Soviet Commanders Part 1 (Core/Uncommon)

This guide will describe the commanders, sometimes referred to as "doctrines", available to the Soviets. Each commander has "doctrinal abilities" that are unlocked by command points (CP) as you progress through a multiplayer game. The guide will be updated as new commanders are added or current commanders are changed.

The Guards Rifle Infantry are one of the elite infantry units of the Soviet Army and can be called in from off-map. Equipped with armor penetrating PTRS rifles for high damage against light and medium vehicles, they are a real threat to the German armor. The squad can also be upgraded with two DP-28 Light Machine Guns, giving them good anti-infantry capabilities.

Call in a 120mm Mortar from off-map. It has a better range than its smaller counterpart, the standard PM-41 82mm Mortar. The 120mm rounds will put fear into your enemies’ soldiers.

Tank crews may now repair their damaged vehicles, at the expense of movement and combat capability for the duration of repairs.

This ability lets you target an enemy vehicle. While the ability is active (for a duration of 60 seconds), the enemy vehicle is subject to an increase in "focused fire" which increases all damage done to the vehicle.

Build T34/85 Tanks from the Mechanized Armor Kampaneya. The scarier big brother of the T-34, the T-34/85 is both more heavily armored and packs a bigger punch than the T-34. This medium tank can stand toe to toe with PIVs and may also utilize flanking and Mark Vehicle to cause problems for even the heaviest German armor.

The Guards Rifle Infantry are one of the elite infantry units of the Soviet Army and can be called in from off-map. Equipped with armor penetrating PTRS rifles for high damage against light and medium vehicles, they are a real threat to the German armor. The squad can also be upgraded with two DP-28 Light Machine Guns, giving them good anti-infantry capabilities.

"It's like New Year's Day, comrades!" Conscripts can be equipped with three PPsH-41 Submachine Guns for better short-range firepower. In combination with the ‘Hit the Dirt’ ability, the once relatively weak Conscripts can be a match for the German infantry with greatly increased durability and lethality.

Time to bomb the enemy positions! An expensive, but incredibly powerful 152mm Howitzer is now available. Use it to dismantle your opponent’s defensive positions, or prevent squads from capping points. This field gun can be built by engineers anywhere on the map, except for the enemy base sectors. It has an incredibly long range, so build it in or close to your own base. Make sure to protect it as the enemy will be out to destroy it.

The IL-2 Sturmovik will patrol the designated area for a short period of time. Deals a high amount of damage to any enemy unit with powerful 23mm cannons, even able to slightly penetrate heavy German tanks. Lethal to infantry and an excellent area denial weapon.

Shock Troops effective at close-range combat can be ordered onto the battlefield. Equipped with PPSh-41 submachine guns, bullet-resistant armor, smoke grenades and hand grenades, these hardened assault troops are dangerous close-quarters fighters.

The ZiS-3 76mm AT-gun is granted the ability to camouflage itself while not firing, rendering it invisible to your enemies. Use it wisely and you’ll surprise any vehicle that tries to break through your lines.

The designated area will be bombed with incendiary rounds, dealing heavy damage to any infantry in the area. It is best used to defend Victory Points or other strategic points, as the flames will force your opponent to move out of the capping zone. Does not affect tanks, although it can scare away repairing engineers.

Time to heat up the Eastern Front! Give your enemies a warm gift from the motherland with this KV-8 Flamethrower tank. This multi-purpose tank has the ability to switch between the use of a Flamethrower and of its 45mm main gun. It won’t beat a tank, but can deal decent damage to light vehicles and roast any infantry that tries to get close to it, all with moderate armor and health.

Named after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, this tank is an absolute beast on the battlefield. Equipped with a massive 122mm main gun and heavily armored, this tank can take on any type of armor your opponent throws at you.

