Imperial armour: Siege of Vraks analysis

[Sea Skimmer]

I think the models have something that is meant to be a muzzle brake on them, the muzzle is vented anyway. It isn't very clear though.

I went and looked at a bunch of pictures, some do indeed have two or three slits per side that could have at least some effectiveness as a muzzle brake. Generally bad design as we would expect, none of them are close enough to the muzzle to work well.

[Connor MacLeod]

That would be if it were the case. You can do a lot of things with propellant though if you can crack various problems we have now, like binary liquid propellents that would greatly reduce required storage space and firing chamber size.

Alot of things with propellant that include solid propellants, or are we talking about exotic things like binary liquid propellant? I knew about liquid propellant and considered that, but given the prevalence of cased ammo on 40K tanks I don't consider it likely without playing very fast and loose with canon. That's one reason I was thinking ETC/ET, because I can at least excuse away 'casings' and similar. Unless there is some example of liquid propellants using cased ammo.

Being electro thermal tells us nothing about how powerful it would actually be. We can make tank guns that fire over 2,000m/s if we wanted right now, but its pointless because the barrels would be eaten away too quickly and the projectiles wouldn't function as we intend.

I'm mainly interested in ET/ETC mainly because it gives me plenty of wiggle room with regards to the calcs. I don't think you can get much farther velocity wise with solid propellant (and certainly not without saboting, which is an.. iffy thing for 40K tanks.) The more options I have to play with the better I feel (esp since some ideas no doubt won't pan out like the scramjet/ramjet or rocket propelled ammo idea.)

I am a bit curious what might be involved in a 2000 m/s tank gun though. I thought the limit was more like 1700-1800 m/s.

It was only ever used on a few heavy artillery pieces that I can think of, including the mighty 280mm Atomic Cannon. The jist of it is you have normal recoil cylinders on the gun, and the cradle which holds the gun and recoil cylinders then recoils itself across the top of the carriage retarded by a second set of pistons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... MJo#t=283s

Might be useful, although it would necessitate a bigger turret given how tiny the Leman Russ turret is on the model. (hell you can't even load the thing with the guy sitting there.)

Well, stronger material would help let you just reduce the stroke and accept the force.

That' swhat I was thinking and it would fit in with the 'brute force' approach. Otherwise I've gotten some pretty crazy calcs for recoil energy playing around with numbers (190 tonnes of recoil force with a 30-40 cm recoil path. Unless there are some parameters I'm forgetting, which is quite possible, the energy gets pretty insane compared to what modern guns - even 140mm have been purported to put out. although damn me if I can remember where I put that stuff. )

[Connor MacLeod]

Well I'm going to put out two updates this week for IA6 because, frankly, I want it over with and get onto IA7. So that's just how it goes. AT this point we're getting towards the end (which means all the vehcile design is involved.) so it shouldn't be too bad. HEre we go with the first


Page 64

Worn instead of the standard issue bakcpack, they wear a simple frame to which other eqipment is then attached. This engineer is carrying a pair of heavy-duty cutters and a folding spade. Other squad members will be carrying a wide variety of engineering equipment such as mattocks and pickaxes, rope and cable, detonators and detonator cord and various shaped explosive charges used for blasting during mine construction. Technical equipment such as seismic-augurs and geo-thermic auspex are also common.

Mining/engineering equipment carried. I think at some poitn they mention using the spade as a weapon.

Page 64

Engineers wear the type VI respirator, a modification of the type V utilising twin air-lines. This respirator can also be fitted with a oxygen supply as well as a regulator unit. During deep mining operations air will become very scarce and dangerous gases can build up. This emergency supply allows an engineer to continue work in any atmospheric conidtions. The respirator mask is also fitted with a monocular infra-red night vision eyepiece, allowing engineers to work and fight in the total darkness below ground.

Engineers also have a respirator variant and have infra-red gear as standard. Remember they gave the expendable (elite) krieger meat droids IR gear but apparently noone else (Cadians, etc.) have them. Just like with the (expendable) Grenadiers.

Page 64

Like grenadiers, engineers wear distinctive heavy carapace armour to improve survivability when in close combat with the enemy. The armour cmprises of the standard Mk IX helmet, rebreathre mask, shoulder guards, breast plate and additional abdomen plates. The shin guards are not used, being replaced by kneepads, as most engineering work must be done crouching or kneeling. Each breastplate mounts a powerful flashlight for use whilst working in the darkness.

Engineers are outfitted like grenadiers/storm troopers. Must be tiring to work in over prolonged periods, though. That may be why they dispense with the arm/leg armor. Then again not wearing armour in the IG is an Imperial ARmour tradition.

Page 64

All engineers carry grenades as standard [including Krak] for use in close confines and are trained in the use of other special weapons such as meltabombs, demolition charges and chemical warfare agents.

Chem weapons and meltabombs are considereds "special" weapons. Does this mean these are 'pocket fusion bomb' style meltas rather than 'pocket, expendable shaped charge heat ray' meltas?
Page 66

Two tunnels had been escavated under the armoury and inside each of these a huge breaching charge had been laid. Hundreds of tonnes of explosives had been packed in, then the tunnels sealed with thick sandbag "tamps' to contain the blasts. When the detonations came, it would smash wide holes through the armoury above and annihilate any enemy forces within.

Yield or mass (not sure which) of explosives needed to penetrate the storeroom.
Page 66

The explosion could be heard in the trenches above ground, rumbling like approaching thunder, shaking the ground like an earthquake. Within the 55-46 armoury, the twin charges demolished two storerooms, the force of the erupting explosion sending chunks of rock as large as a Leman Russ battle tank hurting through the area to shatter on impact with the crumbling walls. The ceiling collapsed in a landslide of ferrocrete and earth, shaking the entire complex.

The above charges only demolish two rooms.
Page 66

Then the echoing retort of a heavy stubber shattered the silence. A long stream of bullets ricocheted down the corridor and tore throught he engineers, more guns opened fire, bright muzzle flashes in the darkness, grenades exploding with ear shattering force. Men were hit, cut down with nowhere to hide, bodies piling up in the corridors. The Krieg engineers returned fire, shotgun blasts ringing and echoing.
..
The Krieg engineers threw grenades back..

Close range heavy weapons fire (heavy bolter and stubber) seems effective against hte carapace-equipped engineers. Whether it breaches armor, crushes through armor via sheer momentum, or hits unarmored limbs and cripples/bleeds to death, I don't know.
We can tell how close they are because they are within shotgun and grenade throwing range.

PAge 66

He ordered his men to set melta-charges to blast holes in the interior walls. They could create their own corridors, blasting through into rooms from unexpected directions. He also authoriszed the use of corrosive gas grenades to dislodge the defenders.
..
Captain Garis led the way as one melta-charge revealed a dark narrow corridor beyond. Jumping through, with squads at his back...
....
..the bottom of which was sealed by a heavy metal blast door that had been welded shut. Quickly he had a melta charge placed and fell back to a safe distance as it detonated in a bright orange flash, the door itself becoming molten and steaming violently before the centre collapsed inwards in a pool of liquid slag. Behind it the enemy were waiting, crouched behind a barricade in the darkness, shielded from the melta-charge's superheated blast.

Using the "special weapons" melted earlier. Melta weapons used to melt a man-sized hole trhough a door.
Assuming a 1 meter diameter melted through completely, and that the door is a mere 5 cm thick (2", which seems a bit small for some blast doors I've seen pictures of but works well for an Order of magnitude estimate) and made of iron, it woudl take at least 400-500 MJ (roughly) to melt through. Does not include the fact the whole door way may have turned partly motlen, that the hole might be bigger, inefficiencies, or the fact that there may be empty spaces inside the door (but then again the door could be thicker and made of something better than iron.) AS I said, as an approximate (order of magnitude) indicator of melta bomb firepower it works pretty well.
Page 68

As Captain Garis advanced again, climbing through the now cooling breach, teh enemy sprang up and charged.

Again, door entry seems to be man sized. Whatever the door is made of, it also seems to radiate its heat fairly rapidly.

Page 68

Their gas grenades had little effect against powered armour.

Predictably, the chemical and gas weapons that the Krieg were using were of limited effect against Astartes armor.

Page 68

At one barircade defended by grenadiers, the mademen charged as hellgun shots ricocheted off their powered armour, leaving deep scorch marks but doing no real damage. Grenades exploded but the Berserkers barely broke stride. Then a heavy flamer fired, sending a burrent torrent of promethium down the tuennel. The lead Berserker ignited, doused in burning fuel he staggered but ran on, a blazing human torch, chainaxe raised to strike, still screaming Khorne's name as he leapt the barricade, bright orange flames engulfing him.

Hellgun fire and grenades not very effective in this case (constrast with Hunter, Prey or other similr examples of high powered laswepaons.)
Heavy flamer is kinda working, but still won't deter a berserker.
Page 68

Those grenadiers who did not run were cut down.

Now I should tkae a moment to note here that from time to time in the novel the Krieg DO run or retreat or are broken, at least temporarily. I mention this to illustrate and clarify a point about the Krieg guardsmen themselves. They're mindlessly fanatical, inured to loss and death, and pretty hardcore all around (if crazy.) but they are still human. They are not space marines, and they don't use any sort of augmetic ability or drugs (I know of) to nullify fear or other human considerations. They are still capable of having their emotions temporarily override everything else, they can still be pressed, be broken... it just takes a whole hell of alot more to break Krieg troops, and often (it seems) they can recover from that to press on at some point. This has to be kept in mind when discussing such things in the future.
In some cases too they simply do withdrawals or retreats to re-establish defensive positions (usually after some surprise attack or something crazy happens. Like Chaos attacks.)

Page 68

The enemy had expected the engineers' attack and had prepared well, cinluding the digging of counter-mines in secret.
..
A sudden explosion collapsed one tunnel..

..

Suddenly, the flow of men and supplies to the battle was cut to just a single tunnel if this should be attacked then all the troops ahead would be cut off and face annhiilation.

..
Engineer suqads were pulled from teh front in order to dig new counter-mines and to man extra listening posts for enemy digging.

Drawbacks of the "underground assault" process. Machines probably would have been a bigger help if they'd been used more.
Page 68

Of the first five engineer companies committed to the attack, all had taken horrendous casualties. Of the 600 men in each company at the start of the battle, amny were now below half-strength, Captain GAris' 20th company was down to just 187 men. Many had been slaughteredi n close combat with the Traitor Space Marines.

Part of the problem was assaulting fortified gun nests in narrow corridors, but most of it seemed to be form the fact you had Krieg guardsmne facing off in close combat, in confined conditions, with psycho CSM, which is always a recipe for disaster unless you have heavy weapons along (which they didn't aside form flamers it seems.)
Also 3000 engineers at least.
Page 68-69

The exits were all sealed and guarded, then the armoury was pumped full of corrosive gas, entombing them below ground forever. Nothing could have survived in an enviroment so corrosive that it stripped flesh from bones in seconds and then melted the bones to liquid.

I think the Krieg have their own stocks of TP-III or something similar.
Page 69

Marshall Kagori's plan had always been to undermine the curtain wall, lay large mines and blast breaches through it. Hammering it with siege artillery and bombing it from the sky might work, but would redirect resources that were always in demand elsewhere.

If we get an idea of how big th emine is or how big a hole it makes we might estimate some sort of equivalency, at least with bombing.
Page 69

In sector 56-46 heavy cutters were used in a sudden drive for the curtain wall as a deliberate diversion.

Cutters? Mining vehicles?
Page 69

The 57-44 mine would be the largest yet, a massive amount of explosives were needed to make a wide breach, almost emptying 34th line korps' stockpiles.

This implies we're talking considerably more than two "hundreds of tonnes" mines from before.. thousands of tons perhaps. One wonders why the Titans and Superheavies aren't involved, because the implication would be that the combined Titan/superheavy forces on Vraks could not even scratch the walls.. yet most cases make it pretty clear that they should be collectively be able to amass more than a few hundred tons of TNT worth of firepower.

Or you know, using a starship in orbit to blast a hole in the walls.

Page 69

The ground began to tremble violently as a yellow flame shot hundreds of feet into the iar.
..

With a great booming crash the shock wave rolled out across no-man's land, rattling the dugouts and trenches of 308th regiment...

..

As the smoke cleared the observers could see that the cutrain wall had gone. A huge stretch of it had been obliterated into shards of masonry. Nothing remained except a yawning crater.

I'd guess its probably less than megaton range or so, since a devastation of that scale would be a pretty nasty and widespread earthwuake (magnitude 7-8 or so probably) if it were. Low kiloton perhaps.

Page 71

Sleek and fast, they now streaked into battle, bombing and strafing with impunity. The 88th siege army had little to repsond with. It was severely short of anti-aircraft weaponry, the plan for the siege had not envisioned requiring it in great numbers and that which had been deployed had long since been converted to ground use or lost to the endless artilelry bombardments.

Given limited hull capacity on starships and logistics concerns, leaving out the AA stuff is porbably reasonable at least in the short term for Vraks, but as we see it bit them in the ass by continuing to neglect the possibility. Then again at this point I've lost the ability to decide something is a 'good' idea or not. I mean they're still hauling this shit from halfway across the galaxy...

Page 71

The Marauders gave the 88th siege army a reach well beyond its artillery range so the Imperium's army could now strike at the heart of the enemy and the citadel would soon come under regular air raids. Strongpoints could be targeted by low-level precision bombing, whislt entire areas of the frontline could be carpet bombed in preparation for an offensive.

Benefits of air power. Pity they never considered it a decade earlier.

Page 71

The 717th figther wing consisted of ten squadrons, each of approximately 20 aircraft.
...
1099th bomber wing consisted of seven squadrons, each of approximately a dozen bombers, supported by four Marauder Vigilants for long range reconnaissance and ocmmand and control support. This was a potent asset for Marshall Kagori, over 80 heavily ladened bombers would be able to pound the rebels and their defences day and night.

The Imperial air forces on Vraks. Considerably more than on Taros, we shall note (Why they could requisition an Assassin on Taros yet not gain addiitional air support I have no idea) It's still pretty trivial compared to other cases (EG like The sAbbat Worlds Crusade.)

Page 71

Part of the Vraks' system of defences against planetary assault was heavy concentrations of anti-aircraft weaponry, much of it chich surrounded the citadel.
..
A bombing raid would be met with a tremendous barrage of flak and Manticore missiles.

Vraksian anti air defence. Flak I'd guess refers to hydra batteries or the like. Manticore missile emplacements as well. I wonder if thats just anti-air or if it can be converted to ground attack too. Hell its likely the Vraks armouries had manticores in stock.

One still wonders why they never bothered with air forces or even space forces to supplement this though. Control of orbit would be a big issue and we know defence lasers and torpedoes can't cover that wholly.

Page 71

..Marauder Vigilant missions quickly revealed that over the years of the siege the enemy had not relied hwolly upon the plundered stores (massive though they were). The Fortress was now surrounded by its own crude manufacturum. A shantytown had sprung up, where tanks could be repaired and weapons and ammunition constructed. Clustred around the foot of the fortress rock these armouries, workshops and forges were burning night and day to supply the troops at the front. Well beyond the range of Krieg artillery, they soon became a priority target for the bombers.

