Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #25 – Blood Angels vs Orks

Welcome back ladies and Cadians, we’ve got another battle report for you today in the grim darkness of the far future. The wars in the Stulte Mors system grind on, with the Orks making planetfall against the capital. The Blood Angels have arrayed themselves among the defenders, and are ready to sell their lives to repel the greenskin invaders. Who will emerge from the firestorm?

“Roks inbound,” came the static hiss. The machine-spirits of the fortress powered up, their mighty weapons turning skyward in hungry anticipation.

“Show no mercy,” Chaplain Tueri answered, listening to the dark warriors as they growled and strained behind him. He turned to consider them once more, their freshly painted armor glowing like clotted blood in the wan light of the Thunderhawk.

“Today brothers,” he began, “you face your final battle. The enemy dares attack this world. How will you meet him?”

The Death Company roared. Tueri almost pitied the foolish Orks that would soon cross blades with his charges.

The Armies

Blood Angels 5^th Company

Blood Angels – 2,000

HQ

Chaplain: WARLORD (Heroic Bearing), Jump Pack

ELITES

Death Company Squad: five additional Death Company Marines; 1x Thunder Hammer and          Boltgun; Jump Packs

Furioso Dreadnought: Frag Cannon, Heavy Flamer, Magna-Grapple, Drop Pod transport with      Deathwind Missile Launcher

TROOPS

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines; Heavy Flamer, Flamer, Veteran Sergeant has         Combi-Flamer and Power Fist, Rhino transport

Tactical Squad: Plasma Gun, Razorback transport with Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns

Tactical Squad: Plasma Gun, Razorback transport with Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns

FAST ATTACK

Assault Squad: five additional Space Marines; 2x Meltagun, Veteran Sergeant has Power Fist

Assault Squad: five additional Space Marines; 2x Meltagun, Veteran Sergeant has Power Fist

HEAVY SUPPORT

Baal Predator: Twin Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter Sponsons, Dozer Blades

Baal Predator: Twin Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter Sponsons, Dozer Blades

Vindicator: Siege Shield, Overcharged Engines

Waaagh! Gorfang

Orks – 2,000

HQ

Warboss: WARLORD (Bellowing Tyrant), Mega Armor with Twin Shootas and Power Klaw,     Da Lucky Stikk, Attack Squig, Bosspole

Big Mek: Mega Armor with Kustom Mega Blasta and Power Klaw, Bosspole

ELITES

Tankbustas: ten additional Tankbustas; 3x Bomb Squig. Boss Nob has Power Klaw and Bosspole

Meganobz: two additional Meganobz; 2x Kombi-Skorcha, Battlewagon transport with      Reinforced Ram, 2x Big Shoota

Burna Boyz

TROOPS

Ork Boyz: twenty additional Ork Boyz; 3x Big Shoota, 26x Shoota, Boss Nob has Power Klaw   and Bosspole

Gretchin: nineteen additional Gretchin, 2x Runtherd; 1x Squig Hound

FAST ATTACK

Stormboyz: ten additional Stormboyz; Boss Nob has Power Klaw and Bosspole

Deffkoptaz: three additional Deffkoptaz; 4x Twin Rokkit Launchas

HEAVY SUPPORT

Battlewagon: Killkannon, 2x Big Shoota, Reinforced Ram

Lootas: ten additional Lootas

After Action Review

This is the most fun I’ve had with 40k in a long, long time. My opponent and I both had smatterings of good and bad in terms of fortune, but in the end it kept equaling out to keep the game close. I think his plan was superb, using the Assault Squads and Death Company from Reserve to react wherever I might arrive. His force on the table was very resilient, and hidden from my arrival to boot. This left my Tankbustas out of the fight early, and the Dreadnought provided just enough incentive to keep them bubble-wrapped, rather than rushing straight for the center. Add that final, desperate push at the end, and you have the makings of a true nail-biter. My opponent lost by missing ONE INCH on his run move in the final turn; it simply can’t get any closer than that!

Man, when those tank killas engaged, it was glorious! The cinematic of them clamping a hilariously absurd amount of explosives to the bunkers, disappearing in their own pyrotechnic display as it all came crashing down! The Meganobz also proved their worth once more, cutting through a score of Marines before it was all said and done.

The Stormboyz have always been a favorite for Planetstrike, and they aptly demonstrated why I enjoy fielding them so much. I almost wish I had more of them, so I could have dropped in a group on either flank in that first turn.

As a final note, I encourage you all to try the campaign format. It has breathed new life into our games, and allows niche situations for units like Burnas that rarely see the battlefield otherwise. Cut back from your tournament play long enough to remember what brought you to the game in the first place, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Have at it, armchair generals! We’d love to hear your thoughts. Stay tuned in the coming weeks, and the battle for Stulte Mors drags ever onward.