The following is a battle report for a campaign I'm currently involved in:
Siegfried's Garrison vs. Hunter Cadre Gamma
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Overview
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Scenario: Cleanse, Pitched Battle
Location: Albuquerque
Date played: Sunday, December 06, 2009
The subjugation of the planet Sycorax is in its fourth week. From the east rumbles the heavy tanks of Brimlock's 17th Army, a renegade Imperial force fighting for independence from its Tau masters. To the north, the conquest and occupation Tau forces led by Shas'o Eldi'Shi. The massive drop of Black Templar's elite soldiers and material, led by Marshal Siegfried, has changed the xeno's mission from one of simply quelling a rebellion to an all out planetary campaign.
In an effort to neutralize Black Templar strategic maneuverability, a Tau army commanded by Shas'el Ka'kunas has advanced upon forward operating Thunderhawk facilities in territory 16. Marshal Siegfried himself has chosen to lead the relieving effort and has mobilized the garrison of the nearby Fortress Pistolero. Such was the timing of the Tau advance that Marshal Siegfried was forced to attack after sunset, giving the Tau a slight advantage considering their technology.
Siegfried's Garrison
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General: BigDunc
Infantry:
(
CT) 5 Command Terminators
+ Marshal Siegfried, Assault Cannon, Assault Cannon, Chainfist, Lightning Claw
(Z)
LRC Zitadelle
(E) 8 Crusader Squad Echo
+ Power Weapon, Meltagun
(R7) Rhino Greif
(F) 9 Crusader Squad Foxtrot
+ Power Weapon, Meltagun
(R0) Rhino Gotz
(I) 6 Crusader Squad India
+ Power Fist, Meltagun
(R6) Razorback Prinz
(J) 10 Crusader Squad Juliet
+ Power Fist, Plasma Gun
(R3) Rhino Adler
(VN) Venerable Dreadnaught Norman
(LSD) 2 Landspeeders Squadron Dino
+ Multi-Meltas
(
EBS) 5 Elmar Bike Squadron
+
MM Attack Bike
(LSF) Landspeeder Squadron Fokus
+
HB/
AC
Hunter Cadre Gamma
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General: Andrew
(SeKk) Shas'
el Ka'kunas
(CTB) 4 Crisis Team Beta
+ Shas'
el Kles'Car
(CTE) 3 Crisis Team Epsilon
(
ST) 3 Stealth Team Alpha
(H) Hammerhead Grav Tank
(
PF) 8 Pathfinder Team Alpha
(D) Devilfish Transport
(
BTB) 3 Broadside Team Beta
(BTG) 2 Broadside Team Gamma
(
FW) 12 Fire Warrior Team Gamma
(K) 12 Kroot Assault
(K&H) 21 Kroot Assault with Hounds
Deployment
A Night Fighting rules strategy card is played by Andrew. The entire game will be at night.
Tau Turn 1
Fortunately for me, the darkness limits a good amount of Tau shooting, something Andrew will not let happen again. He is still able to shake a Landspeeder from Squadron Dino and destroy the Venerable Norman. His Stealth Team appeared out of the darkness just long enough to explode Rhino Adler on my left flank, killing two Marines and forcing them to dismount.
Black Templar Turn 1
The avenue of approach on the left side of the table is just too open so I deploy heavy on the right side and begin my push up that side. I'm hoping to use the hills, brick wall, and trees occupying the center of the table to split the board in half, slow and restrict Tau movement, and give me a greater likelihood of cover saves. Crusader Squad Juliet is able to briefly spot the Stealth Suits and lays down suppressive fire.
Tau Turn 2
Landspeeder Squadron Dino's cover of speed and darkness are no match for the Tau's advanced technology as both are shot out of the sky.
CS Juliet takes heavy casualties and zeals into the woodline. Smoke and darkness conceal the
LRC Zitadelle and the Rhino Greif, but both still take heavy fire. Zitadelle is immobilized and shaken while Greif's storm bolter is sheared off and the crew and passengers are shaken. A unit of Kroot with Hounds outflanks and occupies the southwestern wood-line.
Black Templar Turn 2
With Zitadelle immobilized, Marshal Siegfried and is accompanying Terminators dismount. The are able to spot a nearby unit of Broadsides, appear to kill a drone, but are unable to break the suits with their volume of fire. The rumbling of multiple Rhinos is enough to break the Kroot. Razorback Prinz comes in from reserve.
Tau Turn 3
CS Juliet is hunted down while Razorback Prinz takes fire. Massive fire is put into the Terminators but only a single Marine falls. They zeal towards the nearby Hammerhead. The damaged Rhino Greif is put out of action. Four dismounts are killed from continued incoming fire but the remaining Crusaders zeal toward the fleeing Kroot.
