So now we move to the unintentional comedy that is the... BATTLE FOR THE HYDRO FARMS, and De Stael finds a new way to fuck up the rest of his troops (The ones that arrived on planet, that is.) Basically they need water, so now they decide at THIS point, midway through teh battle and in a crisis, that they need to take a hydro farm so they have a steady, reliable supply of water. Nevermind that the Tallarn offensive is far away, highly exposed, and this would create just another weak point for the tau to attack in De Staels slow march o doom.
On top of that we get the deployment of the MIGHTY TITANS... before they turn tail and run after one defeat. Oh and we get some stuff on the Elysian forces. And the Space Marines get a mention, actually fighting on the ground, but they're still used where they are most useless, which is funny considering how they objected to being diversions beforehand....
Anyhow, this update is about as full of fail as everything else to come so far so, let's watch. This will be a longer update than most, I think, but still full of comedy.
Page 106
Shockingly, the Imperium's MIGHTY Tallarn assault is fucked long before it makes any progress. Don't expect it to get any better.The Tallarn regiments were drained of men and equipped, and there was no longer any secure supply lines. The stockpiles of food, fuel and most importnatly water, were now low, with no prospect of quickly building them up again due to the Tau fleet's blockading actions.
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A lack of fuel supplies had stalled the offensive.
And yet, despite half their military force being stalled they have not removed De Stael for incompetence. Nope, he has more valuable assets to waste pointlessly.
Page 106
Again, water was crucial here, they didn't plan properly, and the logistics situation again proves to be the Imperium's enemy.The men of Tallarn had greater tolerance for dehydration than most, and knew how best ot conserve their water supplies...
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Under the burning sun, men started to drop from the effects of dehydration.
Page 106
A crucial target, in other words. And yet they made no provision to take it until this point, it seems. Whereas someone competent might have considered it a key target to take EARLY in the conflict. Maybe those Space Marines they're hauling around in orbit could have been handy here. Or the storm troopers. OR the Elysians. Or all of the above.The coastal areas of the Aestus region were the location of the planet's largest hydro-processing plants, which drew the highly alkaline sea water and converted it into clean water before pumping it down pipelines to Tarokeen.
But no, we'll ignore the water plants, give our troops far less water than they apparently need, and WALK all the way to Taros in a slow and exposed manner.
Page 108
Let's see. The whole reason why they brought the Elysians in in the first place was to have a force that could counter the mobility advantage of the Tau... and yet when that mobility is proving a problem De Stael doesn't use the Elysiasn despite their requests? Why are they there then? Valkyries (especially the Vendettas per 5th edition) and Vultures could have done much to help support the ground attack and freed up the Navy to deal with the Barracudas but De Stael did NOt use them.De Stael had already turned down three separate requests from Syckava for drops to aid the advance, but the deteriorating situation at the front now demanded the Lord Marshall committed his carefully husbanded reserves.
If we needed proof that De STael was a moron and couldn't have planned his way out of a paper bag, this is probably the proof. Well that and trying to use Space Marines as a diversion. They know that the Tau can outmove them. They know they don't have the numbers or time to play slow and methodical. They can't out-attrition them. They need to be fast, decisive, and powerful. Instead they dick around for weeks doing very little, in a slow, explosed, and OBVIOUS fashion, and baiscally wait for the Tau to hammer them where they are weakest. And they NEVER use their important (EG mobile) assets to counter this ever, because... because De Stael apparently can't be bothered to. Fucking moron.
Page 108
They can't do both? The Raptors can't ALL be committed to the armour attack, and there's two bloody companies of them. Devastators and assault marines at least could be deployed to assist in taking and holding the water facility even if the tactical marines could not for some reason. I mean the damn target is VITAL and what else are the Marines good for?Firstly there were the Raptors Space Marines. From orbit they could directly aid the Elyssians, but, beying independent and separate from 4621st Army's supply problems they would be better deployed on the ground, as an armoured breakthrough force to lead the attack.
This becomes evne more hilarious later on when the Raptors deploy and singlehandedly hold off ALL the tau on Taros for nearly an entire day,
And even if the Raptors can't help this, waht about the fucking dropships? I imagine the thunderhawks at least could assist in that regard, and they could be deploying an entire (additional) regiment to back up the Elysians against the tau. But those drop ships are mysteirously absent. HOW CONVENIENT!
