Battle Missions: After Action Report

With the arrival of my shiny new copy of Battle Missions I'll start off by saying what a brilliant book if you haven't got it already go out right now and get it then come back and finish reading this. I was getting quite bored of roll and D3 for set up and then roll a D3 for Mission type to be honest although the random nature of this method is quite nice as you never know what your going to get.

Battle missions still gives you this randomness but with a lot more flavour, each mission although listed as faction specific can be played by any race quite easily in my opinion. Anyway I'll shut up, this is not a book review this is a Space Wolves battle report so lets get on with it.

My mate Cpt_Yukka came round with his Purple Tau eager for a bit of Battle Missions action and some revenge following the last game we played which was a glorious victory for the Sons of Russ.

This would be the first time I would be fielding my 1500 points Space Wolves list which is an upgrade of my 1000 point list you all saw me use at Vapnartak. So after a cup of tea and a chin wag about the new Blood Angels Codex we set up the battlefield and then consulted the Battle Missions book.

We decided to use the "Themed" method of mission selection as described in the book. Both players roll off and the winner then rolls on his race specific mission chart. A quick deice throw later and we are looking at the Tau missions as Yukka won the roll off. We then rolled a D3 and got a 1, our mission would be Vertical Envelopment.

Vertical Envelopment or "Mont'Ka" if your a Tau is the Tau Empires killing blow manoeuvre. It is a kill points mission with a set up very similar to pitched battle from the 40k rule book except you can deploy up to 9" away from the centre line. The Tau deploy first and are guaranteed first turn unless you manage to roll a 1 at the start of the game. The twist in this scenario is that the enemy cannot put any units into reserve. Any Tau units that are skimmer and put into reserve can enter play from the enemy table edge! Ouch OBEL'ing Hammerheads anyone?

Brad's 1500 Points Space Wolves Army

Ulf the Horrible
Runepriest, Jaws of the World Wolf, Storm Caller, Meltabombs, Wolf Tail Talisman

Hrothgar the Cursed
Lone Wolf, Terminator Armour, Storm Shield, Thunderhammer, Meltabombs, 2 Fenrisian Wolves

Wolf Guard Barri, Combi Melta, Powerfist
7 Grey Hunters, Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Mark of Wulfen
Rhino APC

Wolf Guard Henghist, Combimelta, Powerfist
8 Grey Hunters,Powerfist, Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Mark of Wulfen
Rhino APC

Wolf Guard Kjartan, Combimelta, Powerfist
8 Grey Hunters, Powerfist, Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Mark of Wulfen
Rhino APC

Land Speeder Typhoon, Heavy Bolter

land Speeder Typhoon, Heavy Bolter

Predator Annihilator, TL Lascannon, Sponson Lascannons

6 Long Fangs, Pack Leader, 5 Missile Launchers
Razorback APC, TL Lascannons


Yukka's 1500 Points Tau Hunter Cadre

Command Crisis Suit (Fireknife)
Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod

3 Fireknife Crisis Suits
Plasma Rifles, Missile Pods

3 Deathrain Crisis Suits
TL Missile Pods, Flamers

3 Stealth Suits
2 Marker Drones

6 Fire Warriors
Devilfish APC

6 Fire Warriors
Devilfish APC

6 Fire Warriors
Devilfish APC

Hammerhead Gunship
Rail Gun

2 Broadside Battle suits
2 Shield Drones

Deployment
I was surprised to see Yukka putting out all of his Tau onto the table to start off with. When I asked if he was going to take advantage of his special flanking rule with a smile on his face he gladly informed me he was going to deploy everything with a view of hitting me with everything he had in first turn seeing as I could not reserve anything.

The Broadsides were placed in decent cover with an excellent view of the battle field supported by some fire warriors and an empty Devilfish. On the opposite side of the field he deployed his Hammerhead again with a view of making the most of his range advantage. The ruins in the centre were occupied by the Stealth Suits and more Firewarriors whilst the unit of Deathrains were hiddenaway behind the ruins. The Fireknives deployed in support of the Hammerhead ready to send any assault packing.