Shock Troops effective at close-range combat can be ordered onto the battlefield. Equipped with PPSh-41 submachine guns, bullet-resistant armor, smoke grenades and hand grenades, these hardened assault troops are dangerous close-quarters fighters.

Allows all infantry units to detect enemy armor through particular noise signatures for a short duration. This is valuable information to have, use it wisely! May not always seem to be useful, as the detection is not map-wide.

Demonstrating pure ingenuity, Conscripts can repair any damaged structure, vehicle, or bridge. Your tank crews will thank you later.

The IL-2 Bombing run deals massive damage to any unit or structure. The IL-2 will make a high-speed run over the designated area and drop four "FAB-50" 50kg bombs. Effective against immobile targets such as artillery pieces or crippled tanks.

This beast of a tank with a 152mm howitzer as main gun will cause massive destruction to anything it fires at. Houses, bunkers, infantry, and especially tanks are vulnerable to the ISU-152. The sound when a shell is fired will put fear into your enemy. Despite its high health, it has similar armor to the T34; keep this tank behind the frontline. Use the long range capabilities of the main gun wisely. As long as another unit provides line of sight, this tank can fire an incredible distance. Be sure to remember to switch between AP and HE rounds depending on the targets to engage

Thanks to weak German cyphers, you can now learn when a new enemy building has been constructed as well as know when a fresh squad or vehicle has been called onto the battlefield.

A plane will fly over the designated area for a small period of time, revealing all enemy units and terrain near the location. Use it to find enemy anti-tank guns, MG positions, infantry movement or scout the base to see what your opponent is teching.

While this ability is active, every six men lost will grant one new conscript squad. This gives you more manpower to spend on purchasing other units, rather than reinforcing all your squads, effectively allowing you to trade munitions for manpower. This ability is best used in large engagements.

Well, it's not real artillery. It won’t kill enemy units directly, but it will make them more vulnerable. Leaflets will be dropped on a targeted area, causing infantry to "question the morality of their actions", suppressing them or making them retreat at random.

The IL-2 Sturmovik will patrol the designated area for a short period of time. Deals a high amount of damage to any enemy unit with powerful 23mm cannons, even able to slightly penetrate heavy German tanks. Lethal to infantry and an excellent area denial weapon.

Statistically the worst infantry unit in the game.

"It's like New Year's Day, comrades!" Conscripts can be equipped with two PPsH-41 Submachine Guns for better short-range firepower. In combination with the ‘Hit the Dirt’ ability, the once relatively weak Conscripts can be a match for the German infantry with greatly increased durability and lethality.

Demonstrating pure ingenuity, Conscripts can repair any damaged structure, vehicle, or bridge. Your tank crews will thank you later.

While this ability is active, every six men lost will grant one new conscript squad. This gives you more manpower to spend on purchasing other units, rather than reinforcing all your squads, effectively allowing you to trade munitions for manpower. This ability is best used in large engagements.

Time to bomb the enemy positions! An expensive, but incredibly powerful 152mm Howitzer is now available. Use it to dismantle your opponent’s defensive positions, or prevent squads from capping points. This field gun can be built by engineers anywhere on the map, except for the enemy base sectors. It has an incredibly long range, so build it in or close to your own base. Make sure to protect it as the enemy will be out to destroy it.

Call in a 120mm Mortar from off-map. It has a better range than its smaller counterpart, the standard PM-41 82mm Mortar. The 120mm rounds will put fear into your enemies’ soldiers.

Shock Troops effective at close-range combat can be ordered onto the battlefield. Equipped with PPSh-41 submachine guns, bullet-resistant armor, smoke grenades and hand grenades, these hardened assault troops are dangerous close-quarters fighters.

"It's like New Year's Day, comrades!" Conscripts can be equipped with three PPsH-41 Submachine Guns for better short-range firepower. In combination with the ‘Hit the Dirt’ ability, the once relatively weak Conscripts can be a match for the German infantry with greatly increased durability and lethality.

