Nobel Sniper V G Zaytsev’s Snipers (SU880) Known as ‘Vasha’ to his friends, V G Zaytsev was taught marksmanship in the taiga (Siberian forest) by his grandfather. When twenty-four years old, and a payroll clerk with the Soviet Navy’s Pacific Fleet, Glavstarshiny (Chief Petty Officer) Zaytsev insisted on volunteering for frontline service in one of the new Siberian divisions. Zaytsev crossed the Volga with the 284th Siberian Rifle Division at the end of September 1942.

Soon after landing at Stalingrad, Zaytsev shot a German machine-gunner several hundred meters away. Impressed by Zaytsev’s accuracy, his commander, Colonel Nikolai Batyuk, immediately ordered Zaytsev be issued with a rifle with telescopic sights. Before long his sniping was widely known to the embattled defenders of Stalingrad—and to the Germans, who became increasingly fearful of Soviet snipers. His tally of Germans at Stalingrad was 242. It is said that he spent 243 bullets to make that score.

Batyuk recognised the importance of sniping, and a school was set up just behind the front-line to train new snipers under Zaytsev’s expert instruction. Amongst Zaytsev’s students were future sniper aces such as Anatoli Chekov, Viktor Medvedev (who would go on to Berlin and kill even more Germans than Zaytsev), and Tania Chernova (who became his lover). Zaytsev was the star amongst many other snipers whose exploits became staple fare for Soviet propaganda.

Soviet sources claimed that a German super-sniper, Major Koenig, was sent to Stalingrad to kill Zaytsev, but after a three-day duel Zaytsev managed to kill Koenig (or Colonel Thorvald as some sources call him). In January 1943, Zaytsev was wounded in the eyes, but once he recovered he was promoted to Mladshi Leytenant (Junior Lieutenant) and continued to choose and train snipers. He was awarded the Soviet Union’s highest decoration Hero of the Soviet Union in February 1943. After the war he became a professor of engineering at the University of Kiev and died in 1992.

In Flames of War Zaytsev is a Warrior. He is rated as Fearless Veteran. Zaytsev can join any Strelkovy Batalon for +100 points. Special Rules Crack Shot: Zaytsev is a crack shot. Re-roll any failed rolls to hit when he shoots. Little Hares: Zaytsev trains his students well. Any Sniper team in the same Strelkovy Batalon as Zaytsev may re-roll any failed roll to hit when shooting. One Well-aimed Shot: Zaytsev learned his trade hunting deer in Siberia. He never wastes a bullet. Any team hit by Zaytsev must re-roll successful saves. Designed by Evan Allen Painted by Wayne Turner