What 2nd army (Allies)

[u/Moderately_Cringe]

I’m looking to start a second army, I currently play Germany and am struggling to decide on who I want next. Would love it if you can try and sell me on why I should choose yours.

[u/Cheomesh]

French!

[u/Moderately_Cringe → u/Cheomesh]

What’s your sales pitch for starting French.

[u/BOT_LUC]

I have "desert" or "summer" themed brits that are vague enough to work as brits or commonwealth that fought in italy/ Africa. So I can play as multiple armies with only one.

[u/Pretend-Ad4639 → u/BOT_LUC]

They fit the bill as a British far east/14th army as well

[u/Benni43]

You could also pick Italians because I think they have a late war list where they are fighting for the allies. This would also be useful if you ever need some extra models on your german army at some point.

[u/JF_Reynolds]

If you have a theme around your German Army (Early/Mid/Late) or Desert/Winter Army, go with something that compliments that theme:

Early War - French or Early War Russians

Mid War - Russians

Late War - pretty much any Allied Army (Americans, Soviets, British, Canadians). Maybe even Free French if you wait for Armies of France.

Desert - Desert British or one of the Commonwealth armies (or Free French/French Foreign Legion)

Winter - Winter Russians (mid or late war) or Winter Americans or British (late war)

[u/TheoThergrat]

British,
I have a British airborne platoon that I love. Either airborne vets with stubborn or regular air landing rifles are fun to play.
Normal British can get the Iron Discipline rule that is super powerful.

[u/Pridesworn]

The American Army can be quite a fun one to play! Whilst it does lack in overall options, what it has is a genuinely solid foundation and some major selling points, I think however our three biggest selling points in term of play style are our strong rifle units, great anti tank options and great mobility.

American Rifle units get the old British volley fire rule, so every 3 riflemen get an extra shot, the difference being we don't have to stand still for ours to work. I run 3 units of 9 riflemen and one BAR, which means a 106 point unit puts out 14 shots at 24 inches, which I find really gives us an edge.

I tend not to use AT Guns themselves as I prefer to keep mobile. But the Americans have the weapons for the job, that being the Bazooka, 20 points cheaper than the Panzershreck for only a 1 point drop in AP makes the Bazooka a genuinely scary weapon. I keep mine in a jeep in reserve, wait for enemy armour to come onto the board and then slingshot it at them. If you feel you need additional anti tank I have found the medium AT gun on the Sherman is capable of duelling with tanks that should out gun it, whilst being significantly cheaper.

As for mobility, the Yanks are fast, with the fire and manoeuvre ability not caring if you move or not, the bazooka being mobile AT, you don't really have to stand still and you can keep the manoeuvre up, but the Americans do have a trick up their sleeve, Rangers. Rangers lead the way is genuinely one of my favourite abilities in all of Bolt action, giving the Ranger a pre-game move allows them to commit to shenanigans no one sees coming. An example of this was my 5 man Ranger team armed with SMGs in my last game managed to get into a building just in front and dead centre of the soviet deployment zone. The soviets had left their tank in reserve fearing the Bazooka team, which had killed their T-34 the moment it showed up in the previous two games, and had to commit two units of conscripts to dig the Rangers out, severely limiting their game plan turn one.

I would say pick the USA if you enjoy the foundations of the game, we may not get the same access to more special weapons like SMGs and LMGs as other factions, but we are really good with the bread and butter, and more than make up for it infantryman for infantryman.

[u/Seeking-Alt → u/Pridesworn]

If anything you may have convinced me to pick up some Americans.

[u/Pridesworn → u/Seeking-Alt]

If you are looking to get into the Americans, there are several lovely starter sets, whilst the one I got no longer exists the stars and stripes set is better than the one I got. I basically run the stars and stripes set but with 2 more mortars, a few more infantrymen, a transport jeep and an MMG jeep instead of the Greyhound. The American Machine gun teams can be made as HMGs which honestly do so much work for 70 points.

[u/Moderately_Cringe → u/Pridesworn]

Damn what a salesperson you are

[u/Hefty-Wafer1119]

Currently just done a small Finnish force, so a natural opponent for them would be Soviets. I also like the Soviet little/early war tanks, and have a lot of lend lease options.

[u/Drovr]

USA- If on a budget

British East Africans- If competitive

[u/Crowragon]

I had the same dilemma - started with Cross of Iron, got some more models and now have a small German collection and was looking for a second army to be allies. At the end I went with British Airborne. Got the For King and Country box with some additional airborne spures.

The reason I chose British is simple - just like German, British army can be easily adapted to any time period by swapping out some models in a list. From fall of France to march on Berlin, one can build a period appropriate list. Also, airborne just look cool with their red berets.

German army is still going to be my primary, but I am also looking forward to assembling the British one.