The Vraksians managed to apparently set up their own supply lines for at least some weapons and ammo within the fort. Good idea stretching this out, wasn't it?

Page 71

The fortress itself was very well defended and almost invulnerable beneath the shroud of its void shields. The surrounding workshops were also well protected by Vraks' many anti-aircraft weapons.

Void shields again.

Page 71

Marshall Kagori was assured that the Imperial Navy's commitment to Vraks was in it for the long haul.
..
A constant stream of replacement aircraft, pilots and crew would be supplied to keep the committment up to strength. enemy strength in aircraft was unknown and givne their nature difficult to pin down. Estimates ranged from 200 aircraft up to 500. Most likely the enemy enjoyed an advantage in numbers at the beginning of the air campaign but as attrition began to take its toll, and Imperial Navy replacements began to arrive, by 278825.M41 most aircrews estimated that they had achieved a rough parity in forces.

Commitment seems to matter for Naval involvemnet, so i guess maybe the Navy didnt care that much about Taros or Vraks up until this point. Better late than never?

Also the aircraft estimates were unknown, which is yet another case of poor or nonexistent intel being a prob for the Imperium (which, given this book, probably means noone bothered trying.)

Page 71

These would be supported by the Marauder's Vigilant variant. THese aricraft sacirficed bomb payload for technical equipment, scanners, and high-powered imagers. Used for aerial reconnaissance of targets before an attack, or to study the effects after a raid, they were specialised aircraft and had to be carefully husbanded.

Marauder recon craft.

Page 71

So far on Vraks none of the much-feared Harbinger super-heavy bombers had been encountered.

'Super heavy bombers'. I have feeling these things are far smaller than starhawks or space-capable marauders.

Page 71
- 88th Siege Army Imperial Naval Assets:
717th Fighter Wing 10 squadrons - 200 aircraft (approx)
1099th Bomber Wing - 7 squadronds - 88 aircraft (approx.)

Page 75

The assault would be led by Gorgons, with two companies fully equipped to ride into battle inside 30 Gorgon transports, supported by Leman Russ, Baneblades, and Macharius heavy tanks.

..
Behind them would follow more infantry on foot and grenadiers in Centaur carriers.
..

..and the aircraft would join the attack, striking at reinforcements before they could reach the breach and help stop-up the gap.

Assault on the curtain wall. The air forces would at least help. And yet they still rely on foot troops...

Page 75

Completely encricling the citadel, it [Curtain wall] was six stories high, 30 metres thick at its base and topped by a reinforced parapet. There were hundreds of towers, each armed or providing firing slits for heavy weapons that had clear lines of fire and plunging fire down onto any enemy below. Within the walls were many bunkers, armouries, shelters and corridors. It also mounted automated sentry guns as well as the heavy weapons positioned along the parapet.

The defences of the curtain wall. Note that having to bring part of it down would suggest a crater at least 30 metrs in diameter, which wuold only require ~5 tons of TNT.

Page 75

One unlucky vehicle took a direct hit, a shell falling directly into the open troop compartment. Trapped within its confines the explosion wrought carnage amongst the densely loaded guardsmen and the Gorgon slued to a smoking halt, its deck a scene of hrror, awash with blood.

A single shell of unknonw type wipes out a whole platoon and disable the Gorgon,

Page 75

Lascannon blasts scorched the air as they smashed into the first assault wave. Impacts whined and ricocheted off the Gorgon's heavy frontal armour, designed to absorb just sucha punishment.

Gorgon frontal armor seems capable of withstanding various kinds of heavy weapon fire. Good against direct fire at least. Indirect fire.. another story.


Page 75

The supproting Leman Russes returned fire, their battle cannons firing and recoiling, their shells smashing into the wall and sending masonry tumbling as each shell gouged rends in the thick defences..

Implies that a Russ shell creates a crater far less than 30 m in diameter.

Page 76

The backbone of the enemy's armoured forces, plundered from Vraks' armoury, was made up of Captured Imperial Guard vehicles. Many of them were older 'second-line' armoured vehicles, mothballed as war reserves. Here, renegade forces are using a Leman Russ Conqueror and a Medusa siege gun.

In essence they had a "war reserve" that echoes the Navy having its own mothballed "second line/deocmissioned" warships also as reserves in a time of emergency. Second line stuff probably is issued to "newly raised" forces in emergency situations or when first-line gear isn't availalbe, I'd guess. This probably means even the 'newer' stuff - like the Russes and Chimeras they have, might have been worn out or outdated versions (or maybe just SUPER DUPER PRECIOUS HULLS of GREAT AGE that they CAN'T RISK or something equally silly.) Either way there's a ton of old shit in the stockpiles, which fits in with them having all those autoguns and stubbers but not much in the way of lasguns or heavy bolters or shit. And we know that even when it comes ot Chimeras and stuff.. "old' and 'new' is a very loose boundary.

Page 77

Each Ogryn was a ten foot monster, psychopathically insane due to the combat durgs coursing through its blood.
..
he emptied his laspistol into one beast, which shrugged off the wounds as if they were no more than insect stings.
..
Ogryns fell, each taking ten or more Guardsmen until the crater flor was carpeted with the dead and dying on both sides.

More of the 10 foot tall Ogryn doom weapons, and totall immune to laspistol fire (duh).

Page 77

..the 4th Siege artillery regiment, positioned south of the Darro Rift, was given the task of shelling the breach day and night with heavy bombard shells in an attempt to break up the rubble enough to allow tanks to cross it.
..
This softening up was to go on for two weeks - a huge drain on the artillery shell resources of 34th line korps.

hundreds of thousands, to millions of shells (weeks worth remember) from bombards alone just to smooth out the rubble from the breach enough to allow tanks ot cross. How that meshes up with RL examples.. *shrugs* Sea Skimmer will doubtless tell me or remind me. I think my memory is selectively blocking out parts to protect me.

Page 77

These attacks would be reinforced by more super heavy tanks that would attempt to use their firepower to blast new breaches.

Super heavy tanks used to blast new breaches. Again, why not do this before? More to the point, it suggests fairly significant firepower on the part of the superheavies, not to mention huge numbers for something we are told is rare and precious and important (and yet will be committed in the most wasteful manner possible.)

Page 77

The Gorgons encountered a fusillade of krak missiles and lascannons as they closed on the objective, many were knocked out.

Another disabled Gorgon.

Page 78

Two new smaller breaches were blasted in the walls, widening the possible targets..

The superheavies (unknown number and duration) blasted smaller breaches in the wall.

Page 78

the fourth assault ended when the enemy detonated their own massive mine under the original crater, in the process destroying hundreds of Krieg soldiers caught in the crater at the time. The explosion deepened the area further..

The crater is big enough to hold hundreds of troops.

Page 78

Request for more aid form the Titans had to be turned down.
..
The Entire Region was still one big battleground.
..
Alpha Legion troops were identifeid conducting raids deep behind the front line, destorying artillery positions and storage dumps. The 1st line korps was fully engaged against ht forces of Nurgle, faced by the horrors of continued chemical warfare. The Legio Vulcanum were still out there, lending its strength wherever a major attack went ove rthe top. The Legio Astorum Titans were needed to counter the threat...

Disorganized as the Chaos warbands are, they still prove effective in preventing the Imperial forces from concentrating on taking the fortress. Especialyl with the Titans involved. The Imperial forces on Vraks are par for the course in the comptence department, it seems.

Page 78

After the furious abttles and over a 1,000,000 more Krieg Guardsmen consigned to the Emperor's Peace by Vraks, the war's tempo slackened.

5,000,000+ on Vraks over a 12+ year period. Plus however many tanks, vehicles, and whatnot.

I'm not sure who is better off so far, since it took nearyl 10 years and 4 million casualties for the first asshole to get as far as he did, while ~1 million here in under a few years (a year is implied.) Remember this was what they considered the BEST option.

Page 78

The enemy, reinfroced by the most fervent of Chaos worshippers and now fully embracing the power that the dark gods were offering, would not break or surrender. They would have to be wiped out, annihilated to the last man.

Even if they weren't fanatical madmen (rather like the Krieg) the fact they're tainted by Chaos owuld warrant the "annihilated to the last man." bit, especially from the Inquisition.

Page 78

In all it had been estimated that 8,000,000 men had started out defending Vraks and their self-proclaimed messiah.
..
If the 88th siege army had killed the enemy at the projected rate of one for every two casualties borne by its regiments, then over 3,000,000 heretic souls had been purged from the galaxy since the start of the war. That meant the 88th siege army wasn't even halfway through the Apostate Cardinal's manpower reserves, and he had been reinforced.

It also suggests that a grand total of 16 million krieg Guardsmen would need to be killed by the end of the conflict at a minimum, suggesting more like tens of millions of guardsmen committed in total. The ratio suggests the death total for the Krieg regiments stands at 6 million at this point (1 million per year under the new commander, meaning he's an even bigger asshole than the last one.)

The reinfrocements aren't all that numerous, but their vlaue lies mainly in their quality - CSMs and Titans contributed greatly, nevermind the disrutpion of the supply line (however temporary it was.)

Page 79

The Projected date for the end of the siege of Vraks had passed almost two years ago. The adminstratum had accepted the extension and found the extra resources but the Departmento Munitorum was now conducting another of its reviews of the campaign. The twelve year plan had run its cycle and more, but it had not brought the projected victory.
Marshall Kagori argued against it but the committment of resources that Vraks had demanded could no longer be maintained. The Adpetus Administratum's planning required Krieg guardsmen for other warzones and the high priority the campaign on Vraks had enjoyed must be downgraded. The siege was not to be abandoned, the heretic forces msut still be fought and defated, and Vraks returned ot the Emperor's rule. This new policy just meant that it would take longer and cost more in the long run.
..

He had another five years before the next review would be undertaken.

Vraks had been running for 14 years or so now, total. And once again we see bureacracy and politics rearing its ugly head. Although to be honest I'm not sure that politics can be totally at blame. At any given time in the galaxy there may be some new conflict requiring said demands, and even the Imperium has finite resources to arm, equip, transport, resupply battles (which only begs the question 'why a fucking 10 year siege?' once again..) All hail the grimdark, I suppose.

Page 79

Marshall Kagori's delegates rendezvousee with the strike cruiser Arx Fidelis in the Cantus system.
..
Onboard was a combined strike force of elements of four companies of the Red Scorpions chapter, led by Commander Ainea of 3rd Company. He had with him approximately 100 batlte frothers form the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th comapnies..

Now we bring space marines into the picture. One imagines why Kagori didn't try petitioning such forces earlier (like when it became obvious Chaos Space MArines were on the planet?) THat's what they did when they called the Dark Angels in, so why not a second time?

IA logic for you. I suppose we have to chalk it up to "none being available" conveniently for Chaos. And of course now that SPACE MARINES are involved we get a massive dose of FUCK YEAH competence to the Imperium, only BECAUSE of the Space Marines.

Page 79

The spearhead of his attakc was the 1st comapny's squads - veteran battle brothers in Terminator armour. Aniea and Codicier Yaec would lead them personally, utilising the Arx Fidelis teleport chamber to deliver this potent assault team directly into the breach. For this attack he would need to be incredibly accurate, this involved getting his teleporter as close to the target as possible and having a teleport homer beacon in place - nothing could be left to chance.

The mission of placing the teleport homer at the breach would require a small volunteer team to drop in via Thunderhawk, seconds before the Terminatros were in position. This team would use jump packs to land, then set-up the beacon so that the Arx Fidelis' surveyors could lock onto it. Meanwhile, as the spearhead was engaging, a second ground assault team would be ready to race to the Terminator's position in the strike force's armoured vehicles..

..

When the Space Marines had secured the breach, they would signal the mission complete codeword and a special battle group from 11th assault korps, picked for the job, would be first through the breach to begin the exploitation. This exploitation force would include support from the Titans of Legio Astorum.
..
The heretics were about to face a true army of the Imperium for the first time, an all arms attack.

The Space MArines predictably kick the battle into high gear and get everyone cooperating like they should and get fucking serious about this war. About damn time, but like I said before it only reiterates that SPACE MARINES, FUCK YEAH crap, as if the Space Marines were the only thing holding the Imperium together.

Page 79

He [captain of the strike cruiser] would be tkaing his ssip into range of Vraks' remaining defence laser silos, they would no doubt detect his approach and quickly open fire. The cruiser was taking a risk, but it only had to weather the enemy defences long enough for Aniea's force to teleport into the battle.
..
Defence laser blasts streaked skyward as the strike cruiser blasted into low orbit, her bombardment cannons returning fire as she approached. Several defence laser blasts smashed inot the vessel's thick armour as her void shields failed under repeated assaults.

Defence laser range and teleport range seem similar, as do bombardment cannon. void shields fail under a presumably breif assault, although how many defence lasers are firing we dont know (up to one hundred)

Note that this scene also pretty much takes away the pretext of 'orbital bombardment being a massive deterrent' to orbital assault or any sort of orbital assistance, since I find it hard to believe that the Navy would be unable to pull off what ONLY THE SPACE MARINES could do. But again that's IA logic for you. SPACE MARINES, FUCK YEAH!

Page 80

This space marine's poweed armour has been heavily adapted by the Chapter's artificers. It combines features from a common Mk VII suit and an ancient Mk IV suit. The majority of the upper suit is from the MkIV 'Maximus' armour, mostly notable in the helmet design. This style of armour was developed at the end of the Great Crusades, incorporating technical secrets learned form the many newly conquered worlds. The suit is marginal lighter than the early Mk III armour due to the newly avaiable alloys.
..
..today these suits are seen as relics of a former age and most have been incorporated into later marks. Indeed, few Chapters can now boast a complete original suit from so long ago. Those Chapters that can hold them as relics only to be worn for ceremonial duties.

Older is always better! Except.. not always. I guess there must be some sort of convoluted logic chain dictating when older is and isn't better, or something. Or maybe the Munitorum are full of idiots and fools. At this point either is possible.

Page 80

..it is a hand and a half broadsword (wielded in one or two hands) containing a msall powerfield generator in the pommel. When activated it wreaths the blade in a crackling energy field that disrupts the molcular composition of anything it hits, greatly assisting armour penetration.

Standard powerfield stuff, molecular disrupiton doesnt specify whether its technobabble or brute force means (force, thermal, etc.)

Page 80

Just like the larger bolt gun, it fires self-propelled bolts with a mass-fused, armour-piercing, high explosiv ewarhead that penetrates a taerget before detonating, literally blowing it apart from the inside..
...
The pistol incorporates many other advanced features, like palm-print genetic identification coding, which is read by the power armour's autosenses before activating the weapon. Targeting information and an ammunition counter are also fed via the autosenses to the Space Marine's helmet display.
It's magazine holds just ten bolts, an the weapon fires single shots or pre-selected three round bursts.

Bolt pistol. More like PDW or compact SMG.

Page 80

This adamantium arm will be able to replicate all arm movements and actions with very littel loss of dexterity due to its sensitive neural pick-ups and cognitive-actuation enahncers. It will require careful maintenance between deployments.
Some Chapter's hide cybernetics under synthetic skin but others prefer to wear them openly, showing off their old battle wounds as a mark of honour.

