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This is a brief run down of one of the combat patrol missions that went down for the Canto VII campaign I'm running for some local players.

info on the Campaign here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/279964.page

The men were moving fast, faster than any of them would have liked to along the dark trail. The supply drop had been off by more than a click and now they were double timing it to the blip on the auspex. The drop had been off but the Tau pilots were good, he had to give them that. The aircraft itself had been invisible in the nights sky but there was no mistaking where it was. Or rather, where it had been. Lazy rivers of auto cannon tracers had marked the flight path of the craft. That the pilot wasn't shot down and the drop wasn't lost altogether, was a miracle, by Thro..... Lt. Nikus caught himself, not a miracle. A testament to superior skill and technology. A testament to the Greater Good. Now, the men raced to get the much need ammo and medi supplies that were going to be essential for the mornings reinforcing of Aravus. Supplies that couldn't be allowed to be captured now that the invaders had been knock from the city...

14th Fernis (Loyalist Guard)

HQ
Company Command squad

Troops
Platoon Command squad
10 man Infantry Squad /heavy Bolter team
10 man Infantry Squad /heavy Bolter team
10 man Infantry Squad /heavy Bolter team
3 Heavy Weapons Squads (Heavy Bolters)

Elites
10 man Storm Trooper Squad - hellguns (Air Dropped)


Sons of Canto (revolutionary Guard)
Troops
infantry Platoon
Platoon command w/ melta, vox, medipack
10 man squad with melta and vox
10 man squad with melta and vox
Heavy weapons squad w/ three auto cannons
Penal Legion Squad (Knife fighters)

Fast Attack
2x Scout Sentinels w/ Lascannons

(pics to follow)

deployment (one objective in center of the table/pitched battle)

Canton has first turn: deploys full platoon in the middle of the deployment area. All units get cover saves due to hill in the center of the table. Sentinels and Penal legion outflank.

14th Deploys two squads in cover in the right corner along with platoon command. Other squad and command squad in left corner with HB on hill for better LOS. Stormtroopers set up in deep strike.

***note the Fernis player forgot to deploy the three Heavy Bolter teams. In fact it wasn't until the next day, going through the list I discovered he was supposed to have them***


TURN ONE

Canton: Platoon squads move and run forward to base of the hill. Autocannon team fires and kills several from one of the two paired up squads.

14th: All three Heavy bolters fire. One of the Autocannons teams is killed.

TURN TWO

Canton: The Penal Legion storms out of cover and appears on the right, well within charge distance of one of the platoon squads and the platoon command squad. Custodian fires pistol for a kill. Autocannons fire and kill another. The closest platoon squads behind hill in the center begins closing the distance to help the Penal squad, leaving them exposed to the heavy bolters on the right. With a savage cry the Penal squad charges one squad of infantry and the platoon command. The two squads are no match for the knife fighters, the platoon squad fleeing of the table while the remaining two members of the command squad hold on desperately.

Fernis: The Stormtroopers drop for the skies, locking in on the las flashes lighting up the knoll. All though caught of guard, the squad not locked in combat fires into the autocannons, hoping to remove any covering fire they might provide. Another wound is caused. The advancing Sons of Canto suffer a devastating round of fire from the Stormtroopers and the unit down is brought down to three men that amazingly manage to keep their nerve. Other shooting from the left squad see another trooper from the platoon command go down. the Assualt phase does not fair to well for the loyalists, however. The command squad fails to wound and is butchered by the Penal squad which is now free to charge the remaining squad on the right.

TURN THREE:

Canton: The Autocannons barked some more shots off, this time at the Stormtroopers converging on the hill, but only manage light casualties. The two platoon units and command still waiting for the chance to creep up the hill to secure the supplies. The Penal Legion, now freed up, charged the remaining squad in their area. The fight was evenly matched, both side taking three casualties, leaving the Penal squad with five men.

14th Fernis: Recognizing the importance of the dropped supplies, the command Squad raced out from behind cover. The heavy bolter behind them laying down covering fire and removing another barely seen freedom fighter. The Stormtroopers began moving to the base of the hill and cover the command squad, firing several shots and managing another two casualties. This is enough to break the freedom fighters who start falling back. Fighting is again even between the loyalist and revolutionaries with no wounds on inflicted.

TURN FOUR

Canton: Again the autocannons fire at the Stormtroopers that have moved to cover but no hits are scored. The Sentinels appear, crashing through the underbrush and charging into the fray with the Penal Legion. This time they rout the guardsmen, but not before two more of the squad are laid low. The remaining engaged units move up towards the stormtroopers.

14th Fernis: Stormtroopers move to the base of the hill and fire rounds at the fuller unit of guardsmen and kills two. The company command moves forward towards the objective. Autocannon fires and misses.

TURN FIVE

Canton: Needing to make their move on the objective the three units charge over the hill trying to fire some pistol shots into the command squad. No wounds result, due to the medic. The Revolutionary platoon command charges the loyalist command as do to the three remaining penal soldiers and two walkers. the two sentinels are destroyed (in the heat of the moment this got misplayed. the loyalist general thought he had krak grenades equipped and we played it with WS instead of hitting walkers on 6's with gernades). However, the platoon squad and penal troopers take out the command squad. They consolidate on toward the objective.

14th Fernis: Now completely exposed, the few remaining models are cut to pieces by the combined fire of the stormtroopers and the heavy bolter. The game ends a draw, though the loyalist control the board.


Thoughts: This was fun, I was playing the Revolutionaries for the play that couldn't show. Normally I play Eldar, Orks, or Chaos so this was a change up. I am trying the Penal Legions after my brother and I played three 1000 points battles. My 1kson vs. Six penal squads, three psychic choirs and two primary psykers. The outflanking penal legion and spammed str9 ORD is very impressive at 1000 points.

This game I expected some chimeras and without them the melta was wasted. should have brought the plasma for the range. The sentinels should have either flamers or autocannons, not the lascannons. Ah, well. The Penal squad, shone however. The 80 points outflanking unit was able to take out 150+ points of guardsmen. Getting the 30 attacks on the charge for guardsmen on guardsmen is fun.

I took a look at the photos and there isn't much to see actually. I guess I was rolling more dice than I was shooting pics. Hopefully next week all the players will be there and I can focus on reporting the action. With the two tables set up we can get two assault games and to combat patrols in.