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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Cruiser Squadron Tactics
By Alex Aimette
Half of winning an engagement in Battlefleet Gothic is to know your ships and then translate
this knowledge into a game plan. In this article, Alex Aimette discusses one way of thinking of
your fleet – as organised groups of squadrons that can be structured ahead of the game for
specific tasks in any given scenario.
The use of squadrons is an advanced rule that cruisers. Eldar and Tyranid fleets are so
allows you to combine two to six ships of the different, that I do not feel safe commenting on
same type, either escort, cruiser or battleship. them. The Tyranids seem like they would also
Here, I’m presenting squadron ideas for the benefit from the close support of a cruiser
most common ship available, the cruiser. Not squadron, but until I’ve faced them with the
only is the cruiser the most easily obtained new rules, I will only encourage those players
model, but it is the mainstay of Imperial and of the Hive Mind to try these out and write
Chaos Fleets, and Ork and Eldar fleets as well back!
unless they are only on a raid. A cruiser can
Remember that squadron rules are part of the
take a lot of punishment before it is crippled or
advanced rules section of the BFG rulebook
hulked, and dish out a lot of punishment along
(on p.37), so it is perfectly possible that you
the way. Most battles will be won or lost by
will occasionally play games without using the
your cruisers, not your escorts and battleships.
rules for squadrons. Even without the actual
The use of cruiser squadrons enables you to squadron rules, these ideas will still help you
shoot more effectively, combine ordnance, to mentally organise your ships before you
make command checks more easily, and help fight a battle. I do recommend that you use the
your ships to stay alive under heavy fire. While advanced rules as these give you a lot of
I have only used these tactics with the cruisers interesting options for Battlefleet Gothic.
of my Imperial Fleet, Orar Passage, I believe
they will also work well with Chaos and Ork

Bombardment
Squadron
1 x Dominator Class
Cruiser
1 x Lunar Class Cruiser
1 x Tyrant Class Cruiser

Ordnance
Squadron
1 x Dictator Class Cruiser
1 x Lunar Class Cruiser
1 x Gothic Class Cruiser
1 x Dauntless Class
Light Cruiser

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ADVANTAGES OF THE CRUISER SQUADRON concentrating firepower on a single ship,

Putting cruisers into squadrons gives them overwhelming its shields, rather than taking
several important advantages. The first is weaker shots at multiple vessels that will be
enhanced control of all ships in the squadron, absorbed by their various shields.
since a squadron uses the highest leadership
value of any ship in the squadron for all Third, you gain the option of combining
Command Checks (BFG p.37). Since the ordnance together (BFG p.39). Squadroned
squadron attempts all Command Checks as ships that are in base-to-base contact may
one group, you pass or fail together. By combine torpedo salvoes or bomber waves
attempting Command Checks as a single into larger salvoes and waves. This may aid
group, you also get greater uniformity of result you in overwhelming the turrets of larger
among the three to five ships in the squadron. cruisers, battleships or system defenses. Some
This makes it easier to control their movement ships are tough nuts to crack, and this might
during the battle. For example, passing or help you do it.
failing a special order like All Ahead Full Finally, keeping your ships together in a
together means tighter control of ship squadron helps you to rescue ships that are
movement. If you fail, you stay in formation. If crippled or about to be crippled. I simply
you pass, you make only a single 4D6 roll for cross the weakened ship into the middle of the
the entire squadron, meaning it moves in formation, and manoeuvre a fresh ship so that
unison. it’s now closest to the enemy. It sounds tricky,
The second big advantage is with shooting but it isn’t that difficult if you are thinking one
(BFG p.38). The vessels in the squadron get to turn ahead. Besides, you already know that
combine battery fire as though they were one whichever vessel you have closest to the
ship. This has the very desirable effect of enemy ships is probably going to take a
preventing blast markers from decreasing the pounding – plan accordingly. If your
effect of fire from subsequent ships at the opponent isn’t using squadrons, then he’ll
same target. Furthermore, the squadron can have to pass a leadership test with each ship he
concentrate fire on one target ship or escort wants to fire at your cripple – and he won’t
squadron per fire arc (right/left flanks, and pass them all. If he is using squadrons, at least
forward). This can be the closest enemy vessel, you’re making him take one test. It’s much
or you can attempt a single leadership test for easier to force a test in this manner than to try
the squadron to pick on any other target in the and manoeuvre a lone damaged cruiser away
fire arc. The great advantage to this is that the from the enemy, or to get it behind escorts. If
game’s mechanics reward you for he fails it and has no re-rolls, you’ve saved a
valuable cruiser!

