Mission 4 - Battle of Stalingrad | German| Campaign Sudden Strike 4 Guide
Last update: 13 September 2017
Mission objectives:
- Find a way to the industrial area
- Secure the two factories
- Move along the road
It's best to select the infantry doctrine (additional equipment) or the armored doctrine. Although the support doctrine is still useful, you will not take over too many guns, and your resources should last for the majority of the mission.
You will start in the bottom left corner of the map. Slowly move forward and you should come across anti-aircraft guns and some infantry. Soon, you will find an abandoned Soviet tank - you can take it. You will also find two sandy paths, one to the left and one to the right (1). Here, the counterattack will take place, so don't send all your forces further. You can move forward, until you reach enemies by the factory barricade. Hear out your commander, and take the path left. However, you should send your shooters first. The area in front of the buildings is a minefield (2), and anti-tank guns are located right behind the mines (3). Once you enter a large square, you will get yourself under heavy fire from the infantry. The enemy will attack you from the ruins and the large building. It's wise to use the sandy path mentioned before (1), and flank the guns. This way you will be able to bring your tanks and eliminate the infantry. The best choice are StuG tanks, as they will quickly deal with soldiers and buildings.
You will not pass along the road with your tanks due to Czech hedgehogs. You will need to go through the ruins. Don't send your tanks, as there are two anti-tank guns and howitzers by the asphalt road. Still, you will be able to pass Czech hedgehogs with some of your troops (4). Reach the Czech hedgehogs with your StuG tanks and send your infantry forward. First, you will come across trenches with some soldiers inside, and some heavy guns right behind them. Once you get rid of them, deal with anti-tank guns and bring the rest of your forces. Take over the cannons and turn them with all the other units toward the left edge of the map - that's where more reinforcements will arrive (5).
Only when you defeat them, will you be able to head towards the crossroad leading to the factories. Here you will come across BT-7 tanks and KV-1 heavy tank (6). Use your new Panzer IV G tank with its powerful anti-tank gun, and Zis-3. The majority of units can deal damage from front but the two mentioned previously are your best option against KV-1. It would be best to attack the tank from two sides and allow at least one of your squads to deal damage to the weaker sides of the vehicle (or entrench one of them to lure the enemy, and flank it with your other group).
Regroup your troops before you enter the factory. You decide which of the objects you want to take over first but it would be good to take as many troops as possible. Start with the north factory. Enter with your infantry and eliminate guns behind the second tank. Bring your tanks, as the enemy will send his own as well. There is a broken T34/76, which you will take over soon. Furthermore, there is also Zis-3 right above it. Quickly send your soldiers there, because the enemy is about to bring down the wall and enter the factory with tanks and infantry. Go deeper inside and you will hear that a fight is taking place in the neighboring room. Send all your infantry there. The sooner you assist your ally, the more troops you will receive (7). Approach the south factory the same way. Although, the enemy will not launch another sneak attack, you will come across three BT-7 tanks, two of which will be entrenched with debris and junk, and infantry. The best solution would be to deal with the infantry, use your scouts to reveal the tanks and destroy them from a safe distance. A little further you will come across an empty warehouse with an empty and slightly damaged KV-1 tank (8). It will be a valuable addition to your squad. Furthermore, BT-7 tanks cannot damage it from front (unfortunately Zis-3, T34-76 and KV-1 can).
It's time to assault the coast. Two heavy bombers will join the fight. It's best to use them right away and bombard the left area, right in front of the bunker (made out of sandbags), starting with trenches and heading towards the shore. The other location is the right side, starting from the left corner of the trenches, across the trenches, or the other way round (9) (see above pictures). This way you will take care of heavy tanks and Katyusha rocket-launchers on the left, a fortified T-34 tank, guns and light tanks on the right.
You can choose between a fast and a slow approach. In both cases you will need to watch out for hostile reinforcements from the east edge of the map (three light tanks and one heavy tank). The first approach suggests flanking your enemy from the left side (10). Walk along the tracks, or through the factory with all your forces. Once you pass the wall and a small building, you will find two fortified guns in the west, and three BT-7 and T-34 tanks nearby. Slowly move east. All you need to do is finish off the remaining infantry and enemy guns. Before you pass the building with a flag, send 2-3 fast tanks by the river bank and take care of Katyusha rocket-launchers. Now bring all your troops and get rid of the remaining enemy forces.
The fast approach focuses on using the road right from the factory. Send your bombers, move the artillery to the level crossing, and use the officer to reveal the area. Destroy the two guns in front of you, and send your fastest tanks to deal with Katyushas (straight from the level crossing to the coast). On your way, you shouldn't come across anything else than infantry and tanks with barely any hit points left. Await hostile reinforcements from the east, and clear the area on the left. It's very important that you destroy all the vehicles.