Tau Vs Space Marines; 1,500 Points

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Thanks to HraTaika for this.

So, this was a battle with my new armyl-ist against some random guy at my friend's basement. He selected the board pieces & placed them and I took the mission. Take and hold, omega. I chose it because it would get some action going.

Tau Army List

HQ

Shash'el (1) @ 78 pts
Cyclic Ion Blaster, Targeting Array, Blacksun Filter

Elites

XV8 Crisis Team (2) @ 97 pts
TL Fusion Blasters, Target Lock/Flamer

XV8 Crisis Team (2) @ 97 pts
TL Missilepod, Target Lock/Flamer

XV24 Stealth Team (6) @ 180
Burst Cannons, Stealth Field

Troops

Firewarrior Team (10+1+2) @ 185 pts
Firewarriors (10), Pulse Rifles
DevilFish (1+2) 2 Gundrones, Burst Cannon, Decoy Launcher

Firewarrior Team (8+1+2) @ 165 pts
Firewarriors (8.), Pulse Rifles
DevilFish (1+2) 2 Gundrones, Burst Cannon, Decoy Launcher

Fast Attack

Drone Squadron (8.) @ 96 pts
TL Pulse Carbine

Heavy Support

Hammerhead (Rail) @ 180 pts
Railcannon, SMS, Target Lock, Multi-Tracker, Targeting Array, Decoy Launcher

Sniper Drone teams (x3) @ 240 pts
Spotter, Networked markerlight, Stealt Field, Target Lock, Targeting Array
Drones, Railrifle, Stealt Field, Target Lock, Targeting Array

Space Marine Army List

Company Master (HQ) 123 points:
- Twin lightning claws
- Terminator Honours
- He has the Infiltrate skill
- Joins Command squad

Command Squad (HQ) 230 points:
- Veteran sergeant w/ Bolt pistol and Power fist
- 2 marines w/ meltagun
- 7 marines w/ Bolt pistols and ccw's
- All have the Infiltrate skill

Tactical squad (Troops) 181 points:
- Veteran sergeant w/ Bolt pistol
- Power fist and auspex
- 1 Marine w/ Heavy Bolter
- 6 Marines w/ Bolters
- All have Infiltrate skill

Tactical squad (Troops) 115 points:
- 4 Marines w/ Bolters
- 1 Marine w/ Lascannon
- 1 Marine w/ Plasma gun

Assault squad (Fast Attack) 216 points:
- Veteran sergeant w/ Bolt pistol and Power fist
- 2 Marines w/ Plasma pistol and ccw
- 5 marines w/ Bolt pistols and ccw
- All have Jump packs and frag grenades

Devastator squad (Heavy support) 224 points:
- 4 marines w/ Rocket launchers
- 4 marines w/ Bolters.
- All have the Infiltrate skill.

Table and Setup

The basic setup had several building and some forests on it. In the north of the board there was a mountain range, which basically was counted as impassable terrain. Then on the middle there was four buildings, all able to hide a hammerhead, except for the landing area, which was low and considered only as difficult terrain. On the right side three was a guard tower [#3] and a forest. Same on the left side, except that it had a bunker area, that bestowed a +3 cover save.

Deployment

Then we started to place your units. I put everything else on the board, except for my drone squad that was deep striking. I placed my tanks and suits behind terrain, fearing that the first turn was going to him and expose the tanks to some serious AT power. Noteworthy thing is that, he outsmarted in the deployment. As I forgot that some of his squads where able to infiltrate, they got actually pretty straight to the objective. His command squad and the infiltrating units where going to be a pain to neutralise. His tactic seemed to be to hold it with the big squads, and deny my access to it by creating fire lines. He also tricked me to deploy one of my fiches next to the tower #3 and then putting his squads on a lire lane with it. *Sight* My opponent was clever and I just had under estimated him.

[Hint:: Don't under estimate newer opponents]

First Turn

Space Marines

Well, the marines naturally went first and in his moment phase he moved his command squad and the two infiltrating squads right next to the objective, he needed to stay behind the building to avoid the fire of snipers. His assault squad moved forward, bolstering the weak eastern flank. During the shooting phase the two northern tac squads immobilised my devilfish.

Tau

Okay. This was going to be a long day. First the fire warriors from the immobilised devilfish disembarked and started walking towards the objective with the drones. Then the Crisis teams both went to the roof of the research facility, stealth team followed, they would take care of the assault squad. Head-1 and 2 followed the second devilfish that provided them with cover. Fire warriors and drones disembarked. I had a little chance that the devastators would shoot my warriors. Sniper teams moved forward. On the roof, the Red-1 shot missiles to the assault squad, killing one marine. Other units were out of range or loss. In assault phase, suits moved forward.