PAge 108
Well the Cadians are here. Maybe he should have comitted them to an attack on the Isthmus earlier? It seems to me that the Cadians would have nicely supplemented all the Tallarn mechanised and armoured forces and made the advance much more rapid (and effective) than it was slowly marching the entire bloated mass of troops on foot. AND, they wouldn't have had the logisitcs problems weeks of marching engenders.For the operation, De Stael ordered that the 114th be given top priority for fuel supplies, and the Tallarn regiments should turn ove remaining stockpiles as well, leaving them with only emergency fuel This order effectively ended the five Tallarn regiments capability to conduct offensive operations. The Desert Raiders were now a static defensive force.
Again note noone makes mention of the drop ships and shuttles in this. You'd think the ability to rapidly move thousands of soldiers would be a useful asset in holding against assault.
On a technical note, apparently the Cadian mechanised forces can all cover 1500 km on the fuel they can carry, which matches Defixio, Death and Glory, Gunheads, and so on.
Page 108-109
- To transfer "less than half" of the Elysian troops (3,000) plus equipment and supplies/resupply for the assault required a round trip of 3-4 hours over a distance of 1500 km. And, due to refueling and maintenance, they could only make one airlift a day, for some reason. It was also noted the Elysiasn had enough Valkyires to transfer "half" the regiment, or 1500 troops, which means there were 30 Vulture gunships available (180 total craft.) It was estimated to tkae several days to transport. I'm rather puzzled/curious that Valkyries can only carry one squad.. given some sources (Eg Bleedign Chalice carrying whole squads of power armoured Sororitias) I was under the impression they miht carry more. Perhaps the need to carry extra supplies reduced crew space. And I don't know where all these other restraints (number of airlifts a day) come from since I'm pretty sure Elysians have done all this shit elsewhere without problem.The 23rd Regiment had approximately enough Valkyrie airborne assault carries to commit hal the regiment in one lift, but not all the carriers could be dedicated to the transport mission. Some would be needed for the resupply mission, whilst the regiments own Vultures and the support of an Imperial Navy fighter wing would provide the protection.
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The distance from the Elysian airbase to the target was 1,500 kms - the round trip would take between three and four hours. All the Valkyrie transports would already require extra external fuel tanks to get them ot the target and back again. Once back, they would need to be maintenance and battle damage repairs carried out, refuelling and a new loading schedule executed.
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Two lifts in one day would not be possible, instead the second lift would have to bollow on day two.
One must assume that this particular regiment must have been small, or only partly supplied with craft for airlift.. as contrasted with (say), the Elysiasn in Dark Apostle or the Elysiasn in the third Armageddon war. The fact they had no Tauros or Sky Talons (or other transporters) could explain this. Or maybe, they could have carried the extra equipment on those dropships they have.. if they had remembered they had them. Alternately, it was the equipment they carried (drop pods, etc) that reduced troop carrying capacity.
And to be honest.. 1500 km? Had the assault relied more on mechanized forces, they could have made that in a couple of DAYS (as shown in the novel Gunheads, or the short story Defixio) Sure they might not have been able to make a decisive win, but they could have at least assaulted and held out til the rest of the forces could be ferried up (and there are ways they could have done that faster than on foot.)
Page 109
The elysians in this case appear not to have any NVG of their own issued either, which would put them at a disadvantage against the Tau (who generally do)Only a few aircraft were fitted with night vision equipment, and given the accuracy needed he could not allow his aircrews to attack the hydroplant without night vision targeters. Their bombs and rockets would cause too much damage to the facility.
Page 109-110
Nonetheless, lack of good recon, lack of aircraft (limiting the speed of deployment) and the distance and perils of resupply were severe problems and taking some real risks (although with the loss of transports.. the supply issue was severe anyhow.) One has to wonder where all the auspex coverage was.The only option was orbital surveillance and high altitude aerial reconnisance by a specially equipped Marauder bomber of the 2424th Bomber wing.
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They could provide images of the target area, which could be turned into maps, but they could not give details of any garrison force.
Once more we see that no matter what the Imperium did, they were fucked.