Time to bomb the enemy positions! An expensive, but incredibly powerful 152mm Howitzer is now available. Use it to dismantle your opponent’s defensive positions, or prevent squads from capping points. This field gun can be built by engineers anywhere on the map, except for the enemy base sectors. It has an incredibly long range, so build it in or close to your own base. Make sure to protect it as the enemy will be out to destroy it.

The IL-2 Sturmovik will patrol the designated area for a short period of time. Deals a high amount of damage to any enemy unit with powerful 23mm cannons, even able to slightly penetrate heavy German tanks. Lethal to infantry and an excellent area denial weapon.

The Guards Rifle Infantry are one of the elite infantry units of the Soviet Army and can be called in from off-map. Equipped with armor penetrating PTRS rifles for high damage against light and medium vehicles, they are a real threat to the German armor. The squad can also be upgraded with two DP-28 Light Machine Guns, giving them good anti-infantry capabilities.

A plane will fly over the designated area for a small period of time, revealing all enemy units and terrain near the location. Use it to find enemy anti-tank guns, MG positions, infantry movement or scout the base to see what your opponent is teching.

The ZiS-3 76mm AT-gun is granted the ability to camouflage itself while not firing, rendering it invisible to your enemies. Use it wisely and you’ll surprise any vehicle that tries to break through your lines.

Time to bomb the enemy positions! An expensive, but incredibly powerful 152mm Howitzer is now available. Use it to dismantle your opponent’s defensive positions, or prevent squads from capping points. This field gun can be built by engineers anywhere on the map, except for the enemy base sectors. It has an incredibly long range, so build it in or close to your own base. Make sure to protect it as the enemy will be out to destroy it.

The IL-2 Bombing run deals massive damage to any unit or structure. The IL-2 will make a high-speed run over the designated area and drop four "FAB-50" 50kg bombs. Effective against immobile targets such as artillery pieces or crippled tanks.

Shock Troops effective at close-range combat can be ordered onto the battlefield. Equipped with PPSh-41 submachine guns, bullet-resistant armor, smoke grenades and hand grenades, these hardened assault troops are dangerous close-quarters fighters.

Well, it's not real artillery. It won’t kill enemy units directly, but it will make them more vulnerable. Leaflets will be dropped on a targeted area, causing infantry to "question the morality of their actions", suppressing them or making them retreat at random.

Time to bomb the enemy positions! An expensive, but incredibly powerful 152mm Howitzer is now available. Use it to dismantle your opponent’s defensive positions, or prevent squads from capping points. This field gun can be built by engineers anywhere on the map, except for the enemy base sectors. It has an incredibly long range, so build it in or close to your own base. Make sure to protect it as the enemy will be out to destroy it.

Time to heat up the Eastern Front! Give your enemies a warm gift from the motherland with this KV-8 Flamethrower tank. This multi-purpose tank has the ability to switch between the use of a Flamethrower and of its 45mm main gun. It won’t beat a tank, but can deal decent damage to light vehicles and roast any infantry that tries to get close to it, all with moderate armor and health.

The IL-2 Bombing run deals massive damage to any unit or structure. The IL-2 will make a high-speed run over the designated area and drop four "FAB-50" 50kg bombs. Effective against immobile targets such as artillery pieces or crippled tanks.

Conscript squads gain the ability "Hit the Dirt!", which will make your soldiers drop to the ground for better protection, receiving less damage from enemy small arms fire and having increased suppression resistance. The unit can’t move while the ability is active and is vulnerable to mortars and grenades.

"It's like New Year's Day, comrades!" Conscripts can be equipped with three PPsH-41 Submachine Guns for better short-range firepower. In combination with the ‘Hit the Dirt’ ability, the once relatively weak Conscripts can be a match for the German infantry with greatly increased durability and lethality.

Demonstrating pure ingenuity, Conscripts can repair any damaged structure, vehicle, or bridge. Your tank crews will thank you later.

