Batrep: Imperial Guard vs Imperial Guard

The enemy within

2000 points battle

Army Lists

184th Cadian

Third playtest with the Army List Heavy Armour v1.0

Andy's Imperial Guard

HQ

Company Command Squad w/ Heavy Bolter

Troops

Veteran Squad w/ 3 Meltaguns, Demolitions
Veteran Squad w/ 3 Plasma Guns, Demolitions
Platoon Command Squad w/ Heavy Bolter
*Infantry Squad w/ Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter
*Infantry Squad w/ Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter
*Infantry Squad w/ Grenade Launcher

Fast Attack

Vendetta Gunship
Vendetta Gunship

Heavy Support

Ordanance Battery:
*Basilisk
*Basilisk
Leman Russ Squadron:
*Leman Russ Battle Tank w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons
*Leman Russ Battle Tank w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons
*Leman Russ Battle Tank w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons
Leman Russ Squadron:
*Leman Russ Executioner w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons
*Leman Russ Executioner w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons

Mission and deployment

Mission: The Crusade (4 objectives)
Deployment: Dawn of War
We rolled and i deployed the first objective and table side, but my opponent won the roll off and deployed first
Night fighting was not in effect for turn 1.

Ok, the table is quite flat in the middle, and there are plenty of fire lanes despite the scattered wrecks and hills on the table. I've secured the only piece of LOS blocking terrain, which will be a perfect hideout for my Manticore. Plus, with my Aegis defence line, i can basically get cover for every model, which is always good.

My opponent list is even more off balance than mine, despite being quite similar. 5 AV14 vehicles are HUGE and will be a pain to crack. Also, with 2 basilisk I'm facing a very big number of large blasts, and i need to deploy accordingly. I will never be able to silence all of them, so i'd be better off ignoring them altogether. Primary targets: the basilisk. they'll murder my infantry ignoring my aegis line cover and they'll be a pain for my vehicles too, expecially the manticore.

I'm afraid this game will be seriously favoured from who gets the alpha strike... Thanks to the Emperor, I rolled to seize and got a 6! The 184th stolen the initiative and will open fire first. I let out a HUGE sigh of relief.

The Battle

Deployment

My opponent deployed first and castled his infantry and artillery in the top left corner of the map, garrisoning the ruined building and the objective inside it. This will be my main focus for the early turns for two reasons: 1. the game is won by scoring infantry, and his only resilient infantry presence is in this corner (the airborne veterans will be easily dispatched after disembark since they'll be nicely clumped together); 2. I haven't enough firepower to reliably and quickly destroy or disable FIVE av14 vehicles, so i'd be better off destroying the scoring units and just weathering the incoming retaliation from the tanks.

Therefore, I deployed my tanks straight ahead to the enemy stronghold and far away from enemy tanks. My infantry is either out of LOS or behind the Aegis, and the manticore is safely hidden behind the hill.

I usually combine my squads, expecially against a non-assault enemy where my Regimental standard is enough to keep my units on the board. This time though, I fear that i'll be going to ground a lot of times to save 3x large blasts and 6x small ones with 18 heavy bolter shots, and I don't want to waste an order just to get up and fire again with 40 men. With multiple squads, i can safely afford to go to ground and leave them there for one turn without a sensible loss in my firepower anyway. Also, in the worst case of bad save rolls, focused fire on a unit would be simply overkill.

Introduction

Blessed is the mind too small for doubt

Traitors... Enemies everywhere... Who can you trust? Who is sane, and who is corrupted? Your brethren is plotting against you, attack first, attack swiftly, leave none alive...

37th Frysean Armored Regiment HQ
Colonel Vankyle:"Captain, the 184th Cadian regiment has betrayed the Emperor's light. I've got proofs about suspicious movement and reinforcement requests which are unusual."
Captain Utler:"Uh, sir, are you sure about that? The 184th has always served dutifully and..."*BANG*
Col. Vankyle:"Anybody else willing to discuss my orders?"

184th Cadian Regiment HQ
Scanner Operator:"Sir, did we have any notice about the relocation of the 37th Armoured towards our position?"
Surveillance Officer:"What? are they moving THE WHOLE DAMNED REGIMENT towards us?"
Scanner Op.:"This is what it looks like, sir. They don't even answer our vox calls..."

They're not what they seem... They want to destroy you, you cannot allow that... You'll be an honored Colonel if you can stomp this betrayal on its early days... The truth is in your hands, don't believe what you're being told... Follow your doubts.

Turn 1 - 184th Cadian

Nobody understood why the 37th Armoured was directed towards the trenches of the 184th, but for sure they cannot move sneakily: the roar of several Leman Russes and Basilisks cannot be hidden in any way. The sun was high, and soon the sunshine reflected from the metal hulls cruising, uncovering their position.

