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Hey guys, so I'm expanding my Ork army, and on a brief detour to my Dread Mob list I thought I might add some tankbustas, but I'm not sure what the best way to build them is. Should they be in trukks? Are the tankhammers worth taking? Or should they stay at range? Thanks guys!

Only pure. They got melta bombs for cc.

If you want established Dakka you want fifteen, probably in a battlewagon. One is Nob, for mob rule character puposes.

Tank hammers are crap imo

If you want disposable melta bomb squad for vehicles or Mc you want 6 to 9 in a truck.

Bomb squigs can be great for guaranteeing some hits in close.

Indeed, you might want bomb squigs for the added precision, but since tankbusta bombs are melta bombs nowadays they'll wreck vehicles and MCs in combat - and you do not want them to go into melee vs other targets.

Either go minimum sized squads in trukks or 10-15 in battle wagonz and you're set!

So no one likes the idea of a few bomb squigs as defence for a tankbusta mob wanting to avoid close combat?

Otherwise, I tend to agree with the above: either a small mob in a trukk, trying to melta vehicles in close combat, or a large mob doing drive-by shooting from their wagon. But in the thick of battle, especially after their transport blows up and they've taken casualties, they should opportunistically go for either role.

Tankbustas strongly benefit from vehicles. FW offers some interesting options in face of big trakks and gunwagons. Units of 10 TB are pretty darn effective in there.

I think that for larger squads of 15 in a battlewagon it's reasonable to take a bp nob if you have spare points.

Bomb squigs tend to perform better in smaller squads when you don't have enough firepower to reliably land enough hits with just rokkits. Squads of like 5-7 TB in a truck could use them effectively while squigs seem like an overkill for larger squads. Besides, they can't target flyers, skimmers and non-vehicles (?).

Tankhammer feels out of place for how much it costs.

Either max the squad in a battlewagon, running only rokkits.

Or smaller squad 6-9 in a trukk, only rokkits and maybe a bomb squig or two if you have spare points. Squigs are good for the turn you NEED those hits. As 9 rokkits is only 3 hits. So when you want that transport dead you use a couple squigs as a guarantee. Other than that tank hammers are a waste of points. Take a nob with boss pole, if they survive an extra turn from not running due to boss pole you instantly make your points back on it.

 Clang wrote:
So no one likes the idea of a few bomb squigs as defence for a tankbusta mob wanting to avoid close combat?

How is a squig defence from close combat?

 grendel083 wrote:

 Clang wrote:
So no one likes the idea of a few bomb squigs as defence for a tankbusta mob wanting to avoid close combat?

How is a squig defence from close combat?

they look dangerous to hang around?

 koooaei wrote:

 grendel083 wrote:

 Clang wrote:
So no one likes the idea of a few bomb squigs as defence for a tankbusta mob wanting to avoid close combat?

How is a squig defence from close combat?

they look dangerous to hang around?

Except they don't attack anyone in close combat... so they'll look dangerous in CC, but they'll just stare at those Space Marines as their Ork masters are getting brutally attacked.

Sad times when orks can't hold a squig up and let it eat it's opponent's face....

On a more serious note, as everyone has already said:
-- 2x 7 or 8 in a Trukk + 3 bomb squigs.
-- 15 in a Battlewagon + 3 or 4 rokkits + kannon (optional for the extra laugh) + mini mek + Rokkit. Upgraded Tankbuster to a Nob + BP to avoid the Mob Rule. I call this the "Rokkitwagon" approach. If you happen to run 2 cads, I would prefer a Painboy instead of the Nob in here, as it means you get to charge vechiles and have the FnP 5+ save against the explosion damage.

I've yet to try 2 battlewagons/rokkitwagons with 15 Tankbusters in a list. I feel it could be very interesting, but I just don't have that many tankbusters.

On a side note, you can easily make them from Nobs and regular boys (most kits - lootas/burnas/boys...) will have an option for a rokkit launcher loadout. The kit even comes with a Meltabomb. Always look out for them and they become easy enough to build on the cheap. Otherwise your stuck with the expensive finecast models.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh and stay away from the Tankhammer and PK. They ARE a waste of points as there's no way to protect your Tankbusters better than a 5+ FnP (painboy) but getting in close is something the smaller units of Tankbusters want to do. Again, explosion damage isn't fun.

These are mine,

All converted from boyz, the only non-GW stuff is a bit of plasticard and some rockets from a load of airfix (my grandad has loads so i get him to give me spare bombs and such).
However easily done if you have some spare bits lying about. As mentioned the finecast can be a little expensive.

