Team Yankee Preview: Czechoslovakians in the New WWIII Warsaw Pact Book – Quantity with Skills
By Howard West
This is the fourth article from the NoDiceNoGlory team concerning the new WWIII Team Yankee Warsaw Pact book.
The link for the first article which was a high-level overview of the new WWIII Team Yankee Warsaw Pact book is below.
https://nodicenoglory.com/2022/03/21/preview-team-yankee-wwiii-warsaw-pact-is-back/
The link for the 2nd article which was an overview of the Polish Forces in the new WWIII Team Yankee Warsaw Pact book is below.
The link for the 3rd article which was an overview of the East German Forces in the new WWIII Team Yankee Warsaw Pact book is below.
https://nodicenoglory.com/2022/04/01/big-changes-in-berlin-east-germany-in-the-warsaw-pact/
The World War III Warsaw Pact book replaces the previous Czechoslovak People’s Armies book.
If you have been waiting for an upgrade for your existing Czechoslovakian T-72M’s or additional T-55 options for your Czechoslovakians Forces you will not be disappointed. If you wanted additional Air Support options, you will not be disappointed. If you wanted more Artillery and Anti Aircraft support options for your Czechoslovakians armies, you will not be disappointed.
The New World War III Warsaw Pact book has been reviewed several times on No Dice No Glory and other sites. For this review, I’m going to walk you thru a Czech T-72M Tank Battalion Force that I am currently playing at tournaments and will walk you thru the new options for the Czechoslovakians in the World War III Warsaw Pact book. And how I might use these new options or formations in my list. A different approach to telling the same story.
Below is the new force diagram for the Czechoslovakians in the World War III Warsaw Pact book. The Red Circled items are new units and formations. I will also cover the changes to the existing T-55 formation and the new unit options for that formation.
Upgrades to my current T-72M Tank Battalion
As previously stated, I have been playing a Czech-T72M Tank Battalion for my last 8 tournaments with 24 games played. The points ranged from 74, 85, 94, 100, 105, and 130. As my T-72M tank formations points have varied I sometimes use a 2nd formation of Czechs or an allied formation. I have had a good time playing them and most of my opponents have never faced a Czech Team Yankee Army before and surprised by the Size and Skill level of the army for the points that are being used for that specific tournament.
My Current CZECH T-72 Battalion at 85 points
Below is a copy of my current 85 points Czech T-72M battalion, I just used this formation last weekend and was pretty happy with its performance. In many of my lists, I like to add an allied formation, in this case, a Soviet BMP formation. When using an Allied formation I want it to provide my list with things that I could not get from my Czech T-72 list.
In this case better infantry than what the Czechs can provide and the BMP-3 over the Czech’s BMP-2. For this list, I did not provide the Soviet BMP infantry with the improved RPGs. For this article, we are going to look at potential changes that I can make to my current list as I upgrade it to 100 points.
T-72B Potential First Upgrade or a new Formation?
In the new World War III Warsaw Pact book you can add a whole formation of T-72B’s or a unit to an existing T-72M formation by replacing an existing T-72 unit. Or you can add a T-72B via a black box support unit.
I think the T-72B provides the Czechs with an interesting upgrade and a difficult set of choices. I really would like a FA 18 and AT 22 tank unit or a formation in my army list. I could now consider close assaults’ against most infantry and have a decent chance of surviving their defensive fire. Not sure if I can upgrade my whole formation to a T-72B or maybe one unit. I think this is a nice tank and depending on the point cost and the points available for a tournament. I might consider adding one unit, to my current list.
Not sure if I would upgrade an exiting T-72M or add a Black Box support unit. Regardless I think the models look pretty cool in the Czech Camo pattern. One thing I do not want to lose in my updated Czech lists is the number of tanks that a player gets when playing them. When adding a T-72B unit or formation, that may be hard to do.
Potential Czech T-55AM2 upgrades or downgrades?
In the new World War III Warsaw Pact book, the existing CZECH T-55 formation has 2 new T-55 options. One is a base model T-55 or an upgrade for one of your existing T-55AM2 units to a T-55AM2 Missile Tank unit. Or you could add either as a black box support unit. The AT-10 Stabber ATGM is a nice upgrade for your existing T-55AM2s. Unfortunately, you can only have 1 T-55AM2 Missile Tank unit per T-55 formation. The base model is similar to buying a cloth interior car, without air-conditioning and no sound system.
My current plan is to add a unit of T-55AM2 missile tanks to my existing 85 point list as I upgrade it to 100 points. This would give me another sniper unit similar to my 2 spandrel units in my current list to provide long-range cover fire to my advancing T-72s and BMP-3s. Also depending on the point level, I might consider adding a Czech or EG T-55 formation, instead of using a Soviet BMP formation.