The bit about synthetic skin covering is a bit of a throwback to Ian Watson Space Marine stuff.. where the prosthetics were alot less grimdark looking, I think.

Page 82

Whilst the Arx Fidelis was buffeted and smashed by the defence laser salvoes, a single Thunderhawk gunship was racing low over the dark surface of Vraks, approaching the breach from the south at no more than 100 feet above ground, skimming the contours below as it approached the target.
..
With jump packs straining at full power to break the short fall, the five assault Space Marines aimed directly for the centre of the breach crater. In seconds they landed, smashing into the ground with an impact that would have killed lesser men.

..
It [Thunderhawk] passed directly overhead lfying flat out.

100 feet to the ground in "seconds" would imply a decent velocity of some tens fo feet per second.. not alot ot gain terminal velocity or anything, especially with packs at "full power".

That doesn't include the velocity imparted by the thunderhawk flying flat out (~2000 kph) though, which is going to add to the descent velocity.

The "impact that would have killed lesser men" implies a considerably higher velocity, or at least a pretty hefty deceleration on impact (not quite free fall but still quite a few gees I'm betting.)

Page 82

Bolt pistols barked their distinctive sound as eahc bolt ignited befor the sudden thunder-clap explosion of its warhead on impact. Sentries on the crater's rim burst apart with the force of the bolts, torn limb from limb.

Bolt pistol rounds blowing apart people (basically) - grenade level damage. Not sure whether its single bolts or groups of bolts. Implied single bolts, but could be argued to be "tree round bursts" too. tens of grams of TNT-equivaelnt easily.

Page 82

A missile's fiery trail streaked from the darkness, smashing one battle brother clean in the chest, the blast of its krak warhead piercing his armour and severing his torso.

This would tend to argue againts this particular krak warhead being a shaped charge per se, since it implies the blast isn't quite so focused if it bisects a Space Marine.

Page 82

Another Space Marine was wounded, his helmet puncutred, leaving his face a bloody ruin of flesh and blood.

I think he's still alive though, and we dont know what weapon is doing it.

Page 83

Ainea's Termiantors appeared in a flash of light and a halo of sizzling power, directly on target. They appeared out of nowhere, cast through the warp the short distance from their strike cruiser to Vraks' surface.
..

Aniea's sormtbotler hammered a stream of bolts as the veterans advanced, the defneder's fire pattering off their Terminator armour and storm shields like mere hailstones.

Small arms fire at least presumably, probably not much in the way of heavy heavy weapons (like lascannon.)

Page 83

Heavy bolters were blazing, rocket-powered shells shrieking as they tried ot suppress the enemy's strongpoints.

bolter shells described as "rocket powered"

Page 83

Pre-ranged artillery fire began to land. Zhyr himself was flung through the air by a close impact, landing unharmed in a rain of rock and hot shrapnel.

How close is close? biut its still kinda impressive if a near-miss by an artillery round is survivable in Astartes power armor, I suppose.

Page 83

The OGryns attack was quickly cut to pieces, they were no longer facing mere Imperial Guardsmen. Thunderhammers ent creatures reeling, their drug induced nervous systems overloaded by the weapons fearsome impact. Lightning claws slashed and thrust, raking through crude plasteel armour like paper ot dice Orgryns into gory hunks of meat.

Space marines > Psycho lobotomised OGryn Berserkers. FUCK YEAH!

Page 83

A rapid response force of tanks and Chimera-borne infantry was stationed to move quickly ot meet any breakthrough [of the curtain wall]

An indication that, if the Imperium (or a rebel force) have the resources, they can mount fairly mobile responses. It's all about the logistics and resources. Inject your own 'WHY' questions here.

Page 83

A Razorback took a direct hit and was vaporized by the high-energy beam of a volcano cannon, leaving only black scorched rocks to mark the machine spirit.s passing.

A razorback masses some 31.5 tonnes. Assuming iron composition, it would take several hundred gigajoules to vaporize.. not *wholly* unreasonable for Titan grade weapons. This does assume the eneergy all came from the gun.. part or most of that could be from the powerplant.

Page 84

Ainea watched the blossoming explosions through his magnocular scanner.

Astartes commander has some sort of binoc/scanner combination.

Page 84

Ainea looked up as the towering war machine stepped direclty over him, its Princeps riding far above, eight stroies high.

Reaver battle titan "eight stories high"

Page 84

Ainea himself was wounded in the fighting by a direct hit from a plasma blast. His Terminator armour had saved his life, but the thick breastplate had been punctured, the searing heat of the violent impact burnign away the armour and the Commander's chest, exposing the black carapace implant within.
..
..the commander was barely conscious but still issuing orders despite the pain of his wound.

..
..he declared the commander would live, with the aid of exntesive cybernetic rebuilding.

Terminator armour [mostly] stops plasma blast.

Page 84

One warhound hd been destroyed by a volcano cannon strike, leaving just two great legs jutting skyward, the scout Titan's torso and head obliterated in a catastorphic plasma reactor explosion that had illuminated the battlefield like a second sun bursting into life.

Self explanatory

Page 84

Ninety six battle brothers had begun Operation Execution Place. Just 34 returned, many of them also bearing horrible wounds.

Red scorpion losses. Considering what they were up against, small surprise really.

Page 84

Brother Daeres had been destroyed, lost to a tank's armour piercing shell that had pucnhed through the Dreadnought's armoured sarcophagus. The wreckage was towed away to be rebuilt and one day fight for the Emperor again.

Dreadnoguht loses to an AP round, not really surprising again. Dragged away to be rebuilt.

Page 85

Not even a high ranking Marshall of the Imperium, with millions of men at his command would keep an Inquisitor waiting.

re-affirmation of the size of Kagori's army. Also the Inquisiton steps in (at last) because Chaos is inovlved. Why it took so long...

Page 85

Under his heavy, thick robes the visitor was tall, almost unnaturally so, and built like a Space MArine, wide int he chest and shoulders, all muscle.

Artifically so perhaps? Or is this an indication that on some worlds people naturally gro wot almost Astartes-like proportions? This has been hinted at elsewhere, but with an Inquisitor either possibility is likely. Height and other vertical-related dimension issues will plague this Inquisitor throughout IA7. I'm sure Orsai will mention it at some point.

Page 85

His seers had been meditating on the subject, using their clairovyance to search the probable future.

Inquisitor's pet psykers using some sort of precog to predict future events around Vraks. AGain why NOW and not before.....

Page 94

They [Krieg] are men recurited and trained to brave the worst warzones, using a doctrine of trench warfaere to wear down their enemies in long campaigns of attrition. Whilst the infantry are the backbone of these tactics, the Death Korps utilise many other arms in support.

A lil refersher on Kriegers liking attrition warfare. Other arms include artillery, tanks, Death Riders and the engineers.

Page 94

Like Grenadiers, Engineers are infantry who support Krieg campaigns in a specialist role.
..
The Engineer Korps providees this knowledge, specialising in subterreanean warfare, digging shafts, tunnels and saps to undermine the enemy's strong points and launch surprise raids behind enemy lines.

Self explanatory really.

Page 94

Krieg Engineer squads carry alot of technical equipment like geo-thermic auspex, surveyors, breaching torpedoes and melta charges, as well as hand digging equipment. They also have access to heavier cutting equipment and mole launchers.

Lotta fancy stuff considering what they do.

Page 94

Engineers are also trained and authorised to use gas weaponry. If required they carry small gas canisters grenades, which are used during assaults to shroud the enemy with highly corrosive gas. These are weapons of last resort, but have helped give Krieg regiments their ruthless reputation.

Considering what those gas weapons do in confined areas...

Page 94

The breaching torpedo is carried inside a shoulder-mounted launch tube which clamps into the ground or the side of a tunnel. Once locked into palce the torpedo is launched and burrows through the rock and earth. The torpedo itself is an advanced piece of equipment, carrying a powerful drill in its nose. It also contains a small powerfield generator, helping it slice through rock very quickly, and a guidance systme, linked to the team's control panel which they use to guide the torpedo onto its target.
Once the torepdo is under its target, it burrow sup to the surface and then explodes, allowing attasck from the less well defended underneath of a bunker or building.
..
Once an enemy mine or shaft has been located, a torpedo can be launched and guided to the target then exploded, causing a sudden catstrophic collapse.

Also known as a mole launcher. Take of the mole weapons of early 40K.

Interesting weapon. The bit about using a power field as part of the digging/penetration aid has interesting implicatons for munitions in general (other missiles or torepdoes using such a weapon to penetrate. It's also hands down the BEST part of the book for me, because its useful to consider that powerfields might have value in munitions as well as bladed weapons (think of powerfielded tank shells, macro cannons, etc.)

Page 96
Engineer equipment stuff: 5 engineers, 5 shotguns
3 guardsmen carrying krak grenades (2 carrying 3, 1 carrying 2), 3 carrying frag grenades (two carying one, one carrying 2) One carrying 3 metla charges.
Two carry pickaxes, 3 carry shovels, one carries heavy duty clippers. 2 carry detonator cable, one carries a detonator unit.


Page 96

This example shows a 'typical' issue of equipment but extra ammunition, frag grenades, and krak grenades will be issued for major attacks. All squad members will carry explosives and adiditonal melta-charges and demolition charges can also be issued. Heavier cutting equipment and 'mole' torpedo launchers may also be issued to some squads, dependent upon operational requirements. Also, small five man work squads are often combined into ten man units for larger operations.

A lil addendum to the above.

Page 97

Melta Charge: this is a shaped-charge with a magnetic clamp. It has a hand set fuse or it can be triggered remotely via detonator cable.

melta charge/bomb. Then again maybe there are differences? Maybe melta boms are the pocket nukes, and melta charges are the shaped charge heat ray munitions.

Page 98

One such machine [heavy cutting and boring machine] is the fearsome Hades breaching drill. Its powerful cutting head is equipped with a melta-cutter for blasting rock into liquid slag and four large, diamantine-tipped rotary powercutters which can quickly smash and pound rock into rubble. The blades are shaped to help drag the machine forward as more rock is fed into the hed.
..
Thorugh the chassis runs a converyor belt to carry the rubble and debris away form the rock face.

Hades breaching drill - combination power weapon, chainfist type device, and melta weapon.

Page 98

The breaching drill is only used to cut the last few yards of a tunnel, to rapidly create a hole through wihc ht efollowing engineers can attack. Typically the engineers will have spent weeks or months digging a sap tunnel into position ahead of a carefully planned attack. The breaching drill is then secretly moved into place and, on command, set into motion, quickly smashing the last ten or twenty yards of rock through to the target.

Depth of penetration. Although I really wonder why they wait until the last minute to use the thing. It ought to drill faster through the undeground than ding it by hand.

Page 98

..the Hades drills cutting-head can still be an improvised weapon. IT is capable of cutting through just about any material with its powerblades and melta-cutter, smashing bunkers, buildings, defenses or vehicles..

Confirmation of power fields used in a diggin role as well as the melta bit.

Page 98

As a cutting tool, it should not be confused with the Termite or Mole, which are rare subterranean transport vehicles sometimes fielded by the Adeptus Mechanicus for similar tunnelling assaults. These utilise advanced phase-field generator technology to 'dig' under the enemy rather than the brute force of the Hades.

Nice, except that novels like Ice Guard also feature Termite burrowing stuff that IS brute force and isnt so rare or only restricted to the AdMech. OOPS!

Page 101
Death rider company TO&E
1 5 man command squad, 6 10 man Squadrons.
1 Lt, 7 Ridemasters, 57 other ranks - 65 men in total.
65 mounts, 65 lances, 65 laspistols, 65 sabres.

Page 102-103
Artillery company
Company headquarters - 3 Centaur, 2 company command squads (Co and 2nd in command) 5 men each.,
1 Atlas engineering and recovery vehicle, 3 Trojan ammo carriers and trailer (supply column)
Battery A & B
3 guns, each with 7 men, an earthshaker cannon, and a trojan tractor
Battery C:
3 guns, each with 7 men, a Medusa Siege gun, and a Trojan.

Page 104-105
3rd Heavy Artillery company
HQ (CO and 2nd in command) - 2 5 man suqads, 3 Centaurs
1 Atlas engineering, recovery vehicle
Supply column: 4 Trojan carriers and trailer
3 Batteries, each containing:
3 bombard, 6 crew, ane one Centaur transport

Page 106-107
7th Tank regiment, 2nd comany
company HQ: 1 Leman Russ, 1 Centaur
Squadron 1 & 2 - 3 Leman Russ each
Squadron 3: 1 Leman Russ, 2 Exterminator
3 Trojan ammo carrier (supply column) , 2 Atlas (maintenace and recovery)

Page 110
-6th HEavY tank company, 11th tank regiment - 2 Macharius and One Macharius vulcan
Page 111
14th Titan Hunter company, 11th Tank regiment
3 Shadowswords
Page 112

..ever since then Warp Runners' battlegroups have been dispatched to the most deadly warzones across the Imperium to fight the Emperor's wars.
On Vraks the legion deployed 22 Titans of Reaver and Warhound class.

This implies that the Warp Runners legion is pretty damn big, though whether they define a "standarD" Legion is debatable.'
Shown are 10 Reavers and 12 Warhounds


Page 114

The Macharius super-heavy tank is a 'second' generation Baneblade - a tank that lacks the advanced STC technology of a Baneblade but fufills the same battlefield role. Whilst lacking the Baneblade's massive size and multiple weapon systems, its extra armour bracing, engine performance and advanced logic engine..

"SEcond Generation" baneblade is probably a bit of slang, since its technically not a Baneblade but a "bane blade like" tank. We might figure that the old Epic Baneblade (the 1000 ton fucker) is of the same category (Eg only a Baneblade in the sense of role/purpose, but differes in design and quality. After all we know Leviathan scale stuff, which is what the old Baneblades were, still exist and the Imperium makes variations out of everything else...)

One also wonders what happened to the supposed 'counterfeit baneblades' IA1 mentioned, since that's the same thing the Macharius is supposed to represent... OH DAMN!

Page 114

The Machairus helps to fill the short fall in Baneblade production and is deployed alongside other super heavy tanks in the Imperial Guard's heavy tank companies. Magos Nalax's life work also produced variants of the twin battlecannon armed Macharius, including the rare Vanquisher cannon armed variant and the Vulcan variant, a super heavy tank equipped with the fearsome Vulcan mega bolter.

The Macharius represents the "quantity over quality" approach you sometimes see the Imperium use, which is not at all unreasonable given scale and demands (comrpomises must be made.)

It is intersting that lots of super heavies seem to be able to be outfitted with what amount to Titan grade weapons of some kind. I wonder what other Titan weapons you could stick on.


Page 114

The Vulcan mega bolter is a weapon ususally carried by Titans. It is a multiple-barreled gatling autocannon, firing thousands of rounds per minute in a destructive torrent, turning the standard Macharius into a highly effective anti-personnel weapon. Due to the wepaon's and the tank's size, ammunition storage is restricted and this is the tank's main drawback, carrying only enough ammunition for 20 seconds of continuous firing.

the datafile below lists 8,000 rounds as its capacity. 8,000 rounds in 20 seconds is... 400 rounds per second, or 24,000 rpm. Quite alot of "thousands". It also gives you an idea of the ammo capacity of a Titan packing the weapon.
I find it curious/interesting that the weapon is defined as both an "autocannon" and a "bolter" Which is it?

