Best transport for Vets?

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

So, right now I'm on a kick with the Elysians, but I need some help for running my vets as regular AM (aside from ditching the HF). The great part about Elysians is the Valk is a dedicated transport, which is great since it can come in first turn. However, it doesn't do that for regular AM, meaning I'm stuck with some foot slogging vets. 

 

Now, I have 2 Taurox Primes, but I usually put my Stormtropers in those to get them where I want them. I was thinking about chimera's but that doesn't really fit my theme of Air Mobile Mountain troops. 

 

Bear in mind I'm not saying I won't use chimeras if that's the consensus, I just have a hard time seeing a chimera being transported via sling load, or on a Sky Talon (granted I don't have a sky talon, but I imagine that I have them as part of how my army gets to the fight).

 

I'm wanting to run regular AM so that I can get regular armored sentinels with plasma cannons (which I have) and my Valkyrie and my Vendetta.

 

I can proxy chimeras for a while with my razorbacks, and see how they work, but I'm at list building right now, trying to figure this out.

[march10k]

I can see a sky talon lifting a chimera...

 

Anyway, they are pretty much the best option.  For half the cost of an exterminator, you get an AV12 vehicle with two heavy weapons (six shots if you go for the heavy bolter, but I tend to go 50/50 with bolters and flamers...flamers are useless at range, but oh so sweet point-blank, so take some of each, I say) and objective secured. 

[WarriorFish]

Indeed, plus maybe the transports were already there fighting as the air support arrives to save the day? Chimeras are good transports, you get a good return on your investment with them :)

[Gunmonkey88]

Several modern militaries have (or had) tracked APCs that are air-deployable so it's entirely plausible that the Chimeras were deployed by parachute/sling load/low altitude parachute extraction system (please google that last one, it's bad a**) just prior to the beginning of turn 1. I do agree though, they are definitely better than tauroxs (what's the plural of taurox? Tauroxi?)

[walter h]

You could put wheels on the cameras. They could also have been delivered by a deep strike.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll be proxying chimeras with my razorbacks to get a feel for how they play. I'll let you know how I feel about them, I'll also be using my taurox primes to see how they do too.

[march10k]

You know, I was once in the 3rd infantry division.  For context, that's the only heavy division in America's light corps.  The rest of the corps consisted of the 10th mountain division, the 82nd Airplane Gang, and the Hundred-odd worst dopes on ropes.  We had a tank company on standby 24/7/365 to be loaded into heavy transports and fly anywhere on the planet to support a brigade of the 82nd on zero notice.  If we can land tanks on an airfield minutes after paratroopers seize it in the real world, there's no reason an air-mobile force of IG can't have a few IFVs in support.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

I get what you're saying March and I agree (I did some time doing the weather for the Hundred and worst, hooray for 18th ABN Corps right?) that it is entirely possible. My only concern is how would the Imperium accomplish it, I haven't seen anything that resembles a C17 in form or purpose in the imperial inventory. I mean sure the Sky talon could do it, and that's fine. The way I envision my guys working is more along the idea of Taurox Primes (MRAPs) being the primary mode of ground transport. The Cav scouts at Campbell had HMMWV's not Bradleys. I'm pretty sure you can fit an M113 or an M2 in a C130 though. My armor section is kinda dictated by what makes sense for a rapid deployment force, I guess if you can put an Abrams in a C130, it would make sense that a Sky talon Could carry a Leman Russ. 

 

Now, How do you get a Baneblade to a planet's surface?

[CoffeeGrunt]

The Chimera is so good. Solid armour, solid weapons, and a couple of nifty tricks with its Amphibious and Lasgun Array rules. My preferred loadout is Multi-Laser and Heavy Bolter, for plinking away at targets. I do sometimes run Heavy Flamers on the hull though, as they add a real threat to Infantry when they close-in.

 

As others have said, there's no real reason why Chimeras couldn't be airdropped, though they're a bit big for a Sky Talon, so possibly some bigger aircraft would fly them in. I'm imagining it swooping down low and dropping the Chimera with the tracks already rolling, so it thunders forward into battle. :)

[march10k]

I'm sure that a Bradley woudn't fit inside a C-130, and an Abrams is WAY too heavy.  Hell, a C-5 can load two tanks, and a C-17 one, the C-17 being MUCH larger than a C-130...at 28 tons, I'm sure there are heavy lift choppers that could sling-load a brad...  I'm sure the imperium has stuff in between the size of a sky talon and a thunderhawk transporter.  The THT could do two chimmies at a time, and the sky talon could probably handle the weight, just not sure about the dimensions fitting inside the grapples....so maybe sling-loaded?