The steel of wall was a mighty view to see, despite their betrayal. The time for preparations was running low, and the Colonel was still preparing his plan.
Colonel Wright:"We aren't prepared to withstand such an heavy number of battle tanks! If we let them crash on our lines on their terms, we don't stand a chance. First, we need to achieve artillery superiority, or the infantry will be disintegrated shortly. Second, we need to clear the enemy infantry, so we'll be allowed to surround and outmaneuver the tanks. Hopefully, we can force them to surrender and recover the heavy tanks without much damages..."

Peeking from their hideout, the Manticore's crew prepared the Storm Eagle Rockets under the supervision of a Techpriest.
Techpriest:"Praise the machine spirit, for its guidance on the rockets and its good will to prevent malfunctioning. Tend to the vehicle you've been assigned to, so it may allow you to accomplish your mission and protect it from the enemy."

Following the ritual instructions, the crew inserted the enemy artillery coordinates and the cogitator accepted them. The multiple warhead rocket went high into the sky, unleashing its payload.

Two large explosion marked the signal for the advance of the flanking attack. Rolling down from the hills, four Leman Russes opened fire against the enemy infantry which was escorting the Basilisks.

A shower of high caliber lead and self propelled, mass-reactive heavy bolter rounds pierced the lightly armoured artillery tanks and slaughtered the hapless infantry outside the ruins. Screaming for the pain, they ran into the ruins rearby, trying to protect themselves, but several plasma bursts melted the rocks and who was standing behind them.

LRXC02 vox operator"Sir, we silenced their artillery, and the infantry escort has been surprised in the open! They're scrambling for cover, but we have them in our targets."
Colonel Wright:"Good job, guardsman. Keep advancing!"

Colonel Wright:"Guardsmen! The enemy is incoming! Man the barricades, and prepare your weapons! These traitors must be destroyed!"

They knew you were coming... who betrayed you? Are there spies in your own allies? Do not have worries, everything is going according to plan, they can't even notice that...

Well, that was good. Thankfully, I seized the initiative: I really feel that this has been a real game changer. Since I have deployed the Aegis Defence Line outside my deployment zone, I had some room more to scatter away, so i can reduce the blasts effect on my infantry. The left flank advanced with all my tanks.

The lascannons missed or anyway failed to penetrate the tough av14 wall, but the manticore managed to explode one basilisk and immobilize the other one (2 warheads rolled). Since i can't afford to leave them standing, because my manticore is my most reliable weapon against the russes, the Exterminators tanks finished the last one.

The Executioners instead opened fire against the infantry outside the ruins (I focused fire who was outside cover, just to be sure) and they scored an impressive amount of kills (around 15).

A small squad which wasn't protected by the Aegis Line, ran forward alongside the hill, out of LOS by the enemy's executioners

Points count: First Blood for 184th

Turn 1 - 37th Frysean Armoured

You can't let them win, destroy the traitors... You'll be honored and powerful, you will get promoted to General...

The Leman Russ Battle Tanks spotted the Cadian armour and revved up their engine to intercept them before it was too late. Their turret slowly rotated and aimed for the exposed side armour of the advancing enemy tanks: the high explosive shells slammed into the target.

The shockwave echoed through the plains: shortly after, a thick, greasy smoke started pouring from the rightmost Leman Russ Executioner. The hatches opened, and a couple crewmen ran away: the plasma coils have been damaged by the explosions and it's not safe to wait nearby after all...

LRXC02 officer, Lieutenant Cooper:"Sir, this is LRXC02 officer. Our right track has been shattered and we cannot move without repairings. Our vox operator has been knocked out by the explosion, but we are still able to fire. The machine spirit isn't pleased, but we suppose we can cope with that for some time at least."

The infantry, the infantry is dangerous... burn them in plasma...

The enemy armour keep advancing across the field, with the right squadron heading towards the entrenched infantry, ready to shower them in plasma explosions. Heavy bolters added their angry screams to the plasma whistles, aiming to the guardsmen behind the barricade.

Sergeant Karlst:"TAKE COVER!"
The first rank of guardsmen sheltered behind the Aegis shields, which resisted the plasma fire.
Sergeant Karlst:"Is everybody ok?"

The remaining of the infantry platoon ran to cover in the ruins so it regained coherency, and the Leman Russes moved forward to close the distance. The Battle Tank squadron opened fire into the executioners, aiming for the side armor obtaining 3 glances and one penetration (my mistake here, i should have angled them better), as a result i got one wreck and one immobilized result.

