40k SN Battle Report: Iron Warriors vs Blood Angels
SN Battle reports brings you another great battle report! Into the jaws of hell, Flew the Blood Angels.
Bolters to the right of them, Bolters to the left of them, Bolters in front of them, Volley’d and thunder’d; Storm’d at with shot and shell, Boldly they flew and well, Into the jaws of hell, Flew the Blood Angels.
Quinto rammed the oversized control column to the left with a force that would have snapped a mortal’s spine clean in two. Bellerophon responded instantly, executing a sharp roll that removed the Stormraven Gunship from the trajectory of the death dives of its Heldrake foes at the last minute, their daemonic wails evincing their frustration at their stubborn preys sudden deliverance from their outstretched claws. A binary blurt from XG-68 alerted Quinto to the fact that his sharp manoeuvre had deprived the ventral lascannon turret of its line of sight to the targets. That would soon change. This unequal aerial duel had gone on for far too long. The blood of the Angel flowed through Quinto’s veins, the sky was his birthright. Bellerophon’s armoured wings as much an extension of himself as his gene-sires majestic white pinions. To cede control of the heavens to this warp-spawned filth was unconscionable. The tables would be turned. Prey would become predator. Punching Bellerophon’s engines into maximum thrust and forcing her nose down to gather speed, Quinto sought to gain distance from his foe and also speed. Speed, as the ancient Terran fighter ace saying went, was life in a dogfight. The spattering of Hades autocannon shells impacting against the stormravens stern was the signal Quinto had been waiting for. Hauling back on the control column with all his trans-human might and slamming the air-brakes on, Bellerophon’s machine spirit protesting all the while as various warning claims went off simultaneously, the Stormraven executed a vertical stall-turn of such violence that a human crew would’ve had their insides turned to mulch. It payed off. For a second that seemed to stretch to infinity all three Heldrakes seemed to sit motionless, perfectly aligned with Bellerophon’s hull mounted multi-melta. Quinto’s classical features split into a feral smile as he depressed the firing stud. The middle Heldrake screamed as it disappeared in a cloud of super-heated vapour. Not allowing himself a second to savour his kill, Quinto accelerated to full power and scissored Bellerophon on to her right side through the fireball that marked the passing of the recently downed Heldrake, avoiding the outstretched claws of the remaining two by mere inches, erupting out of the explosion’s far side trailing residual fire from its wing tips. Quinto knew that in three maybe four more manoeuvres the two other aerial abominations would join their now expired kin.
The Stormraven reversed its right turn, initiated a climbing left bank allowing a clear line of fire for its dorsal lascannons… Lord Commander Dante’s stentorian tone cut through the aerial ballet via vox: “Bellerophon, air support and reinforcement required. UNLEASH THE DAMNED.” All thought of their duel was erased from Quinto’s mind. The Lord of Angels had bid him entrance. He would not be found wanting. The Heldrakes forgotten, the Stormraven lit its afterburners and pushed its nose into a vertical dive, punching into the ugly, thick haze of cloud that obscured the battle below. With some apprehension, Quinto opened the internal vox to his deadly cargo, the sound of slurred and unhinged voices reciting the fourteenth Canticle of Detestation greeted him. “Chaplain Lemartes, two minutes to landfall.””GLORY TO THE ANGEL! WE WILL BRING DEATH TO THE ARCH TRAITOR’S DOGS THIS DAY! FOR THE EMPEROR AND SANGUINIUS! DEATH! DEATH!” Quinto cut the vox feed lest their madness infect him too. His mission now was to insert these frenzied warriors into the heat of the battle below. If Dante had sanctioned their unleashing then the contest must be fire indeed. Bellerophon erupted through the bottom layer of cloud still accelerating in its vertical dive. Quinto quickly took in the vista before him. A fortress swarming with steel and blood-tinted figures, melee and large ordinance detonations, the dark earth covered in a carpet of his fallen brothers. The rage that poisoned the hearts of all the sons of Sangunius bore bitter fruit then, driving Quinto into a paroxysm of battle lust. With a deftness that even other Astartes pilots would have marvelled at, he angled Bellerophon’s nose towards the vindicator that dominated the centre of the Iron Warrior’s line whilst still plummeting towards the earth at subsonic speed. Alarm claxons wailing, Quinto waited until his innate flight instincts kicked in, hitting the retro-burners and pulling back on the stick with all his might in a manoeuvre that would have been deemed reckless by most, sublime by a learned few. The violence of the deceleration was horrific, losing six hundred knots of air speed in a scant two hundred yards of vertical travel, levelling off a few feet above the ground in a welter of jet wash and battle field debris. The multi-melta sounded its might roar again, immolating the hapless traitor tank. As this was transpiring, the assault ramp was lowered and Lemarte’s Death Company lept out into the fray on wings of fire. So Lord Commander Dante had bidden it. So had it been done.