Ideas if you need any;
Dual rokkit pistols - cut the barrel down and remove the ammo, leaving like an L shape, you can then put a rokkit in there and a little GS magic to tidy.
Powerfist - I replaced the fingers with mini rokkits from flash gitz spare bits.
Meltalauncha - simply a shoota end cut off and a melta bomb attached with some flaring, intended to be like a disc launcha.
Rokkit-throwa and aiming axe - simply bombs strapped to the boyz arm that holds a stikkbomb, then an axe with target finder.
The backpack - simply deffcopta rokkits on a backpack with some tubes from pistols as the triggers.


This is a really poor image, but in my gallery you can see them individually.

I always run 10 in a Battlewagon. 1 nob and 1 tankhammer (cuz that's what's in the kit) and 2 bomb-squigs.

I move the battlewagon up slowly, taking shots at anything in range. Then mid to late game, they jump out and charge anything that let's me get close enough. They always do well over the course of a game, but some turns they do nothing. That's the world of 5's to hit.

 koooaei wrote:

 grendel083 wrote:

 Clang wrote:
So no one likes the idea of a few bomb squigs as defence for a tankbusta mob wanting to avoid close combat?

How is a squig defence from close combat?

they look dangerous to hang around?

I meant to discourage or repel a close combat attack - tankbustas are an attractive target to fast close combat specialists, and if such a unit was running towards my bustas, I'd like to be able to 'shoot' squigs at them, rather than trust to my BS2 shooting. (Presuming they're not in a vehicle, in which case rokkits might be a better way to blow up the vehicle and hopefully some of the passengers.)

Solar Shock wrote:
These are mine,

All converted from boyz, the only non-GW stuff is a bit of plasticard and some rockets from a load of airfix (my grandad has loads so i get him to give me spare bombs and such).
However easily done if you have some spare bits lying about. As mentioned the finecast can be a little expensive.

Ideas if you need any;
Dual rokkit pistols - cut the barrel down and remove the ammo, leaving like an L shape, you can then put a rokkit in there and a little GS magic to tidy.
Powerfist - I replaced the fingers with mini rokkits from flash gitz spare bits.
Meltalauncha - simply a shoota end cut off and a melta bomb attached with some flaring, intended to be like a disc launcha.
Rokkit-throwa and aiming axe - simply bombs strapped to the boyz arm that holds a stikkbomb, then an axe with target finder.
The backpack - simply deffcopta rokkits on a backpack with some tubes from pistols as the triggers.

This is a really poor image, but in my gallery you can see them individually.

You've given me the best idea for them now! Convert them from storm boys and just replace the bottoms of them with regular legs, cut off the wings, and hey presto, you have tankbusters with big rokkits on their backs!

Although I have a feeling Koooaei might hate me for not using Stormboys for their namesake

Sketchyfk wrote:

You've given me the best idea for them now! Convert them from storm boys and just replace the bottoms of them with regular legs, cut off the wings, and hey presto, you have tankbusters with big rokkits on their backs!

Although I have a feeling Koooaei might hate me for not using Stormboys for their namesake

Id LOVE to see that! In fact I have a box of stormboyz.... and I could always add a tankbusta to the squad....
Although, in general I thought the point was to save pennies, aka using boyz stormboyz dont save no pennies!

Sketchyfk wrote:

Although I have a feeling Koooaei might hate me for not using Stormboys for their namesake

Oh, no worries, mate! Me'z ork and orks don't hate nothin'. Orks just love. Dey love to stomp 'eadz!!!

BTW, awesome bustas!

 Rismonite wrote:



Bomb squigs can be great for guaranteeing some hits in close.

fired 9 bomb squigs, rolled all 1's. Nothing in 40k is guaranteed.

You recon running smaller TB squads in Trukks have their merits? Or is a BW almost always preferred? A TB filled BW is one hell of a target, but I also think that Trukks simply break too fast to hold your anti-tank units. Maybe I am wrong, though.

Also, anyone considered running TB in Warkoptas? They can scout and are more survivable than a Trukk with more (reliable) Dakka.

 Trade_Prince wrote:
Also, anyone considered running TB in Warkoptas? They can scout and are more survivable than a Trukk with more (reliable) Dakka.

They can't Scout.
But yes, I'd really like to run them, more durable than a Trukk due to Jink. But when they do get hit, they go down!

Only issue is that 67 quid price tag. I am too lazy to scratch build them when I could just use a Trukk. But I am still not convinced if those are worth running as opposed to, say, Koptas.

