Tag: imperial navy

Skies of Fire

Well on Sunday over on the Warhammer Community site, there has been the official preview of the new Aeronautia Imperialis boxed set, Skies of Fire.

You’ll get absolutely everything you need to fly your first sorties, including a set of five aircraft for each side, a game mat and rulebook, dice, reference sheets, tokens and a transfer sheet. The T’au force includes three Barracudas and two Tiger Sharks, each with a wide array of weapon options. The Imperium’s forces consist of two Valkyrie Assault Carriers, which can alternatively be built as Vendettas, plus three Lightning Strike Fighters, one of which can be built as a Lightning Fighter.

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that I had taken the leap and purchased the Wings of Vengeance boxed set.

After hearing that it had gone direct only and was to be superseded by a new boxed set featuring the Tau, I decided I had better buy it now before it was gone.

It’s not that I don’t like the new boxed set, much more that I prefer the Imperial and Ork models in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. So much so (and quite unlike me) I have already started putting the models together…

These are lovely models, so I was interested to see what we would get in the Tau boxed set. Obviously there would be Tau, but I was intrigued who their opponents would be. Not looking at the rumours I did wonder if it would be a Xenos race, so was pleasantly surprised to see that it was the Imperial Navy.

I wasn’t anticipating that we would see the Valkyrie.

They look great.

I don’t think I will buy the boxed set, but I do think I might get a box of the Valkyrie Assault Carriers. As I said on Twitter I do wonder if we will ever see tanks and infantry in this scale for Adeptus Titanicus? Well this Valkyrie does show what is possible.

I am not a great fan of the Lightning Strike Fighters so happy to let them pass. As for the Tau, well they look like nice models, but not for me.

Valkyrie from the Catachan 22nd Airborne Assault Group

The Valkyrie Airborne Assault Carrier is a heavily armed Imperial Aircraft with VTOL (Vertical Takeoff Or Landing) capabilities, used to ferry special forces such as Storm Trooper Squads and Drop Troop Regiments such as the Elysian Drop Troops and Harakoni Warhawks to and from combat zones.

Catachan Valkyrie

The Valkyrie, like most of the Imperium’s aircraft, is piloted and operated by the Imperial Navy, with a pilot, co-pilot and two door gunners. Valkyries are provided in joint operations for use to the Imperial Guard on an as needed basis, with pilots reporting directly to the regiment’s senior officer.

This example has been painted to reflect the regiment’s identity and colours. Some Valkyries have been so successful with certain regiments, that they are permanently assigned to them. One such regiment is the Catachan 22nd Airborne Assault Group.

Militarum Tempestus Valkyrie

The Militarum Tempestus, also known as the Ordo Tempestus, is amongst the most rigidly codified of all Imperial organisations, for its troops form the elite backbone of the Astra Militarum, serving as its special operations units. Though the Ordo is technically a sub-faction governed by the Adeptus Administratum, it enjoys a far greater amount of autonomy than the Imperial Guard regiments that often fight alongside it.

Alongside the Taurox Prime vehicles the Militarum Tempestus also use the Valkyrie Transport. The Valkyrie Airborne Assault Carrier is a heavily armed Imperial Aircraft with VTOL (Vertical Takeoff Or Landing) capabilities, used to ferry troops, such as the Tempestus Scions,  to and from combat zones.

This Militarum Tempestus Valkyrie was on display at Warhammer World.

Militarum Tempestus Valkyrie

Arvus Lighter

This Arvus Lighter on a landing platform was part of a display at Warhammer World.

Arvus Lighter
Arvus Lighter

The Arvus Lighter is a small, general purpose cargo shuttle that is widely used by the Imperium of Man for many tasks, both in space and on the surface of planets. The Arvus is commonly used by both Imperial Navy warships and Imperial merchant vessels, including Rogue Traders. The Arvus is just one of many types of small, void-capable shuttles used by the Imperium. The Arvus is piloted by a single pilot, and is not equipped with any weapon systems, in fact, the Arvus possesses only the most basic navigation equipment, external sensors, and proximity alarms. The Arvus has a powerful engine that allows it to carry heavy cargo to and from a planet’s surface.