Deployment: Custom Deployment
Points: Blood Angels – 2500pts
Iron Warriors – 2100pts + Fortification
(Blood Angels) Special Mission – for every defence line passed by units at the end of the game Blood Angels score victory points depending which line they have passed (more explained later on)
(Iron Warriors) Purge the Alien
Librarian: Psyker (Mastery Level 2); jump pack
Sanguinary Priest: bolt pistol; jump pack
9 Tactical Marines: flamer; heavy flamer; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant (combi-flamer)…
• Rhino
9 Tactical Marines: flamer; heavy flamer; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant (power weapon)
• Rhino
5 Sanguinary Guard: inferno pistol; chapter banner
9 Assault Marines: 2× meltagun; jump packs; + 1 Veteran Sergeant (plasma pistol; power weapon; melta bombs)
Stormraven Gunship
Commander Dante
Sanguinary Priest: power weapon; bolt pistol; jump pack
Sanguinary Priest: power weapon; bolt pistol; jump pack
Raphen’s Death Company: + 1 Raphen
4 Scouts: missile launcher; + 1 Scout Sergeant
Lemartes
Chaos Lord in Terminator armour: lightning claw; sigil of corruption; Veterans of the Long War; Mark of Nurgle
9 Chaos Space Marines: plasma gun; heavy bolter; Mark of Nurgle; Veterans of the Long War; + 1 Aspiring Champion (plasma pistol; power fist); icon of vengeance
• Chaos Rhino
9 Chaos Space Marines: plasma gun; heavy bolter; Mark of Nurgle; Veterans of the Long War; + 1 Aspiring Champion (plasma pistol; power fist); icon of vengeance
• Chaos Rhino: havoc launcher
9 Chaos Space Marines: plasma gun; heavy bolter; Mark of Nurgle; Veterans of the Long War; + 1 Aspiring Champion (plasma pistol; power weapon); icon of vengeance
Helbrute: power fist; power fist (combi-bolter)
Helbrute: twin-linked lascannon; power scourge
Helbrute: twin-linked lascannon; power scourge
3 Mutilators: Mark of Nurgle; Veterans of the Long War
Heldrake
Heldrake: baleflamer
Would you look at that! Awesome! Today we bring you an epic Battle Report! Steven and Steven (yes we have 2) were discussing the fluff of the Iron Warriors and how good they were at defending and building fortifications… one thing led to another and suddenly there was a challenge! Could the Iron Warriors defend their fortification against assault specialists the Blood angels??? Game on!!!
Mission Victory Point Zones for the Blood Angels Reminder the Iron Warriors mission is simply Purge the Alien awarding them 1vp for every unit slain.
Here is a better and closer picture of the amazing battle field we will be playing on. Brilliant work by our friends at JMD Scenery who will also be sponsoring our No Retreat 2 event next month with two new awesome boards! The Blood angels will deploy behind the fence approaching the fortress from that table edge. No units on any side may deepstrike in this mission. The Iron Warriors deployment zone will be all 4 boards on the fortress side they will also be deploying first, there will then be a roll off to see who starts after both armies have finished deploying. This is so cool! Excited???
Ok here we go! The Iron Warriors start deploying in a defensive position hoping to get first turn and thin the red line down a bit. The attackers have 500pts extra due to the Iron warriors having the fortified position. Love these models painted by Bandua Wargames
Here is a different view of the finished deployment. The defence is led by two Hellbrutes which could be assaulted on first turn, Second line is a Chaos lord and two units of Fearless Marines. Lets see how this goes!
It’s the Blood Angel boy’s turn to deploy. On the left we have Lawrence the artist who painted the awesome Blood Angel force and on the right Steven G the level 3 Tactician, level 4 Fluff Master, level 5 Bard and level 6 Beard Wearer. With not a lot of deployment zone its just a matter of what units go on either side. They did deploy their death company but later on decided to leave it in reserves in the Stormraven. Also a great view of the defence line on the Iron Warriors side.
The Angels start to deploy as close to the deployment zone as possible creating a red line all across the board. It looked great!
The Blood Angels deploy their Scouts behind enemy lines giving an instant 2vp …if they survive the game that is….
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) ….and with a great toss of the dice Steven and his Blood Angels win the first turn. Lets do this! Steven immediately starts to move his assault marines forward unto the breach. Very important first turn for both players as the Blood Angels need to hit hard and the Iron Warriors need to hold the first line as much as possible.
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) Loving this picture! You can really feel the advance of the Blood Angels as Steven moves his forces forward ready to assault and fire all they have at the hazard striped scum. Both rhinos have also moved flat out. Great sight of what the Iron Warriors would see at this exact moment as they ready their guns to fire.
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) Dante the man himself leads the charge forward! Librarian and Sanguinary Priest close by for some extra support. This will pack a punch when (if?) they hit in combat.
