Mission 6 - Balaton Defense Operation | Soviet | Campaign Sudden Strike 4 Guide

Mission objectives:

• Hold the frontline and the last line of defense
• Perform a counteroffensive

You should find the Support Doctrine to be the most useful here. Sandbags, reinforcing your positions, and camouflage are the most important factors in this mission. You will be defending three positions from waves of enemies for half of this mission. The next stage will be launching a counteroffensive. The main difficulty here is the amount of German heavy tanks. If you make too many mistakes and lose too many troops, it will be very difficult to finish the mission. Setting up mines is pointless, because the enemy always moves with units of riflemen, who are able to disarm them. You have no medic in this mission, so every soldier is invaluable.

You've got to defend 3 areas, of which the central (2) and the right one (3) will have to be defended a bit longer. Send most of the units you begun with to the left (1). We're missing infantry in the trenches and an engineering vehicle that could mend the armor. The infantry should dig in, but some portion of it has to be allocated to the forest (5). The enemy will often try to outflank you with infantry. Set up some spotters in front of your positions - you can also send them further north, near the road, where they can hide in the dense forest. This will let you know what sort of force is approaching.

Don't underestimate the importance of reconnaissance. A well-placed scout will inform you about all the details of an enemy attack - numbers, types of units, etc. Set up your troops in a way that will allow attacking enemy from flanks, especially those, who engage the main defense line.

There are two medium tanks ready to be menned near the headquarters (4), but devoting 10-20 men to take them over isn't a good idea (at least not yet). In each of the 3 locations set up at least one vehicle with a good firepower, for example a tank destroyer set on the flank in tall grass (5,6). It has to be able to cover the perimeter (right in front of your defense line. A greater number of such a flank force is more efficient, but the enemies will be more likely to devote some units to destroying such a force. Have an artillery vehicle in every of the defended areas. This will come in handy in destroying groups of infantry. You also migh want to set up a support vehicle right behind it (especially behind a Katyusha), since this will allow you to focus on other things than dispatching support cars with ammo.

The attacks will be subsequent, but the intervals will be pretty small. The enemy won't be attacking all positions simultaneously. After a few waves, the Nazis will also attack with artillery. You should either send a party that will eliminate those units, or spotters to mark their position. This will be a sign that the enemy is getting ready for the last, all-out attack. You will have some time to prepare and will receive four AT cannons in the spots where you begun the mission (both 7s). The game suggests you retreat to those positions, but if your troops have been holding on well, you can bring the cannons forward instead. The attack will be focused only on the center and the right flank, so you can divide your troops equally between these points. You will get reinforcements, which you should place on the main defense line - except the artillery. The artillery should go between the two areas you're defending, concealed in high vegetation. It has great range and can attack targets around the perimeter. The enemy will try to flood you with tanks, but a well-reinforced force should be able to hold out.

The counteroffensive

Before you attempt the counterattack, you will need to men three watchtowers. 4-5 soldiers defend each location. Send a bigger team of infantry, clear each spot and occupy the buildings. Now you can use air support; you also revealed two locations of enemies. The area on the left is very difficult to storm (8). There's a ton of armor there, and the right flank is a marsh, which rules out a possibility of a panzer attack. You can use that to your advantage, however, and try to lure enemy tanks into the swamp. The crews will remain in vehicles, but won't be able to move. There are also no anti-air defenses. The cluster on the right is easier to destroy - there are many paths leading there, and there's less tanks, although more cannons (9).

A well-positioned bomber will resolve the greatest obstacle of the location on the right - the artillery (10). The one on the left is surrounded with swamp, which makes a panzer raid more difficult. You can, though, lure the enemy to the swamp and disable their units. They'll be an easy target.

Begin by sending a scout. Gather your armor in the meantime, set up the artillery (engage fire at will), rearm and refuel. On the northernmost edge of the map are two heavy artillery guns (10), surrounded by some AT cannons and heavy tanks. You can get rid of the arty with a bomber and fighters. Leave at least one plane to sent for recon of the other position. Fire your artillery. Four heavy cannons will be able to destroy everything the enemy throws at you (and what your scout manages to spot). To finish the rest, and to save ammo, use infantry. The enemy might want to strike with some armor, but that's why you're keeping your own tanks around. Your heaviest units, IS-2 and ISU-152, can damage a Tiger even shooting up front.

Heavy tanks, tank destroyers and artillery will easily take care of a group of tanks.

Keeping to the northern side and prepare to attack the left enemy position. Contrary to what the intelligence says, most tanks are still operational and only a few is stuck in the swamp. You can try to lure some more into the swamp, but you've got to be careful. Regularily, the crew would abandon such vehicle, but not now: they will stay inside until the tank is destroyed. Alternatively, you can keep attacking until the enemy calls reinforcements the second time - then, use a bomber to destroy the biggest cluster of tanks. When attacking from the east, send the infantry and behind them, every piece of armored vehicle you've got. You should be able to defeat the enemies without a problem.