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The Cruiser Squadron Formation ships, add one to the centre, being careful to
First, you need to visualise the formation. Set keep the ‘more than 3cm’ distance between all
it up on the table or use the diagram below to five ships.
organise your thoughts.
The front, flank and rear spaces below are to
I usually fight with ship A as the front ship and maximise the firepower of the entire squadron
ship D as the rear ship in a diamond formation, in those fire arcs. This helps you to remember
but you could also fight with a square what the squadron’s capabilities are at any
formation. As you manoeuvre, if you given moment and angle to the enemy. Clarity
continually duplicate all ship movements, the of thought during the engagement can mean
formation will turn anyway and become a the difference between victory and defeat, and
square or diamond in relation to the enemy. this will help you to remember what your
It’s still easier than trying to coordinate several squadrons are supposed to be doing, even in
ships on different courses! If you have a grand the heat of battle. I always write down a small
cruiser, I would put it on the side closest to the diagram of the ships on a flashcard, just like
enemy to take advantage of the larger number below, with the firepower totalled up. This
of shields and hits, letting it soak up damage helps me remember to fire all possible
and spare the cruisers. Since victory points are weapons each turn.
almost always based on ships crippled or
Some important measurements to remember
destroyed, this helps keep your point losses
on the table are:
down. You could also put a battleship between
the squadron and the enemy to soak up enemy 1) A blast marker or average ship
firepower while the squadron unloads massive stand = +/-3cm
amounts of broadsides or ordnance into the 2) Short range for Batteries = 15cm
enemy ships! 3) Bomber move = 20cm
The distances between each ship are marked as 4) Fighter and Torpedo move = 30cm
being greater than 3cm because 3cm is the size
If you keep your ships at the same interval
of a blast marker. Since any blast marker
through a battle, it’s easy to remember
touching your ship’s base takes down a shield,
distances and guess for Nova Cannon range. If
you do not want blast markers to be placed so
your front cruiser fires a Nova Cannon forward
they hit two ships. The distance should be
at 50cm, and your ships are at the proper
about 3.5cm between each ship. You want to
intervals, you know that the rear Nova Cannon
be close together so that ships have good
has a shot of about 59cm, measured from the
battery and lance ranges to enemy vessels past
ship’s base. If your left flank cruiser fires
the opposite flank ship of the formation.
batteries at 5cm to the side, the right flank
You can have three ships or five ships in the cruiser will have a range of about 14cm. It’s
squadron instead. For three ships, simply the same with ordnance. If you want to fire
eliminate one ship; I recommend removing a one torpedo salvo 30cm, you will need for the
flank ship when engaging enemy to flank, and front ship to be 21cm from the target, and then
a front or rear ship when fighting enemy to the the rear cruiser will be 30cm away.
front or rear. This helps prevent just one vessel
being on point and nearest the enemy. For five

D A
A
at least
6cm

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Squadron Leadership cruiser between it and the enemy at all times if

