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Pretty straight forward question for you guys. For my bike list, I am most likely going to run with the Ravenwing from the Dark Angels. And from looking at the Codex and talking to people, many of them have suggested that I run the Ravenwing Support Squadron. While I do plan to field the Darkshroud, I am not sure which Land Speeder Varient I should run. To all of those who have had experience running it or have played against it, which landspeeder variant do you think would work best with this formation? I am considering the Typhoon for the long-range firepower, however some people have suggested one of the Tornado Varients would work as well, particularly the Multi-Melta & Hvy. Flamer combo. Anyways, appreciate any help you guys can give me.

Here is a breakdown of this unit I give whenever this comes up.
++ Ravenwing Support Squadron (230) ++
Ravenwing Land Speeder (50) – Heavy Bolter
Ravenwing Land Speeder (50) – Heavy Bolter
Ravenwing Land Speeder (50) – Heavy Bolter
Ravenwing Darkshroud (80)
Either extra Heavy Bolter (245), Typhoon Missile Launchers X3(305), assault cannons X4(305), or Multi Melta X6 (305)

This squad can be run a few different ways. If you are using it as a super cheap way of giving the cover bubble, keep it cheap. Bare bones everything since the whole unit will probably be jinking. The squadron is base 230 for 3 LS and the DS.

You can pay 15 points and add a heavy bolter to each speeder. basically doubling it's fire output. Yes heavy bolters aren't scary, but for 5 points each, doubling it's fire power is a steal, and you wont feel bad about jinking still. This brings the squad to 245. After months of running them, this is actually how I usually run this unit.

If you want to go assault cannons, I like to do it on all of the speeders and the DS. The problem with spending 15 points on the assault cannon for the DS, but giving the LSs missile launchers is that the squad ends up with a mix of effective engagement ranges. The heavy bolter + ML speeder really wants to either skim the 36" range, or the 48" range. The problem with assault cannons on the speeders is that you need to be in 24" range, which is the range of most basic infantry weapons that can shoot you back with volume. You only want to be within 24" range if you are either sure you will wipe the target, or will be tying it up in CC with accompanying bikes. That being said, if you will be playing them aggressively, and using them to put pressure with bikes, fitting all 3 LS and the DS with assault cannons can give them the ability to threaten a lot of targets. Just make sure you either kill or assault anything that can shoot you back. This squad would be 305.

Alternatively, for the same 305, you could run with 3 Typhoon Missile Launchers. I find the TML doesn't perform as well, but gives you a safe engagement range. Use this is you are going to have this squad play it safe, but keep in mind that they wont be supporting your RWBK/RWCS in the back field, and both the heavy bolter and assault cannon load outs above are more efficient if you are snap firing after jinking.

If you wanted more alpha strike vs vehicles, you could rush up and turn one double melta a vehicle. To make best use of MM, you need to be 12" away, way closer that the speeder wants to be. Best case you are jinking the next turn or two, worst case, you traded this squad for whatever you just blew up as it is in turn assaulted. This loadout is also 305.

Some people like to suggest flamers, or some hybrid with any combination of melta/hb/flamer. I suggest you stay away from flames with this unit. Remember that this isn't you standard suicide double mm speeder squad. It has a specific purpose to support your bikes. It needs to stay alive, and that will often mean jinking. Flamers can't be snap shot.

My advice is use magnets. The land speeder is one of the kits that benefits most from a well thought out construction using magnets. And since there are 3 viable loadouts at 305 points, you can play around with them to see which works best in this list. Then if you need more points, you can drop to the double heavy bolter or bare bones load out.

I run my support squadron with an assault cannon on the Darkshroud and three Landspeeders with heavy bolters and assault cannons.

The cover bonus is great with the Darkshroud, but the real bonuses for the formation are Interceptor and Ravenshield. Interceptor is great for dealing with drop pod or deep striking units. Firing four assault cannons that are generally hitting on 2's will cause a lot of damage against many enemy units.
Ravenshield is fantastic for the Ravenwing. If you are not Jinking, you can cause a lot of hits with the massed assault cannon and heavy bolter shots. I have stalled assaults with this alone. It is a really powerful ability, the rending from the assault cannons means that even the toughest enemy units have a chance to be wounded.

I wouldn't worry about the short range of the assault cannons. If you are using the Darkshroud as cover support for Black Knights or a Command Squad you will be getting close to the opposing army, as you generally want the Black Knights assaulting. Also, if you are in close proximity to the Black Knights, your opponent will not get to overwatch against them.

I recently took an all-Ravenwing army to a tournament with the support squadron and it did really well. You can check out the battle reports if you are interested: http://standwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/blog-wars-x-game-1-ravenwing-vs-dark.html

I've also reviewed the Ravenwing units in the codex: http://standwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/dark-angels-codex-review-ravenwing.html

Hope that helps.

