The Big 5/5

[Tom_Weasle]

Let’s say you were up against the imfamous 5/5 army but had no 5/5 units yourself. What would be your choice army for an attack?

Would you try out a backline of an NCO with BAR suppressive fire and ride in the cavalry for some had-to-hand action or would you prefer a mortar team pack or some FlameT cannon fodder?

What would you build to fight a 5/5 army?

[TheJudge]

Brummbars, Sherman 105's, and anything else with high AI attacks and blast/bombardment since there is no worse feeling than finally hitting the man tanks only to have them make their stinking cover rolls.

Japanese SNLF fanatics + Imperial Sergeant is one of the best AI combos also, hand to hand 12 with +1 from Banzai chanrge equals lots of dead paratroopers or rangers.

[Muenchausen]

Definatelty a heavy mortar team with some spotters.

[Grenzewolf]

Actualy just recently came up against that. I set up a four against four "Grudge" match for my students. We used SurferSams "Clan Wars" set up on a 6X6 map. Selected armies were Russia, Japan, UK, & Germany. The guys bought 100pt armies and had at each other. Alliances were made and broken several times. I limited Hero's to one and 4 on para troopers, partisans and such but I had failed to mention a cap on the SSPG and the german player fielded 8.

SSG's and Falshermjaegers whiped out the Brits with the help of a Wirbelwind. The Russian player threw in the towel after loseing his T-35, BT-7, Katushkas and Stormovich and most of his infantry. I rotated in for giggles just to see if I could salvage a couple more rounds.

Long story longer, 3Cossack Cavalry, DP-27 <?> and 2 fanatical snipers removed all 8 SSPGs at the loss of 2 ponies and the DP. Not a bad trade. Im no slouch at fire and manuever but I must confess that I can "roll the pips off the Dice" as Warspite is so oft to tell me <grin>

[spacepope]

Definatelty a heavy mortar team with some spotters.

Spotters are pretty hefty investment for not a lot of payoff. You can just put the mortars down somewhere with a wide and long LOS and let them rain down shrapnel on the enemy. Of course, you dont need to worry about that if you're using the US 81mm AKA the all seeing eye!

Covering fire with a Bren/BAR and a couple flamethrowers might work. If you're lucky, you hit the triple 6 and get an instant kill. But, Sherman 105 or Brummbar are probably your best bet. Mortars are pretty vulnerable to Armored Cars or air attacks and the flamers might not survive long enough to reach the target.

[Thunderjp]

It depends on what exact 5/5 army on facing. If its 20x SS Panzergrens, I go with 5 or so M1 mortars, an ammo depot, along with an M105 and my opponent is done for. Axis mortars again if they are Rangers.

If its 11 SE Paratroopers, its a bit more difficult because you can't rely on mortars. Or say 6 Paratroopers, 1 SE Captain, and 7 Rangers (OUCH)

If its a well balanced army thats heavy on 5/5's, its MUCH more difficult.

[FSSF]

Allies (UK) all-infantry option:
Headquarters (to make sure you win initiative)
+
Bren Gunner (Covering Fire)
+
Gurkhas (Hand to Hand = no cover)
+
Inspiring Hero/Lieutenant (Tally Ho: for in closing faster)

A more Commonwealth option would be adding the Canadian NCO with the Brens for the extended range.

[Vikingwarrior]

MY russian build against ss-pzgr.
2x KV-1
1x Cossack Capt.
3x fanatical Sniper
1x PPsh

Stratedgy:

Cossack and PPsh both start out loaded on KV-1s. I roll the Cossack onto the objective ASAP. The other KV-1 takes out any ss-pzgr that get close to my Fanatical snipers. The KV-1 fire first. The snipers concentrate on taking out the disrupted SS-pzgr.
There is no way the SS-Pzgr can take out the KV-1. They would need six 5's and 6's on seven dice to do (if they get close assault) just to get disruption. A pipe dream at best just to get a disruption which the KV-1 ignores. No way for the Germans to win.

[Qmark]

I've had moderate success against SSPG swarm with 6x Stuart + 1 Ammo.
If need be, the six stuarts with ammo support can also dogpile/flank a Vet Tiger reasonably well.

[CaptainHans]

Banzaii the Arisaka rifles. 12 dice makes short work of anything and they don't have cover. You may need close to 2 per 5/5 def to send the attack home. You just need to be patient with these guys waiting just out of LOS until they are forced to close in on the objective.

[boersma8]

Definatelty a heavy mortar team with some spotters.

How much do two German spotters + two heavy mortars cost?;)

Of course, it's obvious the AMERICAN mortar is a good choice, but for the Germans? Those spotters will be killed on the first opportunity the Allies get. Maybe if Germany ever get a heavy tank with transport, the spotters might finally see some play ( like the Russian one on a KV 1)

[boersma8]

Spotters are pretty hefty investment for not a lot of payoff. You can just put the mortars down somewhere with a wide and long LOS and let them rain down shrapnel on the enemy. Of course, you dont need to worry about that if you're using the US 81mm AKA the all seeing eye!

Covering fire with a Bren/BAR and a couple flamethrowers might work. If you're lucky, you hit the triple 6 and get an instant kill. But, Sherman 105 or Brummbar are probably your best bet. Mortars are pretty vulnerable to Armored Cars or air attacks and the flamers might not survive long enough to reach the target.

The Brummbaer has a " mere" nine dice at short range. That's little compared to the specialised infantry killers the Allies have ( 11 or more dice). Of course the advantage being that it has a very high frontal armour rating, which allows it to move in a lot closer than you might do with other tanks....

[Arontje]

The Brummbaer has a " mere" nine dice at short range. That's little compared to the specialised infantry killers the Allies have ( 11 or more dice). Of course the advantage being that it has a very high frontal armour rating, which allows it to move in a lot closer than you might do with other tanks....

True but it ignores cover: one BIG advantage
And it attack all in the hex: an advantage the enemy dont want so he spreads: that effect is also great.

[FSSF]

The Brummbaer has a " mere" nine dice at short range. That's little compared to the specialised infantry killers the Allies have ( 11 or more dice). Of course the advantage being that it has a very high frontal armour rating, which allows it to move in a lot closer than you might do with other tanks....

Don't forget, the Sturmpanzer IV 'Brummbar' also has a 9 at MEDIUM range.
Blast and Bombardment are also a factor. Plus, most of those 'specialized infantry killers' that you mention are usually easy to take out: Mortars have 3/3 defense, AA guns are 3/3 (except for the US Quad at 4/4), the Wirbelwind is 3/3, the US M16 halftrack is 2/2. Even the 105 Sherman is has a lesser frontal armor (5/4 vs 7/4 for the Brummbar) and cost 50 % more points.

The Brummbar is not an easy tank to take out.

The Russian SU-152 is better, but it costs more than 2 x Brummbars and doesn't have 'Blast'.