Page 111
The scope of the Elysian air power at Taros.160 Valkyries and 30 Vultures simultaneously powering up their engines, creating a deafening roar that shook the ground and rolled out for miles across the flat desert sands.
Page 111
- the entire formation (Valkyries, Vultures... plus fifteen Thunderbolts) flew 500 feet above the ground. Unfortunatley for the Imperium, the scattered/hidden Stealthsuit/Pathfinder teams behind Imperium lines observed and reported the attack, spoiling surprise, although the first airlift goes in totally unmolested. HAd the Imperium actually been able to airlift its forces in a single drop (you know, like if you had drop ship-oh wait!) they could have pulled off a successful defense. And then there are the Raptors...Keeping low for maximum concealment form prying eyes, the entire armada swept over the desert floor at just 500 feet.
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From their hiding places, scatter Tau Pathfinder and Stealthsuit units also witnessed the air armada, and quickly report the sighting to their commanders. A major attack was imminent, but as yet the Tau did not know where the blow would fall.
For the Storm trooper squads in the vanguard of the air-train the flight to target lasted two hours.
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Twice during jte journey aircraft where targeted by Seeker missiles, lock-on by Markerlights from the ground.
This leads to another interesting considertion - the Tau apparently had entirely unhindered/untapped communcations, and secure enough they weren't observed. Consequently, they were sniped at by missile attacks from the ground during the move.
It took.. ~1-2 hours to cover the 1500 km at 500 feet.. so 750-1500 kph average speed at low altitude. It goes without saying that those important drop ships/shuttles are again absent.
Page 112
Elysian helmet gear. Seems to be well protected (if heavy and uncomfortable.. GRIMDARK) with provision for comm beads.The Drop Trooper's helmet is a type 5 pressure helmet. A bulky and infamously uncomfortable piece of equipment, it is worn for high-altitude drops. As standard it incorporates air lines which draw from dispensers in the trooper's grav-chute to stabilise the trooper's inner ear pressure.
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Pressure equalizing ear protectors prevent hte rapid increase (in air pressure) from bursting the troop's eardrums.
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The heavy helmet is constructed of reinforced plasteel, with extra armour protection incorporated into the front of the helmet The basic helmet contains a tinted flash suppression visor and a short-range communications receiver. All vox-operators wear a variant of the type-5 helmet with coms-booster equipment built in.
Page 112
Elysian armor seems mostly hardshell, but limited NBC protection as standard. I wonder if the suit might also incorporate or double as soft flak?The Drop Trooper's armour is constructed of cast, lightweight synthi-plas. This provides a good level of protection whilst keeping weight to a minimum.
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Each troop is issued a chest and back plate, complet with respirator and air hose attachments for the air supply (reuirqd at high altitude) and attached shoulder pads. Separate elbow pads and knee pads give extra protection in combat and on landing. Some veteran troopers disgard these pads after landing to help reduce their overall weight, especially if operating in difficult terrain. Most troopers prefer the extra protection.
Page 112
Elysian Drop Trooper Uniform. The qualities might suggest at least some limited protection against weaponry, but its hard to say.He wears a PT-38 jumpsuit, a one piece reinforced coverall made of hardwearing synthi-canvas.
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The jumpsuit can be worn with a thermal liner for high altitude drops, where temperatures in the upper atmosphere are sub-zero.
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The jumpsuit is always worn with gloves and a respirator mask, which perevents wind burn on exposed skin. wind burn is a side effect of rapid free fall, much like friction burns, but caused by friction with the air.
The jumpsuit includes thick quilted pads on the upper arms and legs, referred to as the 'impact pads''. These pads help reduce the effects of blunt trauma from impacts and give additional protecton during a collison or hard landing. The pads are filled with foam to absorb and distirbute the energy of an impact.
Page 112
Elysian lasgun. Honestly though, why no auto fire setting? not even a burst fire? Lasguns are one of the few weapons where ammo should be a minor concern (and carrying powerpacks should be easy.) I mean hell, it should be easy to air drop extra powerpacks, if not some means of recharging them.The trooper's Accatran pattern, mark IV lasgun is a lightweight weapon manufactured on Accatran forge world and supplied to the 23rd Elysian regiment. Its overall length is shortened by its "bullpup" design, with the powercell positioned behind the handle.
