Red Squadron

The forces attacking the Diomedes gather...

A lone raider

Wingmen

The squadron of general purpose fighters are tasked to escort the attack squadron in

These are from Brigade Games' Squadron Commander Range (these are the German line).

Blue Squadron

So, I've kicked off my main project for the year: Raid on the Diomedes

A single multi-purpose fighter

Along with the main pilot's wingman

Two pairs of the fighters will provide protection for the Diomedes

In case you're wondering they're from Brigade Games' Squadron Commander Range (these are the EuroFed line). So, I'll start doing the attacking craft soon (in red!)

The Last Redoubt

With the Sakhan cordon outside WuWei barely holding on, a strike has been planned to overrun the central PRC compound inside the city. A large vehicle-borne IED has been primed and will explode at the inner gate.

Art by UkitaKumuki

A large hand-picked force of Sakhan mercenaries will attack and attempt to rescue a rebel leader and kill any high-ranking officers inside while destroying the command centre.

The first 'Hellburner' (as the rebels call the VBIEDs) rocks the redoubt with a gigantic explosion

The nearby infantry are sheltered by the blast wall, but the light tank standing at the entrance is destroyed outright (the crew bail out, but all are wounded)

A automatic grenade launcher atop one strong-point opens up on the rebels as they show themselves from behind rough ground

The sentries at the main gate open fire as more rebel infantry round the corner behind an armoured car

The APC, previously idling alongside the main bunker, surges forward to add its firepower to the defence

Intense missile fire is directed at a building being occupied by the rebels, and  it's demolished. A power armour trooper knocks out the armoured car (destroying its missile launcher and immobilising it) with his plasma cannon

The other power armour team take the high ground in the strong point and  wreck havoc amongst the rebels below

A second hellburner makes its way towards the gate, but it draws an enormous amount of reactive fire as it comes into view and it's knocked out of action

The rebels take the strongpoint in a frenzied assault, taking out the power armoured troopers who were put down by the rest of their squad's fire

Now they're firing on PLA units inside the compound and eyeing up the main bunker - time is not on their side however as they've left it too later to do anything other than fire into the command center and hope they get lucky

Tying to drive back the other nearby rebel units, the APC's machine guns are taken out by a rocket launcher and the crew disembark to take on the rebels with their sidearms!

The government forces have held out, just long enough...WuWei still stands and the rebels must regroup and hope international pressure gives them victory on the negotiations table.

Cut and Run

With the relief force inbound, the Sakhan Liberation Army has stepped up its efforts to take WuWei, and has already overrun several strongholds on the perimeter.

Art by UkitaKumuki

One PLA officer has courageously decided to make a run for the main lines. His attempt to bring supplies vital to the continuing defence may do his cause more harm than good however...

The route to safety, seems pretty clear, but there are well-equipped rebel outposts scattered along it

The PLA enter cautiously, one of the few remaining tanks backs up a squad of infantry

The APC noses around the corner, eyeing up an abandoned pick-up

A rebel armoured car rounds the corner and lets off a powerful anti-tank guided missile - it hits the bullseye and the APC bursts into flames. Four of the infantry still aboard are killed or seriously wounded

The light tank trades shots with the armoured car - the sports car the rebel vehicle is using for cover comes off the worst initially, but after they take a second bite at the cherry the light tank destroys the armoured car before it can rethink its strategy

Feeling under pressure, the PLA lieutenant puts in a high priority call to some interface craft overhead, and  a precision-guided munition lands on top of one of the rebel pill-boxes, taking out an entire squad alongside it

The two trucks shimmy past the wrecked APC, with infantry giving them covering fire

Two rebel teams with anti-vehicle weaponry try to avoid the tank, and manage to take out one of the trucks with a lucky shot

A regular squad assaults a building overlooking the road, forcing  rebels out of it - the rebels draw back further, taking themselves out of contact

Their new position completely enfilades those two road-side rebel groups, and between them and the tank make the position untenable.

With the road clear ahead, the PLA commander tells the remaining truck to floor it and break through, the tank and infantry will cover it from behind. They neglected to take into account the last remaining rebel group still fighting. The anti-armour guy in that squad takes his split-second shot and destroys the truck before it can zip past!

A close one, at things looked like a photo finish until that last rush of blood with the truck made it an clear rebel victory

The Blockade

In overrunning Hanhai, the Sakhan Liberation Army captured the garrison's air defence systems. Emplaced QW-7s have been refitted onto several relatively nimble mining vehicles for the defence of the columns advancing on WuWei. The short-range salvo-fired surface to air missiles are perfect for picking off low-flying VTOLs or interface craft using NOE approaches.

Art by UkitaKumuki

Before the main force of PLA Marines can make their landing, power armour squads have been sent in to break the air blockade.

The rebel forces have put a platoon of their forces on the ground to protect each SAM battery 

This squad of powered armour marines make their way towards a suspected site, command has identified a few likely locations based on electronic emissions

A team of rebels makes a foray from one of the hills overlooking the marines' advance - the return fire suppresses them and they miss the shot with their missile launcher

The left-hand marine fireteam has taken severe casualties, but the senior NCO leads the others straight in between the two main hills - firing on rebel forces to either side as they reveal themselves

These rebels take a pounding from that NCO's plasma gun, it sears straight through the cover they were relying on

The power armoured marines overrun and rebel team and then turn their missile launcher on the SAM vehicle, the nearby rebel commanders are helpless to stop them

Nearby rebel team harry the other marines - their suit systems have probably saved them, two are severely wounded by the end of this exchange

The other fireteam make their way out, no rebel forces are likely to stand in their way

Mission accomplished for the government forces, now it's up to their compatriots inside WuWei to hold out until relief can arrive...

Behemoth

A HCPS main battle tank has broken down, straining to climb a steep hill it suffered a loss of power and now it’s immobile and other systems are on the blink. An engineer team and an infantry escort have been sent back to get it back in action.

Art by Sanchiko

Nearby Sakhan Liberation Army forces have spotted an opportunity to strike at both elements.



The militia squad escorting the heavy tank hugs cover and goes on overwatch



A Rebel column lies in wait for the relief, they want to bag both halves of the Human Co-Prosperity Sphere mission



One unlucky cell gets pounced on by the MICV, which heads off-road and opens up with its machine guns. It's about now that a superstitous dread comes over the tank crew - unless someone actually fires directly at them, their overwatch is going to be very relaxed...



The other flank moves quietly through the park along the roadside, they're covering the nearby sniper and anti-tank weapons teams



With all the fire being exchange between units in the buildings the the tank, it's no surprise that one of the factories erupts into flame, causing two firmly ensconed rebel units to run out onto the road to get to safety



They're cut down as they do so - though the nearer unit seems to be on stims of some sort, as they all continue to trade fire with the HCPS militia across the street!



Finally the anti-tank team gets a bead on the immobilised tank and puts a round straight down the spout! The tank's turret flies in the air in what must have been a plasma explosion



As the MICV rounds the corner, some of the surviving rebels pinned down in the street react. One steely-nerved rebel takes careful aim with his anti-armour weapon and damages the vehicles drive system before it opens up



The infantry disembark and make short work on the remaining rebels on the road



They're in no mood for the rules of warfare and none of the rebels are taken alive



It's too late for the tank though the militia are glad for an escort back to base. It's been a terrible campaign for the Human Co-Prosperity Sphere, surely High Command will send some decent levels of reinforcement to hold the rebel onslaught and take back Hanhai...