Tanks in combat

[royalengineer]

Just to confirm my understanding of the rules regarding tanks that are attacked by enemy troops in combat.

I had this on three occasions during my latest game. Playing against Orks, whenever his Nobz or Warboss got into combat with my tanks it was a forgone conclusion they were destroyed. Without moving the previous turn they are automatically hit on the rear armour, with a strength 10 Power Klaw that's automatically a penetrating hit and with 5 attacks from a Warboss that's all the hull points out anyway.

Is this how it is?

[stovrose]

It is indeed . However; don't be too disheartened, if the tank moved during the movement phase they're considered WS 1! Which is still pretty bad. Tanks a sitting ducks in melee

[glutebite]

Suggestions to mitigate this:

Surround your tanks with cheap units of guardsman squads. Move your tanks away from the combat area. Let the Orks tie up the squad. As soon as the Orks are out of combat - blast them with your tanks.

Move your tanks each turn to help (even 1" is considered movement).

Blob squad around your tanks with Priest/Commissar. If you can tie up his Melee for a 3 turns - you have saved your tanks.

I'm sure there are other options.

[gamma016]

If I am not mistaken with the new rules for 7th edition your vehicles are always considered WS1 now, even if they did not move.

[rpython]

That is correct only on Rear armour when immolblised

[treadiculous]

does this mean the armour value is calculated on the facing in relation to the model assaulting - in which case this is quite a shift from previous editions.

Mind you, in previous editions a nob or warboss with a powerklaw would be fairly sure that they'd kill a tank in close combat so you should be able to find lots of advise about protecting tanks from orks... mostly it comes down to shooting lots early on.

confirmation on both rules would be great. (rear armour and WS1).

[gamma016]

Except for hammer of wrath, which is on vehicle facing, all attacks are on rear armour. All attacks are at WS1 unless the vehicle is a Walker, Chariot, or Immoilised Non-Walker. An Immobilised vehicle is treated as WS0. I'm using a digital version so my page numbers may be off but these are on pages 604 and 605.

[royalengineer]

It's as I thought then.
In the battle in question (2000 points vs Orks, 3 objectives) I was able to beat my opponent by a mile. I was left with all objectives and most of my army and he had half a Nob squad left. My only major losses were three tanks taken out in combat. I'll have to get my blob squad infantry as a shield a bit better.

[treadiculous]

I'd be interested to hear what you both fielded in that battle?

[royalengineer]

Me: 1973 points
 1x CCS with Master of the Ordnance
 2x PCS with Vox and flamers
 1x Veteran Squad with 3 Meltas in Chimera
 2x Infantry Squad in Chimeras
 2x Special Weapons Squads with 3 flamers
 3x Infantry Squads 
 3x Heavy Weapons Squad (1 mortars, 1 lascannons, 1 autocannons)
 1x Valkyrie (Multiple Rocket Pods, Heavy Bolters)
 1x Basilisk
 2x Leman Russ Battle Tanks
 1x Leman Russ Demolisher

Opponant: 1985 points
 1x Big Mek
 2x Warboss
 1x Loota Squad
 2x Nob Squads
 3x Slugga Boy Squads
 1x Deff Dred
 3x Killar Kans
 1x Battlewagon with more extras then I can remember (ordnance blast, Zzap gun, big shooters etc)

High points of the battle for me include PCS flamming his warboss in overwatch and killing him in combat, basilisk taking out the entire squad of Lootas, Veteran Squad tearing across the field to secure objectives, Chimera tank shocking Nobz sending them running and a basic 10 man squad destroying the battlewagon by engaging it in close combat with a meltabomb.