Pass in Review: Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) for Warhammer 40K

(Image from:  Deltavan 1 Military Humor)

I spent the first four years of my active duty US Air Force career as an electronic warfare technician.  My job was to maintain the electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment on B-52s.  After a few years of removing and replacing black boxes, I realized I wasn't enthused about being a fix-it man.  

I'm still not--even when it comes to painting miniatures.

I wanted to cross-train into a more combat-orientated career field.

And boy, did I get my wish.

I ended up becoming a member of the US Air Force's Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) group.

So I spent the remaining 16 years of my military service working with US Army headquarters and combat units helping to coordinate and direct Close Air Support (CAS) and Forward Air Control during exercises and actual deployments.

TACPs aren't just skilled at calling-in air strikes.  They're knowledgeable about an array of joint fire support, such as; US Army Forward Observers who perform with artillery fire, and Naval Gunfire Officers with ship-to-shore fire support.  (The US Marines have a similar group called ANGLICOs--Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company).

We're a tight-knit group and still keep in touch through social media.

Fast forward to a few years ago, and my son-in-law got me interested in Warhammer 4,000 (WH40K).

I delved into the game by purchasing earlier editions of the core rulebook and the codices.  I developed an affinity towards the Astra Militarum, and raised company-sized element of my own regiment, the 187th Dragoon Regiment (Composite).

(I still have an entire troop/company to do a blog post on.  But due to health reasons I haven't been able to conduct a large photo shoot yet).

A couple years ago, I asked my friend Peter to paint a command squad for me, but reconfigure it as a TACP.  He finished them early last year, and I've finally gotten around to posting my homage to TACPs past & present.

Somewhere on the Sector Fronteris... 

...an unusually configured Chimera rumbles into a ruined outpost.

Side Note:

I bought this model pre-painted and assembled.  It's been so long, that I can't remember who I got it from.  

TACPs support every type of Army combat unit.  For those assigned to armored, mechanized infantry, or armored cavalry units, they often have their own Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), or "track" as we liked to call them. 

I thought this particular Chimera, with it's risque nose art  would be the most suitable in my collection for my TACP.

Now back to the opening scene...

A 5-man team of an Astra Militarum TACP disembark. 

As the Chimera moves off to perform a perimeter security check, (and for readers to get a better view of the figures), the TACPs establish an observation point (OP). 

Now for a more detailed look at my WH4K version of a TACP, here's a side-view profile:

Peter did a remarkable job on the figures and especially with the TACP flag.

Now here's a look at the individual figures, and their functions within the TACP. (Note:  "TACP" can also refer to an individual as well as a team). 

The Air and Artillery Support Officer (a combination of Master of Ordnance and Officer of the Fleet):

The vox caster:

The Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC):  

A JTAC is an enlisted member performing the same functions as Air and Artillery Support Officer.  This will allow the team to split up if necessary in order to service two targets, and also provides back-up when if either become a casualty. 

The Target Designator/Heavy Weapons Specialist:

I have this figure armed with a plasma gun to be used at designating targets, by illuminating them with plasma fire, and to provide heavy weapon support to the TACP. 

The TACP Standard Bearer:

TACPs, and every other combat unit here in the Second Millennium, don't wave standards around in the heat of battle.  

But the figure and flag are too cool to pass up.

Pass in Review: Fire Support for the 187th Dragoon Regiment

Lehman Russ Tanks and Chimera Infantry Fighting Vehicles aren’t the only means of support for the troopers of the 187th Dragoon Regiment (Composite) in the dystopian universe of .Warhammer 40,000 (WH40K).

For protection against air attacks, there’s at least one Hydra flak-tank available.

(Note:  All the vehicles featured in this post were painted by my friend Dan).

Right-side, in-transit view:

Left-side, in-transit view:

Ready-to-engage mode, left-oblique view:

Ready-to-engage-mode, right-oblique view:

For ground targets the regiment needs to pound, there’s the Wyvern Suppression Tank.

Left-side view:

Right-side view:

Front-oblique view:

Rear-oblique view:

In addition to vehicular fire support, the 187th Dragoon Regiment also has numerous dismounted heavy weapons squads.

These units come equipped with lascannons...

...heavy bolters...

...or mortars:

I have a couple of autocannons, but no crews to man them.

When the regiment really needs to “reach out and touch someone,” the commander calls upon the temperamental Manticore Rocket Launcher. 

In-transit, right-side view:

In-transit, left-side view:

In-transite, front-oblique view:

Finally, the Manticore is in position to rain fire upon the enemies of Mankind holding the distant hill top:

So there you have it.  All the supporting firepower available to the 187th Dragoon Regiment—due to the limit of my collection and available storage space.

My next WH40K posts will feature the troopers and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) of the 187th’s 

F-Troop.

Pass in Review: Tank Support for the 187th Dragoon Regiment

My previous Warhammer 40,000 (WH40K) posts featured two of the Lehman Russ Tank variants in my collection that support the 187th Dragoon Regiment (Composite):  The Punisher and the Exterminators (with one possible Annihilator).

Now for the rest of the regiment’s tank support...

The 187th has one Demolisher available to take out any fortifications.

Right-side view:

Left-side view:

In addition to it’s main armament, this version mounts 3 x heavy bolters as secondary weapons.

The regiment has a full platoon of Lehman Russ Battle Tanks available to provide fire support, or to exploit any breakthroughs.

Tank #1 is among the first vehicles I purchased.  The battle cannon’s barrel is longer than normal, but not quite as long as a Vanquisher’s.

The secondary armaments are hull and sponson-mounted heavy bolters.  I added the pintel-mounted heavy stubber.

This is the platoon’s lead tank and is commanded by none other than someone like Oddball from Kelly’s Heroes.  And of course, Moriarty and Turk characters are part of the crew. 

Tank#2 should have 3 x heavy bolters...

...however, sometime after it arrived, I noticed the left-side sponson’s weapon was missing.  I don’t know if it came this way, or the weapon came loose afterwards and I accidentally threw it away when I got rid of the shipping package.

Someday I hope to find someone with some extra parts, and who’s skilled enough to fix this.

Both Tanks #1 & 2 feature commanders standing in the hatches.

Tank #3 has all it’s weapons in-place along with the pintel-mounted Storm Bolter I added.

Right-side view:

Left-side view:

The 187th’s tank platoon operating together:

I don’t know if I’ll ever get a chance to field this much firepower all at once.  However, at least it’s available for any possible Apocalypse game sessions.