Rhino vs. Razorback

[Ragnarox]

So, I figured that since I've been studying up a lot on tanks in 40K, I should also start considering buying a new transport/fire support vehicle for my Blood Angels (considering the only tanks I have for them right now are a Land Raider and Whirlwind). I have seen both Rhinos and Razorbacks in action (and I have used a Razorback once during my second game) and I appreciate both vehicles for different reasons in different although in several cases, I like them equally.

Rhino - The Rhino APC is cheap, efficient and can carry ten marines at once. For 50 points, I consider that quite a deal. With the Blood Angel's overcharged engine option, this vehicle can unload a sizable force at the frontline very quickly. With a price of only 50 points, its pretty much expendable although hopefully it's storm bolter will get a chance to deal some damage before the vehicle is destroyed. If it is not destroyed and forces are needed elsewhere, the marines can load up in the Rhino and speed off to a new battle.

Razorback - Although the Razorback IFV has the exact same armor specifications as the Rhino APC and is also a transport vehicle, I personally consider it quite a radically different vehicle than the Rhino. The Razorback also has the overcharged engine option for Blood Angels but can only carry six Space Marines within its confines. Loosing nearly half the transport capacity is a critical issue with the Razorback seeing as how one soldier can make all the difference, for you or the enemy. Although the Razorback doesn't have the best transport capacity, there is one thing it has that the Rhino doesn't...

GUNS, GUNS, GUNS!

What the Razorback looses in transport efficiency it makes up for in the field of firepower. The Razorback automatically sports twin-linked heavy bolters which can be upgraded to even more serious firepower such as a multi-melta and twin-linked plasma guns and a lascannon. This attribute vastly differentiates the role Rhino and the Razorback after they unload the troops. The Razorback can provide ranged fire support for the infantry and, with the correct upgrades, can assist the anti-tank units in gaining total armor supremacy on the map. At a cost of 70 points it is best for Razorbacks to survive as long as possible and continue supporting the infantry where as the Rhino I see as expendable.

So my question for you is, which do you prefer for infantry transport/support? The Rhino APC? The Razorback IFV? Both? Or Neither?

[Ktan]

For me, it depends on the squad. If it's a Razorback that I plan to use to scoot a small squad around for quick redployment, eg a Devestator squad, Roazorback. However if, the rest of the time, you plan to use the transport to get close to the enemy, ideally you want your men to be in fairly large squads so they can dish out more and also take a lot more.

Voila. Rhino.

[Darmago]

I like the Razorback personally. you take a small sqaud, and shore up a flank with the tank and the squad, or somthing of that nature. The razorbacks armaments make it rather formidable. whereas the rhino is good just basically for moving troops around, which is OK, but i'd really only use it to ferry troops back and fourth.

[Pisces]

I don't know blood angels that well but I'd take razorbacks first, if your not going to have more than one transport then your rhino will be floating about for half the game trying to opportune moment which will most likely never come with your squad getting swamped the second it pops out or the rhino destroyed before it gets anywhere. This may be reflective of my "destroy the enemy utterly before they know whats happening" playing style but I'd ditch the landraider for a couple of filled unupgraded razorbacks. If you had 2 razorbacks and a rhino then that would be good, the 2 razorbacks offer a formidiable firing power to soften up the enemy then reinforcements to let your rhino get right into them, and ditch a formidable force, but again, I like putting all my explosive eggs in one basket.

[100thlurker]

Pisces makes sense, softening up your opponent to absolutely hammer him with a sudden squad that popped out of nowhere works better than just one.

[Pisces]

If you do get a rhino then you can use your landraider as a moving hill to sheild it from being destroyed the second it gets into line of sight, but that kind of defeats the purpose since I'm guessing you already have a squad which can hold its own in the land raider and the squad in the rhino would make not much difference 4 inchs behind.

[Ragnarox]

You seem to be under the impression that I use the Land Raider, I guess I should have made it clear that I don't use the Land Raider; costs WAY too many points (have you seen 250 points of gaunts? It's really not cool.).

Since most of my Troop forces on the Org. Chart have Jet Packs (the Tactical squad being the exception...I love Blood Angels), I figure I wouldn't really need to get the Rhino for superior transport capacity for the Troop choices. To compound this, neither Rhinos nor Razorbacks can carry Terminators so I would rather take the tank with superior firepower. I like the idea of using the Razorback to ferry around the Devastator Squad or an Honor Guard so I think I'm going with that for now.

[Ktan]

That sounds like the best way to do it, yes. It's not like Devestator squads need the space in the transport, is it? :P

[kongurous]

I'd go for firepower over increased carrying capacity, myself. Being able to pump out more shots than your enemy can mean the life or death of the attack you just made. I love Chimeras for this reason; I can send in some guardsmen or Ogryns or whatever it is I happen to have at hand and lay down some cover fire while unloading.