Page 114

The mega-bolter is fed by a high-speed autoloader.
..
Lacking the penetrating power to smash the bunkers and pillobxes occupied by the enemy..

Mega bolters have an autoloader and aren't effective against bunkers.

Page 115
Machairus vulcan stats:
Weight: 172 tonnes Length: 10.9 M Width 7 M Height: 4.8 m
Ground clearance: .45 M
Max speed on road: 26 kph off road: 18 kph
Armament: Vulcan mega bolter, 2 stubber and 2 heavy bolter
traverse 360 degre, elevation -2 to +28 degrees
Ammo 8,000 rounds (Vulcan), 1000 rounds and 600 rounds (Stubber and heavy bolter)
armor: turret 220mm, superstructure: 200mm hull 190mm gun mantlet 150mm

Curiosuly the armor doesnt seem to be much different than a Russ at least in thickness (quality maybe differs.)

[Sea Skimmer]

Alot of things with propellant that include solid propellants, or are we talking about exotic things like binary liquid propellant?

Both, and solid propellants could get very exotic given enough work, and good enough gun steel and manufacturing methods.

I knew about liquid propellant and considered that, but given the prevalence of cased ammo on 40K tanks I don't consider it likely without playing very fast and loose with canon. That's one reason I was thinking ETC/ET, because I can at least excuse away 'casings' and similar. Unless there is some example of liquid propellants using cased ammo.

More than a little bit of liquid propellant work actually involved cased ammo. Binary stuff did not, but on paper LP has advantages even in cased ammo. In practice LP guns tended to explode which is why 50 years of research has never gotten a single design into actual service.

I'm mainly interested in ET/ETC mainly because it gives me plenty of wiggle room with regards to the calcs. I don't think you can get much farther velocity wise with solid propellant (and certainly not without saboting, which is an.. iffy thing for 40K tanks.) The more options I have to play with the better I feel (esp since some ideas no doubt won't pan out like the scramjet/ramjet or rocket propelled ammo idea.)

You can get much further with solid propellant velocity wise than 2,000m/s, it’s just a matter of the details and efficiency of it all. We have only just scratched the surface of what reactive metal explosives can do for example.

I am a bit curious what might be involved in a 2000 m/s tank gun though. I thought the limit was more like 1700-1800 m/s.

If you just made the projectile lighter on existing 120-125mm tank cartridges they’d go over 2,000m/s no problem. The Ukraine was marketing a 125mm 50cal gun for a while, might still be, that was designed to produce this kind of velocity from the onset. It isn’t done normally because projectile mass has its own advantages within an overall limited weapon size, and penetration performance changes with velocity as well as with raw energy. Higher velocity will not give optimal results though it also depends on what the target is made out of (somewhat predictable with modern tanks, somewhat); this does not mean you cannot gain penetration from going faster just that you will pay proportionally more for it. With existing propellants and shell technology the efficiency of the gun would drop off rapidly above 2,000m/s, but it’s not like you can’t build it. Tank ammo designers are trying to get max penetration with minimal energy. If we can throw much more energy at the problem, and the target does not grow in strength proportionally, the rules change.

Remember the Paris Gun fired at 1,600m/s, using full caliber ammo no less, in 1918! Of course, it also ate out its rifling so quickly they actually had to have different sized shells and driving bands but that was a materials limitation. It was of course a highly inefficient weapon, but it worked. Conventional explosives exist that detonate well over 8,000m/s, and you can go faster than you velocity of detonation but the barrel length may become rather excessive.

As it is we actually use more powerful explosives as the bases for rocket propellants than gun propellants because problems like acceptable acceleration time and damage to the firing chamber are much different and more forgiving.

Might be useful, although it would necessitate a bigger turret given how tiny the Leman Russ turret is on the model. (hell you can't even load the thing with the guy sitting there.)

Probably has some kind of sliding bolt, instead of a rearward swinging or vertical sliding wedge breach block, that moves to the side and allows a cartridge to load from the bottom in the style of a magazine fed handgun, rather than what we see modern artillery doing. Conceptually this would work fine, though it would be expensive and very heavy. These factors might be mitigated to some degree by stronger 40K alloys, and or lower firing pressures. Space for the ammo itself though is kind of a joke. The ammo must be very stubby.

That' swhat I was thinking and it would fit in with the 'brute force' approach. Otherwise I've gotten some pretty crazy calcs for recoil energy playing around with numbers (190 tonnes of recoil force with a 30-40 cm recoil path. Unless there are some parameters I'm forgetting, which is quite possible, the energy gets pretty insane compared to what modern guns - even 140mm have been purported to put out. although damn me if I can remember where I put that stuff. )

On the other hand a large portion of the recoil force of a modern gun comes not from the projectile but the powder charge. This is why a muzzle break can work. If the 40K guns had for example much lower mass powder charges they'd have less recoil.

[madd0ct0r]

rules wise - the machirus is a small superheavy, while the leman russ is just a tank. Even though the machirius's armour save is any better the the leman, it can take a LOT more damage and remain operational.

Oh - and the harbinger bomber has 4 DC*, again - it's got a low armour save, but can actually take a very heavy pounding before being destroyed, outside of a lucky hit to the ammo bay.

*by comparison, a warhound has 3 and the machurius has 2. Warhounds get a much much better save though, and void sheilds

[Simon_Jester]

If I remember the rules right, each point of "DC" represents a major damaging impact from a major antitank weapon (large tank gun or superheavy weapon) that the vehicle can take before being put out of action. So that titan takes three large hits to disable.

Obviously that's just gameplay, but it does give the sense of things. Sheer physical bulk would make a baneblade/macharius hard to take out, since even weapons that penetrate the armor may not penetrate deep enough into the interior to wreck anything really important, unless you use something gigantic like a (suitably teched up) antiship missile.

[Connor MacLeod]

Both, and solid propellants could get very exotic given enough work, and good enough gun steel and manufacturing methods.

Such as the reactive metals or something using a higher explosive velocity?

More than a little bit of liquid propellant work actually involved cased ammo. Binary stuff did not, but on paper LP has advantages even in cased ammo. In practice LP guns tended to explode which is why 50 years of research has never gotten a single design into actual service.

Exploding probably would not bother the Imperium (much), so I'm kind of glad to know that liquid propellant might still be an option. I kinda like that one actually. And the more options I can embrace, the better.

You can get much further with solid propellant velocity wise than 2,000m/s, it’s just a matter of the details and efficiency of it all. We have only just scratched the surface of what reactive metal explosives can do for example.

really? Has there been research into using reactive metal explosives as propellant? I may have recalled hearing that somewhere but may have forgotten. I know oyu've brought it up in the past but I recall it mainly as a substitute for warheads (which I can definitely see uses for..)

One thing I was thinking of is reactive metal might help explain how bolter shells work.

If you just made the projectile lighter on existing 120-125mm tank cartridges they’d go over 2,000m/s no problem. The Ukraine was marketing a 125mm 50cal gun for a while, might still be, that was designed to produce this kind of velocity from the onset. It isn’t done normally because projectile mass has its own advantages within an overall limited weapon size, and penetration performance changes with velocity as well as with raw energy. Higher velocity will not give optimal results though it also depends on what the target is made out of (somewhat predictable with modern tanks, somewhat); this does not mean you cannot gain penetration from going faster just that you will pay proportionally more for it. With existing propellants and shell technology the efficiency of the gun would drop off rapidly above 2,000m/s, but it’s not like you can’t build it. Tank ammo designers are trying to get max penetration with minimal energy. If we can throw much more energy at the problem, and the target does not grow in strength proportionally, the rules change.

Interesting.

Remember the Paris Gun fired at 1,600m/s, using full caliber ammo no less, in 1918! Of course, it also ate out its rifling so quickly they actually had to have different sized shells and driving bands but that was a materials limitation. It was of course a highly inefficient weapon, but it worked. Conventional explosives exist that detonate well over 8,000m/s, and you can go faster than you velocity of detonation but the barrel length may become rather excessive.

I think I remember hearing some proposals along those lines for 4th generation nuclear weapons, although that might have been something akin to an explosively formed penetrator (which I believe is basically a projectile of some kind driven by HE detonation if I am remembering right.)

Funny enough with the HE thing, we know the Imperium has a fictional material named 'fyceline' which is used (among other things) as engine fuel (fyceline blocks, which could also be used to make alcohol...), an explosive, and as a propellant. So that might actually be a precedent....

As it is we actually use more powerful explosives as the bases for rocket propellants than gun propellants because problems like acceptable acceleration time and damage to the firing chamber are much different and more forgiving.

I remember you saying re: bolters that a rocket's propellant without something to confine and channel it (like a barrel) made it inaccurate. I've been wondering if maybe you could fire a rocket out of a barrel to fix that (If I'm explaining the idea right.)

Probably has some kind of sliding bolt, instead of a rearward swinging or vertical sliding wedge breach block, that moves to the side and allows a cartridge to load from the bottom in the style of a magazine fed handgun, rather than what we see modern artillery doing. Conceptually this would work fine, though it would be expensive and very heavy. These factors might be mitigated to some degree by stronger 40K alloys, and or lower firing pressures. Space for the ammo itself though is kind of a joke. The ammo must be very stubby.

AS I've mentioned before, they think they can fit 40 shells as big as that damn muzzle inside the tank.

On the other hand a large portion of the recoil force of a modern gun comes not from the projectile but the powder charge. This is why a muzzle break can work. If the 40K guns had for example much lower mass powder charges they'd have less recoil.

Yeah. lower powder charges due to higher efficiency with propellant was one thing I had considered as well (esp given the probable weight of the shells)

Now I'm wondering if the higher recoil force might also reflect a higher propellant velocity for Imperial tanks than normal. IIRC the detonating explosives tend to generate higher force/pressure for a shorter period of time than deflagrating explosives (like modern gun propellant) if I am remembering things right.

[Sea Skimmer]

Such as the reactive metals or something using a higher explosive velocity?

Yup

Exploding probably would not bother the Imperium (much), so I'm kind of glad to know that liquid propellant might still be an option. I kinda like that one actually. And the more options I can embrace, the better.

It would bother them a lot if they blew up like they did in trials. Problem is the LP tended to be blown down the barrel before it was done combusting. You could solve this by making the entire barrel as thick as the firing chamber walls, but the result would be a stupid heavy gun for how powerful it was, and performance would be erratic. That was one of the problems, I forget specifics of others other than the binary stuff not mixing well as it was injected. This one bursting issue alone was enough to kill every project for forty years.

really? Has there been research into using reactive metal explosives as propellant?

Lots for rockets, not so much for guns because again, higher velocities are not that desirable for modern tank guns and all other gun type weapons in use are considerably lower velocity. Also that entire field of research is still relatively new.

One thing I was thinking of is reactive metal might help explain how bolter shells work.

In general it’s a way to add more heat into the powder; you can then use that heat to burn up the target which is what warheads want to do, or you could use it to make hotter and thus more energetic and expansive propellant gases. The problem is in a gun, hotter propellant burns out the barrel quicker.

I think I remember hearing some proposals along those lines for 4th generation nuclear weapons, although that might have been something akin to an explosively formed penetrator (which I believe is basically a projectile of some kind driven by HE detonation if I am remembering right.)

If someone was talking about an explosive formed penetrator and a nuclear weapon, bullshit alarms should probably be ringing. Not much more to say without seeing what the claim was and if it even begins to make sense. As it is, nuclear weapons already use HMX based explosives for the conventional trigger, mainly for stability reasons.

Funny enough with the HE thing, we know the Imperium has a fictional material named 'fyceline' which is used (among other things) as engine fuel (fyceline blocks, which could also be used to make alcohol...), an explosive, and as a propellant. So that might actually be a precedent....

That doesn’t mean much, the chemical bases of many explosives could be used as fuel, and most explosives can be mixed into propellants. It’s just a matter of adding additional material to produce more gas and reduce the violence of the burn so it doesn’t just blow up the rocket.

I remember you saying re: bolters that a rocket's propellant without something to confine and channel it (like a barrel) made it inaccurate.

Correct, but the degree to which the inaccuracy matters would vary.

I've been wondering if maybe you could fire a rocket out of a barrel to fix that (If I'm explaining the idea right.)

Actually the logic behind many small military rockets is the rocket burns out before it leaves the tube to improve accuracy. With stuff like RPG-7 the only reason it has any accuracy at all is because it burns out before leaving the tube. In some cases like the very high quality CRV-7 the accuracy that results is pretty comparable with gunfire at moderate ranges. The problem is the Bolter is plainly portrayed as having a closed barrel, rather then a tube open at both ends. If the rocket purely burned within the barrel, it would be functioning purely like a gun.

AS I've mentioned before, they think they can fit 40 shells as big as that damn muzzle inside the tank.

Maybe the ammo is hollow, insane, and telescopes for storage then. OR I KNOW! Each shell has walls that are absurdly thin using MAGIC, and the gun barrels erode like crazy as the Paris Gun did, only worse. So the smaller shells nest inside the bigger shells like Russian dolls and are progressively loaded as the barrel eroded to higher calibers. Then all the ammo would fit in the space of one shell, plus another shell sized space for handling and screwing the noses on. Any explosive effect comes from the ultra thin walls combusting on impact. PERFECT SENSE.

Now I'm wondering if the higher recoil force might also reflect a higher propellant velocity for Imperial tanks than normal. IIRC the detonating explosives tend to generate higher force/pressure for a shorter period of time than deflagrating explosives (like modern gun propellant) if I am remembering things right.

Yes, high explosives generate energy quickly. Propellants want a slower push that gives a steady rise in pressure. When you use HE to make propellant you add other chemicals to slow it down and control. It also gets more complicated, because while HE is generally cast as solid blocks inside bombs or whatever, propellent is is grains or cords of very specific size. Smaller the size the faster it burns. Powder for rifles is pretty powder like, the powder for a battleship gun can be several inch long rods. Put the rifle powder in a battleship gun and it’d build pressure so quickly the gun would explode, even though the chemicals may be the exact same stuff. One of the research approaches to better gunpowder exploits the fact that gunpowder is not one solid mass, which means you can use nanotechnology and other fancy stuff to start coating the powder grains. Mainly reactive metal explosives are also like this, because it allows them to dope metal grains with oxygenates in ways that would be impossible to manufacture chemically, but we can now do thermo-mechanically. In some cases literally they are spraying on stuff as a plasma. This is how among other things people figured out how to make the ‘super thermite’ that explodes supersonically that retards claim was used to blow the world trade center.

[lPeregrine]

In reply to the "impossible" Leman Russ turret issue: it gets a lot better if you consider the Forge World versions "canon" instead of the plastic kit (or the art based on the plastic kit). For example, this one has a LOT more room between the gun and the hatch, as well as a much more sensible barrel diameter. And if you look at the artillery guns with detailed interiors, the shell sizes all match the gun, and there's plenty of room to load them.