Now that you have the formation you will use, possible. Being furthest from the enemy
let’s try and plan effective squadron enables the light cruiser to survive while still
engagements. The rules state that squadrons adding decent firepower to the squadron.
make Command checks based upon ‘the Note: My gaming group uses the new
highest leadership value in the squadron’ experimental Nova Cannon rules (Annual,
(p.37). This means that if you have one ship p.45). These decrease the effectiveness of the
with leadership 9 and three with leadership 6, Nova Cannon a little so this formation is not
not uncommon in campaign games, the overbearing.
squadron has an effective leadership of 9! If
Adding up that squadron’s firepower according
they fail, they may use one re-roll for the whole
to the chart above, we get a forward firepower
squadron. This really helps make those
of three Nova Cannon and one strength 3 lance
expensive re-rolls count! So you should
battery (from the light cruiser). To the flank,
intentionally group one high leadership cruiser
the formation has battery strength of 32 (!) and
into the squadron to give it a high leadership.
strength 5 lances. To the rear, the formation
Squadron Types has no effective firepower. The only hope if
I usually play two types of squadrons. One is a challenged from the rear is to use special
distant bombardment squadron, the other an orders such as Burn Retros or Come to New
ordnance squadron. The first uses long-range Heading to manoeuvre the enemy off the rear,
fire from Nova Cannons to damage critical or to turn the light cruiser to engage the
enemy vessels and to force the enemy to close. enemy. However, if you respect this formation’s
Once they are within 30cm, under the Nova role on the table, you will be engaging from a
Cannon’s range, the squadron has adequate distance at the scenario’s start. By the time the
firepower to handle a close engagement. The enemy closes with you, they should have lost a
second uses high leadership to reload key ship or two, be a little spread out, and
ordnance and hit the enemy with tons of vulnerable to those 32 strength flank batteries.
torpedoes and bombers as they close,
Considering those batteries, this squadron has
preferably in combined bomber/torpedo
a brutal amount of firepower. Typically, with a
attacks (to overwhelm turret defenses), then
32 battery, you’ll at least score 11 dice for a
use concentrated firepower to finish off
capital ship abeam, 22 dice for a capital ship
crippled ships and cripple other enemy vessels
closing, and 6 for escorts. This is followed up
at close range.
with five lance shots. On average, that’s 4-7
The Distant Bombardment Squadron points of damage on a Chaos capital ship and
This one usually has three cruisers with Nova two points on an escort, with another 2-3
Cannon and a light cruiser. I use one points from the lances. Generally, you will
Dominator with one Lunar and one Tyrant, cripple a capital ship a turn and destroy two to
both upgraded with a Nova Cannon (p.110). three escorts. If you manoeuvre carefully so
This formation is very dangerous at long range, that you close at the optimum time and fire
and still affordable at 705 points. The light with squadron Lock On orders, you will re-roll
cruiser guards the rear, using its greater speed all the misses, gaining another three to five
and 90 degree turn to help keep enemy escorts battery hits and one to tow lance hits, thus
away if necessary. I also keep another friendly destroying a cruiser or an escort squadron per

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turn. thinking of the squadron’s firepower as a

