Red Harvest Tactics: Annihilation Barges

[Polaria]

This weeks unit in the Red Harvest Tactics really needs no introduction. It was one of the new units in our 5th edition Codex and, to many eye, looked a bit lackluster but soon developed a fiersome reputation: Annihilation Barge

There should be really no doubting the effieciency of this unit. I mean how often do you really get an AV13 skimmer which can dis out a crapload of S7 hits for less than 100 points? Many other Codices would sell their mothers to get access to this baby. Now I must admit that I am a bit biased: My current army list is of "Thunder and Lightning" style and basically built around the Anni Barges which I love dearly. In 6th edition, if anything, they got better. Now you can get a jink save for the babies and actually fire both weapons, although one with BS1 only. Still, the weapons loadout of the Barges is optimized for snapshots and you have two viable choices:

The Traditional "Thunderstorm" offers you the S7 Tesla Destructor and a secondary S6 Tesla Cannon which can, since it is Tesla, still do a bit of damage on Snapshot. I'm a great fan of this version for the simple versatility of Tesla Destructor and the fact that more dice usually tends to even out bad rolling and make good rolling even more awesome.

The "Marineslayer" version has the S7 Tesla Destructor but underneat is powerfull MEQ-killer: S5/AP3 Gauss Cannon. The catch here is that if you move you can still put out some really effective anti-MEQ fire by using the weapons so that you shoot the Gauss Cannon as your primary weapon (since it is AP3 but not twin-linked) and use the Tesla Destructor as your snapshot weapon (since it is Twin-linked AND Tesla). You will get off fewer shots, but against MEQ many of the shots will go straight through their power armour.

But lest hear about your experiences:

Do you use Annihilation Barges and how?
Tesla or Gauss Cannon?
How many Barges do you usually take?
What do you think about the Annhiliation Barges overall?

[donbat143]

Do you use Annihilation Barges and how?
I use annihilation barge quite often, mostly for fire support and to take out large squads of foot sloggers.
Tesla or Gauss Cannon?
Usually gauss as there are a lot of heavy mechanized players in my area.
How many Barges do you usually take?
Almost always 1 though on occasion I do two... and in a large game I once brought 6. but usually 1 is enough.
What do you think about the Annhiliation Barges overall?
I think they are a good cheap fire support unit that can find a place in almost any army they offer a good solid hit, and until they get hit they are AV13, they move at a good speed and have a decent range.. Point for point I think they are the best vehicle in 40k. They are not the end all,be all of Necron technology (Go Doom Scythe!), but they are definetly one of the better units

[0rkynid]

Do you use Annihilation Barges and how?
I tend to use the anni barge since it is cheap and powerful. I tend to use two of them with my night scythes, scythes zooming across the board being shot at while my barges move up each flank supported by infantry.
Tesla or Gauss Cannon?
Tesla. Gauss is good but I'd rather those extra shots for other units than the ability to kill on space marine.
How many Barges do you usually take?
I usually take two, but lately its only been one or none.
What do you think about the Annhiliation Barges overall?
Decent vehichle, voted above average. It has amazing stats and rather resilient in the new edition. It does lack those powerful AT weapons that other fast movers have (las/melta) for taking out heavy armour (AV14). It makes up for this by being able to take out swathes of horde units and the ability to arc is almost an irresistable lure.

[thenewKhan]

Do you use Annihilation Barges and how?
I have 2 in every list. pre-6th they were simply anti-infantry/ork truk and equivalent, now they are even more usefull. Anything up to armor 13 can be glanced rather easily now, and mine have proven very nice to have as anti-flyer support. The last game I had I shot at a Blood Angels Storm Raven, got one hit, rerolled and got a second hit, ended up glancing it to death. VERY niffty, as most of my other units are best spent firing at other targets. The role of mine went from useful, to downright necessary.

Tesla or Gauss Cannon?
I prefer the Gauss myself, I like having the AP, and moving isn't much of an issue as I can use snap fire for the TD, so I still maximize damage pretty well.