Now, I'm sure an expert on the subject would still find plenty to criticize about the Forge World variants, but the relative gun/turret sizes at least look a bit more plausible.

[Simon_Jester]

If someone was talking about an explosive formed penetrator and a nuclear weapon, bullshit alarms should probably be ringing. Not much more to say without seeing what the claim was and if it even begins to make sense. As it is, nuclear weapons already use HMX based explosives for the conventional trigger, mainly for stability reasons.

Hm. Does the slug of ions from a Casaba Howitzer device count as an EFP?

[Purple]

Actually the logic behind many small military rockets is the rocket burns out before it leaves the tube to improve accuracy. With stuff like RPG-7 the only reason it has any accuracy at all is because it burns out before leaving the tube. In some cases like the very high quality CRV-7 the accuracy that results is pretty comparable with gunfire at moderate ranges. The problem is the Bolter is plainly portrayed as having a closed barrel, rather then a tube open at both ends. If the rocket purely burned within the barrel, it would be functioning purely like a gun.

Not quite. The RPG-7 and most of its derivatives (RPG-29 excluded) have a separate powder charge designed to eject the shell out of the barrel and something like 100m before the rocket even fires up. The reason why they are accurate is that the rockets are fin stabilized. The bolter (or at least the version that has casings) probably works in a similar way.

[Gunhead]

I did a quick scaling of the battlecannon and vanquisher rounds I found on the forge world site. The width to length ratio on both are about the same 1 to 4. So if the battlecannon is 120mm in caliber, the whole round is 480mm in length with half of it being the powder case. I'll muse more on this later.

-Gunhead

[Irbis]

so the chaos titans have identical weaponry to the imperials?

neh, i know forgeworld have a catalog to follow but that seems a bit bland.

To be precise, there is set of Heresy-era weaponry, shared by both sided, supplemented on one side by new IoM developments, by weird Chaos crap on the other. Thus, say, IoM Terminators get Storm Bolters and Assault Cannons, while Chaos gets older twin-linked Bolters and Reaper Autocannons.

This only applies to ex-Imperial stuff, mind you, new Chaos weapons run purely on warp crack. So, Chaos warhound can be expected to be reasonably similar to IoM one, but newly built Nurgle or Slaanesh devoted titan will use magic guns spewing horrible diseases or sonic stereo speakers boiling minds of everyone around.

Part of me also wonders that if they can do this to horses, they must be able to do it to some degree on people. Similar examples do exist (lostock regiments and Gland Warrios in general, various underhivers on Necromunda, etc.). Then again it makes you wonder why they don't do augmetics instead of the chem crap. Heck, wasn't there some source indicating cyborg horses for some Rough Riders somewhere? I don't remember if it was Krieg or not.

Maybe chem stuff is cheaper/faster? Also, example of cyborg horse is found in new IG Codex, named RR special character.

Effect of Titan weaponry on the tanks. It is worth noting that it is implied that tank weapons were being used against the Titans, but its not sure whether they mean the Russes, or possibly the non-energy weapon equipped superheavies (Baneblades, Macharius, etc.) Possibly both. Then again a Titan is also a large, relatively static target.

New IG Codex (section on named tank ace character) claims that Russ can indeed kill Titan, you just need to drive inside shields in some cases, which does take major balls.

4 regiments abandoning formation constitutes "hundreds of thousands" of men. This would suggest those 4 regiments are at least half strength or higher, assuming the earlier 100,000 man (or so) nubmers are accurate. Or was it 160,000? I lose track in this crazy shit.

I read that part as describing movement of the whole front (yes, 4 regiments are described to move, but it would also force regiments on their flanks to adjust, necessitating the whole shift).

And note again, they're still not tapping local forces to bolster the invasion. I think what they do is bring even MORE kriegers in at this point. I guess they couldn't find a way to stick the Elysians or Tallarn into this conflict.

To be fair - of what use paratroopers or light desert infantry would be in siege war, where their main asset (mobility) is useless, their lack of experience and heavy guns driving losses far higher, and their lack of ABC protection opening options for enemy and closing options for allies?

You say IoM didn't anticipated chem warfare on Vraks, but we only see things where their preparations fail. We never see where they managed to avoid major losses in this way. If they shipped in Tallarns, wouldn't you say sending wrong regiments for the job means IoM is stupid?

Exotic creatures were sacrificed and their blood used to anoint each Titan's foot, symbolic that they would lay the blood of their enemies at the Emperor's feet.

ALL HAIL THE OMNISSIAH! Go ahead and laugh, thats why I included it. At this point we need a laugh and its not like you cna make the Imperium look any worse here. (or so I thought at the time...)

And how is that not similar to throwing bottles of fermented juice on stuff here to annoint it different?

It also occurs to me - if they're deploying a huge titan force, wouldn' t it make sense for them to deploy massive skitarii forces to back them up? At least to protect their investment, given the reverence they have for Titans and shit.

To be fair, do we ever see any offensive where Titans are paired with Skitarii? I mean, other than offensives ordered by Mechanicus itself? It seems to me they are usually deployed escorted by local forces, not by extensive AM detachment.

And millions of shells stockpiled each week... a massive bombardment also lasting "weeks".. we can assume millions of shells is a week's worth perhaps? That's an incredible amount of firepower if so (lets assume millions of shells for 4 weeks or a month. 2 million shells over 30 days is ~67,000 shells per day. With a ROF of one per minute over a whole day.. that's 46 guns. A bit small considering 360 guns (at least) were mentioned before. so we're probably tlaking alot more shells.. hundreds of thousands.

I don't know if that is that impressive, seeing Battle of Albert in 1916 saw some 1,537 guns firing 1.7 million shells in just a week, in considerably smaller engagement.

Artillery can - eventually - knock down a small Titan it seems, eventually. Probably due more to momentum than raw firepower. A titan isnt much good off its feet after all.

Momentum? I mean, if 155 mm artillery shell explosion can send tank turret flying, I'd expect it to be able to damage Titan, especially exposed cockpit/weapons, I find toppling it on momentum alone hard to believe.

The new plan for Vraks.. using the Engineer regiments to attack underground. Sounds silly, but then again the Imperium does have some interesting ways of pulling this off in theory.

Why silly? Mining is natural way of conducting siege for thousands of years, seeing 100 kg of TNT under wall can do a lot more damage than one ton exploded on top of it...

IA logic for you. I suppose we have to chalk it up to "none being available" conveniently for Chaos.

Um, why all available SM being tied right next to what is essentially biggest concentration of enemy SM in the Galaxy is so convenient?

I'd expect SM commander also ignoring what is siege war on unimportant world, poorly suited to SM strengths, and rather keep his Chapter prepared for next Chaos raid.

Note that this scene also pretty much takes away the pretext of 'orbital bombardment being a massive deterrent' to orbital assault or any sort of orbital assistance, since I find it hard to believe that the Navy would be unable to pull off what ONLY THE SPACE MARINES could do. But again that's IA logic for you.

Why not? Strike Cruisers are much faster, with better crews, and most importantly, with actual training/experience of raiding worlds protected by heavy weaponry.

Artifically so perhaps? Or is this an indication that on some worlds people naturally gro wot almost Astartes-like proportions? This has been hinted at elsewhere, but with an Inquisitor either possibility is likely.

If this is Inquisitor Rex, then indeed, I believe he was mentioned to be artificially improved somewhere to almost-Marine proportions. His IA rules, perhaps?

Interesting weapon. The bit about using a power field as part of the digging/penetration aid has interesting implicatons for munitions in general (other missiles or torepdoes using such a weapon to penetrate. It's also hands down the BEST part of the book for me, because its useful to consider that powerfields might have value in munitions as well as bladed weapons (think of powerfielded tank shells, macro cannons, etc.)

Interesting, yes.

Depth of penetration. Although I really wonder why they wait until the last minute to use the thing. It ought to drill faster through the undeground than ding it by hand.

They mention enemy listening for their mining efforts. Maybe digging by hand is quieter?

One also wonders what happened to the supposed 'counterfeit baneblades' IA1 mentioned, since that's the same thing the Macharius is supposed to represent... OH DAMN!

Maybe this is precisely this 'counterfeit Baneblade'?

the datafile below lists 8,000 rounds as its capacity. 8,000 rounds in 20 seconds is... 400 rounds per second, or 24,000 rpm. Quite alot of "thousands". It also gives you an idea of the ammo capacity of a Titan packing the weapon.
I find it curious/interesting that the weapon is defined as both an "autocannon" and a "bolter" Which is it?

Seeing how big WMB actually is, maybe it has autocannon-sized bolter shells? Just a suggestion.

[Connor MacLeod]

It would bother them a lot if they blew up like they did in trials. Problem is the LP tended to be blown down the barrel before it was done combusting. You could solve this by making the entire barrel as thick as the firing chamber walls, but the result would be a stupid heavy gun for how powerful it was, and performance would be erratic. That was one of the problems, I forget specifics of others other than the binary stuff not mixing well as it was injected. This one bursting issue alone was enough to kill every project for forty years.

It might not. I mean *waves around at Vraks thread as a whole*. It's still interesting/useful for the capability it might offer if nothing else.

In general it’s a way to add more heat into the powder; you can then use that heat to burn up the target which is what warheads want to do, or you could use it to make hotter and thus more energetic and expansive propellant gases. The problem is in a gun, hotter propellant burns out the barrel quicker.

That may fit with bolters. They're supposed to be extremely maintenance intensive, which is one reason they are fairly specialised weapons.

If someone was talking about an explosive formed penetrator and a nuclear weapon, bullshit alarms should probably be ringing. Not much more to say without seeing what the claim was and if it even begins to make sense. As it is, nuclear weapons already use HMX based explosives for the conventional trigger, mainly for stability reasons.

That may or may not be how it actually is, I was going mostly by what I remember being described (meaning it coudl be me and not the document at fault. It's not like it hasn't happened before.) anyhow, the document is here and it describes/proposes using low yield fusion devices to generate/drive projectiles or jets. Sorta like the Casaba Howitzer as Simon said.

That doesn’t mean much, the chemical bases of many explosives could be used as fuel, and most explosives can be mixed into propellants. It’s just a matter of adding additional material to produce more gas and reduce the violence of the burn so it doesn’t just blow up the rocket.

Well, while we're off the topic. Is there any sort of explosive/propellant/vehicle fuel the military may have used in the past that could be distilled into liquor?

Correct, but the degree to which the inaccuracy matters would vary.
...
Actually the logic behind many small military rockets is the rocket burns out before it leaves the tube to improve accuracy. With stuff like RPG-7 the only reason it has any accuracy at all is because it burns out before leaving the tube. In some cases like the very high quality CRV-7 the accuracy that results is pretty comparable with gunfire at moderate ranges. The problem is the Bolter is plainly portrayed as having a closed barrel, rather then a tube open at both ends. If the rocket purely burned within the barrel, it would be functioning purely like a gun.

Well I know from the old 3rd ed core rules they gave a diagram of bolters working and it has what appears to be vents for releasing pent up gasses as seen here which may also double as a recoil compensator, and there is the fact that more recent iterations of bolters seem to behave more like conventional gun/ammo (whilst still being rocket propelled.) such as having noticable recoil. Hell there are even cases of them ejecting casings, which has lead me to wonder if maybe many kinds of bolters can use conventional as well as rocket-propelled ammo. That would solve alot of my headaches (and my inclination is that the 'rocket bolts' are rarer than implied, but I suspect most people would be outraged that I violate the 'theme' of the bolter that way. )

Funny enough the baneblade had vents for ejecting spent gasses for 'rocket-assisted' ammo as well, which suggests it ignited whilst still in the Barrel.


Re: sub-sub-sub-etc. caliber rounds. LOL.

Yes, high explosives generate energy quickly. Propellants want a slower push that gives a steady rise in pressure. When you use HE to make propellant you add other chemicals to slow it down and control. It also gets more complicated, because while HE is generally cast as solid blocks inside bombs or whatever, propellent is is grains or cords of very specific size. Smaller the size the faster it burns. Powder for rifles is pretty powder like, the powder for a battleship gun can be several inch long rods. Put the rifle powder in a battleship gun and it’d build pressure so quickly the gun would explode, even though the chemicals may be the exact same stuff. One of the research approaches to better gunpowder exploits the fact that gunpowder is not one solid mass, which means you can use nanotechnology and other fancy stuff to start coating the powder grains. Mainly reactive metal explosives are also like this, because it allows them to dope metal grains with oxygenates in ways that would be impossible to manufacture chemically, but we can now do thermo-mechanically. In some cases literally they are spraying on stuff as a plasma. This is how among other things people figured out how to make the ‘super thermite’ that explodes supersonically that retards claim was used to blow the world trade center.

Yeah I've noticed that they try to influence the burn rate by the shape/size of the propellant, and IIRC the binder is also a factor (or at least ther'es been some proposed changes I vaguely recall but the name eludes me.)

and given the variety of kinds of explosives (and the detonation velocities they have - not all of them are super duper high IIRC) I imagine there'd be alot of potential wiggle room. I'd guess an ideal velocity for a potential HE propellant would be a few km/s faster than the velocity you aim for. as you said higher velocity is not always desirable in a projectile.

[Sea Skimmer]

.

Not quite. The RPG-7 and most of its derivatives (RPG-29 excluded) have a separate powder charge designed to eject the shell out of the barrel and something like 100m before the rocket even fires up. The reason why they are accurate is that the rockets are fin stabilized. The bolter (or at least the version that has casings) probably works in a similar way.

I know they have soft launch warheads you can buy now, but I did believe the RPG-7 was originally a form of recoilless gun just as the RPG-2 and Panzerfaust are. If that’s not the case, news to me. Sure it has spring loaded fins, but those are notorious for being bad ways to stabilize anything because the springs will never release evenly. Thus the need to use this sort of weapon are near pointblank range.

Hm. Does the slug of ions from a Casaba Howitzer device count as an EFP?

Not unless it is changing the shapes of the projectiles between two different solid configurations. Just shooting stuff out like a Claymore would be prefragmented warhead.

That may or may not be how it actually is, I was going mostly by what I remember being described (meaning it coudl be me and not the document at fault. It's not like it hasn't happened before.) anyhow, the document is here and it describes/proposes using low yield fusion devices to generate/drive projectiles or jets. Sorta like the Casaba Howitzer as Simon said.

A shaped charge works with a nuke to some unknown extent, an EFP is a very specific form of shaped charge and pretty bloody unlikely to work. The paper only talks about this in the most vague terms while showing a diagram of a known ALCM warhead configuration that involves two separate warheads, so not much reason to think it is more than a random thought. I'd have to really question that any known material as a warhead liner could stay together to make an EFP under the intensity of a nuclear blast. Nukes also present the problem that since the energy is coming from a specific point that is fairly small, rather then being wrapped around the liner you need a bunch of waveshapers and intermediate materials to have any hope of forming any kind of coherent jet.

Well, while we're off the topic. Is there any sort of explosive/propellant/vehicle fuel the military may have used in the past that could be distilled into liquor?

A lot of torpedoes used to be fueled by nearly pure grain alcohol that submarine and destroyer crews would sip. No need for distilling. Some explosives are derived partly from alcohol as well, but through multiple chemical processes. You couldn't distill out alcohol, you'd need to reverse the chemistry but it might be possible.