whole.
The Ordnance Squadron
This usually has a Dictator or two, with any When I engage the enemy, I usually perform
combination of Lunar or Gothic class cruisers, two ordnance attacks. At about 60-80cm, I
and one light cruiser to guard the rear. I use launch a full round of torpedoes at the closest
one Dictator, one Lunar and one Gothic, concentration of enemy ships or into their
personally, since that’s what I have available in movement path. This is to force the enemy to
my fleet, Orar Passage. I back them up with break formation and spread out. And if they
either an Enforcer light cruiser (has 2 launch are busy shooting and moving because of
bays, Annual p.55) or a Dauntless class light torpedoes, they probably aren’t attacking my
cruiser with the strength 6 torpedo option (my cruisers. At the same time, I launch my bomber
fleet happens to have one with Ld 9), thus waves but keep them close by the cruisers. I
maximising the available ordnance. then reload ordnance on the next turn – if I
miss the command check, I spend a re-roll.
Note: Since my BFG group uses the optional
This isn’t very likely since I have a cruiser with
Ordnance launch limits rule, (Annual, p.44),
leadership of 9 or 10 in this squadron, but
the effectiveness of launched fighter/bombers
since the timing is critical, I am certain to have
is greatly reduced, thus minimising the
a re-roll up my sleeve. At this point, I’m
effectiveness of Dictators. If you aren’t using
probably about 30cm from the enemy with my
this rule, however, I recommend two Dictators
rear cruisers. I launch a combined torpedo and
for a WWII-style carrier fleet. Be mindful that
bomber assault against enemy cruisers in order
High Lord Admiral Andy Chambers says that he
to overwhelm the turrets. Note that the
envisioned a WWI-style fleet with minimal
bombers had to be launched a turn earlier to
launched fighters/bombers, NOT a WWII style
get a head start on the torpedoes since they
fleet with tons of fighters and bombers on the
only move 20cm compared to the torpedo
table in multiple waves. Because of this, we
move of 30cm. With this ordnance, two
figure this is going to be a definite rule in the
cruisers can be crippled or destroyed in such
future and are already using it. (Interesting
an attack.
logic, is this what other players think? - Matt)
Simultaneously dropping 4-10 bombers along
Anyway, going with one Dictator, one Lunar,
with 18-24 torpedoes onto an enemy cruiser or
one Gothic and one Dauntless with the
two will almost always cause serious problems
torpedo option, the squadron costs 690 points.
for the enemy fleet. A strength 12 torpedo salvo
For this, you get a front firepower of 24
alone against a 2-turret cruiser should cause 3-
torpedoes, flank firepower of 16 batteries and
4 points of damage to the ship, maybe up to 5-
six lances, and all-around firepower of four
6 if combined with a bomber wave. After the
launch bays. This is a tough squadron on the
ordnance attack, you close rapidly with your
table for the price. Even upgrading to a second
batteries and lances, Lock-On, finish off the
Dictator for the Lunar only costs 40 more
cripples and cripple another. This depends on
points at 730. With that you would get eight
luck, enemy fighters, etc, but you are still
squadrons at the expense of four lances. You
concentrating your attacks and maximising
could make it ten launch bays with an Enforcer
your chances. Not to mention demoralising
light cruiser replacing the Dauntless. It’s easy
your opponent! As soon as the enemy begins
to find the right blend of torpedoes and
to disengage ships, your victory is almost
bombers for a given mission when you are
secured.

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Ordnance
Squadron
• Suggested Variant •
1 x Mars Class
Battlecruiser
1 x Dictator Class Cruiser
1 x Gothic Class Cruiser
2 x Dauntless Class
Light Cruiser

squadron to good effect.

Combing the above two squadrons on the table, When I started, all I had available for a defence
you have a fleet worth 1395, in two groups. I against Chaos in scenario #4, Surprise Attack,
lead with the ordnance squadron as the was one Mars battlecruiser, one each of Gothic
bombardment squadron hangs back, crippling and Dictator cruisers, and two Dauntless light
or destroying a key enemy vessel or two (maybe cruisers on standby in orbit. Grouped together,
their only ship with launch bays, or a cruiser the squadron of three activated cruisers had
that’s in the centre of his formation). As soon front firepower of one Nova Cannon, a
as the enemy fleet gets close, the bombardment strength 2 lance battery, 12 torpedoes and a
squadron comes in to support the ordnance broadside firepower of 12 batteries and six
squadron, using All Ahead Full if necessary. So lances and four launch bays all around. With
far, this tactic has worked well, but there will these three ships alone (and the light cruisers
certainly be scenarios that demand greater virtually useless) I engaged the Chaos
variety of ships, or less specialised, more onslaught of five enemy cruisers and managed
integrated, cruiser squadrons. A good example to destroy one cruiser with the Nova Cannon
of this is in scenarios with smaller fleets. and cripple a second as the Chaos closed with
me. Then I pushed into the middle of the
Squadron Variations
enemy fleet, hulked the cripple and crippled a
Naturally, you have to play with what you own
third. My opponent’s ships were spread out
– you may not have eight cruisers to play with
with me in the centre, so he disengaged to fight
just yet. However, mixing a fleet of diverse
another day leaving two hulks on the table. My
cruisers into a squadron can also be very
fleet only disengaged one light cruiser that was
dangerous to the enemy. I have used a mixed
crippled in the initial surprise attack. A huge