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To conserve ammunition and reduce wastage the weapon only has a single shot setting and cannot be used for automatic fire. It uses a standard power pack, good for fifty shots, and operates in the 19 megathule range. The power pack can be recharged by exposing its thermal cells to heat or light. The recharging takes time, and cannot generally be done during combat, so extra power packs are always carried.
The Mark IVc variant lasgun includes an auxillariy krak grenade launcher mounted under the barrel. This is a short-range, single shot weapon, issued to officers and NCOs for additional squad level close support. The lasgun also has a carrying handle and solar converter for power pack recharging. This model of lasgun does not include a bayonet lug.
Some of the early Elysian rules from Chapter Approved also gae the Elysians options to use hellguns as "speicalist" weapons, but Forgeworld doesn't seem to follow that
Page 112
This implies that (at least at close range) Shotguns are more powerful than a lasgun, although an exact comparison is a bit complicated (lasguns don't have a physical projectile, and would have to on a series of micro explosions to simulate bullet damage instead of raw burning/thermal power) and the variation of gun ammo can further change things. "longer term" firepower likely refers to the greater ammunition capacity and ability to recharge powerpacks over the shotguns - they'd run out of ammo far sooner for those than they would for the lasguns.Many Elysian regiments prefer to equip themselves with assault shotguns, for extra close-range hitting power upon landing. Although this is true, General Syckava (the commanding officer of the 23rd regiment), believss this drastically reduces the regiment's firepower in the longer term whilst defending an objective. Some veteran troops still choose a shotgun, but the rank-and-file are all issued lasguns as standard.
There's also earlier fluff that compares a lasgun hit to a 'bullet or small shell' which could imply comparable damage with shotguns, so any comparison may be relative to the Elysian models alone.
Page 112 & 114
Grav chutes are considered "complex" gear, yet easily disposable it seems. A 3 km fall at 2 minutes suggests an average in flight velocity of 25 m/s. The Grav chute presumably reduces this to a fraction (handling at least several gees worth of velocity at some point)The grav-chute (not shown here) is a complex piece of equipment issued solely to Drop Troop regiments and Storm Troopers for special missions. It is worn across the shoulder,s above the backpack,a nd because of its weight and bulk is usually discarded immediately upon landing...
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Grav chutes only operate at a set altitude, the troops are in free fall until the grav-chute activates, controlling their descent with their body shape. The grav chute slows the final descent, but impact with the ground is still hard and upon landing troops must roll with the impact to absorb the shock.
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During a high level jump, from 10,000 feet, it will take approximately two mintues to reach the ground.
PAge 114
Again Elysians seem to lack some NBC protection that other Guard have.Part of each Guardsman's drop equipment is a respirator mask (worn on the chest plate), and a small oxygen tank (incorporated into the back plate) and used for high altitude deployments. The air supply is not large enough for it to be used in hostile enviroments. The mask covers the lower half of the face, not protected by the helmet. The entire respirator unit is attached to the air supply via underarm pipes.
Page 114 -
Drop troopers use drop cannisters to deploy other equipment to the drop zone (heavy weapons, spare ammo, other supplies.) Useful for extended operations no doubt.These large containers [Drop canister] are used to land a wide variant of equipment into a drop zone. For heavy weapons teams thy will contain the heavy weapon itself (Heavy bolter, missile launcher or mortar) and spare ammunition...
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..other drop cannisters will bel anded contain spare ammunition, rations, water, fuel, medical supplies and al manner of spare equipment.
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..Drop Troops maccabrely refer to drop canisters as 'coffins' and after a battle they rae often put to this use!
Page 115
Implies that lasgun and bolter fire attacking the Elysians from at least 500 feet or so away, probably more than that. At 750-1500 kph they'd be travelling at around 200-400 m/s, and arguably would be several seconds out (lest they pass over) although they arguably would be slowing down, so call it 100-200 m/s) - call it 250-300 meters or so at least, which isn't unreasonable for lasgun range.The approaching aircraft had been met by ground firea as the garrison, alerted by the rising thunder of approaching jet engines, streamed out to meet the airboren attackers. Lasgun rounds and heavy bolter tracers were snaking up to meet the low flying Valkyries and Vultures. Shots bounced off nose cones and engine cowling as the Valkyries slowed to hover over their objectives.