The enemy Executioners opened fire against one squad behind the aegis line, scoring 17 wounds (remembered what i said about overkill in the pre-game analysis?) but the squad went to ground and i saved EVERY ONE OF THEM. It feels so great to have terminator-equivalent guardsmen!

Turn 2 - 184th Cadian

Colonel Wright:"Damn those tanks, we need more firepower! Artillery, open fire, suppress those tanks! Call in the reinforcements from the air support!"

The rocket battery extended the rituals for the new input, and soon another rocket flew towards the new target. The ordnance dropped three warheads on the enemy tanks. When the dust settled a little, the tanks were still rolling forward.

A loud jet sound crossed above the infantrymen heads: a Vendetta gunship has arrived, Its lasers fired against the main threat. The high energy beams pierced the armor of the tanks.

The leading tank, which received the most damages, slowly cranked to an halt.

Sergeant Karlst:"The air force is arrived, boys! 1 Tank gone, 4 more to go!"

Despite the damages received, the remaining Leman Russes kept firing at full effect against the remaining infantry. The high velocity bullets shattered rock and meat alike, as if there was no difference whatsoever. One by one, the traitor infantrymen got slaughtered: the firepower unleashed was so impressive that retreating was not an option, because it would have provided the autocannons a new, easier target.

Colonel Wright:"Lt. Cooper! We have identified the enemy command post. Destroy these traitors, in the name of the Emperor!"
Without moving, the immobilized tank aimed its plasma destroyer cannon on the enemy command post. The magnifying lenses shown a guard officer shouting against his men, visibly in distress: nobody in the crew shown any remorse when the plasma batteries discharged their payload on the designated target.
Lieutenant Cooper:"Kill confirmed, sir. No more enemy contacts in the target area"

Colonel Wright:"Dispatch an assault squad, we need to capture those enemy Executioners intact, or the Techpriests will put up a grudge that will take forever to resolve".

Ok, I definitely got the upper hand this turn. Only one Vendetta shows up, and, with some help from the Manticore Rocket Launcher i manage to wreck one Leman Russ and stun another one. The Executioner destroy the enemy Company Command Squad and the Exterminators whittle down again the enemy platoon which is now 5 models strong from the starting 30. The lone infantry squad assaulted the executioners (despite not having any mean to damage them in assault) to gain more inches: in a single turn that squad moved 15", which is not bad for a footslogging guardsman. I know that they will not survive the next turn and they're a simple distraction for the enemy executioners... And if they get ignored, i get closer to the enemy deployment zone, anyway.

Point count: 2 - 0 for the 184th Cadian (First blood and Slay the warlord)

Turn 2 - 37th Frysean Armoured

The plan is going forward, nobody can see that yet... The pieces are falling together perfectly...

Another Vendetta joined the battlefield, cheered by the 184th Cadian Guardsmen as it swooped above in the sky. The gunship turned on itself in mid air and the cheers immediately stop as soon as the Lascannons opened fire against the artillery emplacement hidden behind the hill.

Colonel Wright:"Traitors! Destroy them at once!"

The anti-air gun emplacement tracked the new suprise threat, trying to anticipate the flyer's position. Many autocannon shots ricocheted from the armored wings, with little effect apart from a little trail of smoke now following the Vendetta. It was not enough to down the flyer or even to prevent its strafing run: high energy beams melted and pierced the thin armor of the Manticore.

The lasers critically damaged the engine compartment, causing a chain reaction which ignited the fuel compartment: the explosion teared the vehicle from the inside out, throwing flaming debris everywhere.

Private Russel:"Look out, Sergeant!"
The guardsman thrown himself at the sergeant, pulling him to the ground while a metal shrapnel zoomed nearby *THUMP*
Sergeant Jorge:"Thank you, Russel. Russel? Oh, damn it...";
The guardsman saved the life of his sergeant, because a large debris pierced the back of his flak armor, but not his body. Blood was rushing out from the wound at an alarming rate, and his mouth was now opened in an endless, mute shout of warning.

Ok, this turn one of my opponent's Vendetta shows up from reserves, which is intercepted by the quad gun and i got a single glancing hit, and manages to pen and explode my Manticore, despite the 3+ cover save i had. Of course, it exploded the full 6" and killed 1 vox operator and 1 sergeant, which rerouted his wound to a passerby guardsman instead.
The enemy Executioners moved back 6" and plastered my decoy squad in plasma and heavy bolters shot: 17 wounds which, despite saving 4 going to ground with a 6+ save, destroyed it completely. Oh well, too bad.