Appreciate the help mates. From what I have planned out so far, I will be fielding Black Knights, at least 2x Bike Squads with Grav Guns, Samuel w/BK Command Squad, and that's just the beginning. From that standpoint, it's apparent my list lacks Long-Range Anti-Tank, hence why I opted for possibly the Typhoon Varient, but I do see the value of the Assault Cannon + Hvy. Bolter Varient as well.

Long range firepower is a problem with an all Ravenwing army. I usually take a single landspeeder with multi-melta and typhoon missiles to give me a bit of longer range anti-tank firepower.

I also give all my sergeants meltabombs to deal with tanks. In all honesty, the army is so fast that any problem tanks can be dealt with at close range or in combat by turn 2. The Ravenwing army is not really one you can afford to sit back with at long range as they simply don't have the weaponry to do this. You want to close with the enemy to get use out of rapid firing bolters and plasma talons. Also, if you have to Jink, your firepower is pretty much wiped out the next turn in most cases.

Your suggested list looks pretty solid. I would also recommend an interrogator chaplain on a bike if you have the points. The ability to give the Black Knights re-rolls is great, making the unit even better in combat. I also arm mine with the Mace of Redemption to get a high strength AP3 weapon in the unit as Sammael is only strength 4. I've found that a unit of Black Knights, Sammael and an Interrogator-Chaplain will go through most units pretty easily.

 corrm wrote:
Long range firepower is a problem with an all Ravenwing army. I usually take a single landspeeder with multi-melta and typhoon missiles to give me a bit of longer range anti-tank firepower.

I also give all my sergeants meltabombs to deal with tanks. In all honesty, the army is so fast that any problem tanks can be dealt with at close range or in combat by turn 2. The Ravenwing army is not really one you can afford to sit back with at long range as they simply don't have the weaponry to do this. You want to close with the enemy to get use out of rapid firing bolters and plasma talons. Also, if you have to Jink, your firepower is pretty much wiped out the next turn in most cases.

Your suggested list looks pretty solid. I would also recommend an interrogator chaplain on a bike if you have the points. The ability to give the Black Knights re-rolls is great, making the unit even better in combat. I also arm mine with the Mace of Redemption to get a high strength AP3 weapon in the unit as Sammael is only strength 4. I've found that a unit of Black Knights, Sammael and an Interrogator-Chaplain will go through most units pretty easily.

I assume that the Chaplain can be taken due to the recent FAQ that allows other DA characters on Bikes to be part of the Ravenwing Strike Force correct? And as it stands, I do like the idea of the Assault Cannon + Hvy. Bolter Varient but I still would like to bounce ideas around on other options.

I would think Heavy Flamer might be a good upgrade for the Supporting Fire rule they get to add to Overwatch.

 Ironwolf45 wrote:

I assume that the Chaplain can be taken due to the recent FAQ that allows other DA characters on Bikes to be part of the Ravenwing Strike Force correct? And as it stands, I do like the idea of the Assault Cannon + Hvy. Bolter Varient but I still would like to bounce ideas around on other options.

Yeah, the recent FAQ allows other characters to be taken in the Strike Force.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Nightlord1987 wrote:
I would think Heavy Flamer might be a good upgrade for the Supporting Fire rule they get to add to Overwatch.

They can only use the Wall of Death rule if overwatching within close proximity of the enemy (6" I think), while the Ravenshield has a much larger range. I generally avoid Heavy Flamers on Landspeeders. If they are close enough to use it, they are generally close enough to be assaulted and most things can destroy a landspeeder quite easily.

Good to hear. Does that character count as being Ravenwing or how does that work out exactly?

And in reference to the Battle Report, do you always run your Land Speeders from the Ravenwing Support Squadron with the Assault Cannons, or have you had any luck with the other Land Speeder Varients?

Wall of death has no range. I'm sure they didn't intend it to be used by a second party being assaulted... but afaict it should work the same way as regular Wall of Death

 Ironwolf45 wrote:
Good to hear. Does that character count as being Ravenwing or how does that work out exactly?

they don't get the Ravenwing rule, so they can't reroll their own jink saves. But if your HQ is rolling jink saves, you have bigger problems. And being in a unit with Black Knights gives characters Skilled Rider.

I've only used Typhoon land speeders in the Support Squad. But I think this formation only realizes its full value in an all-Ravenwing force with an additional Darkshroud. This allows one Darkshroud to Scout up with most of your bikes, while the other covers another part of your deployment zone with the typhoons, hopefully staying out of range.

 Ironwolf45 wrote:
Good to hear. Does that character count as being Ravenwing or how does that work out exactly?

And in reference to the Battle Report, do you always run your Land Speeders from the Ravenwing Support Squadron with the Assault Cannons, or have you had any luck with the other Land Speeder Varients?

As has been said above, the character joins the strike force, but does not gain the Ravenwing rule.

I always run them in the support squadron with the assault cannons. I don't have them magnetized, so I only use the one build.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Nightlord1987 wrote:
Wall of death has no range. I'm sure they didn't intend it to be used by a second party being assaulted... but afaict it should work the same way as regular Wall of Death

Normally yes, but the rules for Ravenshield specify that Wall of Death fire can only be used if the unit is within 6".