Best Leman Russ Varient for Mechanized List

[Rommel44]

Hey mates pretty simple question for those who play Astra Militarum. Currently going to be fielding a Mechanized Infantry list, which obviously means I will be fielding many Veteran Squads and Infantry Unit's in Chimera APC's. With that being said, I am considering which Varient of Leman Russ would be the best fit that goes with this Army, hence why I am asking. Just looking for your personal opinions or any experience you have had on which Leman Russ Varient you had the most success with in a Mechanized Army and the reasons why. 

 

Note: No Need to Mention Commander Pask. Already plan to field him in either a Punisher or a Exterminator Battle Tank so no worries there. This is more about the other Leman Russ Tanks I will field in my Army to support them. Thanks again mates.

[WarriorFish]

Depends on what your Vets are doing of course, but given that answer is almost certainly "melta or plasma" then that means your heavy armour has some specific roles that need filling. Eradicators are cheaper and punish infantry short of Marines, well worth considering one or two. The Exterminator isn't expensive either and will reliably strip hull points and demech your opponent.

A couple of Demolishers will be able to form the tip of a wedge to hammer your opponent with too, but they're short ranged and not cheap. For some long range there's always the old stalwart of the MBT. Battle cannons might not be the fanciest of gun but they are powerful and flexible enough to turn their gaze upon almost every target type - never a bad idea if you're stuck on a decision

I'd consider some Fast Attack support for your heavy armour too if you have the points. A couple of Demolishers do very well for me splatting all before them, and supported by some nippy Sentinels and infantry on the cheap they can do the splatting all game

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

It's been my experience that the regular old Leman Russ Battle Tank is just perfect. The 72" S8AP3 Lg Blast is just too good to ignore. Honestly it works on hordes, on tanks, on marines and buildings. It lacks some of the tricks like the eradicator has, or the strength of the demolisher, or the armor pen of the vanquisher, or the output of the punisher, but it's just a good all a rounder that you shouldn't ignore.

[Phubar]

I agree with the previous replys, Exterminator with hull Lascannon and Battle tanks with Heavy bolter. You can face a lot of different foes without feeling frustrated!

I dont like sponsons because i dint luke to put too many points on a single tank, i prefer to field an additional unit instead of giving my tanks 4 couples of sponsons

[Akrim]

Depends how many Russes you plan to field and what kind of opposing armies you tend to face.

I'm a big fan of Pask Punisher w/ Lascannon & Multimelta sponsons accompanied with an Executioner (plasma sponsons). Expensive but very deadly.

 

There really aren't any bad variants I would avoid, the cheaper variants like Eradicator can make good escort tanks leading your more expensive ones and soaking up damage.

 

As a rule of thumb I recommend giving sponsons to Russes that don't have ordnance weapons for obvious reasons and vice versa.

 

If you're going mech vet, the shorter ranged support tanks may be a good option for advancing. Alternatively you could setup a decent long range squadron to provide fire support.

[Rommel44]

Appreciate the replies so far mates. As it stands, I only have 2x Leman Russ Tanks atm but I am considering more. For my infantry, it depends on what Army List I will use. For standard Astra Militarum, I would be using 4x to 6x Squads of Vets with Meltaguns, Chimeras have Multi-Lasers, HM Hvy. Flamer, and a PM Hvy. Stubber. For the DKOK Grenadier Assault Brigade, I would utilize Grenadiers (aka Storm Troopers) Squads with Meltaguns, and have 4x Squads of them, as well as 2x Squads of Engineers w/Shotguns. All of them are in Storm Chimeras w/Autocannon, HM Hvy Flamer, and a PM Hvy. Stubber. 

 

As for the Leman Russ Tanks, currently have 2x FW Mars Pattern Leman Russ tank bodies (No SS Weaponry for this version), each with a HM Lascannon. No turrets yet, so I can go any route I want to at this point, but I do plan to at least get a Punisher from the standard GW kit in case I run my Astra Militarum list for Pask. 