Turn 3 - 184th Cadian

Colonel Wright:"Air support, keep firing on those Battle Tanks, we can handle the other gunship. Keep focus on your mission! - Infantry, Open fire against the enemy gunship! You must destroy it at once"
The heavy weapons opened fire against the fast moving enemy flyer. Several energy beams and tracing bullets pierced across the sky, but it was very difficult to aim such a fast aircraft with infantry-carried weaponry! The enemy pilot ignored these weak attempts and zoomed away in the clouds.

The Cadian flyer kept strafing the enemy battle tank, scoring another kill: only one enemy Leman Russ Battle Tank was still standing.

Lieutenant von Richt: Lieutenant, get ready to jump, we're near the launch point.
Lieutenant Huey: You heard the man, we're going to jump at the green light.
The small assault team was ready to jump and clean the enemy outpost on the hill. Their flamethrowers are loaded, and the grav chutes are turned on and ready to work, if the machine spirit agree.

My 2nd Vendetta failed to show up, not that i need it anymore but still, it's only 1 chance out of 9 that this would happen. Anyway, the game is almost over i guess: I manage to wreck another LRBT, and i proceed to finish the infantry platoon only to leave one single survivor, which for the third time in a row does not fail his morale check (again, this has a 30% probability of success)

Turn 3 - 37th Frysean Armoured

The enemy stronghold in the ruins was no more. The very ruins were, if possible, destroyed to tiny, melted pieces. Nothing was moving anymore after the incredible amount of lead and plasma delivered to the enemy fortification.

Slowly, one by one, the enemy tanks slowed to an halt and their crewmen frantically shouted their surrender across the common imperial emergency frequencies. From the ruins, a lone survivor raised a white flag, a dirty napkin tied to its lasgun.

Colonel Wright:"Look at those pathetic traitors! Looking for the Emperor's mercy, where they cannot find any. Sergeant, take every enemy survivor with your team and bring them in front of our fortification line. Get the enemy tank crews outside their tanks: tell them that if they surrender their Leman Russes, they will not be killed with the rest of their company. If they still hesitate, lie to them and promise everything they ask you. Just let them out before they damage their own tanks! We need those."

In a couple of minutes, the enemy prisoners were taken in front of the still smoking Cadian fortifications and put in line in front of Colonel Wright.

Colonel Wright:"You've committed the worst crime against the Imperium. You've attacked your fellow Guardsmen, without warning or explaination. I don't know what pushed you or your officers into this, but for sure your actions will not go unpunished! And, if you're not personally guilty of treason, INNOCENCE PROVES NOTHING! Your actions caused the loss of three mighty Leman Russes. You caused the loss of two Basilisks and one sacred Manticore. You have betrayed the Emperor's guidance, laws and will: there is only possible outcome for this! FIRST RANK, FIRE!"

Well, even his vendetta failed to show up, so i guess this even my bad reserve rolls. With nothing much else to do, he keep firing with his remaining tanks, only to achieve an immobilized result on my leading Exterminator LR (well, he's indeed lucky with his LRBT pen rolls!) and a single casualty on an infantry squad (well, 13 wounds before i went to ground!)

My opponent surrenders!

Victory to the 184th Cadian Regiment!

Post-battle analysis

Ok, objectively, I had it easy thanks to my luck while seizing the initiative. I guess it would have been VERY different if I had to resist 2 basilisk barrages, and potentially losing my own artillery. Anyway, this is a game of dice so these things happen.

Also, I'm glad i did not panic about all that AV14 i was against, and i focused on the troops. I guess that this game proved extensively once again that only a little scoring infantry presence (my opponent's list had 500 pts of infantry, 260 of which in reserve inside the vendettas) isn't going to win you any match and makes your opponent game much easier to manage. Anyway I managed to destroy 2 AV14 vehicles thanks to my Artillery and Vendettas (ok, they counted as AV13 for them, but still) which is a good result nevertheless

I'm glad that i didn't combine any of my infantry squads. This cost me a little firepower (only 2 TwinLinked Lascannons each turn instead of 4) but help my survivability a lot. I need to consider this approach, also because I didn't field any commissar.

Special mention to my aegis line. Approximatively, the squads behind would have suffered around 30 wounds, which resulted in 1 (ONE) casualty, across three turns. We can safely say that it made its points back with ease (50 pts spent saved 130 pts of infantry at least)

This game also explains what's the difference between "play to the mission" and "Kill what's big and scary". Honestly, I did sighed in relief when my opponent began firing his Battle Tanks into my own Leman Russes: my s7 tanks were basically useless after i wiped his infantry, so he decided to use them as a defensive unit instead of attacking my own troops. I guess that an advance towards my lines (to deny me the aegis cover) while blasting everything in sight with 3x large blasts would have been more effective in the long run.