New Air Units.
In the new World War III Warsaw Pact book, the Czechs can add a new Anti-Aircraft unit to their formations an M3/M59 PRAGA AA Platoon. This might be a good option if you have 2 points left and do not have enough points to purchase a Shilka. It might also be effective vs lightly armored transports or scout units.
Additional support options.
If we go back to the Czechoslovakians Force Chart, you will notice additional Artillery and Anti-Aircraft options for the Czechs. I like the DANA 152mm Artillery battery but have found that on some of the terrain boards you play on you have a hard time finding big enough terrain pieces to conceal the larger models like the DANA, RM-70, and the Soviet Hurricane. Depending on if I need to find a few points I can now replace my DANA with a Carnation, which is slightly smaller and easier to find concealment. Also, you will notice on the Czechoslovakians Force Chart you will notice 2 additional anti-aircraft options.
I like both of these new support options especially if you are only using one formation.
New Aircraft Support Option.
If you play any other Warsaw Pact armies that are in the World War III Warsaw Pact book or are thinking about playing one of them. I think the unit below will be a mandatory support option.
Currently, I do not use aircraft in any of my various Team Yankee armies. I have 2 boxes of the SU-22s on Pre-Order and looking forward to getting them and getting them onto the table ASAP. In last weekend’s tournament, I was playing against a West German army and just removed his Gepard’s and Roland’s in the same turn and my first thought was I wish I had my SU-22s to bring on the next turn and drop the bomb on his Leo-2s. In my next game, I had the same opportunity vs an American player when I removed his M163 VADS, I wished I had my SU-22s to drop the bomb on his M1-Abrams. I think this might be a meta game-changer in Team Yankee for the Warsaw Pact.
For the few points that they cost you can leave them off the board and save them for a good opportunity or just leave them off the board and your opponent has to plan around you bringing them on. One thing that I could see happening is my opponents using their Anti-Aircraft units less frequently to wreck my BMP transports and my other lightly armed vehicles.
Summary of Potential Upgrades.
Enclosed is a listing for my upgrades to my existing 85 point list to 100 points.
- Su22 Fitter
- T-55AM2 Missile Tank
- RPG Upgrades for the BMP infantry.
- T-72B upgrade or a black box unit for games over 100 points.
New DICE Sets and other new products for the Warsaw Pact Armies.
World War III Team Yankee Warsaw Pact book wrap-up.
Here are my reasons why I think this is a very good book for existing or new players of the Warsaw Pact countries, in no particular ranking.
- The Czechs, Poles, and East Germans all can add units via a black box. This is especially big for the East Germans who in the past could not have a BMP-2 unit in a Force unless you are playing a BMP Formation. All 3 nations could add a T72B or a T-55AM2 Missile Tank(Except Poles) to any Force via a Black Box now.
- All 3 Nations now have access to a 152mm artillery battery in a force as a support option. Also, all 3 Nations now have a Carnation support option.
- The East Germans can now get the RM-70.
- All 3 Nations can get the Su-22 at a great price as a support option.
- All 3 Nations have access to additional Anti-Aircraft support options.
- All 3 Nations have access to new Tank Options: T-72B, T-55AM2 Missile Tank(Czechs and East Germans), and T-55 Base Tank. All are available either in a Formation or as a Black Box.
Thanks for reading the reviews from the NoDiceNoGlory Team on the World War III Team Yankee Warsaw Pact book and good luck with your new or improved Warsaw Pact Armies.
Please leave comments below, I normally respond to them in a few days and try to incorporate your suggestions or ideas into future articles.
Does a 2 pts drop for 10 T-55 , make taking them over 10 T-55AM worth it ?
Thanks, Les for the question. I do not, either way if you move you are slow firing and if it is at long range then your are get another +1. They might make a good ambush unit? But I would buy a regular T-55AM2 unit.
Another good article, Howard, although it would have been helpful if you clarified that the upgraded BMP infantry was in the Soviet side of your current list. Spent a good bit of time figuring that one out.
For Les, I have been playing 7 x T55AM2 and 3 T72M for 12 AP for years. Not an option in the new book. But an intriguing option is 1xT55AM BC, 5 x T55AM2 with missile, 5xT55…costing just 14 AP. The Raketten panzer provide overwatch while the T55 dash into a smokescreen, positioning themselves for breakthru. And incidentally finding themselves 14-18″ closer to the enemy. For two extra points I get 5xAT-21 missiles, and lose only the (rarely used) ability of the T72s to flank enemy tanks on stabilizers.