Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I'll be up front, I am new to the hobby and have chosen Imperial Guard on the recommendation of the staff at my local Games Workshop.
Their reasoning for recommending the Hammer of the Emperor is simple:

I like tanks.

A lot.

A such, I would like some help creating my first army, a Mechanized Infantry Brigade a 'la Gen. George S. Patton circa WW2.

My current target is to slowly amass a 1500pt army, which I will build as funding becomes available.

My current army is composed of

1 Command Squad (given to me by a friend)
- Senior Command Officer w/ CCW & Bolt Pistol
- Regimental Standard
- Vox Caster
- Hvy Flamer
- Melta-gun

1 Squad of Troops (10 men strong)
- 3 Flamers

1 Squad of Troops (10 men strong)
- Hvy Bolter

1 Heavy Weapon Team w/ Las-Cannon (just kinda sitting there by its lonesome)

1 Leman Russ
- Searchlight
- Smoke Grenade Discharger
- Hull Hvy Bolter

1 Leman Russ
- Searchlight
- Smoke Grenade Discharger
- Hull Hvy Bolter
- Sponson Hvy Bolters
- Hunter-Killer Missile

Any input on how to build a good Mechanized Army would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the input,
- PPH

First off, welcome to the hobby! It can be quite a blast and will relieve you of any extra money that boggs your life style down. Anyway, your list looks like a good start. The Leman Russ is a great versital tank that will serve you well. Right off the bat I see a problems, namely that the Weapon team with the Las Cannon is illegal, they have to be taken in sets of 3 and part of a platoon which it looks like you are not running. I am guessing those troop units are Veterans, right? Otherwise you would have to get a platoon comman squad and another troop since the 3 flamer squad can only be fielded as Vets. So go ahead and swap that Las Cannon for the Heavy bolter or put it on the shelf till you can use him. My other thought might be to chose a role for your Command Squad such as do you want them to be a tank hunter or a troop killer. I am not usually a fan of duel purpose squads, so either drop the flamer or the melta.

You have a good start. Of course Chimeras are great for mechanized infantry since they are only 55pts. They are good at getting your heavy hitters into combat but are wonderful as a heavy weapons platform. Not only that but the retail price I believe is coming down a bit and the new model should be coming out in a couple weeks.

Good luck, homie!

You've picked a good army and mech guard armies can be tough packing 12 vehicles in large games.

The CCS needs sorting. The standard isn't a help as you don't want a small unit in combat. A flamer and melta don't go together as they do different jobs. I've found 3 plasma guns with a medi kit to be good, so if you fail those get hots rolls you have a 5+ and 4+ save after.

The 10 troops with the flamers could be used as veterans. Give them a chimera to get into range.

The other unit could be veterans too, but I would drop the heavy bolter and go with meltas and a chimera. Perhaps take this unit twice.

Heavy weapon team as Machineslave said is illegal choice because you need a platoon command squad and platoons at least.

Russ is ok choice but give it a heavy flamer as you auto hit with the template weapon which is better than the guard's not so hot ballistic skill.

I'd drop the sponsons on the other russ and just give it a heavy flamer as well. With 76" range you can sit back and shoot.

One way to get a good idea of what works is to look at the first few pages of lists on this forum - mech lists are posted almost daily. You've got a good start, you just need 3 chims for your squads to make it mech.

I would drop the vox and the regimental standard, as you don't really have enough of a gunline to make them worth it. Though mixing weapons like the HF and MG in the CCS is generally a no-no, like was said above you should give it a role and arm it accordingly. But if you only have a certain amount of men, well at least they are both short range and hard hitting, and having one versatile squad isn't auto-lose. I would switch the HB with the LC until you get enough men for a platoon, or another vet squad. You've got enough anti-inf, you could use the long-range AT.

Put the Heavy Flamer in your flamer vets squad.
Replace the Standard+Heavy Flamer with your heavy bolter.
Put the melta +2 more in the vet squad with the heavy bolter(now moved to the co command).
Get Creed and Kell.
Get a battleforce for a platoon(with 2 lascannons in the squads +2 plasma guns, and a powerfist/heavy flamer/Standards/Medic/flamer)
get Chimeras for the Vets and Platoon Command(3 total).

Should look like this:
Co Comm 315
Creed
Kell
Medic
Heavy Bolter
2x body guards
Carapace.

Platoon
Plat comm 110
Power Fist
Melta bombs
Heavy Flamer
2x Flamer
Medic

Chimera 80 (IFV)
Extra armor
Hull Heavy Bolter
Turret Multilaser
Pintle Stubber

Plat 1 85
Plasma gun
Lascannon

Plat 2 85
Plasma gun
Lascannon

Vet 1 175
Power fist
Heavy Flamer
Flamer
Flamer
Forward Sentries
Grenadiers

Chimera 80 (IFV)
Extra armor
Hull Heavy Bolter
Turret Multilaser
Pintle Stubber

Vet 2 130
Melta gun
Melta gun
Melta gun
Demolitions

Chimera 70 (Close support)
Extra armor
Hull Heavy Flamer
Turret Heavy Flamer

Leman Russ 185
Extra armor
Hull Hvy Bolter
Sponson Hvy Bolters

Leman Russ 185
Extra armor
Hull Hvy Bolter
Sponson Hvy Bolters

1500 on the dot