Interestingly enough, this is only one of my few games against the Space Marines, including their various sub-factions. Definitely a fun game - my opponent mentioned they would bring a few vehicles so I decided to bring all of mine (minus a couple of sentinels). Not that I have that many, but it was still quite fun. Especially fielding a platoon of Leman Russes!
Overall this was a game where my ability to win was fatally undermined by not reading the mission properly, not being aware of the enemy capabilities, and therefore not leveraging some other abilities I could have used such as redeploying more units with Lord Solar. Thus, as you’ll see, we don’t do so great - though still got a decent amount of points at least!
Definitely a few lessons learned from this battle:
Read the mission rule properly. I misread the key part of the mission, which was taking the objectives in no mans land would provide double points if a Character model was on it. Alas, I had multiple Characters (Lord Solar, Cadian Command Squad, Techpriest Enginseer, and a Tank Commander), and grouped them all together. I would have had a much better chance of winning had I not made this mistake!
Eradicators are dangerous. I didn’t realise 10th still had death stars! Marneus Calgar’s squad of Eradicators was fearsome to behold. It was almost like they could point at my tanks and just press delete. I will not make that mistake again. The lesson here isn’t so much Eradicators themselves, but being more aware of enemy capabilities.
First turn is nice, but risky. Going first on this sort of mission - with two very snooty armies - was risky. I had to expose my forces in an attempt to take objectives, and overall I paid the price when he was able to advance with his Eradicators, and his Redeemer, and get to work dismantling my armour.
As always, the intrepid Lt. Spade has noted down the brave exploits of the Vilnius 39th in this after action report…
After Action Report: Clash at the Sites of Power
Reported by: Lt. Spade, Vilnius 39th Astra Militarum
Summary Info
Date of Engagement: [REDACTED]
Location: A location referred to by locals as ‘Near The Old Town’
Commanding Officer: Lord Solar Leontus
Engaged Enemy: Ultramarines
Forces Deployed
Friendly Forces:
Lord Solar leading a unit of Cadian Shock
1x Cadian Shock platoon
1x squad of Mordian Iron Guard, mounted in a Chimera
1x squadron of Rough Riders
1x Scout Sentinel
1x Leman Russ Tank Commander, with a Demolisher
1x Leman Russ Battle Tank
1x Leman Russ Exterminator
1x Rogal Dorn
1x Techpriest Enginseer
Enemy Forces:
Marneus Calgar, leading a squad of Eradicators alongside a Techpriest Biologis
2x 5-marine squads of Assault Intercessors, led by officers and mounted in a Land Raider Redeemer
2x Gladiator Lancers
2x Scout Squads
Mission:
Our mission was to advance and control various Sites of Power in no-man's land, executing tactical objectives as they arose.
Operational Summary
Dawn of Battle and Strategic Manoeuvres
As the sun rose over no-man's land, the Vilnius 39th deployed in a defensive line formation with a strategic directive to guard our initial objectives while preparing to push towards key sites of power. Our line stretched from the left to the right flanks, aiming to secure a strong initial footing.
The enemy, deploying a robust center and a heavy presence on the right, signalled their intent to contest the territory vigorously.
First Clash and Tactical Bravado
The battle commenced with a decisive move by our Cadian Shock troops, who swiftly advanced into a set of ruins on the left flank to establish control over a vital objective. Simultaneously, our right flank became a hotbed of activity.
The Mordian Iron Guard, displaying characteristic discipline, disembarked from their Chimera to secure another strategic point on the right.
Our armour units, including the Leman Russ tanks, rolled forward to meet the enemy's advance. In the center, Lord Solar, accompanied by Rogal Dorn and a robust detail of guardsmen, anchored our forces, providing a bulwark against enemy incursions.
Chaos Unleashed and Heroic Counter
The enemy's response was swift and brutal. On our right flank, the imposing Land Raider Redeemer unleashed a devastating barrage, obliterating the Mordian Iron Guard with its superior firepower.
This aggressive move was compounded by the dismounting of two squads of Intercessors, who quickly engaged and disabled our Tank Commander's vehicle in a fierce melee.
Meanwhile, the enemy Eradicators, led by the formidable Marneus Calgar, exploited the chaos, targeting our armour and inflicting heavy damage, including the destruction of the Tank Commander.
The Tide Turns with Iron and Fire
Despite the grim outlook following the initial enemy onslaught, our forces rallied admirably in the second round. The Leman Russ Exterminator, exploiting a momentary weakness in the enemy's armour, destroyed a Gladiator Lancer with precise autocannon fire.
In the central sector, our remaining armoured units focused their firepower on the marauding Intercessors, eliminating the bulk of the threat. This successful defensive action was highlighted by a bold tank shock manoeuvre from the Exterminator, which resulted in the dramatic elimination of an enemy Captain.
Valiant Defense and Strategic Withdrawal
By the third round, the tide of battle had shifted, forcing us to adopt a more defensive stance. The arrival of our Rough Riders provided a necessary boost to the left flank, threatening enemy positions and offering a chance to reclaim momentum.
Our Cadian Shock troops, undeterred by the looming threat of the Land Raider and remaining Lancer, advanced resolutely towards the central objective.
On the right, another Leman Russ engaged the enemy Eradicators, managing to eliminate two with a well-aimed shot from its Battle Cannon, and then crush one beneath it’s iron treads in close combat.
However, the enemy's relentless advance culminated in the destruction of Rogal Dorn by the Eradicators' potent melta weaponry, significantly impacting our operational capacity.
Strategic Withdrawal and Regrouping
Recognizing the precariousness of our position, and with casualties mounting, command decided on a strategic withdrawal.
This decision allowed us to preserve our remaining forces for a potential future engagement, focusing on regrouping and reassessing our tactical approach to better face the relentless Ultramarine advance in subsequent encounters.
Casualties
Significant losses were sustained, including the Rogal Dorn, Mordian Iron Guard, and significant damage to our tanks, which will require significant cycles to repair, replace, and recrew. There were acceptable losses to the infantry, but reinforcement will also likely be necessary.
Recommendations
Improve command communication to ensure all units are aware of mission-critical objectives.
Increase anti-armor capabilities to counter enemy mechanized units more effectively.
Evaluate the effectiveness of our reconnaissance tactics and adjust to enhance battlefield awareness.
Conclusion
The Vilnius 39th faced a formidable Ultramarines force, demonstrating courage and resilience. Despite setbacks, the strategic withdrawal allows us to fight another day, learning from this encounter to strengthen our resolve and tactics.
Overall, whilst it was overall a loss, it was nonetheless a fun encounter! I will see if I can get a rematch against this force… vengeance will be mine!
Thanks for reading as always, and stay tuned for the latest hobby update.
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