Trooper Mustaine

A knife fighter without peer on Necromunda, Mustaine made more than his fair share of enemies both outside and within the Death Blades. Upon recruitment into the guard, Mustaine was given a leadership role, but failed to conform to the expectations of regimental command. However his strong survival instinct and unprecedented lethality meant that he was able to avoid the ultimate penalty.
Nevertheless he has not escaped unscathed from sancture, and his wild reputation, prolific combat drug use, and sheer arrogance has resulted in him effectively being relieved of any command duties.
This fact, plus issues associated with the long term use of frenzon, slaught and other combat stimms has resulted in Mustaine withdrawing from the day to day affairs of the regiment, being rarely seen and even more rarely heard during down times. However a reputation for lethality approaching legendary status within the regiment, and having honed his ability to infiltrate and strike from the shadows to extraordinary levels, means that Mustaine remains a valuable asset on the battlefield when the Death Blades engage. 

Clash with Reality

It's been a long time since I have added to this blog, a little over six months in fact.

I'd like to say that things in the painting queue have been progressing in that time, but unfortunately they haven't. Not much anyway. Reality trumps hobby sometimes.

But I remain a loyal follower of Nurgle, so let's see how my pledge for 2017 went...

Death Blades Land Speeder

An Imperial Land Speeder assigned to the 9th Necromundan "Death Blades" for recon duties. The land speeders of the Imperial Guard, although rare, are most often used for scouting and reconnaissance where their superior mobility can be utilised effectively. The 9th Necromundan use a variety of different units for gathering intel, including sentinels, specialist infantry, abhumans such as ratlings, light cavalry and land speeders like the one shown here.

As they are few in number, land speeders are most commonly assigned to other mobile formations like assault platoons, rough riders and sentinels where their rapidly deploying heavy weapons act as a valuable force multiplier.

The speeder shown below is attached to F company green platoon, where it provides close heavy support for the grav-chute deploying infantry platoon. This speeder is armed with a multi melta for anti tank duties, and an underslung heavy flamer for anti infantry support. The varied loadout indicates that green platoon were most likely being rapidly deployed into a zone defended by a mixed force.

Note the small arms being used by the crew, indicating that the speeder is about to engage or be engaged at close quarters. Due to the nature of green platoon's rapid deployments all assets are expected to assist with forming a beachhead or breakthrough at close quarters during the stages immediately after a drop. For the former gangers of Necromunda who excel at combat in close confinement, missions such as this are undertaken with a reasonable likelihood of success, albeit at a high rate of attrition.

Shadowswords!

Imperial Shadowswords of the 9th Necromundan Superheavy (Black) company traverse the ash wastes of Neu Diemensland. These tanks show several signs that they have been deployed as a part of the Necromundan regiment for some time, including gang markings painted on the armoured panels, engine kill markings predominantly displayed adjacent to the main gun, and various other honour markings on the tank's flanks. The tank on the far right has reinforced side armour in place of sponson secondary weapons, with the crew painting a stylised red Death Blades kill banner on the armoured panels.

The command tank, with yellow command symbol painted on it's flank, is equipped with sponson heavy bolters and a cupola mounted storm bolter as secondary weapons. While the third tank is equipped with sponson heavy bolters only. Often lascannon secondary weapons are fitted to shadowsword sponsons, but both of these tanks have exchanged the lascannons for improved rangefinding and targeting equipment, to allow them to be more accurate with the volcano cannon main armament.

In most deployments it is rare for shadowswords to be fielded as a single formation, with commanders preferring to distribute individual shadowswords throughout their forces. Formations such as this are normally only deployed against a formidable enemy force, when the situation calls for massed war engine killing armament.

The Pledge for 2017

What I said I'd do, what I did and what I say I will do.

In 2016 I pledged that I would do the following:

1. Paint up the 28mm Death Blades models that I currently own. Purchase what bits I need to do this.
2. Paint up the 6mm Death Guard Models that I own. Including the supporting Titan Legion.
3. Purchase and paint some heavy vehicles for the 6mm Death Blades.
4. Paint up some Dark Future models, including purchasing some models on foot.
5. Finish rolling up and modelling my Nurgle Warbands for Realms of Chaos.
6. Find a like minded gaming group and play some games.
7. Keep going with the Old Lead Undead. Hopefully at a faster rate than 1 model per year.

And here is how I went...

Trojans

Trojans from the 9th Necromundan, Blue company, White squadron await orders to redeploy.

Flaming Hell!

A squadron of assault tanks from the 9th Necromundan Red Company preparing to advance. The squadron is composed of a Banewolf on the left, with chemical cannon, and two Hellhounds. The command tank is in the centre, as denoted by the yellow command symbol on it's flank.

As zone mortalis specialists, the Necromundans often utilise assault tanks such as these, whose armament makes a mockery of cover that the enemy may be sheltering in.

More Transports for Green Platoon

Imperial Centaur Light Assault Carriers being utilised as transports for the 9th Necromundan F Company Green Platoon. These centaurs have been fitted with enclosed crew compartments, to provide additional protection to the transported troops from hostile environments and enemies. An added benefit is that it also allows the Necromundans to perform their nefarious deeds shielded from prying eyes while on non combat operations.

