Recent Articles
Sorry, no articles were found.
 Purchase these Items

Products mentioned in this Article

--None--
 

 

Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)

Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882) Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)

Born into a peasant family in the Crimea, Mariya was one of ten children. In 1925 she married a young army officer and in tribute to the October Revolution she and her soldier husband changed their surname to Oktyabrskaya. Her husband was killed in the fighting around Kiev in August 1941 but the news took a year to reach her. Her desire for revenge led to her selling all of her possessions to raise funds to purchase a tank for the Red Army. 
Mariya placed one condition on this donation: she must be allowed to drive it! Realising the publicity opportunities, High Command approved her request and, at the age of thirty-eight, she commenced training. In September 1943, she was assigned to 26ya Gvardeyskiy Tankovaya Brigada (26th Guards Tank Brigade) as a mechanic/driver. When Mariya arrived at her unit in a T-34 tank emblazoned with the turret slogan ‘Boyevaya Podrooga’ or ‘Fighting Girlfriend’, the tankists viewed her with scepticism and considered the assignment a publicity stunt.
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882) This attitude changed to one of respect following Mariya’s participation in battle. In combat during October and November 1943, Mariya distinguished herself as a skilled and fearless driver, manoeuvring her tank like a veteran and accounting for many enemy troops and guns in close assaults during her rampage of revenge. In several engagements enemy shells damaging the tracks halted her T-34. Mariya, often disregarding orders not to, would jump out of the tank while under fire, effect repairs to get back into action as fast as possible.In January 1944 she was hit in the head by shrapnel while repairing a broken track and killed. In August she was posthumously decorated becoming the first female tankist to be awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union—the Red Army’s highest award for military valour.
In Flames Of War

Mariya Oktyabrskaya is a Warrior and has the same characteristics as the platoon she is part of. Mariya may be assigned as the driver of your battalion’s Company Command tank or any Tank team in a Tankovy Company for a cost of +25 points.

Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)
Special Rules

Vengeance: Any tank driven by Mariya passes all Motivation tests on a roll of 2+.

For the Motherland: Any tank driven by Mariya passes all Skill Tests on a roll of 2+.

Heroine of the Soviet Union: Mariya makes expert use of all available cover and concealment when manoeuvring. Any time a tank driven by Mariya receives a hit, including during Assaults, make an immediate 5+ Save. If the Save is successful Mariya’s experience has protected her tank – disregard the hit. If unsuccessful the tank still receives its Armour Save as normal.
Fighting Girlfriend: Mariya’s ability to anticipate her commander/gunner’s shooting allows her to halt at the right moments to give him the best shots. As a result, any tank driven by Mariya does not reduce the ROF of its main gun if firing while moving. However, a tank driven by Mariya still obeys the Hen and Chicks special rule.

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Casey Davies

Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882) Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882) Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (SU882)


Last Updated On Thursday, July 30, 2009 by Blake at Battlefront