This battle took place as part of a stand-alone mini-camapign in 2015. It uses custom aircraft and rules that can be found in my Aeronautica Imperialis review here.
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Battle of the Hovels - Part 2 - Bombing Raid
The initial attacks on Ork positions were only marginally successful. Despite these set-backs, Mistress Merciveaux's forces were all ready in motion and phase II of the operation had begun. Part of the initial attack had Forward Operations Bases established in the planet's vast, barren wastelands while Ork eyes were focused on the Air Defense attacks.
From these Forward Bases, Hell Talon Bombers were quickly deployed to follow-up the initial raids. The intent was for the Ork Ground Defenses to be in ruins so as not to stop the oncoming bombers. However, the relative failure of these initial raids let the Orks know where the key targets of the Chaos attack were located. With surprised no longer an asset, the Chaos forces would face stiff resistance.
In a stand-up fight, Mistress Merciveaux's forces were heavily outnumbered on the ground. The bombing raids were intended to help clear the area around the warptech sites and allow her ground troops to deal with minimal resistance. Ork aircraft began to swarm in and defend the dropzones, so the bombers had to fight their way through.
Bombing Raid
Cabal of the World Walkers
1 Hell Talon
+Weapon Load
28 points
1 Hell Talon
+Weapon Load
28 points
1 Hell Hammer
+ Weapon Load
14 points
1 Hell Hammer
+ Weapon Load
14 points
1 Hell Blade
14 Points
98 points
Da' Skrapperz
2 Flakwagons
16 Points
2 Grot Bomb Launchaz
10 Points
1 Fighta
14 points
1 Fighta
14 points
1 Fighta
14 points
1 Grot Buzza
8 points
1 Grot Buzza
8 points
1 Grot Buzza
8 Points
1 Dakka Jet
+Ace- Going Ballistic
19 Points
Total= 103 Points
Set-up:
This was a continuation of the Battle of the Hovels. Therefore, we kept the Hovels and Ground Defenses set-up as the last game. The Temples are invulnerable for this mission. The goal is to eliminate as many of the smaller Ork buildings as possible, while the Orks will try to stop the destruction. Bomb hits to the area of the Hovels is all that matters.
The Chaos forces will enter on the North end of the board. The Hell Talons were to the West side of the deployment zone at medium speed and medium altitude. Next came the Hell Hammers and then the lone escort.
On the South side were the Orks. They were also mid-altitude and speed but closer to the center of the board. The Dakkajet was in the center, and they were generally staggered Fighta, Buzza, Fighta, Buzza.
Turn 1:
Initiative: Orks
Movement:
The Chaos forces all took High-G turns towards the Eastern board edge and paralleled their deployment zone. This confounded the Ork interceptors who just moved forward cautiously. They began to cluster near the Hovels.
Shooting:
None- No one was even close to being in range.
Turn 2:
Initiative: Orks
Movement:
Chaos forces began to turn and move to attack along the Eastern board edge. The Ork forces carefully turned to meet them, wary of the Chaos planes sudden speed and ability to turn. They did not want to let the Cabal of the World Walkers get behind them.
Shooting:
None. No one was in range yet.
Turn 3:
Initiative: Chaos
Movement:
The Chaos Bombers began setting up for their run at the targets moving from Northeast to Southwest. Again, the Orks were cautious about over committing to the engagement.
Meanwhile, the Ork Ace flew ahead as tempting bait to the lone Chaos Hell Blade. The brash pilot was eager to take the bait and swooped in, gunning I engine. However, it was a trap as Fighta 3 swung in to go head-to-head with the Hell Blade at close range!
Shooting:
The Hall Blade pilot realized his mistake and prayed to Tzeentch. He desperately opened fire at the oncoming Fighta knowing that if he missed, he would be dead. His prayers were answered as his Auto-cannons dissected Fighta 3 along with its pilot. First blood to Chaos!
Tzeentch be praised!
Turn 4:
Initiative: Chaos
Movement:
The Hell Talons begin their bombing runs by Power Diving. They successfully dive behind and beyond the Ork lines. The Ork Ace sweeps in from the side, and just misses the angle of attack. He had been in the right position and anticipated correctly, but he was off by seconds.
Begin your attack run now.
Meanwhile, the Grot Buzzaz and Fighta 2 try to gang up on Hell Hammer 1 while Hell Hammer 2 drops and kicks in his engines to blast by them.
One of the Grot Bomb Launchaz sends up their Grot Bomb. Brave little grot. Good luck!