PAge 115
- Sentry guns with disruption field generators hiding their presencce. Also can engage targets from hundreds of meters away.As soon as they landed the two storm Troopers squads came under heavy fire from drone sentry turrets. The turrets, equipped with disruption-field generators, had not been detected by the aerial reconnaissance.
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..first platoon's squads were repelled, falling back before the savage aliens [Kroot] under the covering fire of frag and krak missiles.
Page 115
The hydo plant conflict is not going well for the Imperium, despite seeming to win. Note the human auxiliaries again seem loyal and determined alies of the Tau.The flight of Tiger Sharks over-flew the plant, streaking low and scattering clouds of drones in their wake. It seems the Tau were deploying any forces they had available to defend the site.
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Over half of first plattoon and the Storm Troopers were dead or injured. The objective itself had taken severe damage in the attack and mortar shelling.
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Outnumbered and outgunned by the Elysian air-mobile firepower the garrison could have easily broken and run, bu instead they, along with their Kroot allies, had fought hard all day.
One again wonders why the Imperium did not favor deploying the Astartes here or other troops via dropship? Things would have been much less messy.
Page 116
Again, the Space Marines could have helped, including helping to fend off Tau fighters by using the Thunderhawks.The tau diverted their available Barracudas to intercept the air train.
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Scattered like sheep before wolves the Valkyries tried to escape the BArracudas, but seven were quickly shot down.
Page 117
The Elysians vs Tau. Again note the heavy firepower used, and the apparent greater range of the tau guns vs the Elysian ones (the Elysians can apparently only respond with heavy weapons and Sentinel guns)This time rather than dropping more drones, they [tiger Sharks] unleashed missiles and ion cannons, blasting the hydro-processing plant with massed fire.
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From all directions came Devilfish transports and Hammerhead tanks.
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..with them came the Battlesuits. The tau attacked with a calm, ruthless ferocity, blasting the Elysians with heavy weapons and massed pulse fire in a long ranged firefight. The Tau outgunned the Gaurdsmen, but the Elysians were not powerless to respond. Their own heavy weapons, mortars and Sentinels returned fire.
Page 118
Arm injury from pulse round at long range. Strikes "thorough" the arm, but imaprts enough force to knock the guy off his feet, somehow.As he ran a stray pulse round struck him through the arm and knocked him off his feet.
Page 118
Yeah, pity the Space Marines weren't there isn't it? And again the lack of proper air support fucks the Imperials over when they need it most. Pity the navy fighter pilots didnt get backup.The [distress] message was heard loud and clear, by De Stael and the Tau Commanders, who were listening in from within their Manta. As the Imperial Navy scrambled a fighter wing ot join the fray, so the Tau barracudas were vectoring in to intercept them. Now the effects of the Tau's earlier daring raid on the airbase was felt.
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In all, only six air-worthy thunderholts could be found for the new mission. It wasn't enough.
What's even more hilarious is that at this point you think they would consider redeploying the Marines. I mean speed and quick deployment is their point. Gather at least some of them up, ferry them to orbit (again drop ships!) and drop them down via drop pod. It's not a guaranteed success but its much faster than just waiting for the Cadians to fucking reach them.
Page 119
The Elysians fought back hard, but even with their Vulture air support attacking the Manta they could not hope to win an uneven battle. Slowly the Tau cleared the ruins, sectioon by section.
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In the mid-afternoon the Tau commander requested a ceasfire and asked that the remaining defenders urrender.
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Colonel balach, now wounded himself, refused to surrender..
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By nightfall he was dead and the 23rd Elysian regiment was all but annihilated.
- They managed to take it, but failed to hold it. Lack of resupply hampered the air support (which would prove to be crucial in holding back the Tau) as well as the troops themselves. In the end, the Elysian forces were all but annihilated, and the survivors taken prisoner.
Yet another brilliant deployment of piecemeal, unsupported forces fails and De Stael's caution proves more hinderance than help. And the Tallarn are still dying.
Also given the time it took to hunt out the Elysians, I'm willing to bet they could have redeployed the Astartes for assault.
Page 120
- With the Tallarns stalled and the Elysians failed, now we see that the Cadians (an entirely mechanized force) plus the Warhound Titans and the Raptors Space MArines, are all deployed for a final effort of attack.The Tallarns had made small, local advances and continued harassing artillery fire but, short on supplies and critically short on water, they had started to dig-in to conserve what supplies they had.