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Chaos Cruiser
Squadron
2 x Murder
Class Cruisers
2 x Carnage
Class Cruisers

Chaos Cruiser
Squadron
• Suggested Variant •
4 x Carnage
Class Cruisers

victory for Fleet Orar Passage and the Emperor! If you substitute in two Devastation class
cruisers, you would add fifty points but still
It would also be easy to replace the light
only be at 710. For this you would get front
cruiser in either of the above squadrons with
firepower of 24 batteries, flank firepower of 16
an escort squadron serving the same function.
batteries and eight lances, and eight launch
I haven’t used any escorts yet, but I think it’s a
bays all-around.
good option and plan to try it. I have two
squadrons of five that were just recently For the long range squadron, I would group
commissioned, with the first nearly ready for together Murder and Carnage class cruisers.
deployment in our next campaign game. Two of each would give you front firepower of
12 batteries and four lances at 60cm! Flank
Chaos Cruiser Squadrons
firepower would be 20 batteries at 60cm, and
For Chaos cruisers, I would divide my ships
52 batteries at 45cm. This squadron is the
into close attack ships for under 30cm and
perfect raider fleet or fire-support fleet. They
long-range attack ships for 30-60cm. I would
should even be able to take care of Nova
then try and close with the 30cm squadron and
Cannon-armed Imperial vessels, closing with
keep the other one shooting at longer range.
them in a turn or two of quick movement, and
Good ships to squadron for close range
this squadron only costs 700 points. Personally,
fighting would be four Slaughters. At 30cm, this
I am planning to make a Chaos raiding
squadron would have a frontal firepower of 24
squadron dedicated to Tzeentch. This will have
batteries, broadside firepower of 32 batteries
four cruisers and six Idolator escorts.
and eight lances with none to the rear. And
Its express function will be to engage at long
this squadron would only cost 660 points!

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Chaos Cruiser
Squadron
• Suggested Variant •
4 x Slaughter
Class Cruisers

Ork Cruiser
Squadron
• 3 x Kill Kroozers
1 x Terror Ship

range, then disengage if enemy ships get too x D6 gunz and 12 heavy gunz, with four launch
close. The cruiser I would pick is the Carnage. bays for all-around attacks. Since the heavy
Four Carnage cruisers have excellent ranged gunz do double hits, this is quite a bit of
fire for only 720 points. The front firepower damage for only 650 points! Again, this will
would be 24 batteries at 60cm, the flank would have to wait for a future article since we’re just
be 40 batteries at 60cm and 64(!) batteries at preparing the Orkies for battle.
45cm. With their excellent speed, this force
Conclusion
should be a severe danger on the table in most
I believe there is a strong reason to use cruiser
scenarios. If it works, I’ll try and report it in a
squadrons. They help you organise your
future article.
thoughts and prepare for a mission. They take
Ork Cruiser Squadron advantage of rules that help you to control
Having recently purchased a small fleet of Orks them with special orders more easily,
to be pirates in the battle for the Bhein Morr concentrate firepower, combine ordnance, and
sub-sector, I thought I’d give an example of keep cripples alive. If you keep fixed distances
their cruiser capabilities. With their ‘-1’ between your ships, it will be easier to guess
leadership modifier, they will need a cruiser multiple Nova Cannon shots, torpedo and
squadron if they want to fight the Imperium! bomber ranges, and protect your ships with
With four cruisers, you get four chances at their your own fighters. In short, this is a tactic that
highest leadership, (an 8). If you combine the astute commander of Imperial, Chaos or
three Kill Kroozers with one Terror Ship, you Ork fleets should consider. Let me know how
end up with front firepower of 4 x D6+2 prow it works for you!
gunz, and 24 heavy gunz. Flank firepower is 4

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