Funny enough the baneblade had vents for ejecting spent gasses for 'rocket-assisted' ammo as well, which suggests it ignited whilst still in the Barrel.

That's just stupid for the record. Why the hell have a vent that wastes gas.. at that point it might as well fire out of a tube on the top of the tank with much less trouble. A real gun launch missile has its exhausted clear by the bore evacuator or an air blast system functioning as normal.

Yeah I've noticed that they try to influence the burn rate by the shape/size of the propellant, and IIRC the binder is also a factor (or at least ther'es been some proposed changes I vaguely recall but the name eludes me.)

Binders can control burn rates, but some really do just serve to bind everything else together and turn into gas.

and given the variety of kinds of explosives (and the detonation velocities they have - not all of them are super duper high IIRC) I imagine there'd be alot of potential wiggle room. I'd guess an ideal velocity for a potential HE propellant would be a few km/s faster than the velocity you aim for. as you said higher velocity is not always desirable in a projectile.

Ideally you pretty much do want as much explosive velocity as possible as long, as you can avoid bursting the gun, because its going to give off more energy. You can use less powder if you want less velocity for the projectile. Other specific factors come into play at this point which have not been direction mentioned, such as time to reach peak pressure known as brisance which affects how material is shattered as opposed to shoved. Also keep in mind confining an explosive raises the detonation velocity compared to an open air blast; the velocities normally quoted are peaks. The propellant used by US Army 120mm ammo for example is a mixture of very violent high speed nitroglycerin and slower but more gas happy nitrocellulose to avoid shattering the gun.

[Purple]

Hell there are even cases of them ejecting casings, which has lead me to wonder if maybe many kinds of bolters can use conventional as well as rocket-propelled ammo. That would solve alot of my headaches (and my inclination is that the 'rocket bolts' are rarer than implied, but I suspect most people would be outraged that I violate the 'theme' of the bolter that way. )

IMHO it's far more likely that they use a dual charge RPG style. The advantages of such a setup are many assuming you have the strength and power armor to take the recoil of such a large projectile. Since you get a better muzzle velocity you only have to carry a sustainer motor in the shell. This both makes kills at short range possible and decreases the mass of the propellant and engine leaving more room for the actual projectile. My guess was always that the rocket only projectiles were the kind used by non astartes for stuff like human sized bolt pistols etc. With human sized heavy bolters, crew served weapons and astartes grade bolters using a dual principal (hence shell casings).

I know they have soft launch warheads you can buy now, but I did believe the RPG-7 was originally a form of recoilless gun just as the RPG-2 and Panzerfaust are. If that’s not the case, news to me. Sure it has spring loaded fins, but those are notorious for being bad ways to stabilize anything because the springs will never release evenly. Thus the need to use this sort of weapon are near pointblank range.

I have yet to hear of non soft launch RPG-7 warheads. And it would make no sense for there to be any other considering how the Russians had recoilless rifles developed parallel to them. That and the Russians always had a dual setup developing soft and hard launch weapons in tandem. See RPG-16 and RPG-18 for comparison. This said, the RPG-7 is a insanely versatile launcher. So it would not surprise me.

[Irbis]

Funny enough the baneblade had vents for ejecting spent gasses for 'rocket-assisted' ammo as well, which suggests it ignited whilst still in the Barrel.

That's just stupid for the record. Why the hell have a vent that wastes gas.. at that point it might as well fire out of a tube on the top of the tank with much less trouble. A real gun launch missile has its exhausted clear by the bore evacuator or an air blast system functioning as normal.

Um, let me point out that the barrel on Baneblade is nearly exact copy (minus blast shields) of rocket-assisted heavy assault mortar found on Sturmtiger, which, incidentally, had said vents as you can see here. The vent "wastes" gas because gun capable of withstanding pressures involved would be too heavy, and also to save the crew from being boiled alive by gasses leaking into crew compartment. Tube on top of the tank just wouldn't have the same capabilities.

[Sea Skimmer]

The weapon on Sturmtiger was designed to fire depth charges and has a muzzle velocity of under 100 meters per second. It had such a gas vent system only because it had been designed to work on small naval vessels that couldn't support physically heavy weapons on deck. It only ended up on the Strumtiger because the weapon weapon the German army actually wanted, a short 21cm howitzer wasn't ready yet. In service it never reached the desired range, and the vent tubes led to a massive flash upon firing which was highly undesirable in land combat to say the least. So in other words, stupid and a partial technological failure on top of it. The biggest use for ones that were produced for ASW turned was going to be as beach defense weapons, though few were ever installed. You never really see the concept used again either, because during WW2 the Germans also invented the high pressure-low pressure system of cartridge design used on almost all modern grenade launchers can accomplish the job of allowing high mass projectiles to be fired at low velocity from lightweight weapons without wasting lots of energy.

A tube launched missile wouldn't have the same capabilities, it would have much better capabilities including not jokelike range, and far more design flexibility.

[Connor MacLeod]

Well, we're at the end of IA6 at last. Next up: DAEMONS.

The bulk of the update are basically stat blocks, including some of the Vraksian renegade weapons (autoweapons, stubbers, etc.)

Page 118

There are three main Titan types: the smallest is the Warhound, the most common is the Warlord, and between the two stands the REeaver.

Warlord Titans are the "most common." No mention of the Imperator class. OR weird stuff like the Dominator or Castigator class (or any other Titan variant.)

Page 118

The Titan Legions are each based on forge worlds and remain under the direct control of the Adeptus Mechanicus, who jealously guard these mighty vehicles and have the power to sanction which war zones they will commit their forces to. It is this power that gives the rulers of the Adeptus Mechanicus much of their influence when it comes to determining where or when the armies of the Imperium will fight. It is a power which is coveted by other factions on Terra - especially the Ecclesiarchy who would dearly love the reliable support of Titans for their wars of faith.

Titans aren't just wacky military vehicles, they're political weapons too and icons of religious awe and worship, the same way Gargants are for humans (or Space MArines are, for that matter.) About the best reason I can think of to justify them (THEY'RE HUMAN LIKE US, ONLY POWERFUL!)

Page 118

...the Reaver carries three weapons. Its single carapace weapon is the equivalent of a smaller Warhound sized weapon, whilst its arms carry the heavier weapons - up to the size of Warlord weapons. The largest Titan weapons such as Quake cannons, are still beyond even a Reaver's load capacity.

This implies that the Reaver arm weapons should in theory be the output of a Warlord. However they probably dont have the refire rate of a Warlord due to a smaller plasma reactor. It's also possible that if 'variable settings' are employed (ont unreasonable) Reavers are limited to lower settings than the Warlord is. The two possibilites are not mutually exclusive, either.

Page 119
Reaver Titan
weight: 738 tonnes, Length: 15.4 m Width: 18.1 M height: 22.3 M
Ground Clearance: 8.25m
Max speed: 27 kph on road (12.5 M streide length) 19 KPH off road,
Main armament: Laser Blaster, Gatling blaster
Secondary armmanet: Apocalypse Missile Launcher
Traverse - 100 derees, Elevation -33 to +28 degrees
Main ammunition: 30 shots from power pack, 90 rounds
Secondary mamunition: 40 missiles
Armour: Superstructure: 120mm, Hull: 120mm

PAge 122
Titan weapons are listed as:
Carapace: double barreled turbo-laser, plasma blastgun, inferno gun, vulcan mega-bolter, Apocaslypse missile launcher, Vortex support missile
Arm weapons: Gatling blaster, melta cannon, volcano cannon, laser blaster, Titan close combat weapon.

Page 128
Red Scorpions Vraks assault force:
Strike cruiser, Thunderhawk gunship and Thunderhawk transporter.
HQ: Commander Ainea, Codicer Yaec, 3 Apothecary
1st Company: 10 x terminator, Chaplain Nalr (Dreadnought)
3rd company: 20x Tactical marines, 10 Devastator, x3 Rhino
6th Company: 20x tactical, x5 Devastoatr, Brother Daeres, Venerable Brother Rzasa (Dreadnoughts), 2x Rhinos
8th Company 20x Assault marines
Armoury: Predator destructor, 3x Vindciator, x2 Razorback, Land Raider, 1x Techmarine

Page 129

Some Space Marine Chapters have equipped their Dreadnought amroured battle brothers specifically to take part in sieges and to lead assaults on fortified positions. These Dreadnoughts are equipped with flamer weapons for clearing bunkers and an assault drill for grinding through ferrocrete in a matter of seconds. The assault drill arm also includes an in-built heavy flamer so that once a hole has been created, the Dreadnought can pour super-heated promethium into a bunker or pillbox.

Siege Dreadnoughts are specialist troops and are only deployed when the Chapter needs to break trhough a static defence line or during close quarter street-to-street fighting.

I wonder if Siege Dreadnoughts of Ordo Reductor count as this.

Page 130
Dreadnought [Chaplain] stats
Weight 12 tonnes, Length 2.2 M Width 3.4 M Height 3.7 M
MAx speed: 10 kph on road, 5 kph off road
Armament: Twin linked heavy bolter, close combat weapon
Secondary: storm bolter
Traverse: 360 degrees, Elevation: -90 to +90 degrees
Main ammunition 2000 rounds, secondary ammo: 1000 rounds
Armour: superstructure 75mm Hull 75mm

Page 131
Siege Dreadnought
Weight 11.5 tonnes, Length 2.2 M Width 3.4 M Height 3.7 M
MAx speed: 8 kph on road, 5 kph off road
Main armament: Inferno cannon, close combat weapon
SEcomdary armament: s torm bolter
Traverse: 360 degrees, Elevation: -90 to +90 degrees
Main ammunition 12 shots, secondary ammo: 1000 rounds
Armour: superstructure 75mm Hull 75mm

Page 132

The Dreadnuoght's assault drill is designed to punch through rock and reinforced ferrocrete, grinding its way through buildings, walls and bunkers. Once penetrated, the heavy flamer can unleash a torrent of flaming promethium through the hole to incinerate those inside.

Heavy flamer "incinerates" troops. -badly burn or cremate, take your pick.

PAge 146

His main weapon is his chainsword, which has been personalized with the addition of extra spikes o nthe rear of the blade (for backswings) and in the pommel. It has also had its internal power supply modified, rather than having an internal powercell, it has been linked to an extenral unit (worn on the belt but not visible) attached via cable to the pommel. This modification may be to correct some previous malfunction or an attempt to over-power the weapon, although such a modification is likely to cause additional problems with the motor burning out. The weapon can be used one or two handed, although this Enforcer's chemically-enhanced strength means he can easily wield it single handed.

Chainsword runs on internal powercell, but may be overpowered at some risk by using a extenral power source. Which is interesting because I think some chainswords have run on external power sources, and even if not why would it be a problem? Power weapons have been run off external sources before.

Also a Chaos enforcer has chemically enhcaned strength - combat drugs? One wonders where they came from. I dont think VRaks would stockpile them unless just for penal legions, the bulk of regular troops are generally forbidden combat drugs as I recall.

Page 148
Autopistol stats
Length: 33 cm
Barrel 17 cm
Weight: 1.6 kg
Calibre: 4.10 (mm?)
Feed: 30 round box
Cyclic rate: 900 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 255 m/s

Assuming a 3-4 gram bullet, the pistol's momentum is .7-1kg*m/s and the KE between 97 and 130 j. Basically a fully automatic .22 pistol.

Page 148

The autopistol is a common weapon amongst renegades, gang members and lowly criminals, but not generlaly considered a military issue weapon. Like the larger autogun, it is easily produced and available in large numbers.
..
Used for close quarters combat, the 'pistol' has a high rate of fire but only uses a small calibre round. It is lightweight, but lacks accuracy beyond the closest of ranges due to its low velocity when compared to larger weapons. The pistol' smagazine holds 30 rounds. It has a foldiing skeletal stock, which is not often used as the increase in accuracy for iamed fire is not generally required and the only sight is a small iron sight. The weapon can be used single handed with a close combat weapon. This model has a flash suppressor and a moulded fore-grip.

Basically a SMG and not a very good one. Says something about the Vraks stockpile doesn't it?

Page 148

This Voss pattern Mk10 autopsitol has been heavily modified for night-fighting and tunnel fighting. Removing the original flash suppressor, it has had a home-made silencer fitted. It also has a wrist loop added and has been blackened ofr camouflage by heating the medal and tempering it in oil.

Same crappy weapon only in black.

Page 148
Autogun stats:
Length: 109 cm
Barrel: 54 cm
Weight 6.2 kg
Calibre: long 8.25
Feed: 20 or 30 round box
Cyclic rate of fire: 625 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 820 m/s

8.25mm woudl be .33 caliber. Going by here, here, here or here as examples of 8mm bullets, the thing seems to be around 12-15 grams. I'd go maybe around 12-13 grams if the assumptions above held out.

At 12-15 grams, KE is 4-5 kilojoules, and momentum between 9.8 kg*m/s and 12.3 kg*m/s. Rather extreme for a weapon with automatic fire - far more unmanagable than even an M14.

If we assume its more like 8-9 grams (about AK-47 calibre mass) you get a momentum of 6.5-7.4 kg*m/s roughly, and a KE between 2.7-3 kj. Still a bit hefty, but not ludicrously so for a fully automatic weapon. (the British a planned Intermidate assault rifle cartridge, was nearly as powerful as the one above.

Note the damn thing is quite heavy for an assault rfile, and since mounting what is essnetially a full power cartridge (in all probability its likely more akin to a battle rifle. )

Overall, its a powerful weapon, but rather impractical in a military sense. It is far too heavy to be useful, it would be grossly inaccurate at full auto (unless you're superman or Bragg) and ammo is likely to be even bulkier. But since Chaos tends to feature mutants, the supernaturally bolstered, and generally insane - and since they're fighting against Krieg meatdroids - accuracy probably isn't a major concern.


Page 148

Autoguns are not as common as the lasgun amongst Imperial Guard regiments, but they are still issued in substnatial numbers, especially to second or third line planetary defence forces or militias.
..
The simple technology needed to manufacture autoguns make them common on frontier worlds and also with gang menbers on hive worlds.

Autoguns are a simple to make tech, mainly for milita type groups. Note the "second and third" line PDF - something like that crops up in Titanicus. This might give further elaboration on the purpose and origins of the Vraks stockpile. I suppose if Chaos tries to break out of the Eye, they could send out the hoarded 'old' equipment they've been dumping here out to bolster the armouries on worlds in the path of the invasion (or around it) to help arm the populace. Of course, this doesn't have to be a GREAT idea to be true, and there is the not-so-minor problem that no orbital assets of any kind are ever discussed, which makes it unlikely that they have the transports they'd need to react to such an emergency.


Page 148

Not as reliable as lasguns and generally heavier and less acurate, autoguns usually ave a high rate of fire, although the oversized orund fired gives this model an excessive recoil and muzzle flash, but also good stopping power. The barrel has had a counter-weight added to try to compensate for the weapon's tendency to rise off-target during automatic fire. It can fire in single shot, a three round burst or on fully automatic.