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The Space Marines would be the spearhead of the thrust, supported by the Titans of Legio Ignatum. The Warhounds were the Imperium's largets war machines on Taros, it was unlikely the Tau had any answer to them.
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..sweeping aside any resistance and clearing the way for the mechanized 114th Cadian regiment to strike north ot reach hydro 23-30.
To be perfectly blunt, I'm not sure of the in-universe reason why they decided to go at this piecemeal like this, as it simply gave the Tau more time to whittle them down yet again. I understand that in a military engagement you want reserves, and you can't just throw all the units in all at once (troops need to be rotated due to combat strain and such) but really... it could have been handled better. We already know the Raptors did a spectacular job as an opening attack force, so they could have been used alot more (rather than being kept out in space). The Titans could have been more useful in the advance, given their tremendous firepower and range (and mobility). The Cadians and Elysians (alone) would have contributed significantly to the mobility issue, even without the other regiment (the Sarennian engineers). And, most importantly, ,they'd still have had the naval assets. The infantry was still a problem, but those could have been detached and used as a supporting force. Hell, use the drop ships to help move them around. They could also have just advanced in behind the armoured/mechanized forces too.
But if they HAD to have reserves, they could have kept the foot infantry back an deployed the mechanised and armoured forces alone. Backed up by the Elysians (and a regiment in the dropships/shuttles.) they would have been far more mobile and better able to take objectives. Infantry could have been ferried in on Munitorum supply convoys (and provided extra security) or deployed as a distraction on the Eastern side. Or if they HAD to carry them, there's always desant (just as exposed but alot faster than a foot march)
My best guess is that pressure from the higher ups for speed and results (we're told they couldn't wait before totally amassing their forces.), belief that reliably resupply was forthcoming (when in fact it wasn't - the lack of adequate support due to the Black Crusade was a big problem here, esp on the Naval side of things.), ,and a need to conserve what resources they had (IE caution.) We also know one regiment (Krieg) never got to Taros (due to Hive fleet Kraken) and that another was merely company sized despite being a "Regiment". And going back to look (page 43) we know that at most they had only half the initial force deployed, with the rest following on after (The Ttians as well.) The loss of the Dragoons only proved this point.
On the other hand, waiting may very well have given the Tau more time to prepare/fortify (Even though the Tau do not seem to always do this as a rule.. or at least they're not supposed to.) They never bothered using the dropships or shuttles for rapid deployment either (like in Traitor's Hand or the Elysians did in the 3rd Armageddon war.) The only flaw in all this is that if speed was so crucial, why did they decide on a slow foot march over nearly a thousand miles of desert? That's NOT fast. Moreover, why did they deploy from halfway across the Imperium rather than locally? You'd think they could work that out somehow, but I guess not. Speed doesn't seem to explain everything.
Then there was the minimal level of support from the Ministorum and the AdMech. 4 Titans would help, but a Legion (and Skitarrii) would have been better. The Sororitas would have also been a huge help as it was. I frankly still don't understand (in universe) why there were no skitarii. The reverence the AdMech hold for Titans, the vulnerability of Warhounds to enemy vehicles both would have dictated a strong Skitarri escort force. But.. zip.
And of course, there was the fact that the Imperium had virtually no intel on the Tau, while the Tau often had quite a bit of intel on the Imperium. Information was crucial in this fight, and the lack of intel coupled with the logistics failures were two blows that killed the Imperium even from the start. Contrast this with Savage Scars, where information was acquired by various means (drones, satellites/starships in orbit, aerial recon, scouts on foot, etc.) and when info or discoveries were made, they were relayed to the central command for dissemination amongst the other trops. None of which appeared to happen at Taros.
Out of universe, mind, the answer is much simpler. The engagement was contrived to favour the Tau, since if it wasn't hamstrung by limited forces and supplies and such the Tau would have had a much harder time defeating them. But we can't use that in-universe.
Page 120
NOW the Titans go into battle, and all to help just the Cadians get through. Why couldn't they have done this earlier?Eight hundred kilometres to the south, the Valkyries and Vultures of the Elysian Drop Troop regiment were just taking off as the Space Marines and Warhounds went into battle.
