Defense of Avenweddon: Operation Stonewall

After suffering heavy losses on the eastern flank by Battle Group 525 the 4224th Imperial Guard army called a halt prior to the coming of winter. The Lord General wanted to ensure that all three Battle Groups would be able to make the final push into the peninsula in the spring and bring the Defense of Avenweddon to a close.  This would free up at least two of the Groups for further action within the sub-sector.  As to which of the Battle Groups would have to remain on Avenweddon for the cleansing no decision has yet been made.

During the winter months the Army used the time to regroup, rearm, resupply.  The order of business was primarily on regrouping and strengthening of the forward lines. Many of the Regiments in the army were drawn from planets within the sub-sector and therefor were reinforced without having to requisition further Imperial assets.

With the Army returned to a fighting capability, and supply lines secure the Lord General is making plans to restart the offensive. Intelligence reports that the enemy hardly could have reinforced in this time as the Navel* blockade reported no enemy ships in the sector.  Even if that is so, it will still be a rough slog forward as they no have no doubt dug themselves in deeper than ever before.  For the elements of BG82 this shouldn't be a problem as the right flank is more flat leading out to sea.  As for the other two Battle Groups...  Only time will tell.

* Yes that should be Naval as Siph points out below.  But well, I made the mistake I have to live with the mistake.  And besides I think it's funny. 

ToE 19th Scansin Lancers (Part 3)

By far the smallest of the Regiments assigned to Battle Group 82, the 19th Scansin Lancers is made up of slightly more than 1000 troopers.  There ability to quickly redeploy on the field of battle more than makes up for their small numbers.  The 19th is a green Regiment and their assignment to BG82 is their first posting.  Although not requested by the Battle Group, the Regiment has been given a few chances to prove their worth to the Group.  Up until this point their usefulness has been questionable, and Marshal Argos is still undecided on their future.

Contrary to many Rough Rider Regiment's throughout the Imperium the 19th Lancers are also trained as standard guardsman.  Meaning that they can operate mounted using their Lances, or as dis-mounted infantry.  This is extremely useful for outflanking an enemy, and using the dismounted troops to set up a prepositioned firing line. Up until now, this has been their redeeming factor, the 19th has performed exceptionally well when deployed in a dis-mounted role.  Some of the lower echelon officers have even begun to voice the opinion that Group command has no idea how to properly employ cavalry.   Of course such thoughts are rarely voiced in the presence of outsiders, or within 100 meters of a Commissar, but the idea is slowly spreading throughout the battle group.

Echo Troop Rough Riders (Part 2)

I really do hate to change projects half way through, but I seemed to have forgotten a Pledge to finish my Rough Riders by the end of the February...   oops.   So I dug them out and as you see above there's still a bit to do.  It's not a lot, but it's a lot of small detailing.  So until the end of the month (unless a miracle happens and I get these done faster) my poor Avenger will have to wait patiently as Echo Troop, 19th Mynvody Lancers gets painted up.

OH, and just a bit of a Rant over a rumor I heard. I love my Rough Riders, and the way they look and play with my army in general.  No, they are not the "über" unit that everyone wants, but they do their job, and look good.  ("looking good" isn't that what the cavalry is for anyways?) 

Now, I recently read this:
"For the same reasons Rough Riders will be dropped from the army list (much like most entries without models got cut from the tyranid codex). Source: FAEIT 212 "  And that got me thinking WTF!!!  I surely hope that GW doesn't do this.  Over the years they've changed a few units but completely wiping one out of the IG Codex hasn't happened in a while.  Now, as for myself, I think it's to early to tell as to if this is true or not, but I surely hope not.  I have big plans for my Cavalry, and hope to have 3 squads of them done in the not to distant future.

Open projects

 

Here's just a few of my open projects, that I would like to see done before the end of the year.  I probably have a few more but this is more than enough to keep me busy (and some of these are already a year in the making...).  First up is my GK terminators.  I've had these guys since, well... to be honest I'm not even sure anymore.  Three of the 5 are 90% done, the other 2 need a bit more work.

Ah yes, the armor of the 73rd Fantoma Armored Regt.  Above is the new color scheme.  I only have 12 more tanks to re-paint like that and I'll be done.  Even with the airbrush that's gonna take a while.  

The Imperial Navy Fleet assets of Vallivar Sub-sector.

Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser "Bringer of Truth" (90%)

Dictator Class Cruiser "Death Dealer " (done)

Gothic Class Cruiser "Integrity" (done)

Dauntless Class Light Cruiser "Redemptor" (0%)

Dauntless Class Light Cruiser "Relentless" (0%)

Falchion Class Escort "Fury Squadron" (0%)

Cobra Class Escort "Wraith Squadron" (0%)

 I"m slowly making headway on these guys to.  I've decided to change a lot of the detailing, and started on the first squad.  There will be a separate dedicated post to these guys in the next few days. 

Almost the same as above.  The last two are the projects that are sitting on my desk.  The others on the shelve right above my desk, and the projects that are on other shelves or boxes are not even listed.  Like above, I'll do a separate dedicated post to these guys in the next few days.  

Echo Troop (Rough Riders)

Don't you just hate it when you start a post and then forget about it...  Well here's the first 6 of my Rough Riders, the other 4 are still being assembled.  The heads have also been changed to the "Picklehaube" version from Curious Constructs.

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Watching Echo Troop file past Marshal Argos began to wonder if Task Force 82 would ever reach it's full strength.  Up until now he barely had 3 combat effective Regiments.  In less than 2 months the Task Force was going to be required to go on the offensive in the ongoing "Avenweddon Crisis".   

"They're looking better each day" said Argos as he turned to his Regimental Commanders, "but will they be ready to fight.  Turning in and and re-dressing on the parade field is well and good but can the troopers do it under stress, under the guns of the enemy?"

19th Mynvody Lancers

Well, I have all the horses together, but I have to admit the kits were horrible!  None of the heads really fit correctly, so I they have all been corrected using Liquid Green Stuff.  I have to admit though that this stuff is super easy to use.  I've added the rear strap with Cereal box, and used some bits to add some kit them.  I'd like to give most, if not all the Lancers a sword, pistol, and Lance.  This way I can use them with any combination of weapons allowed in the codex.

As for their Riders, well we can see one of those below.

 

As mentioned in an earlier post, the legs are from Victoria Miniatures, and the torso's from Curious Constructs.  The only issue I had was that the legs on the riders are too close together for the horses!!!  So I had to go back and pull them apart about 2-3mm so that they would fit.  Not 100% sure about the colors yet, but it'll be something along those lines.