Gunwagon
60 pts AV13,12,10.Your not always looking for it be fast, just cheap and tough, You Can take in a squadron, 2 for the price of one BW, and gives you a buffer tank, which if closer to the enemy the hits are on first. AV 13 is substantial to being able to withstand higher volume mid str shots much better whist providing 3 extra HPs to chew through.

Warkoptas in a squadron work the same way, but fast, can jink and probably good for a unit or two of shoota boys, like DE gunboats basically but orky!

also if the warkoptas are charged, every unit embarked gets overwatch as you are charging the unit overall. Same for all transport squadrons.

How about attaching a mek or two to the 'busta unit? Get some Tank Hunter rerolls on those AP2 KMBs!

 SkrawnyNob wrote:
How about attaching a mek or two to the 'busta unit? Get some Tank Hunter rerolls on those AP2 KMBs!

Doesn't the HQ slotless meks require you to attach them to troops and artillery first, so can work, but you'd need to bring enough HQs to bring enough meks, with troops + artillery < amount of meks, thus allowing you to attach them to TB's? Otherwise tank hunter on the KMB could be sweeeet.

Solar Shock wrote:

 SkrawnyNob wrote:
How about attaching a mek or two to the 'busta unit? Get some Tank Hunter rerolls on those AP2 KMBs!

Doesn't the HQ slotless meks require you to attach them to troops and artillery first, so can work, but you'd need to bring enough HQs to bring enough meks, with troops + artillery < amount of meks, thus allowing you to attach them to TB's? Otherwise tank hunter on the KMB could be sweeeet.

Not Troops, Infantry.
You attach them to any Infantry or Artillery units. Not problem with them going into Tank Bustas

Ahh thanks Grendel, in that case I may give that a try! nice to add a couple AP2 punches into those rokkits. Good for potentially adding some explode results rather than just wrecking.

I run them as a full pack of 15, and either drop them into a Battlewagon, or use them defensively in some form of cover. I'll also add a Pain Boy more often then not. 15 Tankbustas with Rokkits and FnP are remarkably durable, with enough dakka to get the job done.

Hammers are pretty much useless
Bomb squigs are cool just in case you need an extra three shots to finish off a vehicle... But otherwise not particularly valuable.

Solar Shock wrote:
These are mine,

All converted from boyz, the only non-GW stuff is a bit of plasticard and some rockets from a load of airfix (my grandad has loads so i get him to give me spare bombs and such).
However easily done if you have some spare bits lying about. As mentioned the finecast can be a little expensive.

Ideas if you need any;
Dual rokkit pistols - cut the barrel down and remove the ammo, leaving like an L shape, you can then put a rokkit in there and a little GS magic to tidy.
Powerfist - I replaced the fingers with mini rokkits from flash gitz spare bits.
Meltalauncha - simply a shoota end cut off and a melta bomb attached with some flaring, intended to be like a disc launcha.
Rokkit-throwa and aiming axe - simply bombs strapped to the boyz arm that holds a stikkbomb, then an axe with target finder.
The backpack - simply deffcopta rokkits on a backpack with some tubes from pistols as the triggers.

Hey, they're cool conversions Mine were alot more basic than that lol, all I did was cut the rokkits off the combi-rokkit weapons in the Nob kit and stick them on the end of Sluggas to create a Rokkit Pistol. In their other hand I grabbed some extra arms holding the tank-bomb bitz off ebay, to have a Rokkit Pistol in one hand and a tank-bomb in the other. Mix them in a with few of the actual boyz with rokkit launchers, and a Nob with a rokkit pistol and tank-bomb and it's a cheap easy way to have 10 man Tankbusta unit.

Def put them in a wagon or something more durable. I mean, if you run them in trukks, they will get rekt real fast. From my experience, my opponent, always, always target the tankbustas and my MANz missile first. Since tankbustas make great MEQ/vehicle/tank hunter, they are a top threat. Especially if something moving 24 inches a turn and can dish out a dozen str 8 ap 3 hits. Trukks are cheap, but explode easy in turn 1 if unlucky. The last game I played, my tankbustas' trukk got rekt and failed pinning/morale/mob and ran off the table edge in TURN ONE!

 fr3ddy wrote:
. The last game I played, my tankbustas' trukk got rekt and failed pinning/morale/mob and ran off the table edge in TURN ONE!

Their prized trukk gets wrecked... they have a look around.... everyone else is speedin towards da fight.... " dis' boyz,"

I have seen some orks with what look to be modern day military bazookas around, but I am not sure where the bits come from. Anyone know what I am talking about. I thought they were kromlech, but I dident see them for order in their weapons page.