Recon Platoon: Praetorian Roughriders

The 117th Recon Platoon also includes cavalry units to province reconnaissance, security, and forward observing duties.

Modeling notes:   These were my biggest modeling challenge.   The horses were from Empire outrider sets.  The riders are composed of the Praetorian torsos and boots.   I had to sculpt new legs from a sausage of green stuff and add the boots on the end.   The spears are brass rod with goblin spearheads and green stuff tassels.  

Praetorian Recon Platoon: Sentinals

The 117th Support company utilizes Sentinel Wallers as scouts, perimeter defense, and forward observers.   Each Sentinel has an upgraded comms array and laser rangefinders to call in accurate fire from the artillery platoon.  

In addition to its reconnaissance mission, the recon platoon can be used as messengers in case vox and astropathic communications fail.

Modeling note:   The models have only been modified by adding the Praetorian heavy weapon torso onto the legs of the regular sentinel driver.

117th Praetorian Artillery Platoon

The 117th Praetorian Artillery Platoon under the command of Lt. Shelling is composed of 5 Basilisk self-propelled guns with Earthshaker cannons, one Medusa, one Manicore, and one Colossus siege gun.  The unit is a platoon in name only, and is almost a full strength artillery company.  The big guns and rockets can bombard targets kilometers away.

While normally artillery units operate independently, the 117th was assigned the accompanying artillery on a semi-permenant basis.  With access to communications to call in fire missions, plentiful ammunition, and the availability of the Engineering platoon to entrench the guns and provide security, the relationship has been synergic.  This is especially true with the Recon Platoon assigned to the company.  The Sentinels, Cavalry, and scouts all have voxcasters and can call in fire missions with deadly accuracy.

Special Gaming rule:  The artillery platoon barrages only roll one die for deviation when a member of the Recon Platoon has a line of sight to the target.

117th Praetorian Air Defense Platoon

The Air Defense Platoon is tasked with the protecting the encampment from air attack.  It is composed of two Hydrae and one Sabre defense platform.  They fall under the command of Lt. Shelling

117th Security Anti-tank Platoon

The 117th Anti-tank Platoon under the command of Lt. Corning is composed of three lascannon squads, plus another lascannon as part of the command squad.   The lascannons are emplaced around the camp to defend against armored attacks.

Special Rule:  Praetorian Security Platoons may only take heavy weapon squads and the required command squad.  

117th Praetorian Defense Platoon

The defense of the 117th encampment falls on the Defense and Anti-tank Platoons.  The Defense Platoon under the command of Lt. Andrew Stonewall consists of the anti-personnel heavy weapons.  Two mortar squads, one heavy bolter squad, and one auto cannon squad are emplaced around the perimeter of the camp.

117th Praetorian Maintenance Platoon: Adeptus Mechanicus

The 117th Maintenance Platoon is composed of Techpriests Sigma Kappa and RX-242, plus their cadre of servitors.  The Techpriests are responsible for the maintenance of the 117th's equipment and vehicles.  Not only do they repair and consecrate the company's equipment, but they also conduct field repairs on vehicles from other units that return from the front line damaged.   

In addition to the Martians, a squad of Praetorian troopers also helps refuel and rearm combat vehicles to get them back to the front quickly.

Modeler's note:  The Techpriests and servitors were once part of the Skullz program.   They are the newest models added to my painted Praetorians.  I still have a few more Mechanicus models to paint.   Look for them in later WIP posts.

117th Praetorian Engineering Platoon

The 117th Engineering Platoon is responsible for combat engineering missions.   They are responsible for clearing sites for the 117th encampments, assembling the pre-fabricated building and tents, and digging trenches and fortifications to protect the unit.  In addition to camp duties, the unit can be called to front lines to demolish structures such as bridges, buildings, or enemy bunkers once they have been cleared by forward units.  They also get the unfortunate duty of mine clearance.

The Engineering Platoon is composed of 4 special weapons squads armed with meltas, flamers, or demolition charges.  They utilize a unique vehicle from the motor pool, a Chimera excavator.  The excavator is used to dig trenches, demolish buildings, build fortifications, and can even clear mines.

Of special note:  I don't have a command unit for the Engineering Platoon.  I'll put that on my list of things to do.

Modeling note:  I ripped the tracks from a toy trackhoe and plopped them on top of a Chimera.  I had to glue a strip of plasticard over the lasgun ports.

117th Supply Platoon

The 117th Supply Platoon under the command of Lt. Hording is responsible for the logistics for the 117th and front-line units.   Supplies such as food and ammunition are ferried from safe areas or orbit and stockpiled by the 117th to be disbursed to fighting units on the front. 

The Supply Platoon has access to Cargo 10 vehicles, which are versions of civilian 10-wheeled cargo trucks.  These are typically used to haul material from rearward depots to the 117th's encampment.  From there, the more heavily armed and armored Chimera APCs ferry food an ammunition to the front.  In addition to the cargo carriers, the unit also uses Sentinal power lifters to transfer cargo.  

A byproduct of being a major supply source is that the 117th gets first pick of any arriving supplies.  Thus, while shipments of grox steaks, teas, pastries, and fine wines may be shipped to the 117th, they rarely make it to the front line troops.