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Their objective was to clear all Tau forces, punching a gap for the Imperial Guard to race through.
Page 121
This implies that Warhound Titans outrange the Tau hammerheads.The Tau's Pathfinder forward observers must have seen the Warhound Titans, standing fourteen metres tall above the desert, as they stalked forward. The Tau were prepared for an attack and, as ever, their Hunter Cadres responded quickly to the call from their forward scouts.
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The Warhounds engaged the Hammerheads at maximum range, blazing away with massive turbo-lasers.
Page 121
Sounds great huh? It won't last long. The sad part is that the Astartes come out of this as the most competent force around for the Imperium next to the Navy Fighters. Even the Titans fuck up, and this is really the last gasp of the actual military campaign.Hoping to halt the assault [Space Marines] the Tau could no longer simply give ground before the attack, they had to stand and fight. This was to the Space Marines' advantage.
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Conducted with speed, accuracy and their trade mark aggression, the Space Marine tore into the Tau defenders...
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Suddenly the Tau were suffering heavy losses. With void shields flaring against railgun hits, the Warhounds strode forwards, obliterating entire vehicles with a single hit form their weaponry...
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For the first time on Taros the Tau fell back having the worst of the engagement.
Again this justfies my assertion that the Astartes should have been used more, and used early on.
Page 121
- the Deployment of a Tiger Shark variant specifically designed as anti-Titan weapons. Missiles capable of downing Void shields, and railguns capable of injuring armour. Of course, tehre's virttually no air support either, which would have helped protect the Titans here, due to prior losses and absence of resupply.No Imperial commander had ever encountered this new mark of Tiger Shark before. The aircraft came in fast, skimming the desert so low it kicked up a dust cloud, before climbing over a shallow rise to open fire. Missiles rippled from the aircraft's wings, flaring bright against Warhound Advensis Primaris' void shields. The explosions overpowered the generators which cut out. The following shots from the Tiger Shark's twin railguns struck the Warhound squarely in the hull. with devastaitng power two hyper-sonic shots tore through the thick armour plates in an explosion that showered the surrounding desert in molten shrapnel. Critically wounded the Warhound staggered backwards under the impacts, totered and, to the astonishment of all, fell.
Reembmer when I said that it was odd that despite venerating the fuck out of Titans, a AdMech Magos sent this one in without its own organic support, even though everything else ew know about Titans and Admech says this would not happen? Well, this is the result.
You would also think they would expect some sort of response. While they had on reason to expect the new Tiger Shark, they have to realize that Mantas might be used.
Anyhow, note that they had to use missiles to down the shields of a Warhound that had already engaged in combat, before shooting the railguns. And Warhounds are the weakest Titan. How a Reaver or Warlord would stack up is up for debate.
Page 121
MIU ends up killing the Princeps and Moderati. The combined Astartes/Titan force had gone a grand total of fifty km. Seems kinda minor for forces that important.Inside the crew lay dead ath the controls, including High Princeps Jernay, killed by the agonised screams of pain that fed directly into his brain from the Titan's mind-impulse controls. The remaining three Titans withdrew rather than face another strafing run.
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The Space Marines and Warhounds had advanced the required fifty kilometres in just a day of fighting.
Page 122
More on the Tiger Shark variant.The new Tiger Shark had been upgraded to carry two heavy railguns, sacrificing its standard payload and ion cannons for the kind of firepower usually only mounted on Mantas or spacecraft.
Page 122
- Cadians had scout elements, chimeras and artillery supporrt (mortars such as Griffins instead of basilisks.) Oddly, unlike against the Titans, the Navy was providing air cover fro the Cadians. It may be due to timing and being overstretched due to lack of replacements and prolonged air battle. In any case, the Cadians make it through untouched, and only air support provided trouble. Which again begs the question of why the landing zone was so fucking far away to begin with.The Chimera-borne mechanised regiment was to dash to link up with them [Elysian Drop Troops]. They had two days to cover 150 kilometres of hostile desert.