Black Templar Turn 3
A Meltagunner inside Rhino Gotz is able to disable the Hammerhead's Railgun as the transport continues rumbling forward. In this map a small red explosion is seen near the Hammerhead. This is for a downed Terminator who dies from the Hammerhead explosion... which happens in Turn 4. Marshal Siegfried and retinue are able to charge up the hill and engage the Pathfinders. This would normally be a situation for the alternate use of "Accept Any Challenge, No Matter the Odds" (which for those that don't know, provide
BTs with the Preferred Enemy
USR) which is to re-roll your
hits in an attempt to
miss and remain in close combat. But, seeing as Brother Frigo, my Emperor's Champion, is not in this army I don't have AAC. Im forced to slice through 5 Pathfinders who rout.
CS Echo feints an assault toward the Kroot, but assault the nearby Broadsides instead. The feint is enough to keep the Kroot running.
Tau Turn 4
Concentrated Tau fire heavily damages the Razorback Prinz. As much firepower as possible is put into the Terminators, including Railguns, but only the Marshal is wounded. Landspeeder Fokus takes fire and loses its propulsion and assault cannon.
Black Templar Turn 4
A reminder at this point, the mission is Cleanse which requires controlling table quarters with scoring units. Immobilized vehicles, dedicated transports,
ICs, and any unit below half strength are not scoring units. Everything else is. I have a bike squadron come on from reserve but are only able to destroy the remaining shield drone of Shas'
el Ka'Kunas. The Meltagunner inside Rhino Gotz is able to finish the job this time by exploding the Hammerhead.
CS India dismounts the Razorback and is able to assault both the Stealth Suits and Crisis Suits. The Marshal and two Terminators assault the Broadsides and the
CS Echo now assaults Shas'
el Kles'Car and his escorts. I draw or lose all the assaults. I'm really missing my
EC at this point. But... I do have lots of Tau wrapped up in close combat. That's good!
Tau Turn 5
With most of his units in close combat, Andrew's firepower is limited. Still, his commander kills a bike while the Devilfish finishes off Razorback Prinz. The Crisis Suits kill the remaining two members of Crusader Squad Echo and consolidate.
CS India gets the upper hand, breaks Crisis Team Epsilon and the Stealth Team and runs them both down. The Marshal and Broadside Team Beta continue to tussle.
Black Templar Turn 5
Unscathed, Rhino Gotz speeds toward Crisis Team Epsilon and drops
CS Foxtrot. I usually have good success with breaking Andrew's Suits, so this is an attempt to do that and hopefully take this table quarter. Unfortunately, I only kill one drone and do not force a morale check. Bike Squadron Elmar moves westward looking to contest the
SW table quarter. They are able to stun Pointbreak, the Devilfish.
CS India continues the impetus of it's previous victory and assaults into the wood-lined Fire Warriors. Marshal Siegfried breaks the Broadsides but is unable to pursue.
Tau Turn 6
Crisis Team Epsilon and Shas'
el Kles'Car kill Marshal Siegfried and move to avoid
CS Foxtrot.
Despite a nearby Medical Facility, Marshal Siegfried would not survive his wounds.
Black Templar Turn 6
CS India continues to pick away at the Fire Warriors but is unable to gain solid ground. My bikes move further into the
SW quarter attempting to kill the Devilfish; they stun it instead. This movement was a mistake as I am now withing shooty range of the Kroot.
CS Foxtrot with any and all remaining firepower send rounds downrange at the Crisis Suits. I am unable to assault them over the hill.
Tau Turn 7
CT Epsilon destroys Rhino Gotz, Shas'
el Ka'Kunas finishes off my Landspeeder to the east, and the Kroot are able to kill two Marine bikers... reducing them below 50% and leaving them unable to contest.
Black Templar Turn 7
All available fire is put into Crisis Team Epsilon but enough survive to contest the NE table quarter.
CS India is able to defeat the Fire Warriors and run them down. The game ends in a Tau victory with 1 table quarter to my 0.
A servitor at Fortress Pistolero was able to intercept the following message:
*** Tau Communique Intercept ***
Shas'o Eldi'Shi expresses her relief that Hunter Cadre Gamma was able to complete their mission. If the mon'gue'la had been able to use the newly completed airstrip, the strategic balance in the region would've undergone a dramatic shift.
However, it was a costly victory. She is dismayed by the heavy losses sustained in the sector, as nearly half of Gamma's engagement capacity was lost in the attack. 1st Shas'el Ka'Kunas and 2nd Shas'el Kles'Car must use more restraint in the forward deployment of Crisis Teams. Each life is sacred to the Tau'va, and may not be needlessly sacrificed.
Also, the Shas'o has begun an official inquiry into the effectiveness of the Forward Recovery Teams. Although few of our suit pilots were killed, most of our damaged suits were deemed Inoperable. That may be acceptable back on a Sept world, but we must be more resourceful on this gue'la planet. She expects better results next time.
*** Communique End ***
