Actual Macharian Thunderguard on Devos IV Part 2

The Lancers meet the only real point of resistance during the whole engagement, the Ogryn. 

The DKK Ulhans attack the Ogryn from the other flank.  The paucity of witches on the platform above is not due to the valour of the Iggies but by their fellows being consumed by their own blasphemous majik.  (gotta love scatter dice, they took a chunk out of one DKK troop and then dealt themselves 55% casualties the next turn - "play stoopid games, win stoopid prizes"...)

Storm Troopers from the 16th Elysian DTR tactically insert into the 'Hot LZ' (although all of the fire is being directed at the cavalry already on engaged).  Coincidentally, there is flash of warpy brimstone as a rage of Word Eater Terminators also arrive to contest the Thunderhawk, fortunately on the other side of it.

When the World Eaters arrive so does a valiant member of the Holy Ordos Hereticus, to lead and support the nearby Cadian FS Plt.  Who promptly open fire on him, not knowing who he is.  Fortunately no damage was done.

World Eater Terminators  They got a bit closer to the objective, but then I suppose they're less risk averse then carapace armoured normal men on grav chutes, as demonstrated by their method of arrival.  "A Rage" is the best collective noun I could come up with. 

The Inquisitor prepares to face the foe, who fortunately have their reaper cannon armed man at the other end of their unit.  Nice to see the Cadians sticking to their tactical doctrine and keeping adequate distance between them and the enemy.

The mounted grenadiers (Dragoons ?) doing their famous widths of the pool.

See the sweat, the frothing at the bits, smell those horses.  (They're Chaos Marauder horses because they are butcher and altogether more, um, manly than the usual 'empire' horses.  A lot of the Macharian Thunderguard are on these, all with the the chaos iconography carefully scrapped off.  Those reins are retrofitted so that they go to the riders hands, the lances on the lancers are amazing as well)

And here we see the endgame, the DKK commissar challenges the PDF commander and defeats him, gaining a prisoner for the =I= to question later.  Once all of the PDF were finally vanquished, the World Eaters reflected on their position and sough alternative employment elsewhere, leaving the securing of the Thunderhawk crash site as a famous Imperial Victory. 

Rigged for demolition, the Thunderhawk was denied (to the enemy) a few hours later.

This Battle was brought to you by WH 5th Edition and sponsored by Col Ackland, and Australian temporarily resident in Sweden. 

Actual Macharian Thunderguard on Devos IV Part 1

A Thunderhawk has crashed.  The causes have not been transmitted to the local IG - enemy fire, mechanical failure, pilot error, who knows ? Also whose Thunderhawk is it ?  Black Templars ? or following the rumours it might be Vilya Fenryka or even Relicators.  Perhaps even an Inquisition one. 

It has, however, come down smack bang in front of separatist defences on the northern edge of Xyphonica.  Falling between the 72AG and 3422AG the Thunderguard are detailed to secure the crash site and assist engineers re-tasked from 569 Div (Armd Engrs attached to the Hrossey Yeomanry) to deny the wreckage to the enemy.

Separatist defences are formidable;  dug in regular troops with plenty of mortar, HMG, Auto cannon and Quad Gun support.   

DKK Uhlans form part of the Cavalry force.

Along with Lancers from the Thunderguard.

And a detachment of Penal soldiers from the Cadian 24th.

The cavalry advance across the table.  Their speed largely takes the defenders by surprise. (those grenadiers you can see with the guidon [pendant] were doing widths of the table like it was a swimming pool).

Col Ackland signals the charge, his first order of the day.

The DKK Uhlans are overcome with enthusiasm.

The defender's view.  By now, it's already looking to me like the first order will carry the day (see what I did there ?) not a good day for freedom.

Soldiers from 1/99 Devos IV PDF "the Bloodcoats".

Prepared positions.  Heavy Stubber teams open up on the armoured cavalry and their augmented mounts.  Massive mortar and Thud Gun barrages ensue.  Fast, tough and a little bit more special than the Separatist high command had anticipated, the Thunderguard's casualties are unexpectedly light.

When they reach the rebel soldiers, carnage ensues and victory is eventually almost total. Even the penal troops make the mortar positions and add to the melee.

The Thunderguard will go around the edge of the bunker walls, their speed and manoeuvrability allowing them to charge the PDF wherever they are. 

You can't see from here, but there is a FS plt form the Cadian 24th in support, keeping up auto cannon, mortar and missile fire throughout.  Those dug in Quad Launchers are targeted with AT missiles - the air around those positions is thick with flying sandbags as porsche after porsche is fired into them.

28mm 40K imperial fighter on KS

Here !

Looks good, multiple airframes on offer...

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