Battle for Vogen 09 – drop troopers

Posted on by Illumini

Previous battles:
Battle for Vogen 01 – Embers
Battle for Vogen 02 – Rescue Mission
Battle for Vogen 03 – Assault on 176th FOB
Battle for Vogen 04 – Lost souls
Battle for Vogen 05 – Relief column
Battle for Vogen 06 – Cut off the head
Battle for vogen 07 – into Ashshore
Battle for vogen 08 – Rearguard

With the rebel vanguard delayed, the planetary defence forces managed to stabilise the front line in the 7th district. The prepared defensive position discouraged rebel attempts to push further into the city. There were still fighting raging elsewhere, with stranded PDF units further out being picked off, or rebels terrorising and infiltrating the central districts.

PDF forces in Ashshore were quickly reinforced with conscripted civilians, reservists and even some companies of imperial guardsmen landed by air or sea to the besieged city. However, at the start of the third week of the “sitzkrieg”, a major event happened. The 75th mechanised PDF regiment, responsible for holding about a kilometer of the frontline, suddenly stopped responding to orders. Not much later, panicky calls for support came from second line units suddenly under heavy attack. The 75th had joined the renegades, and there was a gaping hole in the imperial lines.

High command Ashshore desperately pleaded with planetary command for reinforcements. There were no forces available locally to plug the gaping hole in their lines, as spoiling attacks had erupted all along the line.

Their salvation came from a higher authority. In orbit above Vogen, a small ad-hoc battle fleet gathered. On board one of the cruisers were the 364th Elysian rifles. The imperial commander in orbit promised they could deploy spoiling forces within two hours.

Dropping directly from Marauder class cargo planes, the first wave of Elysians fanned out in a thin line, aiming to slow the 75th until more reinforcements could be deployed from orbit. They could already hear the loud promethium engines of the enemy mechanised company.

Elysians – army book
Captain
Lieutenant
Primaris psyker
Infantry squad, missile launcher, sniper
Infantry squad, missile launcher, plasma carbine
Veteran squad, 2x meltaguns
Veteran squad, 2x meltaguns
Mortar HWS
Sniper support squad
Taurus Venator, twin multilaser
Taurus Venator, twin lascannon
Avenger strike fighter

Renegades (HDF)
Captain
3 OGRE exo suit bodyguards
Renegade mob leader
1×20 renegade mob, 4 flamers
Infantry squad, 2x grenade launcher
Infantry squad, 2x meltagun
3x IFV, multilaser, heavy stubber, heavy flamer
3x technical walkers, rockets
3x technicals, rocket launchers
3x techicals, heavy bolters

The turn-coat PDF force pushes into the gap in the Imperial lines, but Elysian drop troopers have set up a quick defensive position, utilising the urban landscape to slow down the mechanised assault.

Early game

With a roar of engines, the PDF company start the assault. Multilasers, heavy bolters and missile launchers rain down on the thin elysian line.

The PDF renegades move closer to the thin elysian line, opening up with a hail of vehicle borne firepower, but with limited effect in the heavy cover environment. The elysian taurus’ return fire, deadly lasers cutting across the city.
The elysian infantry squads return fire with missiles, mortars and sniper rifles
With a roar of jet engines, navy air support dive in, raking the PDF forces with lascannons and avenger cannon.
Elysian veterans arrive in a daring rapid insertion combat drop. Armed with meltaguns, they hit the enemy vehicles from behind, destroying several.

Mid game

The renegades press their attack, pushing forwards on both flanks. However, the elysians dropping in their rear stalls the central attack.

A group of armed civilians charge towards the elysian flank. The well trained drop troopers engage from behind cover, cutting down a lot of the mob
However, it is not enough to stop the mob. Armed with flamethrowers and stub weapons, the mob of civilians gun down the full squad, giving the renegades an advantage on the flank.
The fast light vehicles of both sides race around each other, lascannons and missiles flying. The well trained elysians knock out several of the attacking vehicles.
However, the greater numbers of the attackers eventually become telling, and the elysian vehicles are knocked out.

Late game

The renegades are still holding most of the important objectives, but their forces are taking a lot of attrition from the constant air and mortar strikes. The elysians start transitioning from defence to offence.

The Avenger does another pass, blasting the IFV with lascannons and strafing the dismounts with the avenger cannon. Navy air support has been vital for the elysians during the battle, allowing them to reach out anywhere. Several IFVs and a lot of infantry perishes from the air strikes. With no anti-air units, there is little the renegades can do.
The renegade commander and bodyguard had their IFV taken out. Withering fire left only a single bodyguard and the commander. In a rage, they charged a squad of elysians, wiping them out to a man with their brutal close combat weapons.
However, it is too little, too late for the renegade force. With air support and mortars hammering their infantry, and meltaguns, missile launchers and lascannons raking their vehicles, their force is spent. The elysians have taken a battering, but have convincingly held the line. The Elysians control three key points, and manage to eradicate the PDF infantry holding an important fourth position.

The battlefield is left with smouldering heaps of twisted metal. The remains of a mechanised company. The turn-coat 75th withdraw after being taken by total surprise by the rapid insertion of the elysians. As the renegade attack falters all along the line, the imperial forces of Ashshore may have the chance to regain the initiative and go on the counter-offensive.

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