Second Turn

Space Marines

Assault squad moved behind the Emperors statue, reinforcing the middle. Northern and Eastern tac squads moved forward, eastern behind some cover from the bunkers. Others stayed at their place. The devastators where in an interesting spot, should they shoot my fire warriors with frags or the devilfish with kraks? He chose the later and the fish went kaboom.

Tau

No reserves. I had hoped that he would have chosen the warriors which I placed for him to take, but no. Sad, the fish could have been further away, and so been more useful. Both of the Hammerheads moved behind the Comm-Station. Gundrones moved forward, both of the fire warrior teams too. All sniper teams moved forward. Suits moved to better shooting positions.Both Hammerheads opened fire, both SMS went for one of the infiltrating squads taking two marines. Both Submunition rounds were fired for the assault squad, killing four marines. After which the stealth team fired to the assault squad, killing the rest. Red-1 fired its missiles to the infiltration squad, killing one marine.All suits and drones moved towards the middle.

[Hint:: Mobility is the key.]

At this stage the game went interesting, because the entrance to the towers yard was heavily guarded by my and his firepower, we where in a do-to-do situation. If he moved, I would shoot him and if I moved, he would shoot me. But I had the advantage of the wreck of the devilfish, which was the idea in the first place. Having the ability to JSJ, I could enter the building yard from the rear with my suits.

[Hint:: Sacrifices need to be done.]

Third Turn

Space Marines

Both of the northern tac squads moved forward. Having left out of options, he went for a last charge, hoping the game would end soon. Command Squad and both of the infiltrating squads moved for the entrance. Eastern tac squad tried to take a pot shot to my hammerhead, missing. Drones were shot, and two fire warriors died to the frags.

Tau

The Drone squadron became available, thing were going well for me. Now my first priority was to shoot the squads below the scoring strength. Fire warriors of the both squads moved forward, suits took better firing positions and the two sniper teams moved to the middle. Drone squad dropped to the tower, scattering and losing 1 drone. Sniper team marked the command squad for the stealth suits, drones shot the damaged infiltration squad, killing tree. Hammerheads shot the submunitions to the eastern tac squad, killing tree, including the lascannon. SMS for the command squad, killing two. Fire warriors rapid fired to the undamaged infiltration squad, killing tree. Red-1 shot the missiles in to the same squad, killing two. Stealth suits fire to the command squad, guided by the marker light, killing 5. Commander shot to it too, killing two! The Squad carrying Fusion blasters could not shoot the commander, so they chose the first infiltration squad, killing two. During the assault phase, suits relocated to safety.

[Hint:: Eliminate scoring units with concentrated firepower.]

Fourth Turn

Space Marines

All squads held fast. All squads moved forward except for the devastators. Commander joined the bigger infiltration squad.Devastators tried to spot my snipers, but they were too far away.Commander and the rest of the infiltrating marines charged my fire warriors. Two marines got to the assault. Rest were too far away. They killed 5 fire warriors. Taking leadership, they felt back and the marines pursued them, running them down.

Tau

Drones moved to centre of the objective.Snipers marked the devastators, reducing the cover save. Then all of them shot, killing 6. Suits killed the infiltrating marines, fusion blasters taking care of the commander. Hammerheads put the submunitions to the devastators, killing 1. Suits moved closer to the objective.

Fifth Turn

At this stage, the game was clear and the Marine player surrendered. Massive Victory for Tau!

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Comment made by taugundrone on 18:32:39, 20 February 2008
Very good! THe map was very unclear though

Comment made by scarab cake on 11:06:35, 12 October 2007
I couldn\'t tell which units were which, which posed a bit of a problem to me as i am trying to find a battle report to animate. not this one then...

Comment made by niholas on 08:13:41, 4 April 2007
nice, those space marines were smart! (unlike some of the other armies from the report)

Comment made by andreas on 01:32:00, 18 February 2007
Nice victory! although your map was a bit unclear o me.. Couldn't see witch unit was what. Made the story a it unclear but it was ok :).

Comment made by TimberwolfCY on 16:19:57, 14 August 2006
Thought your battle report was great. Glad to see you stick it to some marines, his list and setup was pretty cheesy in my mind. Good job!