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Just thought, can't you just move them into a Chimera and use it as a pillbox?

Like take a Chimera without it's dedicated unit in it. Move the heavy weapon squad into it. Shoot away!

You could take a Chimera for someone you're putting in a vendetta, then put the weapon squad in there.

Isn't this good?

I've found mortar teams to be a great buy. For 60 points you get a couple rounds of harassment.

More importantly, if you deploy properly you can throw them at an outflanking unit to give your gunline an extra turn to live or your flamer PCS a turn to get into place.

In the unlikely event they live, they can camp an objective late game.

Other better weapon squads are a squishy, high priority anti infantry weapons target that will make your enemy's target priority decisions easier for him. Pass.

Putting them in a chimera may sound like a good idea but you'll be snapfiring your first turn to get in, which is when they're the most valuable. Also a chimera on the field turn 1 is first blood bait. Much more so when theres something nearby that could fail a morale check and run away after 1 casualty caused by the explosion.

The simple answer is yes, they are useful. If you leave them by themselves, they are fragile, even in cover. Then no, they are not useful unless your opponent has other things more important to him to destroy to fire on.

I will agree with AngryHat that the Chimera/HWS combo is impractical at least. Can it work? Sure... Chimera has 5 Fire ports and the HWSs will not die if the Chimera blows up (though most will probably be half dead). In exchange your trading a turn's worth of fire in a 4-5 turn game. I also can not give them Orders now, taking that option away which is a real bummer for LC HWSs. I think the kicker is losing the shooting, as snap fire just doesn't cut it or hardly feels worth it. Also, that is a lot of points to spend on Chimeras when for 5pts more you could have 3 mortars and still put them in a woods or other terrain. For the Price of two Chimeras that is 3 LCs that I would love to be able to make Twin Linked with 'Bring it Down!' to take out that Land Raider or non-flying MC.

Personally, I keep my HWSs within 12" of a Regimental Standard (CCS) and if I have several HWSs, I make sure I get a Lord Commissar for his 'Aura of Discipline'. You combine that Banner and the Lord, and they pretty much have to totally wipe out the unit because your not going to run unless you /really/ roll bad (you have to roll a 11-12 twice in a row). If you want to live dangerously, you can even attach the Lord Commissar to a HWS. Since I get my Lords with a Camo Cloak, you can get the benefits for a single HWS, but you now risk the 'Execution' special rule. If you do have your Lord on the ADL gun, I will note under the Interceptor rules that if he fires on the arrival of the enemy unit on their turn, his squad can fire on anything they want on your turn normally. But if you fire the gun on your turn, the squad has to fire on the same target and one or the other is going to be snap firing. Since the Lord is not a vehicle or in a vehicle, I can issue him orders like 'Fire on my Target' to ignore cover saves. Then even if my HWS is also firing on the unit (say a flyer)... yeah, they are hitting on 6s, but at least the target will not get cover saves for speed, night fighting, or things like Jink.

If I am running this combo and I have more than two HWSs, I look at adding Creed to my CCS.

AngryHat wrote:
I've found mortar teams to be a great buy. For 60 points you get a couple rounds of harassment.

More importantly, if you deploy properly you can throw them at an outflanking unit to give your gunline an extra turn to live or your flamer PCS a turn to get into place.

In the unlikely event they live, they can camp an objective late game.

Other better weapon squads are a squishy, high priority anti infantry weapons target that will make your enemy's target priority decisions easier for him. Pass.

Putting them in a chimera may sound like a good idea but you'll be snapfiring your first turn to get in, which is when they're the most valuable. Also a chimera on the field turn 1 is first blood bait. Much more so when theres something nearby that could fail a morale check and run away after 1 casualty caused by the explosion.

What if everyone else is in a chimera too?

foxyfennec wrote:

AngryHat wrote:
I've found mortar teams to be a great buy. For 60 points you get a couple rounds of harassment.

More importantly, if you deploy properly you can throw them at an outflanking unit to give your gunline an extra turn to live or your flamer PCS a turn to get into place.

In the unlikely event they live, they can camp an objective late game.

Other better weapon squads are a squishy, high priority anti infantry weapons target that will make your enemy's target priority decisions easier for him. Pass.

Putting them in a chimera may sound like a good idea but you'll be snapfiring your first turn to get in, which is when they're the most valuable. Also a chimera on the field turn 1 is first blood bait. Much more so when theres something nearby that could fail a morale check and run away after 1 casualty caused by the explosion.

What if everyone else is in a chimera too?

Road trip?

foxyfennec wrote:

What if everyone else is in a chimera too?

Then you've clearly gone back in time and are enjoying 5th edition again, you lucky human. Please let me join you.

Protection by saturation is definitely possible, especially with plasma/meltavets ridin' dirty as well.

However, I still think the loss of 1st round shooting to mount, plus the disadvantage of not being able to issue orders, makes this a less viable tactic.

Plus the chimera is 55 points. That's an infantry squad with a flamer. Or half another heavy weapon squad.