style="color:green"><u>Sd.Kfz 251/16 Flammpanzerwagen</u> </span> Hannomag with flamethrowers. Cheapest way to bring a vehicle mounted flamethrower onto the table for the Germans.

<span style="color:green"><u>Borgward Wanze Ausf C</u> </span> A halftrack with a forward facing panzershreck. Cheapest way to bring Pen +6 onto the table on a vehicle.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Sd.Kfz 8 with Armoured Cab</u> </span> For a little extra points you can bring an heavy AT gun that swivels compared to its other 7+ damage value counterparts. Hard pass.

<span style="color:Green"><u>Pz I Sig 33</u> </span> Cheapest way to bring a heavy howitzer onto the board on a vehicle.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Grille</u> </span> Slightly more points for a MMG. Not worth it.

<span style="color:Green"><u>Sd.Kfz 251/8&9 Stummel</u> </span> Hannomag with light howitzer. Very cost effective. Can buy MMGs for self defense (which is more relevant with light howitzers). The 9 version allows it to be a 8 man transport in exchange for around 10 pts which is worth if you want to transport a small assault squad and provide covering fire.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Wespe</u> </span> For 10 more points you can get the Sig 33.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Hummel</u> </span> 20 more points for light tank damage rating instead of armored carrier. Hard pass.

<span style="color:cyan"><u>Sd.Kfz 250/7 and 251/7 (mortar carriers)</u> </span> If you want a self propelled mortar carrier, this is one of the best. The ability to take a spotter means that it can sit out of line of sight. However this does beg the question why you didn't just buy a medium mortar team with a spotter in the first place.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Sd.Kfz 251 Stuka Zu Fuss</u> </span> Hannomag rocket launcher carrier. Overcosted

<span style="color:orange"><u>Panzerwerfer 42</u> </span> Another Overcosted rocket launcher carrier

<span style="color:green"><u>Renault UE (Wurfahmen 40)</u> </span> A rocket launcher carrier that isn't open topped like the Stuka Zu Fuss and 4 pts cheaper than the Panzerwerfer with no difference in performance for the rocket launcher.

<span style="color:Yellow"><u>Opel Blitz with Flak 38</u> </span> A cheap way to self propel a light auto cannon, can increase its protection and can also take quad light autocannons. Uparmored version is not worth the points as the Sd.Kfz 7/1 and 7/2 provides a more point efficient method

<span style="color:orange"><u>Ostwind</u> </span> A panzer IV chassis with a heavy autocannon and hull mounted MG. Great firesupport vehicle. However it's overshadowed by the Mobelwagen that is cheaper for similar stats.

<span style="color:Cyan"><u>Wirbelwind</u> </span> Four light autocannons and a hull MMG on a Pz IV chasis. Excellent fire support vehicle and way of ensuring airspace is clear.

<span style="color:green"><u>Kugelblitz</u> </span> A Ostwind without open topped and a second heavy autocannon. Well worth the extra points for the extra autocannon alone.

<span style="color:green"><u>Mobelwagen</u> </span> A cheaper Ostwind that doesn't have a hull mounted MMG.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Flakpanzer 38(T)</u> </span> Has its place if you want a slightly more armored uparmored Opelblitz.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Sd.Kfz 7/1 and 7/2 with armored cab</u> </span> Uparmored Opel Blitz with heavy autocannon or four quad light autocannons. Armor does matter for autocannon vehicles as they tend to be closer to the fighting than tanks and SPGs.

<span style="color:green"><u>Sd.Kfz 251/17</u> </span> A hannomag that provides a more cost efficent method of the uparmored Opel blitz with single light autocannon.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Sd.Kfz 251/21 Drilling</u> </span> Hannomag with three light autocannons. A points efficient vehicle if the 7/1 with 4 autocannons isn't possible.

<span style="color:orange"><u>Sd.Kfz 710/4 with Flak 38</u> </span> overcosted

<span style="color:Yellow"><u>Sd.Kfz 7/1 and 7/2 with armored cab</u> </span> Cheaper version of the uparmored 7/1 and 7/2 for heavy autocannon version. Overcosted for the quad light autocannon version.

<span style="color:yellow"><u>Horch 1A Field Car with Flak 38</u> </span>Identical in points and performance to a non-armored Opel Blitz with single light autocannon.