[Akrim]

Melta Vets are great but I would try to find a way to get some plasma onboard - MCs like Riptides and such are all the rage these days.

[duz_]

I disagree melta vets all the way!

 

Sounds like a good way to go

[march10k]

Although I field LRBTs and an eradicator when the spirit moves me, my core consists of HQ vanquishers and heavy support demolishers.  Usually Pask in a Vanquisher.  I ran him with a LRBT wingman until I got around to painting up another vanquisher. With four las/vanq shots, preferred enemy, and Pask's special rules, it's pretty much point and click against tanks and pretty good against MCs, too.  The demolishers' short range is kind of an asset to my play style.  They keep pace with my advancing chimeras, screening those AV10 flanks, and drawing fire away from both the chimeras and Pask.  I haven't yet lost pask with this setup, except when newcrons tabled me the first time I played them.  The demolishers obviously aren't just decoys, they blow stuff off the table,  usually 3-500 points worth of stuff, with one of them surviving the game on average (perhaps missing the big gun and on its last HP, and almost always damaged)...but as long as they draw antitank fire away from the rest of my army, they're doing well.  Even those damnable deepstriking melta teams tend to drop on the demolishers instead of Pask.

[cracklingvoice]

My style focuses on mech-platoons, so ... grain of salt.

 

I switch between the LRBT and Vanquisher for two reasons. First, it's just that much easier to swap the barrel bits out. Second, I view the tanks as an extension of my infantry. My infantry have enough numbers and mobility to reach an objective and take on most infantry (MEQ/GEQ). So, with enemy infantry handled, I use the tanks to take on heavy units (Riptides, Wraithknights, Dreadnoughts, Deff Dreads, etc.). So I balance between the Vanquisher (for killing vehicles/walkers) and the LRBT (for killing MCs and TEQs).

[march10k]

LRBT to kill TEQs?  As for MCs...how does a battle cannon pile more wounds onto a single model than a vanquisher?

[CyderPirate]

I guess a unit of LRBTs could potentially put out more wounds on TEQs than a vanquisher could, as  a V could just obliterate one (two w/ a Lascannon), whilst the LRBT could make a unit take as many saves as there are models in the unit. It might* also be harder to miss with an LRBT as its a scatter rather than a simple 4+. 

 

If that's what you're buying them for though, I'd take an executioner or two instead of the LRBTs.

 

 

*I have no idea if this is actually the case, or there's even a way to work it out....just trying to figure out cracklingvoice's reasoning.

[march10k]

Definitely plasmacutioner for MC and TEQ hunting!  Of course, that makes Pask even more important...his plasma pieplate is less suited to the task than three blasts, but preferred enemy is key...

[Phubar]

You can choose to fire the big pieplate or the 3 small ones with Pask. Btw the big one has blinding that against a MC could be important if you are not sure of killing it with Pask.

[cracklingvoice]

I guess a unit of LRBTs could potentially put out more wounds on TEQs than a vanquisher could, as  a V could just obliterate one (two w/ a Lascannon), whilst the LRBT could make a unit take as many saves as there are models in the unit. It might* also be harder to miss with an LRBT as its a scatter rather than a simple 4+. 

 

If that's what you're buying them for though, I'd take an executioner or two instead of the LRBTs.

 

 

*I have no idea if this is actually the case, or there's even a way to work it out....just trying to figure out cracklingvoice's reasoning.

You were right on target. I want to keep my army as simple as possible. It helps my forgetful self when I am only looking at two kinds of tank on the field that I can quickly and easily tell the difference between. And your reasoning about usage was spot-on. Since the LRBT drops that nice pie plate, forcing TEQs (Terminators, Lychguard, Wraiths, etc.) to make more saves is great. I see the Vanq as being present for killing vehicles and MCs. S8 AP2 is going to hurt most MCs and seriously threaten vehicles, with the option of getting that explosion.