Well this seems to suggest the "overpowered and inacurate" round was intentinoal, and the counter weight probably explains the extreme mass (although it still makes the weapon lousy.)

Lasguns are noted to be more reliable and lighter and a whole hell of alot more accurate (better range potentailly) they should at least be capable of similar power. Of course this also means laspistols are as powerful as the autopistol

Page 149
Shotgun stats: Length: 92 cm
Barrel: 40 cm
weight: 5.6 kg
Calibre: 12
Feed 8 round tubular magazine
Cyclic rate of fire: n/a
Muzzle velocity: 500 m/sec - approx

Assuming calibre means gauge, and this is a 12 gauge. According to this source suggests #1 buckshot as an ideal load for stopping power. The page lists 16-20 pellets per cartridge and at #1 shot the pellts are 40 grains each - about 2.6 grams. Which means the entire "load" is some 40-50 grams. At 500 m/s the momentum is between 20-26 kg*m/s and KE is between 5 kj and 6.5 kj. Nasty, but its possible the shot is too much for the velocity given.. they tend to go with 1100-1300 fps for those sorts of loads. Lighter loads of 20-30 grams (total, using smaller shot) are mentioned (number 3 and number 4) which would be about 3/4 to 1/2 the calc I did above - 10-15 kg*m/s momentum and 2.5 to 3.75 kj.

Looking at slugs here suggests that a shotgun slug might mass between 28-40 grams or so on average (call it 30-40 grams), so somewhere between the two previous values may work. When coupled with a page like this the 15-20 kg*m/s benchmark seems reasonable. (Note that even though tow of those links were for hunting, a bit of searching notes that 12-gauge buckshot seems a common load for military purposes, so I don't think it w ould be too far off.)

Also, is it me or is it a bit funny that the shotgun is twice as fast (velocity wise) as the freaking autopistol?

Page 149

This is the Accatran pattern, Mk XI combat shotgun, highly effective at close quarters for room clearance and during trench fighitng. Similar shotguns are commonly issued to police and security units for anti-riot duties and are used by Imperial Navy personnel for boarding actions. This particular version of the many shotguns available throughout the Imperium has an eight round internal magazine and uses a manual pump action to fire a single shot then re-cock the weapon. IT can fire a variety of ammunition, including non-lethal plastic baton rounds, solid slugs, and pellet-filled cannister rounds.

Shotguns in 40K seem to be as versatile as real life, and in some cases even moreso (ammo types like Executioner rounds, for example.) Alternaties seem to be some sort of flechette/shrapnel or flechette rounds, explosive rounds, and others.

Page 149

The stock is removable and at close quarters many users prefer to discard it,s hortening the weapon for extra manoeuvrability. The pistol grip allows the weapon to be fired single-handed, although this makes it wildly inaccurate and requires a very strong firer.

The ability to fire it would tend to suggest the recoil is to the lower end of the scale often, although one-handed firing is clearly non standard (its a pump action gun, so effective use pretty mcuh requires two hands.) unless we're talking a Bragg-type character.


Page 149
Heavy stubber:
Length: 122cm
Barrel: 60 cm
Weight: 7.8 kg
calibre: long 8.25
Feed: 50 round belt
Cyclic rate of fire: 850 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 750 m/s

Performance wise its probably not much different form the autogun above, since it seems to use the same round. Slightly less momentum/KE due to the reduced muzzle velocity (which is another oddity, since this is a machien gun.) Also note that the weapon itself is not significantly heavier than the atuogun.

PAge 149

This heavy stubber is of an unknown patterna nd make, and again was probably manufactured on Vraks itself as a stop-gap measure, utilising other wepaon parts. Heavy stubber is the name given to a range of heavy-barreled autoguns used for sustained fire. Like autoguns they are easily manufactured and maintained and commonly used by Imperial Guard forces across the Imperium.

"classicaly" stubbers have been often though of in terms of the "ma deuce" - basically a .50 cal machine gun (since drawing wise thats basically what they have been meant ot represent. In modern times, like most 40K weapons, the "heavy stubber" is a class of weapons, which means that there is nothing neccesarily wrong with stubber encompassing "M60" to Ma Deuce. although tehcnically stubbers can go up to 25mm. It's kinda funny because in the past I always went along with the 'must be .50 cal HMG' definition for heavy stubbers just based on the diagram - but that's pretty foolish when you think about it. We had lots of examples of people carrying and firing stubbers unaided (EG Necromunda) - the logical thing would have been that they had some sort of other machine gun type (like this one) rather than being able to heft and fire a ma deuce instantly.

This suggests that the calibre and weight issues mean this "heavy stubber" is a non-STC type (which again may suggest this isnt a normal stubber caliber) but it also indicates that stubbers are basically just modified autoguns (and IRL alto of machine guns end up being converted from Assault rifles/battle rifles too.) so this isn't unreasonable, and suggests stubbers may encompass virutally "any" "machine gun" tht isnt rotary barrel, rocket propelled or high explosive. Although what differs between autoguns/autocannon and stubbers is only made murkier by this.... best guess (aside from some rare examples) is that caliber and possibly the means of propulsion is the deciding factor - although that fails with some autocannons too (given they tend to be bigger caliber than stubbers and can pack a greater variety of ammo.) Sophistication of the designs might also be an issue - autoweapons were cased ammo commonly IIRC, so we might think of them as representing the 'higher end' of modern projectile weaponry possible, whilst stubbers occupy the lower end.

The "building a stubber using other weapons parts" Vraksian manufacture method also indicates the level of standardization of parts between autoweapons, at least by Munitorum standards (you probably could use autogun parts to repair a stubber and vice versa.)

Page 149

As stubbers they have the characteristic over-sized round, making them inaccurate over longer rnages, but their belt feed and high rates of fire make up for this short coming. Due to their size and weight, most heavy stubbers include a bipod and are fired from a prone position. Others ar emounted on a vehicle's pintle-mount. This weapon has been fitted with a backsight and af oresight for aimed fire, a carrying handle and a perforated outer barrel casing to aid cooling.

Again, basically just a machine gun, although the "over-sized" round bit is both vague and hilarious, given the caliber of the stub gun below.
Also the bit about the weight and bipod is a bit hilarious too since most heavy weapons owuld be tripod or carriage mounted (to be wheeld around) while in theory a guy could heft this weapon on its own.

Also clarifies that round size/weight is a defining factor of stubbers (and possibly of autoweapons as well.)

Page 149
Stub gun:
Length: 26cm
Barrel: 17 cm
Calibre: short 6.2mm
Feed: 6 round magazine
Cyclic rate of fire: n/a
Muzzle velocity: 220 m/s

Well, so much for everything I just said regarding 'caliber being a factor'. Fucking-A, not even one page completed and we've got a contradiction. The difference between 'stubber' and auto not only seems to be a whole 2 fucking millimeters, but apparently this doesn't apply to autoguns (which can be larger than a frigging STUB pistol.

What's more, they can only pack SIX 6mm bullets into the magazine. It's not even a freaking revolver, and the rounds arn't that powerful (see here so there's no reason for the weapon to be designed like that.

6mm bullets might be around 3-5 grams as per here and here
and the stated muzzle velociteis seem to match up orughly. Momentum will be between .66kg*m/s and 1.1 kg*m/s and KE will be between 70-120 J. Again, not horribly powerful compared to some pistols, but also again not "military" per se.


Page 149

This is an unknown pattern of stub gun, a name which refers to a wide vareity of low-velocity, high-calibre pistols common amongst hive gangs and other criminals. These weapons are generally locally manufactured or jury-rigged form the parts of other weapons.
..
Infamous for their poor accuracy and unreliability, stub guns are not generally considered for military service but are sometimes carried as a secondary weapon.

Stub guns are unreliable, mostly civilian (criminal or gang weapons) and like the stubber can be made from parts of other weapons (again standardization at work, it would seem.)

I've never heard or can recall stub guns being any sort of "official" sidearm - usually troops use laspistols or autopistols (at least per the Uplifting Primer) so it would be "unofficial" if anything. Much less a 6mm 'high calibre' pistol. This is as bad as the .45 cal being 'small calibre' in flesh and iron.

Page 150

The Malcador is a venerable tank design, thought by many to predate the Leman Russ, but today it is not widely used by Imperial forces...
...
..some to erroneously believe it to be a heretical or local pattern of manufacture.

For the large part those relatively few Malcadors that remain in service have been either relegated to strategic reserves, planetary defence arsenals and other 'second line' forces, or are maintained in active service by a few Imperial Guard regiments as a matter of tradition.

An "old" IG design that isn't inherently bettter, indeed seen as outdated and only given to less important forces ('second line' forces like PDFs, or emergency reserves to be uesd by newly raised forces in emergencies.) Given Vraks has a ton of these again, it seems likely that the place is just a dumping ground for vehicles the Munitorum doesn't want to destroy or scrap but aren't suited as frontline vehicles.

Page 150

Very few forge worlds continue to provide new Malcador hulls or replacement parts (although there are exceptions to this such as M'khand Secundus in the segmentum Pacificus), and the exact origin and provenance of the Malcador's bsic design is a matter of some confusion and mystery...

...
During this age [Heresy] there was a great need for new war materials - with so much having been lost during the great battles of the Warmaster's revolt, not least in terms of knowledge and production capacity. For example, it was during this period that the valuable Land Raider design was reserved for the exclusive use of the Adeptus Astartes and that designs like the Malcador may have been recovered or put into mass-production to fill the void.

Malcador viewed as a cheap knock off replacement of the Land Raider, at least in theory. Note again from the Forgeworld POV the Land Raider was once more commonly used in pre-Heresy era. I suppose this makes it a 'counterfeit' Land Raider.. at least until Forgeworld makes some new model to substitute that or something. Note that the Machairus could also fill that role...

Page 150

Although intended to fill the main battle tank role, the basic Malcador design is somewhat larger and heavier than the more familiar Leman russ. The tank itself gains considerable durability from its bulk and its heavy layers of armour plating, and is well-armed with a battle cannon mounted in a limited-traverse turret embrasure, supplemented by a hull and two additional sponson heavy weapons mount capable of bearing either heavy stubbers, heavy bolters, lascannon or autocannon. The tank's design does have some limitations, particularily in comparison with the smaller but more versatile Leman Russ. The first is that of limited arcs of fire; t he overall shape of the tank's hull with its heavy plating and re-enforced wepaons mounts serves to reduce the traversing range of its sponson and hull weapons, while its immobile main turret can also prove a liability ina chaotic engagement where lines of battle become interpenetrated and enemy armour or infantry can exploit these vulenrabilities.

Malcador vs Leman Russ. The stationary turret is hilarious (since they've had more mobile turrets even in the Heresy era) but the fact it can mount more versions of heavy weapons than a Leman Russ does is interesting (lascannon, autocannons, etc.) It's still a pretty bizarre design though.

They mention using other tank variants or infantry support ot overcome the Malcador's limited fire arcs.


Page 150

The Malcador's main engine plant, a perfectly servicable thermic combustor design (A variant of a common pattern used in various industrial and agricultural heavy machinery) is somewhat underpowered in relation to the Malcador's size and mass. This reduces its overall performance and makes for very poor fuel efficiency.

Well using a civilian engine is bound to create problems for a war machine, I imagine. Between the lack of decent turret weapons and a slow ass engine.. good thing they don't use it?

I'd note this follows the pattern of adaption for siege regiments - cheap and easy to replace but not neccesarily top performance (as per Epic Armageddon swordwind and the tanks based on the Land Crawler agri vehicle.. lol) It even fits in 'thematically' with the whole Vraks crap.. trench warfare and sieges and shit! THEMATICALLY APPROPRIATE.

Page 151

These [Malcador] variants have included siege weapons platforms, self-propelled guns and other specialised vehicles but these are somewhat of a rarity, with the two most commonly encountered variants on the basic battle tank batterng being an 'Annihilator' tank hunter pattern and the 'Defender' breakthrough tank.

Lots of Artillery platforms have used the Chimera chassis but few have used the Russ Chassis for artillery.

Also.. really? Annhilator? They apparently had annihilators for the Malcador before the Russ or Predators did?

Page 151

The Malcador Annihilator replaces the tank's usual limited-traverse battle cannon with a twin-linked lascannon, and its forward hull mount with a demolisher cannon. Thought to have been a field modification carried out on battle damaged or incomplete hulls, and originally an atempt to 'up-gun' the tank and extend its battlefield use...

..
The tank is simply too slow and large to serve as a true 'tank hunter', while the Annhilator isn't actually large enough or formidably enough armed (a problem made worse by its limited supply of shells for its demolisher cannon) to be matched against a true super-heavy such as a Baneblade in open battle. Against other conventional armour however, particularily when supported as part of a wider attacking force, the Malcador Annihilator can still prove its worth in the hands of a skilled crew.

I wonder why they bothered with a Demolisher? Wouldnt some other weapon (like more lascannon) have made MORE sense? Or maybe meltas or some other backup weapon? Maybe some antipersonnel capability?

Page 151

..despite being a variant [Malcador Defender] on the basic chassis is more common in many armouries than the standard heavy batlte tank on iwhcih it is based. As with the Annihilator, the hull weapon mount is replaced by a demolisher cannon, however the upper turret embrasure is heavily modified to mount five separate heavy bolters angled to give the tank all-round fire covrage. This in essence shifts the tank's battlefield role to that of a mobile fortress, referred to as a breakthrough tank; ably suited to close quarters fighting, trench warfare and urban engagements. In this role its demoisher cannon can be brought into play against fortified positions and enemy strongpoints, while its multiple heavy bolters can be used to sweep areas for concealed infantry and defend the tank from close assault.

Again, this tank could have used some thought. Why not use the heavy bolters to supplement defence, and some rear facing guns (lascannon again or plasma guns)

Page 151

Vraks was a massive storehouse of arms stockpiled over the centruies, and mothballed among them were a large quantity of Malcadors and its variants, as well as considerable stores and spares for the tank.

Ended up being used as more "familiar' replacements were lost. Just reinforces that this place may actually be a dumping ground for shit they're too stingy to just scrap. Or maybe this is where the AdMech likes to hide its embarassing designs.


Page 152
Malcador tank
Weight: 105 tonnes Length: 9.6 M Width: 4.4 M Height 3.9M
Ground clearance: .65 M
Max speed: On road: 25 kph OFf road: 18 kph
Maina rmament: Battle cannon
Secondary armament: 3x Heavy bolters
Traverse: 60 degrees Elevation -2 to +20 degrees
Main ammuntion: 32 rounds Secondary ammunition: 7,500 rounds
Armour: superstructure: 180mm Hull: 160mm

Hilariously I'll note the Malcador is actually half a metre shorter than a Russ. About the only advantage it has over the thing.

