SU-25 Frogfoot
In Team Yankee
Oh God.
(Note: Czech, East German and Polish armies can bring SU-25s as allied units from the Soviets and follow the Soviet profile).
For the questionable price of 3.5 points per aircraft in a company/flight of 2, 4 or 6 aircraft, you get access to what is possibly the most specialized unit around. While it boasts Soviet-level aircraft armor (4+ save and 3+ morale), its armaments are incredibly poor. Whether compared to other nations' offerings or alternatives in the same army, the Frogfoot fails to compete. 4+ to enter the board does NOT help things either, which effectively means that your Frogfoots will only enter the field half the time (or basically every moment that you need them to come in).
The main armament of the Frogfoot is the KH-25 ATGM, boasting guided and HEAT meaning that it will never take penalties from range. Combined with brutal, this makes the Kh-25 an excellent choice for turning infantry or (probably) light vehicles such as Chapperals inside out. Otherwise, AT27 ensures an auto penetration against tanks at any range, and 2+ firepower ensures that anything hit stays dead. The downside to this undeniably powerful missile is simply that the USSR has other FAR more cost-effective options.
For a lower price and more utility, players using the KH-25 for its anti-squishy capability (...why?) may consider using Acacias with Krasnopol projectiles instead; having an artillery template which can destroy dug-in units or even tanks, all without the risk of taking anti-air fire. Those using the KH-25 for the obvious anti-tank role might consider the MI-24D company instead. While equipped with inferior armaments (AT23, 3+ firepower and 8" less maximum range), the mobility of the Hind allows a smart player to guarantee auto-pens via side shots. With most NATO anti-air having the range to protect at least half the board, such range boosts are effectively useless. The ability to stay on the board and keep firing missiles or withdraw makes it an infinitely more reliable choice than the Frogfoot in this regard.
Even with the option for an anti-helicopter autocannon, the simple fact is that the Soviets have autocannons running EVERYWHERE. Shilkas, BMP-2s, and Hinds have similar armament, with lower cost and more utility. Players needing to employ the rocket launcher would be few indeed; artillery is very survivable in Team Yankee.
TLDR: An aircraft overshadowed in all aspects by the Hind. BAD.
IRL
The Sukhoi SU-25 "Frogfoot" has the distinguishment of being the only modern Ground Attack aircraft (meaning that the plane is almost incapable of performing any other missions such as reconnaissance or interception) besides the A-10 Warthog, with the close-air support role being performed by helicopters, drones or multirole aircraft. The Soviets came to the same conclusions as the Americans when it came to what was needed for such an aircraft; the SU-25 has a heavily armored cockpit and fires a 30mm autocannon, as well as a variety of missiles and bombs. The SU-25 was used in the Soviet-Afghan wars, while its export variants have been used in various conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The SU25 uses a Gast gun mechanism instead of a Gatling gun. Rate of fire is slower but more accurate and the aircraft is more a multi-role aircraft than the A-10.
Also if you're wondering why the hell it's called a 'Frogfoot', it's because that was it's NATO reporting name. The idea is that the word is something unlikely to come up in casual conversation so if you said 'frogfoot' everybody would know what you're talking about. The "F" means it was an attack or fighter aircraft, and two-syllable means it was jet powered.
| Soviet Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T55AM2 - T-62M - T-64 - T-72 - T-80 - T-72B - T-64BV |
| Transports: | BTR-60 - BMP-1 - BMP-2 - BMP-3 -BMD-1 - BMD-2 - BTR-D |
| Troops: | Motor Rifle Company - Hind Assault Landing Company - Afghansty Air Assault Company - BMP Shock Motor Rifle Company - BMD Air Assault Company - Afghansty BMD Air Assault Platoon |
| Artillery: | 2S1 Carnation - 2S3 Acacia - BM-21 Hail - TOS-1 Buratino - BM-27 Uragan - 2S9 Nona - BM-37 82mm mortar platoon |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-13 Gopher - SA-9 Gaskin - SA-8 Gecko - 2S6 Tunguska - BTR-ZD |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel - Storm - BTR-RD - ASU-85 |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | SU-22 Fitter - SU-25 Frogfoot - MI-24 Hind |
| East German Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T55AM2 - T-72M - T-72B |
| Transports: | BTR-60 - BMP-1 - BMP-2 |
| Troops: | Mot-Schützen Kompanie - Hind Assault Landing Company |
| Artillery: | 2S1 Carnation - BM-21 Hail - RM-70 - 2S3 Acacia |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-13 Gopher - SA9 Gaskin - SA-8 Gecko |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | MI-24 Hind - SU-22 Fitter |
| Soviet Support: | SU-25 Frogfoot |
| Polish Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T55AM2 - T-72M - T-72B |
| Transports: | SKOT-2A - BMP-1 - BMP-2 |
| Troops: | Zmotory Kompania - Hind Assault Landing Company |
| Artillery: | Dana SpGH - BM-21 Hail |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-13 Gopher -SA-8 Gecko |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | MI-24 Hind - SU-22 Fitter |
| Soviet Support: | SU-25 Frogfoot |
| Czech Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T55AM2 - T-72M - T-72B |
| Transports: | OT-64 - BMP-1 - BMP-2 |
| Troops: | Motostrelci |
| Artillery: | 2S1 Carnation - Dana SpGH - RM-70 |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - SA-8 Gecko - SA9 Gaskin - SA-13 Gopher - M53/59 Praga |
| Tank Hunters: | Spandrel |
| Recon: | BMP-1 OP - BRDM-2 |
| Aircraft: | MI-24 Hind - SU-25 Frogfoot - SU-22 Fitter |
| Iranian Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | T-55 - T-62 - M60 Patton - Chieftain |
| Transports: | M113 Armored Personnel Carrier - BTR-60 - BMP-1 |
| Troops: | Iranian Mechanized Platoon - Basij Infantry Company |
| Artillery: | M109 Howitzer - BM-21 Hail - M125 81mm |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ZSU 23-4 Shilka - ZSU-57-2 - SA-8 Gecko |
| Tank Hunters: | Jeep TOW - Jeep 106mm Recoilless - M113 106mm Recoilless |
| Recon: | Scorpion |
| Aircraft: | AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter |
| Soviet Support: | SU-25 Frogfoot |