SA5150: AAR: Platoon Attack

Walking into it!

So after a pretty disastrous section patrol into AO Buffel, I decided that the Ark Light Battalion wasn't going to take any further chances.  It's clear that small patrols in SA5150 are likely to get absolutely creamed by even average PEF rolls.  So from now on any operations into District 10 were going to be a lot bigger and more capable.  

Support By Fire

I've finally been able to finish the last of my RUSK troopers.  These were primarily the crew served support weapons that will be Zulu Platoon's SBF (support by fire).

The support weapons pack comes with a few options for the little guys.

My first choice was a .50 cal on a tripod.  This will be an absolute menace to infantry and light vehicles that stray into it's field of fire.

.50 Cal equivalent on tripod

AAR: SA5150: A Surprising Day Patrolling

I've had the Star Army:5150 rules for a while now and been wanting to try them out.  I was particularly intrigued with the solo play aspect of it (and the fact it'd be over in 2hrs was a good selling point too!).  So I printed out the pdf, put a few bulldog clips on it to hold it all together and gave it a whirl.

I'll start off by saying that I didn't strictly adhere to every rule.  I ignored some (defended structures for example), modified others (Man Down test) and invented my own (the advanced combat rifle didn't have a suitable entry so I made it up).

The MNU PMC will count as 'Star Army'- and are armed with ACRs (advanced combat rifles- shoot like an assault rifle but hit like a laser rifle).  

The Prawn Militia will count as 'Planetary Defence Force' but with a campaign morale of 3.  

CAMPAIGN SETTING: District 10: AO Buffel

Campaign Morale: 

MNU PMC: "Ark-Light Company"- Morale 3 and Contesting

Prawn Militia: "Talon Battatlion"- Morale 3 and Controlling

Investment Level:

MNU PMC: 3

Prawn Militia: 3 

Ark-Light PMC: Zulu Platoon: Call-sign "21A"

Klotz and his fire team

Star (Squad leader): Lt. Klotz - Rep 5, Star Power, Larger than life, Cheating death, Free will

Tomorrow's War AAR - The Rescue

Background

It was unusual.  Being pulled off the usual pointless "presence patrols" and being sent off into the boonies.  All of a sudden the vehicles we were in drove off Route 6 and dropped us off in the middle of nowhere.  We piled out, wondering what was going on.  Our sixth senses were tingling.    

The patrol commander, Klotz, gathered us in a huddle and gave a quick set of orders for a fighting patrol.  I'll spare you the details, but The Company wanted this done.  One guy- another merc- had become separated from his unit during a gun battle with a gang of prawns in the area.  The Company's board were worried- they didn't want a captured human being beheaded (or eaten even!).  The negative effects of District 9 were still being felt today.

How did I feel about it?  I felt for the guy- the trapped soldier.  If it was me- yes, I'd want Zulu Platoon kicking down doors and hosing enemy with lead.  So I checked my magazine, fell into formation and started patrolling forward.

Another Five MNU

Click for bigger image!

A quick snap of another 5 RUSK completed.  4 riflemen and one ATGM guy readying his next missile.

I'll take better photos come the weekend but this'll do for now.

The key difference is the lack of shine- thanks to Testors.  I think I will respray the others to get rid of that shine.

The grass is 4mm long and a bit too long for my taste.  I really have to try and get some 2mm.  Oh well!

Remember, A Smile Is Cheaper Than A Bullet....

Platoon HQ: Sergeant, Lieutenant, Signaller, Medic

I refuse to surrender to the rat race.  The more I'm forced to work and do my post grad stuff- the more I paint.  (And the less sleep I get!)

Medic- rear view

Signaller- side view (sorry, bit blurry!)

I've really become very fond of these RUSK miniatures.  They are a bit shiny because of a generic matt varnish spray that I used on them.  I think the next batch I'll do will have to be with Testor's Dullcote (which has finally arrived in Australia!!!! Hoooray!).

Fire team- high tech RPG and high tech RPK

 

Another fire team- ATGM and minigun

Another fire team- minigun

Sniper and energy weapon in this group

I haven't formally grouped anyone into squads yet (except for PHQ- and even then I might even add another rifleman as a runner).  I am a big fan of standardisation in the orbatt.  I know, it's very OCD.  At the moment, the sniper and mini gunners count as light support weapons.  Any other big bang weapons count as RPGs or LAWs.  

I do have a few other RUSKs to paint, so I'll get cracking since the coming month is going to get very, very busy (work wise).  Once they are done, I'll make another small order for 20mm bases and a handful of RUSK miniatures to flesh out the platoon.  The spare rifleman guys left over?  Well- someone's going to have to drive their armoured vehicles.

Group photo for the guys done so far.

MNU Agents, Open The Doors, Please.

Sign these notice of eviction please.

I'm so excited, even though they aren't finished yet.

Ok, ok- they aren't strictly speaking the colours of MNU with white body armour and black antelope.  But!!!  As a generic near future human force they look the type.

I can see them being- funnily enough- near future/ science fiction Russians.

I'm happier with the paint scheme now.  It consists of:

CBA:
1. Citadel Castellan Green base
2. Citadel Death World Forest layer leaving a bit of base at the recesses
3. Citadel Straken Green highlight just on the edges that catch the light.  Doing too much produces a Future Music Festival manlet in fluoro.

Soft armour:
1. Chaos black base
2. Citadel Eshin Grey layer
3. Very thin highlight of Administratum Grey just on edges.

Weapons:
1. Vallejo English Uniform
2. Thing highlight edging with Citadel Zandri Dust
3. Barrels- in chaos black + Citadel The Fang

Eyes:
1. Citadel Evil Sunz Scarlet
2. A streak of Citadel Sunburst Yellow

Boot laces:
1. A very lazy set of strokes with a Vallejo English Uniform.

The Future Music Festival Manlet.

U aware, bro?

MNU- test colour scheme failure.

Armour plating is Citadel Castellan Green.  Highlight is with Citadel Straken Green- which was a poor choice.  Way, way too bright.

He looks like he's wearing fluorescent armour under natural light.  He looks like a Future Music Festival manlet complete with glow stick armour.

I spent hours today pouring over paint schemes of Flames of War Germans- trying to tease out the exact combination for making that deep green and grey of their uniforms- and it's been a real pain in the butt.

One, because the local GW was closed for a stocktake (I dashed out in my lunch break to try and get some colours).  Two, the online stores where I normally get my things were sold out of the exact colours I wanted.  Three, I was just generally unhappy that I couldn't complete my first squad of MNU by the end of the weekend because of this!

I'll go back to my Prawns whilst I await the deliveries....