117th Medical Platoon

The 117th's Medical Platoon is one of the primary reasons for the unit's existence.  Under the Command of Lt. Honeycutt, the unit is responsible for the care of wounded Guardsmen.  The wounded can be extricated from a combat zone by members of the 117th either by airlift in Valkyries or Vendettas, or driven in Chimeras or Centaurs as ambulances.  Once at the encampment, members of the staff can prepare the soldiers for care, or give the Emperor's Grace if they cannot be saved.  

The Medical Platoon has complete access to the company motor pool.   Although classed by many units as non-combatants, the 117th medical teams and vehicles are fully armed.   They have found that heretics and xenos do not really care if a human is on a peaceful mission to save lives, and will attack unarmed medical teams as a priority since they cannot fight back. Orks in particular seemed to love targeting the Red Aquila when it was painted on the side of medical vehicles.

Modeler's note:   I had a hard time coming up with a conversion for Commander of the Medical Platoon.  A suitable figure is on the back burner.  I did convert a stretcher team, and made a medic from the Praetorian lascannon team loader.  The closest I have is the objective marker of a surgeon operating, which is on the left of the photo.

Patrick Shelling, Master of Ordinance

Major Patrick Shilling is the commander of the 117th Artillery Platoon.   The Artillery Platoon consists of five Basilisk self propelled guns, a Medusa, a Colossus siege gun, and Manticore, making it almost the equivalent of an artillery company.  Major Shelling is an able commander, calculating fire missions ordered from the company's Scout Platoon or requested from front line units.  He is pictured receiving coordinates for a fire mission.

Astropath Forex

Astropath Forex is part of Col.Goodfellow's command team.   He provides a valuable communication link when voxcasters are unreliable or not in range.   He can telepathically communicate with similar psykers through the warp.  The Praetorians are not keen on having the warp cursed within their regiments, and see the psykers as tools rather than people. 

Pater Mulkayhe

Pater Mulkayhe is responsible for the spiritual welfare of the 117th, as well as those troops that visit the camp.   He has two sides.  The quiet, peaceful side is often seen when he is in the medical tent giving Last Rites.  The fiery, violent side is seen when he leads services on the Sabbath.  

Gregor Forrestal: Master of the Fleet

Commander Gregor Forrestal is the liaison between the Imperial Guard and Fleet elements.   He is the commander of the Valkyrie and Vendetta elements attached to the 117th, as well as the supply shuttles and drop ships that bring material from orbit.  In addition, when coupled with the communications systems and forward observers of the 117th, Forrestal can call in fleet bombardments if needed and warships are available.

Harry the Huge, Ogryn Bodyguard

Harry the huge is Col. Goodfellow's personal bodyguard.   After the 117th saved Harry's life after he was gravely wounded, the hulking Ogryn followed Goodfellow around for months, promising he would, "take care of da Kernal."  Goodfellow had the medical staff give Harry the Bonehead surgery to imprint the concept of personal space into the brute.   

Harry lost an arm and a hand when he was injured.  His right arm was replaced with an assault cannon.  He is, however, not a great shot, and has a BS2.

Command Squad

Colonel Goodfellow's personal staff includes the following:

Colour Sergeant Robert White, Company Standard Bearer

Corporal Eric Claptonne, company musician, right.

Corpsman Edwin Pierce, left

These three models are pretty standard.  The banner was laser printed.  The medic is a lascannon loader with the ammo box painted as a first aid kit.

Colonel Arthur Goodfellow

Colonel Arthur Goodfellow was born to a noble family on Praetoria.  His family operated a successful import/export business in foodstuffs and machinery.  His background makes him the perfect commander for the 117th.  His organizational skills are superb and shine when dealing with logistical issues. While not a spectacular tactician, he has proven himself in battle.  Goodfellow runs the camp with efficiency and strictly by Munitorium protocols.

The model:   The model is the Kreig commissar from Forgeworld, with a head swap from a Praetorian. 

The 117th Support Company

The 117th Praetorian Support Company is not a front line combat unit.  Instead, the 117th provides valuable support to other Imperial Guard regiments.  It's mission is to provide communications, medical, supply, and engineering services to combat troops.   

The 117th is a mobile unit, setting up camps close to, but behind friendly lines. The company acts as a communications center, relaying information and orders between fleet, headquarters, and combat forces.  It's communications and scouting units also provide targeting information for the artillery platoon attached to the 117th.  The unit shuttles food and ammunition to forward stationed troops, and evacuates wounded soldiers back to the camp for medical care.  Soldiers in the trenches can rotate back to the 117th camp for a hot meal, shower, laundry facilities, and nap on an actual cot.

Just because the 117th is not a front line unit doesn't mean they are soft.  All members are fully trained Imperial Guardsmen.  The soldiers frequently come under fire making runs of supplies to the front or retrieving wounded soldiers.  The engineering unit has one of the most dangerous jobs clearing mines and fortifications.  

Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my Blog.  I started collecting my Praetorian Guard army with the purchase of a limited edition Praetorian boxed set in the early 1990s.  Unlike most Praetorian fans, I wasn't drawn to the army because I was a big fan of Colonial British warfare.  In fact, I had never viewed the famous movie, Zulu!   What drew me to the miniatures was the fact that not many other people had a Praetorian army.  I rather like being unique.