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Leading the way were reconnaissance troops, squadrons of Salamander scout vehicles. Behind them came the bulk of the regiment, Infantry platoons advancing in formation with thier own Chimera armoured carriers. Lastly was the regiments artillery support. Griffon mortar carriers replacing the far slower Basisliks. Colonel Stranski had already decided the Basilisks hould not take part in the operation. The artillery pieces could not keep up with the pace of the advance, indirect firepower would have to be provided by the mortars and the Imperial Navy, whose aircraft were again overhead protecting the Chimera colums.
I'm also wondering why they had so much trouble covering 150 km. Or was it supposed to be 1500 km (which would make more sense?) I mean the delaying actions could explain some of it, but 150 km could be handled in a couple of hours tops, and delays wouldnt hamper THAT badly. 1500 KM would be more easy to delay.
Page 122
Its strange that due to the need to attack the Elysiasn and the new incursion by the Chimeras, the Tau were actually caught between two opposing needs this time, though they decided to try and delay the Cadians in order to defeat the Elysians at the Hydor plant, though this being a problem suggests that the Tau weren't confident in destrtoying the Elysiasn in time.The Tau had suffered their heaviest losses yet fighting the breakthrough, and had alreay started to laod Hunter CAdres into Mantas to move agianst hte Elysian drop zone. The Chimera columns now driving deep into their territory could not be stopped. The Tau faced a difficult tacticla problem, where to commit their available troops?
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So the Tau let the Cadians advance. They would not sek to halt or destroy the 114th armoured columns, only to delay it long enough for the battle at the hydro-plant to be won. For delaying actions they would use light forces of pathfinders support by Piranhas and Devilfish-mounted Fire Warriors.
Once again we see a case where luck favored the tau again. The battle, despite everything that has gone AGAINST the Imperium up to this point, still might have favored them (in taking the hydro plant at least. Getting that does not neccesarily guarantee victory, mind) but they still lose.
And to be blunt, they ought to have pulled off Operation Comet a whole HELL of alot sooner. Like as soon as the Titans arrived. They could have combined the Tallarn armoured/mechnaized forces (or at least SOME of them) along with the Astartes, Titans and Cadians and taken it much sooner. They knew from the get go that water would be a concern, and if the plant oculd have been vital ot the Tallarn advance. Once they hold the Isthmus and the hydro plant they could start worrying about ferrying fuel and troops and supplies. The Hydro plant would have made a much better base of operations upon which to assault Tarokeen as well. And if they were short on Chimeras? or Needed more troops? convert some of the trojans to vehicle carriers. IA1 says that's been done before.
Page 122
Here, the Tau made use of "remote sensor towers" dropped from speeders, and these allowed the Tau to launch missile attacks to delay the Cadians. Again showing how the tau make extensive use of sensors and the Imperium.. doesn't. At least not here...Pathfinder squads on Tetra speeders raced into the area ahead of the advance to observe the troop movements nad prepare the gorund with Orca dropped Remote sensor towers.
Page 123
Implied vox/master vox range of some 1500 km. Considering vox systems are meant to have orbital relay capability this is no shock, and non-LOS would require such anyhow. About the only useful things the ships in orbit are doing...Imperial Guardmsen enocuntered distinctive tall, thin obsevation towers, which seemed to contain sensor equipment. Following the sightings several chimeras were destroyed by Seeker missile strikes, seemingly lauchhed out of nowhere Each time the Tau attacked it caused the threatened units to halt, disembark troops and begin ot hunt down the foe. It caused elays...
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On that second morning alone there were six separate ambushes...
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and by nightfall they were still thirty kilometres short of their destination.
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That evening communications with Colonel Balach and his beleagured defenders had been lost...
PAge 125
Useful I imagine in holding the plant, but not useful enough. They needed more troops, but they didn't deploy more troops despite having the capacity (the drop ships, again.)Tarantula sentry gun, with lascannons, of the 23rd Elysia Drop Troop regiment. Small enough to be carried in a Valkyrie, sentry guns added valuable heavy weapons support ot the regiment's defensive perimeter.
Page 126
Again with the cyclops - why do they stick a bomb on it rather than a gun?Cyclops, remote controlled demolition vehicle. Another small vehcile capable of airborne transportation, only a few cyclops were deployed during operation comet.
Page 126 - A griffon mortar here has some sort of observation/sensor tower.. I presume it extends indirect fire range accuracy. It had them in 2nd editon as I recall, but the IA3 stuff makes no mention of the device.
