Tau CPF vs Adeptus Mechanicus
750pts, standard clash

I'm the Adeptus Mechanicus...in search of my first victory with them.

Tau CPF
Kor'el+Aun'el
2x Protector
3x Castellan
3x Castellan

Adeptus Mechanicus
Inachus Tynton
1x Lunar + [Adv Engines AE] - Quest Mechanicus
1x Gothic (Nova Cannon) + [Gyro-Stabilized Targetting Matrix GTM] - Divinus Mechanicus
1x Endeavour (lance+) + (range upgrade) + [Adv Engines AE] - Calvinus Rekat
3x Gladius + 1x Hunter Curator Mechanicus

Setup opposing eachother both in clean formation. AdMech takes first turn.
Tau
CCCx-------------------CCCy
--------Prot1----Prot2


-------Gothic---Lunar
Gl.H---------Ende
Admech

#1
The escorts move up the left flank. Gothic moves forward, not full speed. Lunar turns a bit left, Endeavour behind. Nova Cannon shoots on Protector1, HITS, 3 damage. Lunar launches torps.

Tau surge forwards, release ordnance. Fighter removes Torps.

#2
'Damn the Tor...Missiles and move on!' Gothic disregards missiles and moves through them, gets 2 hits. Fire Nova Cannon on same Protector1, inflicts another hit. Lunar moves forward getting into broadside position. Gladius take on Castellans and have a poof....Hunter torps remove large missile wave. Dorsal lances from Gothic & Lunar cripple Protector1. Various battery & lance fire fails to roll a six to destroy markers.
Tau missiles & bombers hurt Lunar, braced, 5 hits left. Gothic takes another hit as well and sees its port lances damaged.

Protector2 reloads and positions itself next to Lunar with Castellans-y (reload failed). Castellans-x engage Gladius at short range. Protector1 fails disengage. Tau gunnery removes lone Hunter and a Gladius (braced). Missiles & bombers inflict further damage on Lunar, getting it down to 2 hits and thrusters damaged.

#3
Gothic moves forward and positions between Protector1 and 2. Lunar between Protector 1 and Castellans-x. Gladius park behind Protector 1. Endeavour moves forward into broadside positions.
Somehow I manage to destroy a Castellan of-x and bring down Protector1 to 1 hitpoint. Furthermore a Castellan of -y is destroyed. All repair.

Protector 2 reloads and moves into firing position behind Lunar, brings it down to 1 hit but six missiles and 2 Manta's fail to destroy it utterly. phewie. Castellans inflict 2 hits on Endeavour. Protector1 fails disengage.

#4
Unbraced, repaired Gothic turns right and fires 5 lances at Castellans, all hit and the whole squadron is destroyed! Endeavour & Gladius fail to remove Protector1. Lunar disengages.

Protector1 fails to disengage once again... Protector 2 reloads and tries to turn into Gothic but doesn't get it in front arc. Castellan fire remove a Gladius.

#5
The Gothic keeps turning cycle, fires again with lances...4 hits....last 2 Castellans destroyed. Endeavour places blastmarker on Protector2. Last Gladius disengages.

Protector2 has same issues as last turn...Protector1 fails disengage!

#6
Endeavour flies behind Protector2 downs shields and inflicts a hit. Gothic on Come to New Heading. With GTM weapons at 75% thus 3 broadside lances plus a dorsal lance... 4 hits! Protector 2 is crippled.

Tau disengage.

Victory Points
Tau: 92,5 vps
Crippled Lunar, Crippled Gladius-Hunter squadron

AdMech: 414 vps
2x Crippled Protector (one with command), 2 destroyed Castellan squadrons.

Conclusion
YES! Finally I am victorious with the Adeptus Mechanicus. Only a 750pts battle but still. Victory. Though it could all go wrong. The Lunar ditching those missiles and bombers was on the edge. I think I can still improve with the AdMech but charging right into the Tau was a good decision. I know the Tau in and out and I know there weak spots. I took advantage of that. Once you move past their front arc their effectivity suddenly drops significantly. Putting some pressure on the Castellans is a given as they can turn quickly and have a flexible arc.

All right, the Lunar took a severe beating in that tactic. The Endeavour and Gothic 1 hit removed from being crippled. The Endeavour (with range upgrade) proved to be good asset. Much better choice then the worthless Defiant CL. The 90* turn rate on a capital ship with 8 batteries + 1 lance in a broadside is very handy in a melee. Game winner of course was the Gothic, instrumental with crippling Protector 1 (2 NC + lance), 3 + 2 Castellans and 4 hits on the last Protector, crippling it. Good dice roll, missing only with 2 lances in 3 turns. Above average, I admit.

I think the Tau mistake was that they engaged to quick. They should've moved slower and let missiles do their job against a fleet without a carrier. Castellans should've be more flanking I think. Easy talking on my part.

In a small encounter like this I think the AdMech can (as shown) survive against a carrier fleet. Their extra turret is good vs missiles/torps and bombers. A 6+ prow good vs missiles/torps. Having some Cobra's/Hunters is also ideally to remove large missile/torp waves.
In a larger engagement it is a given one needs a carrier or it'll be much harder. Facing 8 manta's from a Custodian is a scary thing, but there are NC for!

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With all due respect but I am not sure you are in to a 'winning proposition" with Admech just yet.

First of all; 2 hits in 2 turns with the Nova Cannon is a tad above average.  

Secondly; your "damn the torpedo's" was very lucky to shrug off the second wave.
One ship getting through 12 missiles and 2 bombers without taking a hit?
Not a single one? With one hit meaning being crippled?

Last but not least; getting rid of all the Castellans so quickly basically meant "operational manoeuvre Superiority" vs the slow and ponderous Tau.
I am not so sure I'd fail so bloody many BFI with my Castellans next time.
At the very least I'd not rely on it with Admech if I were you.  

All things considered this third game ever with Tau reinforced my opinions about them.
Slow, ponderous. Hitty as long as you manage to reload and bloody fragile.
Nothing new for the more experienced amongst you I suppose.  

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