Pass in Review: Tactical Air Control Party for Warhammer 40,000

 

(Image from:  Deltavan 1 Military Humor)

I spent the first four years of my active duty US Air Force career as an electronic warfare technician.  My job was to maintain the electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment on B-52s.  After a few years of removing and replacing black boxes, I realized I wasn't enthused about being a fix-it man.  

I'm still not--even when it comes to painting miniatures.

I wanted to cross-train into a more combat-orientated career field.

And boy, did I get my wish.

I ended up becoming a member of the US Air Force's Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) group.

So I spent the remaining 16 years of my military service working with US Army headquarters and combat units helping to coordinate and direct Close Air Support (CAS) and Forward Air Control during exercises and actual deployments.

TACPs aren't just skilled at calling-in air strikes.  They're knowledgeable about an array of joint fire support, such as; US Army Forward Observers who perform with artillery fire, and Naval Gunfire Officers with ship-to-shore fire support.  (The US Marines have a similar group called ANGLICOs--Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company).

We're a tight-knit group and still keep in touch through social media.

Fast forward to a few years ago, and my son-in-law got me interested in Warhammer 4,000 (WH40K).

I delved into the game by purchasing earlier editions of the core rulebook and the codices.  I developed an affinity towards the Astra Militarum, and raised company-sized element of my own regiment, the 187th Dragoon Regiment (Composite).

(I still have an entire troop/company to do a blog post on.  But due to health reasons I haven't been able to conduct a large photo shoot yet).

A couple years ago, I asked my friend Peter to paint a command squad for me, but reconfigure it as a TACP.  He finished them early last year, and I've finally gotten around to posting my homage to TACPs past & present.

Somewhere on the Sector Fronteris... 

...an unusually configured Chimera rumbles into a ruined outpost.

Side Note:

I bought this model pre-painted and assembled.  It's been so long, that I can't remember who I got it from.  

TACPs support every type of Army combat unit.  For those assigned to armored, mechanized infantry, or armored cavalry units, they often have their own Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), or "track" as we liked to call them. 

I thought this particular Chimera, with it's risque nose art  would be the most suitable in my collection for my TACP.

Now back to the opening scene...

A 5-man team of an Astra Militarum TACP disembark. 

As the Chimera moves off to perform a perimeter security check, (and for readers to get a better view of the figures), the TACPs establish an observation point (OP). 

Now for a more detailed look at my WH4K version of a TACP, here's a side-view profile:

Peter did a remarkable job on the figures and especially with the TACP flag.

Now here's a look at the individual figures, and their functions within the TACP. (Note:  "TACP" can also refer to an individual as well as a team). 

The Air and Artillery Support Officer (a combination of Master of Ordnance and Officer of the Fleet):

The vox caster:

The Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC):  

A JTAC is an enlisted member performing the same functions as Air and Artillery Support Officer.  This will allow the team to split up if necessary in order to service two targets, and also provides back-up when if either become a casualty. 

The Target Designator/Heavy Weapons Specialist:

I have this figure armed with a plasma gun to be used at designating targets, by illuminating them with plasma fire, and to provide heavy weapon support to the TACP. 

The TACP Standard Bearer:

TACPs, and every other combat unit here in the Second Millennium, don't wave standards around in the heat of battle.  

But the figure and flag are too cool to pass up.

Pass in Review: Astra Militarum's Tempestus Scions

(Image found on Comic Vine)

The bulk of my Warhammer 40,000 (WH40K) collection consists of the rank-in-file Astra Militarum.

However, I do have one squad of Tempestus Scions, from the Militarum Tempestus, available for special missions.

In honor of my assignment to the  82nd Airborne Division in the late '80s, I'll call this unit 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon of the 504th Stormtrooper Company, (inspired by the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment).

Introducing my squad from the 504th Stormtrooper Company (CO) from somewhere on the Sector Fronteris...

...an Imperial Valkyrie lands...

...the ramp lowers...

...a squad of Tempestus Scions debark...

...spread out...

...and secure a vital facility in the name of the Emperor of Mankind.

I purchased these painted figures from Peter Wort, the proprietor of Peter’s Games and Things.  

They’re suitable for use as a Kill Team, or as part of a task force in a typical WH40K battle, or maybe even an apocalyptic-level conflagration.

What follows is a look at each individual Scion:

Scion with flamer.

Scion with plasma gun.

Scion with power fist and hot-shot laspistol.

Scion with hot-shot lasgun.

Scion with hot-shot laspistol and medi-pack.

Scion with hot-shot laspistol and vox-caster.

Scion with power sword and bolt pistol.

Scion with chainsword and hot-shot laspistol.

The Tempestor Prime.

The Tempestus Squad's standard bearer.