While this ability is active, every six men lost will grant one new conscript squad. This gives you more manpower to spend on purchasing other units, rather than reinforcing all your squads, effectively allowing you to trade munitions for manpower. This ability is best used in large engagements.

The designated area will be bombed with incendiary rounds, dealing heavy damage to any infantry in the area. It is best used to defend Victory Points or other strategic points, as the flames will force your opponent to move out of the capping zone. Does not affect tanks, although it can scare away repairing engineers.

The Guards Rifle Infantry are one of the elite infantry units of the Soviet Army and can be called in from off-map. Equipped with armor penetrating PTRS rifles for high damage against light and medium vehicles, they are a real threat to the German armor. The squad can also be upgraded with two DP-28 Light Machine Guns, giving them good anti-infantry capabilities.

The ZiS-3 76mm AT-gun is granted the ability to camouflage itself while not firing, rendering it invisible to your enemies. Use it wisely and you’ll surprise any vehicle that tries to break through your lines.

This ability lets you target an enemy vehicle. While the ability is active (for a duration of 60 seconds), the enemy vehicle is subject to an increase in "focused fire" which increases all damage done to the vehicle.

The IL-2 will make a high-speed bombing run, clustering four FAB-50 50kg bombs into the target area.

This beast of a tank with a 152mm howitzer as main gun will cause massive destruction to anything it fires at. Houses, bunkers, infantry, and especially tanks are vulnerable to the ISU-152. The sound when a shell is fired will put fear into your enemy. Despite its high health, it has similar armor to the T34; keep this tank behind the frontline. Use the long range capabilities of the main gun wisely. As long as another unit provides line of sight, this tank can fire an incredible distance.

Shock Troops effective at close-range combat can be ordered onto the battlefield. Equipped with PPSh-41 submachine guns, smoke grenades and hand grenades, these hardened assault troops are dangerous close-quarters fighters.

A plane will fly over the designated area for a small period of time, revealing all enemy units and terrain near the location. Use it to find enemy anti-tank guns, MG positions, infantry movement or scout the base to see what your opponent is teching.

Well, it's not real artillery. It won’t kill enemy units directly, but it will make them more vulnerable. Leaflets will be dropped on a targeted area, causing infantry to "question the morality of their actions", suppressing them or making them retreat at random.

The designated area will be bombed with incendiary rounds, dealing heavy damage to any infantry in the area. It is best used to defend Victory Points or other strategic points, as the flames will force your opponent to move out of the capping zone. Does not affect tanks, although it can scare away repairing engineers.

Time to heat up the Eastern Front! Give your enemies a warm gift from the motherland with this KV-8 Flamethrower tank. This multi-purpose tank has the ability to switch between the use of a Flamethrower and of its 45mm main gun. It won’t beat a tank, but can deal decent damage to light vehicles and roast any infantry that tries to get close to it, all with moderate armor and health.

Thanks to weak German cyphers, you can now learn when a new enemy building has been constructed as well as know when a fresh squad or vehicle has been called onto the battlefield.

Makes T34/85s buildable from your Mechanized Regiment HQ. The scarier big brother of the T-34, the T-34/85 is both more heavily armored and packs a bigger punch than the T-34. This medium tank can stand toe to toe with PIVs and may also utilize flanking to cause problems for even the heaviest German armor.

Tank crews may now repair their damaged vehicles, at the expense of movement and combat capability for the duration of repairs. Since the repairs can be canceled any time, this is a powerful ability with basically no draw back.

The IL-2 Sturmovik will patrol the designated area for a short period of time. Deals a high amount of damage to any enemy unit with powerful 23mm cannons, even able to slightly penetrate heavy German tanks. Lethal to infantry and an excellent area denial weapon.

Named after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, this tank is an absolute beast on the battlefield. Equipped with a massive 122mm main gun and heavily armored, this tank can take on any type of armor your opponent throws at you.