Crassus Heavy Transports

Crassus Heavy Transports of the 9th Necromundan F (yellow) Company. Transports such as the Crassus are used by the regiment when a combination of heavy armour and speed is required to get the infantry into engagements. 
They are seen as a mixed blessing by the Necromundans, who appreciate their thick armoured protection, but know that when the Crassus are deployed it is to engage a powerful enemy force.

Epic Gun Emplacements

Leman Russ Battletanks occupy gun emplacements during the defence of the Imperial Prison Colony world of Neu Diemenslandt.

Epic Leman Russ Tanks

The Leman Russ Battletank is a common sight amongst the innumerable regiments of the Imperial Guard.

The 9th Necromundan are no exception, with the Leman Russ being a valuable addition to the Regiment at times when an armoured strike is required. The former gangers of the industrial world that are chosen to crew these vehicles relish the opportunity to unleash overwhelming firepower on the foe before attacking at full pace, engaging them at close quarters with secondary weapons.

The officers of the regiment have learned to use the battle tanks well, ruthlessly combining artillery, air and armoured strikes, putting into practice the edicts of combined warfare as outlined in the Tactica Imperium.

Shown here is the command squadron of red company, as indicated by the red and yellow striping on the tanks side armour. The company command vehicle is a Vanquisher variant in this case, and can be identified by the yellow command symbol on the turret.

Epic Bunkers!

An Imperial bunker line on the fortified Penal world of Neu Diemenslandt awaiting it's garrison.

Epic Fortified Turrets

Turrets such as these are often installed by planetary defence forces, and can provide a first line of defence to Imperial settlements and infrastructure. Occasionally they survive long enough to be utilised by other Imperial forces that get mobilised to war zones after the initial contact with the PDF has been made.

Death Blades Valdor Tank Hunter

Pict capture of a Death Blades Valdor Tank Hunter preparing to engage.

The time of Judgement is nigh...

Requisitioned into the forces of Het'fjeld as his personal bodyguard and investigators, these Arbites also assist in maintaining order within the Necromundan regiment.

The guardsmen of the 9th Necromundan treat them with outward hostility, thanks largely to the fact that the former gangers of the 9th grew up in a culture of hatred towards the Arbites, who often clashed violently with the hive gangers.

The Arbites themselves care little for the manner in which the Guardsmen treat them, feeling honoured in the fact that they are chosen by Het'fjeld to execute his orders directly.

Epic Battle Report - The're coming to surrender!

I had a fun game of Epic the other day, and I remembered to take some photos! It was bound to happen sooner or later!
It was a 2000 point per side game of Epic Armageddon, between an army of my own creation, the Heavy Mechanised Imperial Guard, and the squats of Thurgrimm's Stronghold.

Green Platoon

Pict capture of elements of the 9th Necromundan F company 3rd platoon, including members of the command section, notably the OiC Lt. Burr and platoon medic.

These troops have been configured for rapid deployment with fully enclosed helmets, and carapace body armour.

Grav chutes appear to have been discarded, which is a common practice amongst units deploying behind enemy lines. The guardsmen are armed with lightweight Ryza pattern lasguns, which appear to have been dramatically overcharged as indicated by the glowing transfer coils underneath the weapons. Unsanctioned modifications such as this render the weapons much more effective, but at a reduced range and increased wear on components, in addition to the higher likelihood of critical malfunction.

9th Necromundan Command Leviathan

The leviathan "Pride of Ollanius" was allocated to serve alongside the 22nd Army Group on their formation. A venerable relic, "The Pride" is currently assigned to the 9th Necromundan regimental command.

While some members of the 22nd's command structure were opposed to letting the Necromundans have access to such an honoured war machine, the Necromundans themselves are not afraid to commit "The Pride" to battle whenever overwhelming firepower and a statement kill is the best option.

Red Platoon Medic

Pict capture of second platoon medic from the 9th Necromundan "Death Blades" F Company. Medics such as these are assigned to the command sections of infantry platoons to improve guardsmen morale, and occasionally reduce battlefield casualties. They are typically found where the fighting is thickest, and this individual has obtained a non standard dueling chain sabre to assist with close quarters engagements and battlefield amputations.
Within the Death Blades medics such as these act as unofficial distributors of combat stimms and other chemical agents, going to great lengths to ensure that supply and distribution within the regiment remains constant. This earns them a certain amount of authority and respect within the regiment, and the position is highly sought after should vacancies arise. Internal disputes with medics are rare, so most vacancies are a result of battlefield attrition or, on occasion, incapacitation due to prolonged substance abuse.

Death Blades Comms Officer

Responsible for communications between F Company Command and other elements of the task force, this comms officer is well trained in the use of the high gain vox unit he carries. Like other communications officers of the 9th Necromundan, and of many other Imperial Guard regiments, the comms officers are seen as a vital link to battlefield re-enforcements, emergency extraction, and resupply. They are also rumored to use their equipment for more nefarious deeds, such as monitoring other communications, allowing certain "off mission" operations to be organised by the company officers, ensuring that unofficial equipment, munitions and supplies can be obtained when needed. Allegations that communications officers within the 9th Necromundan have been organising covert meetings with local gangs for trade and combat drug resupply are, as of yet, unproven.