It was time for me to deploy the "Boars Snout", this time with Hrothgar the Lone Wolf loping in between the formation. My Rhinos were placed pretty central all within Ulfs stormcaller range and as far forward as possible. I placed the Predator slightly behind this formation, he was deployed so that the Hammerhead and the Broadsides could draw line of sight but he would be in cover, I really did not want my Rhino's blowing up first turn. The Long Fangs took cover in a crater on my right flank with decent lanes of fire whilst I placed the Land Speeders in cover. Finally the Razorback went Hull down behind the Bastion but could still draw a bead on the Hammerhead.

I offered a prayer to Russ and the Allfather and rolled a dice hoping to roll a 1 to steal the initiative. I was rewarded with a 6, how ironic.

Turn 1
Turn 1 started with the Stealth Suits dropping two Markelights on the Predator followed by some excellent sniping from the Broadsides which immobilised the Predator and blew the turret off.

The rest of the Tau army moves aggresively towards the Space Wolf lines bringing most small arms into range. Combined Pulse rifle and Burst Cannon fire kills 3 Long Fangs whilst the Deathrains blow a Stormbolter off Henghists Rhino shaking the crew as well.

Enraged at being fire at Henghist orders his Rhino forward and he and his pack jmp out. With Bolters at the ready Henghist is about to order his pack to open fire on the fire warriors when his keen nose detects something in the upper levels of the Ruins. The Grey Hunters target the new threat and spray the top floor of the Ruins with Bolter and Melta fire, three stealth suits quickly uncloak and fall lifeless to the floor.

Kjartans pack dash forward and disembark within melta range of the Empty Devilfish, then then proceed to cause the transport to explode.

All across the field Krak missiles and Lascannon fire attempt to lock onto the Tau armour but a combination of skillful piloting and disruption pods mean no damage is caused.

Hrothgar stalks forward with his companions seeking a worthy foe.

Turn 2
The majority of the Tau army springs into action acquiring new firing positions and heading for safer cver. The Hammerhead locks onto the Razorback and turns it into a ball of flames and twisted metal with a well placed Railgun shot.

The fireknives hover forward and arc dozens of missiles into the Long Fangs' crater killing all but one.

meanwhile in the centre of the field the Deathrains jumpout of cover and flame Henghists pack casuing 18 hits. After the smoke settles one of the Grey Hunters lies dead.

Finally the Broadsides target one of the speeders and swat it out of the air with Railgun fire in an awesome display of marksmanship.

Thanks to being able to deploy further forward my Rhinos are in position to unleash Grey Hunters on various parts of the Tau army. Kjartans pack advances on the Firewarriors dug in nearby and unleash a volley of Pistol killing 5 Tau Warriors.

Ulf's pack closes in on the Broadsides, Ulf unleashes the fury of the World Wolf which swallows a whole Broadside suit, the rest of his pack open up with Bolters leaving just one Broadside standing who decides he better serves the greater Good breathing so he turns tail and runs off the board.

Henghists pack are withing charge distance of the Deathrains but some nifty screening from a unit of Loyal Shieldrones will prevent the suits from getting charged. The Grey Hunters decide to use firepower to sort the job and drop two Deathrains.

Hrothgar the Cursed finally plows through the rubble and barrels into the unit of Firewarriors lurking there. The Tau were well dug in as only two fell to the Lone Wolves charge, luckily they hold their ground meaning Hrothgar would not be subject to large doses of plasma fire next turn.

Turn 3
The Tau started turn 3 with a view of killing off my last Long Fang who still posed a threat with his Missile Launcher. The Hammerhead was the closest resource to do the job and locked onto the old Wolf with its Railgun. The solid slug hit home, glanced off the Long Fangs armour and knocked him off his feet. The Tau gunners smile turned to a snarl when he saw the Long Fang defiantly stand back to his feet, Missile launcher still in hand. Enraged at the Wolf the Hammerhead fired its bursts cannons finally finishing off the Veteran.

In the centre of the battlefield Henghists Pack were subjected to a mass of Plasma and missile fire from the ramining Tau battlesuits. The firepower was too much for the Marines armour and the pack was killed outright leaving a pile of Grey armoured bodies.

