DShK AA MG Platoon
The DShK AA MG is basically what one would call today a Technical: A heavy weapon, in this case a 12,7mm heavy machine gun, mounted on the flatbed of a (Soviet-era ZiS-5) truck. That's really all there is to it.
Mid War
The DShK AA MG is a Support Unit consisting of 3 trucks for 3 points. You don't get any other AA in Mid War, since the ZSU M17 isn't available yet, so the choice is simple: you either take them or you don't. It's not like a measly HMG is going to reliably shoot down a plane, but a few lucky potshots can save your day. Failing that, you can engage infantry or half-tracks and generally be a nuisance, but 5+ Cross makes it a problematic unit. There are worse way to spend 3 points, but don't expect much of them.
IRL
The DShK (nicknamed 'Dushka' or 'beloved one') is the Soviet standard heavy machine gun and the first of many to use the 12.7×108mm cartridge that's still in service today. (Technically it was preceded by the DK-32, but despite it officially entering serial production less than 100 were made). Entering service in 1938, it quickly became a workhorse of the Red Army and was used by infantrymen teams, tanks, other vehicles and even patrol vessels and heavier ships as point-defense guns. Over 11k were produced before the end of WW2 and many more have been made after that, since it remained the standard HMG of any Soviet tank up to the T-72. Even today, in spite of no longer being manufactured and being heavy as hell compared to its' successors like the NSV and the Kord, the DShK stubbornly soldiers on in the 21st century and demonstrates why it got its nickname: just like its smaller cousin the AK-47 it is sturdy and reliable as fuck, and will serve you well no matter the circumstances.
When used in AA role on the back of a truck during WW2, it had one defining quality shared only with its' smaller cousin the M4 (which was basically 4 Maxim machine guns strapped together): mobility. While the Soviets did experiment with mounting actual AA guns on mobile platforms, the results were... mixed. 3-Ks (a 76mm AA gun) mounted on a YAG-10 heavy truck were briefly produced in 1933-1934 with a total series of 61; and similarly, roughly 200 72-Ks (a 25mm quick-firing gun) on a GAZ-MM truck were manufactured in 1941. Obviously, these numbers were insufficient to deter the Luftwaffe's CAS, and since Soviet Air Defence Forces lacked their own fighter wings until early 1942 it was up to these humble trucks and their crews to protect their comrades from those nasty fascist vultures.
If you're wondering why the Soviets didn't use 20-ish mm AA cannons everywhere the way the Germans did, the answer is really simple: their industry was not up to the task. In 1930, Rheinmetall AG (yes, the ones that licensed the M1's cannon) sold two 2cm FlaK 30 and their design documentation to the USSR. Lacking specialists and top-notch tools, the Kalinin factory struggled and ultimately failed to mass-produce the newly named 2-K after 64 guns were made in 1931-1934. Hence, HMG's instead of autocannons for AA. And before you ask, even though a staggering amount of 100k 20mm ShVAK cannons were produced in 1942-1945, they lacked proper carriages and ammo to be used in this role.
| Soviet Forces in Flames of War | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-70 - Valentine - M5/M3 Stuart - M3 Lee - T-34 - KV - Churchill - IS-2 - Captured Tank Platoon - T-28 - BT-7 - KV-2 - T-26 |
| Transports: | M3 Scout Car - Universal Carrier - SdKfz 251 |
| Infantry: | Rifles - Motor Rifles - Penal Company - Storm Group - SMG Company - Engineer Sapper Company |
| Artillery: | Katyusha - 152mm Artillery - 122mm Artillery - 76mm Artillery - 120mm Mortars - 82mm mortars |
| Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns: | 45mm Anti Tank - 57mm Anti Tank - 76mm Anti Tank - 100mm Anti Tank - SU-76 - SU-85 - SU-100 - SU-122 - SU-152 - ISU-122/ISU-152 |
| Recon: | Scout Platoon - BA-64 Platoon - Armored Reconnaissance Platoon - Reconnaissance Platoon |
| Aircraft: | Il-2 Sturmovik |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU M17 - DShK AA MG Platoon |
| Midwar Monsters: | KV-3 - KV-5 - T-43 |