How many Barges do you usually take?
Usually 2, I was thinking about getting myself a 3rd, but since the Doom Scythe has the TD, its not really necessary for me anymore as it can cover the same role as the Barge and then some, but I still take the barges alot because they are considerably cheaper.

What do you think about the Annhiliation Barges overall?
Must have, if you are playing a huge game and have the models/points for the Doom Scythe, thats the best replacement, but in 1500 or less games, having the extra points from just using the Barge can come in very handy.

[thedrifter777]

Do you use Annihilation Barges and how?
I use 1 in every list to support my phalanx.

Tesla or Gauss Cannon?
Tesla only because I want to be moving 6" every turn for the jink save and snap-firing tesla still plays to its advantage. I've found the AP negligible and the gauss rule is fairly vestigial on the annihilation barge since it shouldn't be hunting land raiders or equivalent anyway.

How many Barges do you usually take?
One with Doomscythes in the other slots. See below for point.

What do you think about the Annhiliation Barges overall?
Are a great unit but lose to doomscythes and nightscythes. Both those units have the same tesla-destructor but have all the advantages of being a flyer in 6th. Back in 5th annihilation barges were almost a no-brainer since the 'flyers' were such glass cannons. Now I can have my cake, devastating tesla destructor firepower, and eat it to with my flyers being neigh invulnerable. I might add to that a nightscythe is only 10 points more and is so much more versatile. Like I said above I still bring 1, but that's mostly because 3 doomscythes are very unweildly and reserve rolls can't always be counted on.

[thenewKhan]

There are 2 votes for below average, anyone who voted that care to explain a little? I am curious as to how they could be considered below, for their points they are a pretty good deal. hah

[Polaria]

There are 2 votes for below average, anyone who voted that care to explain a little? I am curious as to how they could be considered below, for their points they are a pretty good deal. hah

True enough. It is funny how Anni Barges were rated mostly Tier 1 or 2 but with a few Tier 3 votes while Warriors received no Tier 3 votes at all. I would also like to hear the "other opinion" on Annihilation Barges.

[0rkynid]

i voted Tier 2, but the first time i used the barge it got blown apart straight away, lucky krack missile. some may see the barge as a spam thing, a must have for beginners army, which in a way is true. It is somewhat over powered for such low points (which is great for us) and people may have voted down because of that or similar reasons.

however, i suspect it was Inquisitor Valeria getting back at Trazyn for what happened on Solemnace

[thenewKhan]

i voted Tier 2, but the first time i used the barge it got blown apart straight away, lucky krack missile. some may see the barge as a spam thing, a must have for beginners army, which in a way is true. It is somewhat over powered for such low points (which is great for us) and people may have voted down because of that or similar reasons.

however, i suspect it was Inquisitor Valeria getting back at Trazyn for what happened on Solemnace

I don't know, I don't like the idea of having things classified as "beginners army". Tactically, the Barge is very useful, and the low points is one of the things that make it useful. You can get 2 Barges for the price of one Doom Scythe, granting you more of the gun you want, and the ability to shoot at multiple targets.

The way I see it, if the US army could build the Abrams tank for 1/10th the cost it is now and have the vehicle with better electronics, would we be considered beginners for using them in warfare? No, anyone in their right mind would want to take that option, it would be a smart choice. Sure, it might not be necessary, but the idea of many games like this is get the best army you can for as cheaply as you can. Why would the Barge being cheap make it below average?

[Bladeweaver]

In WW2, When the Americans realized they were going to go to war Nazi Germany, Tank wise, they looked at what they were going up against. The Germans had one of the most powerful tanks. How did they respond? The Sherman Tank. It had less armor, less firepower, and had an exposed Fuel tank. Why use it? Production cost and time was so little, that Americans Spammed Sherman Tanks to defeat Germany Tanks. Put's a different spin on "Less is More" huh?