Shooting:
Seeing the end coming, Hell Hammer 2 opens fire on Grot Buzza 1. His shots just sail over and through the little plane, but it continues undeterred.
Grot Buzza 2 returns the favor, and his little shootas tear through the Hell Hammer at extremely close range. The chaos plane explodes in a puff of sweet smelling incense and blue flame dragging the pilots soul to the Warp. Scratch one bomber.
Turn 5:
Initiative: Chaos
Movement:
The Hell Talons race over the Hovels. Again, the Dakkajet can't seem to get behind them and into shooting range.
Fighta and Buzza 2 try to chase after the Hell Hammer. The rest try to circle back towards the Hovels.
Shooting:
The Hell Talons unload their bombs on the Hovels and with Extra Damage do 8 hits. Pretty good for Hell Talons!
Special Delivery!
The Flakwagon to the West can barely reach Hell Talon 2 and opens fire. The shots scratch up the paint and stop the crews victory celebrations, but fail to cause any real damage.
The second Grot Bomb Launcha fires.
Turn 6:
Initiative: Orks
Movement:
The Hell Hammer tries to set-up for its dive bombing run, but Fighta 2 and the DakkaJet are bracketing him and ready to fire. The Hell Blade tries to get a shot in on Fighta 2, but can't get the right angle.
The Hell Talons wing over/Half Loop to get ready to retrace their steps out of here and maybe do a bit of dog-fighting.
Shooting:
The Dakkajet opens fire, but misses the Hell Hammer. Fighta 2 follows up and sinks a few shots into the Chaos plane, but fails to hit anything vital.
Turn 7:
Initiative: Chaos
Movement:
The Hell Talons make a break to escape, and look like they are home free. However, Buzza 2 swoops in to take a few shots at Hell Talon 2. The last Hell Hammer Power Dives over the target area, ready to saturate the Hovels with more bombs.
Meanwhile, the Ork defenders move about trying to catch any of the elusive Chaos aircraft. Buzza 1 just misses getting into position on the Hell Hammer. The Hell Blade manages to tuck into a tailing position on Fighta 2.
Shooting:
The Hell Hammer's bomb load manages to fall into the Hovels and cause two more points of damage! Huzzah for precision dive bombing!
Bombs Away!
Grot Buzza 2 opens fire on the fleeing Hell Talons, but fails to hit home. However, the grot was very satisfied with his spray of bullets.
The Hell Blade opens fire on a jinking Ork Fighta 2. However, the Ork plane is out of luck, as the auto-cannon shells chew through the junk fighter, and hit its fuel tank. The plane explodes into a sheet of flame and dives into the ground. The Ork pilot failed to eject and rode the flaming bird in.
Another kill. Glory to Chaos!
The Western Flak Wagon on the ridge opens fire on the fleeing Hell Hammer, but fails to strike home.
Grot Bomb 1 runs out of fuel and falls from the sky.
Turn 8:
Initiative: Orks
Movement:
The Hell Talons manage to disengage off the board to the South, their bomb bays empty. Hell Hammer 2 also decides to kick in the after burners and disengage, but off the Western edge. The Buzzaz and Fighta 1 try to move and cut off the Hell Hammers escape, but they are too slow.
Hell Blade 1 power dives and tries to jet off the board tot eh West at maximum speed, but can't make it.
The Dakkajet tries to pursue but can not get the angle.
Shooting:
The Western Flakwagon takes a ranged parting shot at the Hell Blade. The Grot Gunnerz make it interesting, but fail to find the soft spot in the chaos fighters hull.
Grot Bomb 2 falls from the sky as it runs out of fuel.
Since the last Chaos craft will easily Disengage next turn, we decide to call it a game.
Conclusion
Chaos wins! We manages to hit the target area for 10 points of damage and took down 2 fightas! In return we only lost a Hell Hammer that tried to get all cocky and tried to take on a Buzza.
With the successful bombing run against the Hovels, it cleared the way for a Ground Assault. Clearing the air defenses on the Eastern side of the Hovels in the last game gave me a good attack route. In addition, I spent some time letting my attack form early on instead of simply lining up on target and kicking in the afterburners. This allowed my attack to be less predictable and harder to stop. My bizarre opening moves seemed to throw off my opponents flying for the rest of the game.
The Hell Talons are not great bombers, but they managed to do the job today with Extra Damage. The Hell Hammers also worked as advertised. No complaints about either of them today.
The Grot Bomb Launchaz on the ground are only a threat if the enemy has to come to the target. Otherwise, the Grot Bombs inability to gain height takes away their effectiveness.
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