This was my first time engaging the Orks in quite some time, and I felt some trepidation as I knew they would be mighty in close combat! I went about this focusing on making sure I didn’t throw away units to close combat by charging in too aggressively - but of course, acknowledging that I cannot simply run forever.
I realised that I’d probably have to sacrifice my infantry to keep my tanks alive - which I guess is precisely what they are there for!
A fun game against a great opponent with an absolutely beautifully painted army.
As always, here’s the report from Lt. Spade…
After Action Report: Engagement with Ork War Horde
Reported by: Lt. Spade, Vilnius 39th Astra Militarum
Summary Info
Date of Engagement: [REDACTED] Location: War-Torn Plains, [REDACTED] Commanding Officer: Tank Commander Gallius Engaged Enemy: Ork Warband "Da Krushas"
Mission Objectives
Operation Codename: THE RITUAL
Primary Objective: Sanctify targeted areas of the battlefield in the name of the God Emperor of Mankind and prevent the Orks from corrupting these sacred locations.
Forces Deployed
Friendly Forces:
1x Tank Commander in a Leman Russ Demolisher
1x Death Korps Marshal leading a 20-man platoon of Death Korps of Krieg
10x Catachan Jungle Fighters (proxied by Cadian Shock Troopers), mounted in a Chimera
1x Leman Russ Battle Tank
1x Rogal Dorn
1x 5-man squad of Tempestus Scions (undeployed)
Enemy Forces:
2x Warbosses, each leading a mob of 10 Boyz in a Battlewagon and a Wartrukk respectively
2x squads of 10 Gretchin
1x Deffdread
1x mob of 3 Deffkoptas
1x mob of 10 Kommandoes
Deployment
The Vilnius 39th deployed primarily on the left flank. The Tank Commander, Rogal Dorn, and Leman Russ Battle Tank took positions there, ready to spearhead the assault. In the center, nestled within ruins, the Death Korps of Krieg prepared to advance and sanctify the battlefield. On the right flank, the Chimera with Catachan Jungle Fighters prepared to intercept any fast-moving threats. The Tempestus Scions remained in reserves, ready to deploy as needed.
The Ork forces positioned themselves mainly in the center, with their Battlewagon hidden behind ruins, surrounded by smaller greenskin units. On the right flank, a lightly armored Wartrukk lurked among the ruins. An enemy walker, the Deffdread, was spotted on the left, poised to challenge our armored might.
Post deployment.
That battlewagon is a work of art.
Operational Summary
Battle Round 1
Steel Advance Seizing the initiative, our forces advanced cautiously. The Rogal Dorn, supported by the Tank Commander and Leman Russ Battle Tank, moved aggressively on the left flank, engaging enemy infiltrators and reducing their numbers significantly. On the right flank, our Chimera engaged an enemy Wartrukk, inflicting light damage. Meanwhile, the Death Korps of Krieg began sanctifying a key area.
Kommandoes did a ‘Surprised Pikachu!’ face as the Rogal Dorn turned the corner.
Greenskin Maneuvers The Orks' mechanized units advanced swiftly. A Battlewagon emerged from the ruins, targeting our advancing tanks but failing to inflict damage. Its greenskins dismounted and took cover.
The Gretchin gunners take aim… and missed everything.
An enemy Deffdread was spotted advancing towards our lines on the left, while Kommandoes in the center were neutralized by overwatch fire as they attempted to ambush a Leman Russ.
Battle Round 2
Relentless Firepower Our advance continued with the Rogal Dorn destroying the Deffdread at close range. The Tank Commander obliterated the Battlewagon with its demolisher cannon.
The Rogal Dorn readied itself for a charge, but it wasn’t necessary once the smoke of its gunfire cleared…
The state of play after movement (before the Battlewagon and Deffdread had been destroyed).
On the right, the Chimera and Death Korps platoon inflicted further damage on the Wartrukk.
At this point, the lift expectancy of this platoon can be measured in minutes.
Waaaargh Unleashed! With mounting casualties, the Orks declared a Waaaargh! A damaged Wartrukk charged our Chimera, only to be destroyed by its heavy flamers.
Ork Boyz then engaged the Death Korps platoon in a brutal melee, resulting in heavy losses for our side. We lost contact with the infantry.
At this point, the life expectancy of this platoon can be measured in seconds.
Battle Round 3
Reinforcements Arrive Reinforcements arrived as another Death Korps platoon threatened the enemy's home objectives.
Surprise! They’re behind you!
The Rogal Dorn secured a sacred objective, eliminating Gretchin hiding in ruins. Our tanks focused on the central mob of Orks, but their Waaagh state made them resilient.
Airborne Assault Deffkoptas arrived from the skies, destroying our Chimera on the right flank. The dismounted Catachans were swiftly overrun by the Ork mob.
Battle Round 4
Decisive Strikes Our forces consolidated their positions. The Rogal Dorn and Death Korps of Krieg eradicated remaining Gretchin and Orks in their deployment zone.
The Leman Russ Battle Tank obliterated the Warboss with a precise cannon shot. With their leader dead and sacred objectives secured, the surviving Orks retreated.
‘FIRE!’
Casualties
Heavy losses among the Death Korps of Krieg platoon.
Complete destruction of the Catachan Jungle Fighters.
Chimera destroyed by Deffkoptas.
Recommendations
Enhance anti-air capabilities to counter aerial threats like Deffkoptas.
Increase support for mechanized infantry to mitigate heavy losses in melee.
Develop more effective strategies for dealing with Ork Waaagh resilience.
Conclusion
The Vilnius 39th Astra Militarum, through tactical precision and relentless resolve, successfully sanctified key areas and repelled the Ork incursion. Despite significant losses, our victory serves as a testament to the Emperor's will and the indomitable spirit of the Vilnius 39th.
Lt. Spade Vilnius 39th Astra Militarum
A fun game, and even through my losses were low I definitely learned to respect the melee prowess of the Orks. My infantry had the wherewithal akin to wet paper towel!
Here’s the scorecard at the end of the game. The game was called after I finished Turn 4, as it was clear the Orks had no way to recapture the majority of the primaries, or any realistic means to achieve enough secondaries to catch up.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time!
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