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

Thanks March, I didn't deal too much with tanks, being more concerned with Blackhawks, Apaches, and Chinooks, and what their operational thresholds were. Question is I suppose, does the guard get access to the Thunderhawk Transporter? That would get a Baneblade to the surface too, in addition to the leman russ tanks. 

[walter h]

It might be a navy variant.The answer could be at the inquisitors discretion.

[Bionicman]

Maybe we get some 1st round deployment tricks with our flyers through some formation thingy like e.g. GK got with their new codex. As it is still 6th ed I'll expect it beginning of next year latest ;)

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

If I want to pull shenanigans I can run as Elysians, which lets me bring in half of my Valks and Drop Sentinels first turn via combat drop. I was looking for a way to play that wasn't as mean, since most other armies have to wait until turn 2 to get flyers on the table.

[morroccomole]

You know, I was once in the 3rd infantry division. 

 

I wouldn't give a beeean...

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

So, I just had an Idea, how would land raiders, rhinos, or razorbacks work for transporting my guardsmen?

[Altasmurf]

Just my opinion here

 

Land raider. The big question is why, no guard unit is so important that it requires a land raider. Even orgryns would be out done by thunder hammer termies from the parent codex.

 

Razorback. I could see a use for a special weapon squad, any thing else has access to a chimera, taurox, or taurox prime (in the case of storm troopers) which are all better.

 

Rhino. Probably the only one I'd use for a squad that I want to dump some where and keep cheap.

 

The main issue is the chimera just does the job so well I don't see the point in using a space marine transport.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

The big reason, is because I have them. I was also looking at the inquisition codex, and noticed all of those toys. I was just thinking it might be helpful until I get leman russes and chimeras and more tauroxes.

[Altasmurf]

Ah makes sense in that case

 

Razorbacks. Consider using the twin linked assault cannon tank and putting in special weapon squads with flamers and demo charges. Crack open the transport with the razor and burn/bomb the contents. Special weapon squads lack a transport and the Razorback is a great complimentary support vehicle for them.

 

Rhinos. You can make a poor man's mechanized infantry army with them. Take a min platoon give them a special and heavy in each squad, and three rhinos and you have a mechanized platoon for about 300 points give or take. Or use a vet squad with 2 special weapons in a rhino for a cheap bunker.

 

Land raiders I just wouldn't bother with because as I said nothing in the guard codex is worth putting into them.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

I was actually thinking of using the Schizo LR, because Lascannons, but the Crusader would be a good compliment. I also have vindicators that might help with my armor deficiency. I get that using a land raider to transport troops would be wasteful, but sticking a melta vet squad in it might be useful for SURPRISE MELTA TO THE FACE!!! Why not make use of the transport capacity to surprise your opponent. 

[WarriorFish]

Land Raiders are expensive sadly, but there are few units that are cooler. If rule of cool is your requirement then that's fine of course but otherwise Guardsmen aren't a great choice for them. They're best delivering a nasty unit into your opponent's face. Razorbacks are good transports for Marines but fall short when compared to Chimeras. Rhinos are cheap and do exactly what they say on the tin - move troops safe from small arms :P

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

The only real bummer is the tax to take the Land raiders, which is going to make the whole thing more expensive, I'll probably save that for larger point games.

[Bionicman]

Just my opinion here

 

Land raider. The big question is why, no guard unit is so important that it requires a land raider. Even orgryns would be out done by thunder hammer termies from the parent codex.

 

Razorback. I could see a use for a special weapon squad, any thing else has access to a chimera, taurox, or taurox prime (in the case of storm troopers) which are all better.

 

Rhino. Probably the only one I'd use for a squad that I want to dump some where and keep cheap.

 

The main issue is the chimera just does the job so well I don't see the point in using a space marine transport.

 

Maybe put Demolitions Vets in a Raider to make use of the assault vehicle. Probably not worth it.

 

Ah makes sense in that case

 

Razorbacks. Consider using the twin linked assault cannon tank and putting in special weapon squads with flamers and demo charges. Crack open the transport with the razor and burn/bomb the contents. Special weapon squads lack a transport and the Razorback is a great complimentary support vehicle for them.

 

While assault cannons are nifty it nearly doubles the costs - and razorbacks are AV11. If you go Inquisition take the standard razorback with TL HBolter and Psyammo. Also S6, one less shot and not rending.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

It seems that the general consensus is that the Chimera is the most versatile, but the Taurox Primes are a high speed option, and space marine transports are too specialized save for the rhino. 

[Altasmurf]

Pretty much but don't sell the basics taurox short, it's cheap has a great base weapon and is actually quite good for melta vets because if you get side profile on a vehicle you can fire all 3 meltas and a Krak grenade out the the 2 doors.