Arvus Lighter
Arvus Lighter

Took the leap with Aeronautica Imperialis

Aeronautica Imperialis Logo

Take to the Skies! Aeronautica Imperialis is a game of aerial combat set in the Warhammer 40,00 universe. While ground troops push forward to secure tactical objectives, winged squadrons push forward in the skies to decimate enemy positions and intercept enemy fighters. 

Though I think I bought the original Forge World Aeronautica Imperialis rules I don’t think I ever got around to playing an actual game. I certainly painted up a few of the planes though.

I had thought about buying the new game for a while now, but kept putting it off and buying other stuff. When the game first came out I did wonder about the size of the planes and how they compared in size to the Epic models I had already. I know that the new Adeptus Titanicus was “larger” in scale than the original Epic, so I was assuming that these new Aeronautica Imperialis planes would similarly be larger. However I found searching the internet that I couldn’t for sure see a comparison between the old and the new.

So I was pleased on a visit to Warhammer World in January to see the models in “the flesh” and they are significantly bigger than the Epic versions I had in my collection.

These were the Ork Air Waaagh!.

These are the Imperial Navy flyers.

I decided that if I was going to get into the game, I would buy the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. Continue reading “Took the leap with Aeronautica Imperialis”

Marauder Bomber

The Marauder Bomber is the workhorse of the Imperial Navy. Capable of both atmospheric and void operations, it is used as an attack craft in fleet actions as well as fulfilling a tactical role, supporting ground offensives by bombing enemy troop concentrations and support positions. Such tactical bombing missions are often launched prior to, and in support of, Imperial Guard offensives.

This lovely Forge World Marauder Bomber was on display at Warhammer World.

Imperial Navy Marauder Bomber
Imperial Navy Marauder Bomber at Warhammer World
Imperial Navy Marauder Bomber
Imperial Navy Marauder Bomber at Warhammer World

The Marauder Destroyer variant was developed during the second war for Armageddon after heavy losses in the Naval airforces. Orkish dominance of the skies over certain areas of Armageddon forced the few remaining Marauders to be refitted to operate at night, flying at extremely low level where they could evade detection. Their new heavier weapon payload made anything which got in the way seriously regret it!

Marauder Destroyer
Marauder Destroyer at Warhammer World
Marauder Destroyer
Marauder Destroyer at Warhammer World

The 40K version of this model is huge, but on my most recent visit to Warhammer World I was able to see the Aeronatica Imperialis version in the flesh (well the plastic) and I think I might get some of those at some point.

Imperial Navy Arvus Lighter

I’ve always quite liked the Forge World Imperial Navy Arvus Lighter for Warhammer 40K.

Arvus Lighter, from the Forgeworld cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Arvus Lighter, from the Forgeworld cabinets at GamesDay 2006

The Arvus is a small cargo shuttle commonly used to transfer supplies and small personnel units ship-to-ship or from fleet positions to planetary installations. While unarmed, the Arvus is capable of standing in as an assault boat, able to transport small infantry squads or boarding parties.

Arvus Lighter, BAT-21, from the Golden Demon cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Arvus Lighter, BAT-21, from the Golden Demon cabinets at GamesDay 2006

This was very much a scenery item, or a scenario objective, something from which a narrative game could be played.

I am pleased to see it is still available from Forge World, these photographs were taken at Games Day 2006, and there are many Forge World models that are now no longer available.

Valkyrie Flyer

Valkyrie Flyer of the Imperial Navy
Valkyrie Flyer of the Imperial Navy

Valkyrie Flyer of the Imperial Navy, on display at Warhammer World.

I do think that this was one of the best concepts ever produced by Forge World, and obviously with the release of the plastic kit version, made it much more accessible.

I like the execution of the concept, it isn’t a helicopter without rotors that you sometimes see with SF flyers, likewise it doesn’t look like a transport plane with short wings! I do have one of the plastic kits, but alas still in the box. Maybe time to get out the craft knife and the glue.