Warhammer 40000: Space Marine Tanks

Introduction

• Tanks are central to most armies in Warhammer 40000
• Types vary from walking cathedrals, mobile scrap heaps, and elegant hover-hulks
• Focus on Space Marine tanks today

Rhino Transport

• First tank: Humble Rhino
• Not inferior, but foundational for Imperium
• Basis for many variants, including non-Space Marine tanks
• Design: Rugged, can be made from any material
  • Can run on almost anything combustible
  • Can withstand significant damage and rough terrain
• Features:
  • Huge ramp, two side hatches, massive roof hatch
  • Frequently equipped with a pintle-mounted stormbolter
• History:
  • Standard Template Construct (STC) called RH1-N0 Track Exploration and Multi-Purpose Defense Vehicle
  • Evolved into a military vehicle
  • Reliable, versatile, and adaptable

Razorback

• Second tank: Razorback
• Similar to Rhino but sacrifices transport capacity for a big gun
• Features:
  • Twin-link heavy bolter as typical loadout
  • Options: heavy flamers, plasma guns, assault cannon, lascannon, multimelta
• History:
  • Came into service not long after the Rhino
  • Rediscovered designs in M36
  • Filled the gap between heavy Firepower (Predator) and troop transport (Rhino)

Predator

• First true battle tank: Predator
• Features:
  • Large turret on Rhino chassis
  • Weapon choices: autocannon, twin-link lascannon, assault cannon, flamestorm cannon
  • Side sponson weapons: heavy bolters, heavy flamers, plasma
  • Modified Rhino engines for speed
• Role: Force multiplier for Space Marine armies

Vindicator

• Role: Siege tank
• Features:
  • Massive Siege Cannon (Demolisher Cannon)
  • Limited transport capacity, stores 16 shells
  • Dozer-style blade for extra armor/navigating terrain
• History:
  • Developed during Dark Age of Technology or Horus Heresy
  • Included in Codex Astartes by Roboute Guilliman

Whirlwind

• Role: Artillery tank
• Features:
  • Huge missile launcher on top
  • Advanced targeting sensors for indirect fire
  • Ammo types: Vengeance pattern high explosive and Castellan incendiary
• History:
  • Used by Space Marine armies since the Horus Heresy
  • Initially designed for air defense but replaced by Hunter and Stalker

Hunter and Stalker

• Role: Anti-air support
• Hunter Features:
  • Skyspear missile launcher
  • Guided by servitors (former Marine initiates)
• Stalker Features:
  • Icarus storm cannon
  • Dual targeting system for different threats

Primaris Tanks

• Types: Impulsor, Repulsor, Gladiator
• Common Features:
  • Gravitic impel plates for levitation
  • Thick Rhino-like armor
• Impulsor:
  • Open-topped troop transport
  • Equipped with advanced sensors, Vox boosters, refractor shields
• Repulsor:
  • Similar to Razorback
  • Large turret-mounted weapon (e.g., las-talon)
  • Variants: Executioner (macro plasma incinerator, heavy laser destroyer)
• Gladiator:
  • Primaris version of Predator
  • Weapon options: twin-link las-talon, heavy onslaught gatling cannons, tempest bolter array

Land Raider

• Ultimate Space Marine tank
• Features:
  • Heavily armored
  • Twin-link lascannon, twin-link heavy bolter, pintle-mounted storm bolter
  • Front assault ramp with frag launchers
• History:
  • Designed by Magos Arkhan Land
  • Used exclusively by Space Marines since Horus Heresy decree

Astraeus

• Super heavy grav tank
• Features:
  • Macro-accelerator cannon
  • Side sponson options: las-rippers, plasma eradicators
  • Hull mount options: heavy bolters, lascannons
• Role: High damage to land and aerial targets

Conclusion

• Overview and introduction to notable Space Marine tanks
• Potential for more detailed discussions on individual tanks
• Encouragement to engage in comments and follow along for more content