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) The assault squad on the left flank fire their meltaguns at the fierce Hellbrute but luckily for Steven (again sorry for confusion as each armies leader is called Steven hey even I have difficulties!) one of the Melta Guns fail to hit and the second one only glances removing a Hull point off the mechanical beast.
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) On the other side things aren’t so lucky as this time both Melta Guns hit and manage to blow the Hellbrute into smithereens! Painful to see such gorgeous models removed from play and I really wanted to see this Hellbrute in assault action with his two power fists! But on the plus side I get to say smithereens…
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) Both Rhinos and all the rest of the units that are not in charge range fire at the Squad on the first floor managing to kill 2 Marines. Now time for the assault phase…. Bolters to the right of them, Bolters to the left of them, Bolters in front of them, Volley’d and thunder’d; Storm’d at with shot and shell, Boldly they flew and well, Into the jaws of hell, Flew the Blood Angels.
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) The assault squad pile into the damaged Helbrute hoping to glance the walker to death with some krak Grenades if not it will have to be the Sergeant and his melta bomb to step up and lay the machine to rest.
Turn 1 (Blood Angels) Striking at +1 initiative from the Baal Strike force proves deadly for the Iron Warriors Hellbrute as they strike first and wreck the Walker with too many Krak Grenade glances even though the Power Scourge did -3WS to the unit.
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) With no more assaults in range Steven G passes the tape measure to Steven P to start his first Turn. Not a very powerful first turn from the Blood Angels and a lot to hit back with from the Iron Warriors shame to see two Helbrutes destroyed, really wanted to see these things in combat. Well there’s always a next time…. The Mutilators move forward into the Red tide, will they prove their points???
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) The Nurgle Marked Lord detaches himself from the Marine unit and moves towards the Assault squad! Fearless sight! “I will have to do this myself”
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) With most of the Iron Warrior units staying in a defensive position Steven starts his shooting phase first using the Burning Brand of Skalathrax on the Assault squad killing a total of 5! That ap3 flame is deadly and so cool! A must take!
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) KABOOM!!! The Vindicator fires its deadly large blast at the Sanguinary Guard but some very nice cover saves sees only one removed with 2 Assault marines from the Squad beside Remember no FnP rolls due to the double strength 10! KABOOM INDEED!
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) The Fearless Iron Warriors squad fire down at the incoming red tide killing 1 assault marine and in typical 40k Fashion the plasma gun explodes killing one Chaos Marine. That’s what you get when you don’t service your weapons in 10,000 years! Hahaha!
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) Havoc Launcher Blast directly hits the assault squad killing none as power armour proves strong this time around. Quite a nice little extra on the rhino S5 AP5 blast twin linked is pretty smart!.
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) Well that was easy…. The Lord annihilates the assault unit in combat with rerolls to hit (Veterans of the long war) and rerolls to wound (Shred) and attacking first removing the last 4 Marines and consolidating forward 4 inches. Epic Receives no reward on the boon table sadly. Bring me more foes, these are broken!
Turn 1 (Iron Warriors) The Mutilators also assault in and opt to use the deadly marine killer lighting claws as well as hitting at the same time the Assault marines fail to wound after wound after wound are saved by Steven’s tough 2+ save. The mutilators in return wreak havoc as they easily slay 3 Marines. The Blood Angels fail their morale check and fall back 3D6. Luckily the Mutilators can’t sweeping advance.
Turn 2 (Blood Angels) Strike from the skies!! The Blood Angels reserves come in straight away becoming a major headache. again I have to say such a cool paint job by Lawrence our paint monkey slave, I mean artist in residence…..
Turn 2 (Blood Angels) Once more into the breach dear brothers once more! The assault squad moves closer to the Vindicator hoping to this time stop it in its tracks before it fires its deadly large blast once more. Awesome picture!
Then we spent about 45min listening to this bearded legend teach us about why the Horus Heresy is so cool! Thanks for the lesson Mr Fluff! Always so cool to get a Warhammer History lesson.
Turn 2 (Blood Angels) The Assault squad that lost a combat last turn move up again towards the Mutilators hoping to this time do better.
Turn 2 (Blood Angels) Dante and his squad move up towards the Chaos Lord who has just burned and shredded an assault squad. I can just imagine the blood bath around that lord. Look at that paint job! wow! “For The Emperor and Sanguinius!”
Turn 2 (Blood Angels) After forgetting about them on the first turn (As they were so well hidden!) Steven fires upon the Iron Warriors on the Wall with the scouts but fails to remove any from play. This squad is now sitting in a 2pt zone; will other Steven target them in the next Phase?
Turn 2 (Blood Angels) The newly entered Storm Raven fires all it has at the Vindicator but luckily it has some cover saves as 25% is obscured as seen in the picture. The lascannon shot is saved but the Melta Shot goes through blowing up the Tanks primary weapon and removing a hull point. That’s devastating for the Iron Warriors as that Weapon was very important for them to remove the punch of the goody two shoes marines.
See the full Battle Report Here for the exciting conclusion and remember to subscribe!
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