Next, I plan on introducing my Astra Militarum mechanized infantry unit.

Pass in Review: WH40K & Sci-Fi Objective Miniatures

(Somewhere on the Sector Fronteris a critical objective must be seized, or safeguarded)

Warhammer 40,000 (WH40K), and wargames in-general, often represent struggles to seize or safeguard critical objectives (key terrain, facilities, etc.), rather than simply smashing the enemy's army.

Some sets, like my Drop Force Imperator contain cardboard counters to mark objectives, usually 6, spread out as evenly as possible on the game table. 

Like this:

Additional points are usually awarded to the player acquiring these cardboard counters.  However, these can look rather boring and detract from the visual appeal of the game.

Games Workshop makes a variety of supplement kits that provide miniatures, which can be used as objectives that blend-in with the terrain, such as these ammunition crates:

This crate has a removable lid...

...so players can discover the contents--if and when they capture the item.

In some games, capturing an objective may be easy, but holding them is another matter.

While a number of kits will contain an item or two that can be used as an objective, the Sector Imperialis Objectives Kit contains several Imperium-based figures.

Here's a rundown of my objective collection, painted by myself or my friend Dan:

1. Three types of ammunition crates, two of which are featured here.

One crate for small-arms ammunition, like for Bolters...

...or large-caliber ammunition such as for the Basilisk self-propelled artillery vehicle.

The ammunition objectives also include a couple of bombs, which for Narrative Game Play could provide a plot twist as Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) that needs to be disarmed.

A close-up of one of the bombs/UXOs:

2. Speaking of UXOs, they don't come any bigger than an undetonated Exterminatus Device:

Here's the back view:

3.  If your force needs to call-in reinforcements, or are in need of a dust off, if things are going horribly wrong, there's the Orbital Vox Array to call for help:

The back-side view:

4. Your force may be tasked to download/erase information stored in a Cogitator Shrine, or carry off the entire device.

The cogitator's back:

5. It may be necessary to secure a working Field Medicarium, to treat your force's wounded--or to experiment on your opponent's.

6. Speaking of experimentations, there's a "stasis crypt" containing what looks like a Tyranid or Genestealer Cultist specimen:

The back-view of the crypt:

7. The final item in the Sector Imerialis Objectives kit, is a Lucius Pattern escape pod for scenarios involving capturing, or rescuing stranded VIPs:

A side-view of the escape pod:

I've assembled several additional miniatures from a few other kits to use as objectives.

These promethium barrels, along with many of my ammo crates, came from the Battlefield Accessories Set and my failed attempt to build Munitorum Armoured Containers:

Now one can play a WH40K version of Battle of the Bulge.  That is, seize desperately needed fuel to keep the offensive moving.

The Sector Fronteris Environment Expansion Set also contains a couple of forgotten Inquisition crates:

Since these are solid pieces, only the Inquisitor may know what's inside.

Or maybe not.

These pieces can be a classic MacGuffin for a game, or even a campaign.  The boxes could be shrouded in mystery until one side can obtain the proper access code, which may be found on the cogitator, or transmitted via the vox array, etc.

There are numerous possibilities of tying one objective to another in order to win--or at least survive.

One of more mundane, but versatile pieces is the cargo pallet from the Battlefield Accessories Set:

Here's some additional ammo crates and containers:

While this post primarily focuses on WH40K, there are numerous science fiction wargames and role-laying game people play.

So I've added a few items that could serve as objectives for these games as well.

Here's some sacks...

...and barrels I bought years ago from Dwarven Forge kits.

While they're primarily for fantasy gaming, they could represent goods from low-tech worlds.

Here's some barrels I painted, although I can't remember who made the basic figures.

Speaking of my faulty memory, I also bought these resin sci-fi cargo containers that I sloshed on some paint along with ink wash to give them a grungy look.

I have several more in various colors, but the yellow ones stood-out the best for these pictures.

Some more Dwarven Forge crates:

Another Dwarven Forge product...

...along with an early Games Workshop product, Hero Quest (video):

Either could be used to contain Throne Gelts of a paymaster, or governor's treasure chest.

Or maybe gold bullion is stored in nondescript, wooden crates...

...for a Kelly's Heroes-style campaign.

In addition to pre-painted resin figures, I'm a fan of paper models as well.

Some of the easiest items for me to assemble are cube patterns, like these boxes from Top Solitario...

...or these storeroom props from Genet Models (formerly Ebbles Miniatures):

Most items are of a serious nature, like these hazmat containers...

...but if you ever need to lighten-up your campaign's grimdark, there's a few humorous items provided by Top Solitario:

Whether your gaming tastes are grimdark, noblebright, or somewhere in-between, it's worth collecting items "worth fighting over."

But only on the table-top level, please.