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So what is the value of a 5 man troop choice in a cheap transport? You can give them one special weapon to add a little versatility. They are a scoring unit so you are fielding them purely as an objective holder and relying upon hte resilience of the rhino. There are some variations on this theme, such as fielding razorbacks to add yet another dimension. Space Wolves can add a Wolfguard (e.g., combi melta & power fist). I could see a nice fit with the new Blood Angels - 5 man assault squad with 2x infernus pistol, meltagun & power fist - stick them in a razorback with TL heavy bolter.

If I were to play against an army with just the basic 5 man squad with a special weapon mounted in a rhino (and I have) I will focus on killing these troops every chance I get. That is just me though and I know you will have other enemy units in your grill to deal with.

G

Codex Tactical Squads require 10 members before they can have a special weapon, I believe it's 1 per every five members for Chaos Space Marines, Space Wolves, and Assault Marines. Dark Angels can also do the 'take five, include a special weapon' thing.

Veteran sergeants can take combi weapons.

G

In small point values I love using five man squads in razorbacks and giving the Sgt a Fist and a Combi-Weapon. I've had great success with a 600 point list that has:

(2X) 5 man Tactical Squad; Sgt with Combi-Melta and Powerfist; Razorback with pintle-mounted Storm Bolter

Librarian with Null Zone, The Avenger

5 Man Scout Squad; Sgt with Combi-Melta and Melta Bombs

Land Speeder Storm with Heavy Flamer

It works best if you're not really trying to engage the opponent and just trying to win based on objectives. Kill points tend to leave one wanting for more bodies and killing power. As you get to higher point values I find that since the Transports are very likely to be killed it's best to have the extra bodies in the squads...

I like that list.

G

If you're taking a rhino, might as well go for 10 tac marines. I routinely use 5 in a razorback with las/plasma or assault cannon (about 3-5 units).

They are much more resilient than you'd think, partly because of the dreads, speeders and predators that also cover the board, but also because of the extra turn or two of survival that the transport buys you. I park on an objective in turn 5, it's going to take at least 2 turns to deal with that scoring unit. If you kill the razor, but don't blow it up, the guys can often get out and hunker down behind it to score.

I guess it would be possible to do that with a rhino, but why not spend even just the extra 5 points for the HB razor?

Good point, if you are going with a five man squad then the HB razor is really worth it. Now take the five man BA assault squad, the rhino is a better choice since you can shoot from inside with hte meltas.

G

I just take 10 tactical marines in a rhino, and if the situation calls for it, I just combat squad them (Sgt and specialist in rhino/heavy in cover).

Regarding the Blood Angel Assault Squad in a Rhino, wouldn't it be the case that they could only fire out of the top hatch when it's moving at combat speed? If you want to exploit the Fast vehicle to the fullest surely you'd want a Razorback that can move 12" and shoot its turret weapon.

Yeah, that's the big advantage that BAs would have in a Maximum Overdrive style razor spam army. You pay about the same as Space Wolves for 5 guys in a razor--and unlike vanilla marines can take a special weapon with only 5--but you get fast transports for that price (including being able to move 6" and fire both weapons on a las/plasma razor). It's a bargain.

Add those FNP characters, and you get a unit that can hold an objective all day.