The Battle of Ashen Fields - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Minefields

Primary Objective: Priority Targets.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

The battle of Ashen Fields was fought over several days in the wastelands beyond the walls of Kastlehall, between the Rift Wardens and the Custodes. For most of the battle both sides occupied trenches along the trade route out of the hive. The battle ended with the Rift Wardens forced to withdraw back behind the walls of Kastlehall, awaiting the next attack from the Custodes.

Flames of War - Antares

Points: 2500.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Delayed Reserves.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Auric Champions.

This was an engagement fought on the outskirts of Kastlehall. It involved a Custodes force, led by Valoris, and a small Inquisitorial force, led by Inquisitor Greyfax, attacking the Rift Warden defences, and resulted in the capture of several key positions. The Rift Wardens under captain Lorgraine, had been sent south of Kastlehall to help step the tide of the Custodes offensive against the space marine positions. The main Custodes concentrated their assault on the route between Kastlehall and Hive Gothos. 

Their attack at the boundary of the Rift Wardens defences, overwhelmed the space marine front line troops and captured some support trenches. A counter-attack in the late of the day wrested the initiative from the Custodes and their attack petered out, leaving the Rift Wardens still in position of most of the high ground around Kastlehall.

Operation: Hellstorm - Corinthia

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Search And Destroy / Minefields.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Mont'Ka.

Operation Hellstorm was the initial battle in a series of engagements where the Imperial forces sought to reach the Tau command and eliminate the xenos leadership. It was the point at which the Rift Wardens got the closest to achieving that goal. The battle was fought between the attacking Rift Wardens and the defending Tau forces. The attack was an attempt to take the Tau position at Hive Secundus where previous attempts had failed. This marked the end of the first Imperial offensive.

First Battle Of Mortwald - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Minefields.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Berzerker Warband.

The First Battle of Mortwald was fought over three days in the wastelands north of Mortwald Hivesprawl. The battle saw forces of the World Eaters advance to fill a gap in the Chaos lines that had formed north of Mortwald during the Imperial offensive there. This advance towards Mortwald was checked by the Rift Wardens short of the World Eater's objective, a spur of badlands overlooking the hive, and were subsequently counter-attacked by elements of the Rift Wardens led by Captain Lorgraine. These attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties, as the World Eaters blunted the Rift Wardens advance, which stabilized the Chaos lines. 

The fighting then largely moved south as the Imperial forces sought to consolidate their positions around the hive, preventing the traitor forces within the hive from being reinforced by the World Eaters.

The Black Fields Campaign Begins - Grendel

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer And Anvil / Scrambler Fields

Primary Objective: Scorched Earth

Detachment: Gladius Strike Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Teleport Strike Force.

The Black Fields campaign took place over two weeks following the initial battle of Black Fields just days previously. Initially, the Grey Knights committed to large incursions into Rift Warden held territory. Firstly the main trade road into Ascension Hive was successfully captured over two days, followed by the capture of overlooking escarpments. The first battle for the larger Black Fields took place over several days when the Grey Knights mounted a large teleport strike, reinforced with terminator squads and dreadknights.

The Rift Wardens command base located in the Black Fields was strongly garrisoned and during the battle received reinforcements from units of eradicators coming from Ascension Hive itself. Their presence on the battlefield proved effective and eventually forced the attacking Grey Knights to retire back to their own lines. Their retreat and other victories here allowed the Rift Wardens to consolidate their positions. The front line was adjusted to compensate for expected teleport assaults.

After several unsuccessful attempts by the Grey Knights, a new attack was led by grand master Voldus against the main trade road once more. The Grey Knights under his command came under heavy fire from the entrenched Rift Wardens but they fought through to reach the space marines, and under Voldus' leadership they began recapturing former positions.

Meanwhile strike teams and purifiers marched north and south of the main assault. Their objective was to effectively cut the space marines supply lines from Ascension Hive. That supply line was strongly defended by the Rift Wardens and their positions had been reinforced to better repel the Grey Knights. The strike squads and dreadknights were sent forward to bolster the attack to the north but this took considerable time to organise. Athought the combined force of Grey Knight battle brothers with dreadknight support made a determined attack but Voldus was forced to withdraw them when it became clear that the defenders were too strong, making it difficult if not impossible to achieve the operation's objective. After days of fighting, the only territorial gains the Grey Knights achieved were minimal.

Battle Of Hesperous Gate - Hesperous Prime

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Chosen Battlefield.

Primary Objective: Supply Drop

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Inner Circle Task Force.

The Battle of Hesperous Gate, took place during the Dark Angel attack on Hesperous Hive as part of a new offensive to drive the Rift Wardens out of the hive. The offensive began against the defenders and pushed them back to the north gate of the lower hive. The capture of Hesperous Gate, a strategically important trade road, would have brought the Rift Wardens in range of the Dark Angels tank forces. Captain Angrad brought a force of reinforcements to help shore up the defensive line and soon after the Dark Angels launched an attack to capture the Gate. After a determined defence by Angrad's battle brothers, the Dark Angels were close to success until Angrad led a counter attack. He restored the defensive line and halted the Dark Angels advance.

Battle Of Fort Rannick - Pelucidon

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Search And Destroy / Maelstrom Of Battle / Mine Fields / Vox Static.

Primary Objective: The Ritual.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

The Battle of Fort Rannick was a battle fought over a ruined fortress by the Rift Wardens and White Scars chapters. Together with the battles fought in the surrounding wastes, this was a significant counter attack by the Rift Wardens and was one of the first decisive victories against the White Scars. The battle is known for it's bloody aftermath as the Rift Wardens slaughtered every battle brother of their enemy chapter.