The new Soviet T-26 Tank Company starter gives Flames of War players a remarkably flexible entry into Barbarossa.
Importantly, the box includes the full A5 rulebook alongside tanks, infantry, cards, and decals. However, those models can support several very different 100-point armies. From massed T-26s to lumbering T-35s, there is plenty of classic Soviet Early War flavor here. This is a summary of a community post found here.
Four Soviet T-26 Tank Company Builds Offer Very Different Approaches
The starter contains eleven T-26 family tanks, three BT-7s, two T-34s, and a full Rifle Company. Moreover, the new plastic kits provide plenty of useful build choices. T-26 sprues can become standard tanks, twin-turret early models, or Kht-130 flame tanks.
Likewise, BT-7s can become BT-7A artillery vehicles, while T-34s offer three turret options. The first Soviet T-26 Tank Company expansion uses virtually everything and costs $240 total.
Five formation units provide reasonable staying power, while T-26E tanks improve protection to Front 3 and Side 2. Meanwhile, Kht-130s pin defenders before assaults, and BT-7As provide mobile artillery. Rifle infantry offer useful objective support and actually assault better than the Green tank crews. Additionally, BA-10s provide Spearhead and Anti-tank 7 firepower. T-34s armed with 57mm guns bring the serious punch with Anti-tank 11 and Front 6 armour.
A second T-26 build doubles down completely on quantity. Using two starter boxes produces 27 tanks, six self-propelled guns, and a large infantry company for $331.
Naturally, being hit on 2+ and remounting on 5+ means losses will be ugly. However, sheer numbers create the classic Soviet steamroller approach. Six artillery vehicles also reroll bombardment misses after ranging in, while infantry and BT-7As can pressure another flank.
The BT-7 Tank Battalion provides a faster alternative using nearly the entire starter except its infantry. Additional boxes then expand those light tanks into a dedicated mobile formation.
Finally, the T-28 Heavy Tank Battalion uses most of the starter while leaving out the T-34s. T-28Es become the assault tanks with Front 4, while multi-turret T-35s provide wonderfully excessive mobile fire support.
Ten T-26s form useful reserves, while infantry and flame tanks support the main assault. Meanwhile, ZIS-30s supply Anti-tank 11 fire at 28 inches.
That army costs $321 and offers the widest mix of unusual Soviet hardware.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Soviet T-26 Tank Company starter succeeds because it does not lock players into one obvious build. The balanced T-26 force offers the easiest starting point. However, the tank horde delivers maximum Soviet spectacle, while BT-7s emphasize mobility. Meanwhile, the T-28 option brings heavy armour and some wonderfully strange Early War machines.