The melee in the ruins continued as Hrothgars pet wolves downed a firewarrior ripping his throat out followed by the rest of his entrails in a frenzied attack. One of the Firewarriors seized the opportunity caused by the carnage, drew his knife and drove it through a weak spot in Hrothgars Terminator armour causing a wound. Enraged at the stabbing pain Hrothgar kills all but one of the Firewarriors, with a bloodied combat knife still in his hands the Tau warriors sees his chace and flees through a small doorway out of combat towards the safety of the Fireknife suits nearby.

The Fireknife battlesuits cheered thier comrade on having safely escaped certain death against the Fenrisian. Cheers of joy soon turn to screams of horror as the door which the Firewarrior escaped from exploded outwards in a shower of debris making way for a rather angry Lone Wolf who barreled through the gap in hot pursuit. I had rolled a 6 for Hrothgars consilidation move and he made straight for the battle suits.

My turn started with an extreme act of violence as the lone Firewarrior over on the left flank was gunned down in his hoke by Kjartans pack.

The rest of the Space wolf army does little in the shooting phase as most of the Tau are either out of range or concealed.

Hrothgar bellows a mighty war cry and plows straight into the Tau commander and his comrades. Hrothgars wolves are cut down by the armoured suits but it is too little too late for the Tau commander as the last thing he see's his Hrothgars Hammer arcing high above his head. Seeing their commanders head pop like a melon is too much for the Fireknife team who decide to flee off the battlefield back to the Manta. The inner beast has truly taken over Hrothgar now as he consildates straight towards the nearby Deathtrain suit.

Turn 4
The tau are definately on the back foot by now but there is still some fight in them. The hammer head keeps up its kill streak by knocking the last Land Speeder out with a Railgun slug.

With little else to do Ulf orders the Grey Hunters to mop up the remaining Tau drones floating around the battlefield.

Hrothgar howls as he charges the Deathrain suit hoping to find an opponent to best him in combat. The Battlesuit stands little chance against the frenzied Wolf and is cut down depsite bravely attempting to stop the rampaging Space Wolf. Hrothgar then spies a squad of Firewarriors hiding in some nearby Ruins which he decides will be his next victims.

Turn 5
In what will be its final act the Hammerhead wrecks the crippled Predator claiming yet another kill. The rest of the Tau army is in flames of fleeing, having just seen the carnage caused by the Giant Space Wolf the Tau Firewarriors set to receive the charge. Levelling their Pulse rifles they unleash everything they have at the oncoming monster but it is not enough as the Fenrisian ignores the wounds caused.

Hrothgar smashes into the Firewarriors position sending stone and bodies flying in all directions. His hammer is swift and deadly killing three of the brave Tau warriors. The remainder of the squad break free of the massacre and head for safety.

It is at this point we roll to see if the game continues and we get a "1" neding the game. The final score is 10 kill points to 6 in favour of the Space Wolves, we then realise because Hrothgar failed to meet his maker he gave away a further kill point bringing the final score to 10-7.


CONCLUSION
That was a pretty decent game although it felt like a regular kill point mission due to Yukka's choice of deployment. I can see his thinking in that he wanted to bring as much firepower onto me as he could muster in the first turn. In hindsight I think he could have brought his three Devilfish on from behind and got plenty of rear armour shots with his strength 5 weaponry. I would have had to slit my force to deal with him too which would have aided the rest of his army. The Hammerhead was star of the show as it soaked up plenty of firepower and got a decent kill tally.

For me I have to say Hrothgar the Cursed won the day. I know Tau are not the close combat monsters he was made to fight but he really did plow through some units thanks to some nifty consilidation moves. My long ranged firepower did not really step up to the mark today but I think that was due to some ace Disruption pod work on Yukka's part.

As for my lists I think I'll be changing one of two things, I will probably end up giving Hrothgar a Chainfist to mince up armour more efficiently but apart from that I am fairly happy with it.

Overall I enjoyed the game and I am looking forward to playing more missions out of the Battle Missions book.

You can read the Tau's side of the battle here.