Page 153
Malcador Annihilator

Weight: 99 tonnes Length: 9.6 M Width: 4.4 M Height 3.9M
Ground clearance: .65 M
Max speed: On road: 25 kph Off road: 18 kph
Maina rmament: Twin linked lascannons
Secondary armament: 1x Heavy boltersm 2x heavy flamer
Traverse: 60 degrees Elevation -2 to +20 degrees
Main ammuntion: unlimited Secondary ammunition: 2,500 rounds
Armour: superstructure: 180mm Hull: 160mm

This variant is different, not having the demolisher launcher but using heavy flamers (no ammo given for that though - UNLIMITED FLAMERS.) Also, its engine has no significant speed difference using lascannon the way a Leman Russ Annihilator does. Hell the vehicle is not any faster than the MAcharius or Baneblade, and its far lighter than either. I wonder if they just arbitrarily figured any tank bigger than a Russ would have some arbitrary 25/18 km/hr limit or something or just got lazy. I mean fuck, Titans move faster...

Page 154
Malcador Defender

Weight: 106 tonnes Length: 9.6 M Width: 4.4 M Height 3.9M
Ground clearance: .65 M
Max speed: On road: 25 kph OFf road: 18 kph
Maina rmament: Demolisher cannon
Secondary armament: 5x Heavy bolters, 2 lascannon
Traverse: 5 degrees Elevation -2 to +46 degrees
Main ammuntion: 18 rounds Secondary ammunition: 7,500 rounds
Armour: superstructure: 180mm Hull: 160mm

This tank seems of the rest the best variant design, combining the best balance of weaponry... at least for it given role and within the narrow parameters of the Malcador tank line.

Page 157

A technologically superior boarding craft that doubles as both a drop pod and assault boat, the Dreadclaw has served the Chaos Legions since the horus Heresy, while the malevolent machine-intelligences that control them were infamous long before the Warmaster's betrayal.
..
..the forge world of its origin has since been wiped from the records.

The sophisticated Dreadclaw design was without doubt the most advanced assault craft in Imperial service, capable of serving both as planetary assault vehicle and as a boarding craft to forcibly breach the hulls of enemy vessels in space battles.

High tech multipurpose design with ties to Chaos. OLDER IS BETTER (inconsistently)

Page 157

The design's crowning glory was its automated control sysrtem; a highly advanced machine spirit thought ot be of a higher order of magnitude than those found in the ancient Land Raider.

The powers of self-awareness the Dreadclaw possessed were a source of contention and controversy from its first deployment. Matters only worsened over time. Such was the ill-feeling the Dreadclaw created, that superstitious rumours soon spread that the machine spirits of the Dreadclaw were somehow corrupted.

Given the HH novels as we know them, I kinda doubt "superstition" played a role, unless it was among the AdMech itself. What is more likely is that the damn things got possessed at some point, noone realized it was possessed (daemons! HAH superstition!) and problems cropped up.

Note that as far as the 'awareness' thing goes, the damn things probably aren't any more or less aware than a Titan or starship 'machine spirit' - maybe less verbal though.

Page 157

The Dreadclaw's advanced design incorporates a powerful thruster array that allows it to close rapidly with its selected target as an assault boat, or underake a fully guided and powerd descent to a planetary surface.

The Dreadclaw's armoured hull is surrounded by a number of primary and secondary grappling claws which give the vehicle its distinctive profile and enable it to securely latch onto the hulls of enemy ships. Once attached, the Dreadclaw breaches its target by burning through its hull with a ring of powerful melta-cutters, effecting entry via an airtight iris-hatch for the troops inside. When used as a more conventional drop pod, the claws serve a different function, deploying after landing to right the Dreadclaw and raise its bulk off the ground in order to rapidly deploy its passengers without exposing the vehicle's vulenrable interior to enemy fire.

Unlike more primitive drop craft, the Dreadclaw is capable of taking off again after landing, and although less manoeuvrable ina planet's atmosphere than a purpose-designed aircraft, it can be used to effect re-deployment in the field as well as performing rapid extractions to planetary orbit; a vital advantage given the raiding activities of many Chaos warbands.

Claws had a powerful thruster system. It is a bit more versabile than standard drop pods one has to admit. Then again this is hardly shocking given Dreadclaws were the Chaos assault shuttle equivalent in BFG. What you basically have is an AI driven assault shuttle/drop pod hybrid.

Page 158
Dreadclaw assault pod:
weight: 21 tonnes, Width: 5.7 m Height 9.2 M
Max recorded speed: 12,000 kph descent
Armour type: 60mm

Amusingly the analysis records for the Dreadcalw are labeled "Ordo Xenos" - you'd think the Malleus or Hereticus might care more about chaos troops and let Xenos get on about worrying over daemons, but... THEMATIC.


Page 160

The Hell Talon is another product of the malevolent masters of the damned forge world of Xana in the Eye of Terror. A thing of daemon-infused machinery, the Hell Talon was created ot deal death from the skies. It is a strike aircraft, used to conduct lightning low-altitude attacks against ground targets, utilising its heavy armament to deal with the enemy tanks and its payload of incendiary bombs to rip a swath of fire across the battlefield while the daemonic forces that power it corrup tthe very air they fly through.

..
..the diaboloic arts of the Hell Talon's construciton are said to be the Dark Priesthood's alone...
...
..it's makers are content to supply their devices of destruction to any thta will meet their bloody price.

Dark Mechanicum I suppose? The Eye then seems to have their own Forge world. (I wonder if they're the same as Hell worlds - or whatver those worlds int he Eye of Terror are that make so many weapons that they may just go floatin goff into space and not be missed.

Also an indication that, like a number of Chaos oriented vehicles, daemons are used. Daemons can be used to fix or improve anything (for a given quantity of 'fix')

Page 160

Clearly a design which has much in common with others of the Xana II lineage, the Hall Talon presents a low, blade-like wing profile, and is propelled by a powerful thruster array, granting it observed speeds well in excess of 2200 kph in a standard atmosphere, with a manoeuvrability that far exceeds any comparable Imperial design at these speeds. The Hell Talon's effectiveness in its fighter-bomber role is also greatly enahnced by its advanced flight systems and the peculiarities of its arcane design which enables it to excel at conducting strafing runs and ground attacks at both great speed and very low altitude, handling turns and extreme manoeuvres far beyond the physical limitations of human pilots.

Basically, it uses magic to out-perform physics, or something like that. It must be the daemons! It is interesting that it can pull more gees (in theory) than a human controlled plane. I'd imagine that like the Hellblade it uses a servitor crew, which may help explain this. Or it may just be 'LOL CHAOS' as an explanation. Or maybe noone thought about the implications of this in this source (shocking).


Page 160

The stnadard armament is comprised of tow lascannons and an autocannon of heretical design for direct attack, supplemented with an under-slung munition rack carrying up to eight bombs. The ususal payloads for the Hell Talon are firebombs utilising an unknown and extremely toxic incendairy mix. These firebombs burn with extreme heat and also produce a lethal vapour cloud capable of causing respiratory failure and detah if inhaled. The Hell Talon's armament varies to include cluster munitions, rapid-fire unguided rockets and more exotic weapons such as radiological and viral bombs.

I guess HE is just not chaos-ey enough for Chaos. Interesting insight into what Imperial tropos might face and have to protect against though, especially the possibility those ARE virus bombs in the "exterminatus but tactical" sense. And what's more hilarious, they must have KNOWN Chaos had this abilit,y or else why would we have the datafile? It can't be restricted - the Ordo Xenos didn't restrict it (lol) either. And yet the Imperials never once anticipated this sort of threat might show up on Vraks, took no precautions, or even bothered to deploy assets except to 'respond' to a threat... again IA logic for you. NEVER THINK AHEAD if you're the Imperium, unless you're setting up useless stockpile bases I guess.

Page 160

Within the Ordo Malleus it is believed that these machines are fashioned with such dark arts as to become more than mere weapons, but to be a sufficient aberration in the natural order as to be considered truly daemonic. In the most extreme cases, the simple presence of large numbers of Hell Talons gathered together has been observed to create severe and unpredictable Warp phenomena. Disturbances caused in the wake of a Hell Talon's squadrons' passage manifest most often as climatic disturbances and unnatural storms, although severe vox-distortion, and visual and auditory hallucniations are not unknown.

That can't be helpful in combat with such planes. But as I said, eveything is 'better' with daemons.

Page 161
HEll Talon heavy fighter
Weight: 17 tonnes (empty) Length 20.3 M, Width 10.4 m, Height 3 M.
Max recorded speed: 2350 KPH
Main armament: 2 lascannon Secondary armament: 1 autocannon, 8 incendiary bombs
Summary: Information restricted by Order of the Ordo Malleus all Archives to be purged.
(Amusingly, it says "Ordo Xenos" at the top again. XENOS APPROVED!)

Page 163

The Hell Blade is a blasphemous fusion of advanced technolgoy, daemonic forces and the nightmarish invention of machine-minds long fallen to the corruption of Chaos. Supremely fast and agile, the Hell Blade is designed to swiftly achieve air superiority for Chaos raiding forces and sweep enemy aircraft form the skies...
..
A devilish device that fuses daemon, flesh and metal into a single murderous machine, its slim double-bladed shape cuts trhough the air, emitting hideous shrieks and wails as it swoops down on its victims, and flown with reckless abandon by a hardwired living servitor whose only pleasure is the kill.

Servitor piloted (and possesed?) deathplane, fusing daemon and technology inot one crazy whole.

Page 163

Secret repotrt sfo rthe departmento Munitorum, based upon investigatons by the Ordo Malleus, have tenatively named the home of this new source of heretic war machiens as the hellsih forge world of Xana II, deep within the Eye of Terror. Said to be a stronghold of the Dark Mechanicus (known sometimes as the Dark Priesthood or the Hellsmiths), Xana is believed to be a world wholly given over to the daemon-machines and infernal industries, where mills grind flesh and suffering tomake insane visions of its nightmarish masters real, and countless millions are enslaved to work in a world-spanning network of labyrinthine forges, churning out an endless supply of weapons and armament sfor the Traitor Legion's Long War. The masters of Xana, half-daemon machines themselves (so it is adi), have long since left the shreds of their humanity behind and are beholden to none - be they mortal or Chaos god. They sell or barter their unholy inventions and arms to the highest bidder, be they warlord, demagogue, sorceror or Daemon Prince without favour, and their coin of exchange is always the same, raw mateirals, the flesh and souls of slaves to feed Xana's endless hunger.

Xana II, forge world of Chaos. I'd imagine its tied to Chaos Undivided. Trade in the Eye seems to be a barter system.

Page 163

The Imperium remains in ignorance of much of the technology and design that has gone into the cration of the Hell Balde and other aircraft of the dreaded Xana II lineage. This is in no small part from the frequent spectacular immolation and disintegration the aircraft undergoes when destroyed - a factor that some attribute to the escape of warp forces frim their bindings. From observation and telemetric recordings, however, the Hell Blade can reach observed speeds of over 2800 kph in a standard atmosphere, with a cruising speed of perhaps two thirds this amount.

Faster than most imperial fighters (codex speeds at least), no doubt due to the daemons. The Daemons also (accidentally or intentionally) seem to act as a doomsday switch to totally obliterate the plane (making research difficult, as well as furthering the destructive abilities even in death.)

Page 164
Hell Blade fighter
Weight: 3.5 tonnes (empty) Length: 13.8 M, Width: 5.6 m, Height 1.65 M
Max recorded speed: 2800 kph
Main armament: 4 autocannons

Page 166

To be encased alive within the nightmarish shell of a Chaos Dreadnought is a curse, not a blessing. It is the price of failure, to undergo an agonising enslavement in which the victim must endure an endless living death, never again to know the pleasures of the flesh or accession to the ranks of a dark god's chosen. It is to be trapped in limbo, neither flesh nor daemon.

Not totally true. THere's a Dreadnought in Daemon World that is blessed by Slaanesh.

PAge 166

The origins of Dreadnough ttechnology, such as its sophisticated life-support sarcophagus, compact, high-yield thermic reactor and powerful exoskeleton frame, remains lost to antiquity. What is evident however is that there have been numerous variants and moels that follow the basic Dreadnought design over the millenia. At the time of the Horus Heresy, it seems that Mk IV Dreadnoguhts were common, and most Chaos Dreadngouths are of this type, which in turn has lead many to suspect that there was (and still is) some flaw in the machine spirit of the Mk Iv that leaves it open to corruption.

Reiteration of how "near lost" Dreadnought technology is, and that some technological designs are more prone to Chaos than others.

Page 166

..the Chaos Legions have always employed their Dreadnoughts as shock troops, unleashed often without care whether they survive or not by thier commanders...
..
The tortured souls within are driven into insanity by the horrors of their existence and are always happy to oblige.

Chaos Dreadnoughts are crazy and expendable. OLDER IS BETTER.

Page 166

They can potentially be armed for any battlefield role, and their armament commonly includes twin-lascannon or autocannon, as well as twin heavy bolters for infantry suppression and rarer weapons such as the plasm acannon and the multi-melta for more specialised missions.

Dreadnought armament.

Page 166
Dreadnought:
Weight: 11 tonnes Length: 2.2 M, Width 3.4 M, Height: 3.7 M ,
Max speed: on road: 8 kph off road 5 kph
Main armament: twin linked heavy bolter Secondary armment: storm bolter
Traverse: 360 degrees, elevation -90 to +90 degrees
Main ammunition: 2,000 rounds Secondary ammunition: 1,000 rounds
Armour: 75mm superstructure, 75mm Hull
[also of note for this version of dreadnought, which is Chaos/Heresy Era and thus MK IV, is that it uses a "multi-fuel" engine lik emany other IG and Space Marine vehicles apparently, so I guess it does run on some sort of chemical fuel.]

Page 168 - Cloe combat weapon and combi-bolter armament for Dreadnought

Page 169 - wepaons here lsited are twin linked heavty bolters, twin linked autocannon, twin linked lascannon, mutli-melta, plasma cannon, and a missile launcher.

Page 170

.. the chassis' use as a template for a variety of armoured fighting vehicles is as commonplace now as it was at the time of the Horus Heresy. As with many former Imperial patterns and designs in the service of Chaos, the use of Imperial model designations has longceased to be relevant, and Chaos forces sport a number of permutations on the Mk Ib, Mk IIb, and Mk IIc models, often produced or heavily modified in uncounted ways and deemed blasphemous by the Adpetus Mechanicus to the orignal sacred STC design.

To be fair, Imperial forces often do this too, because the AdMech can be dicks. The difference being that the Imperials can get in trouble if caught.

PAge 170

The vast majority of Rhinos in service with the Chaos forces however are newer models, seeded to Chaos by the treachery of newly turned renegades or churned ou tin their hundreds by the war worlds deep within the Eye.

A further source of new war machines is by plunder and the recovery of battlefield wreckage. Many Chaos factions, partiuclarily the smaller warbands, are forced into a scavenger existence by necessity, preying not only on Imperial worlds, but on rival warnds and the servants of hated enemy gods.

Few Chaos troops seem to have their own organic logistical trains or supply bases, which means they have to barter or savlage what they need. I presume "war worlds" are places like Xana II. Hell some warbands are just CSM and they adopt a chaos version of 'living off the land' - which includes troop acquisition (CF Word Bearer trilogy in first and third novels.)

Page 170

Thanks to the genius of the STC, the basic Rhino pattern can be repaired and constructed from a wide variety of materials, ranging from carbon composites to hardened steel. The Rhino's standard engine system, which utilises four independent thermic combuster units, has the twin advantages of being able ot run on just about any fuel (to varying degrees of efficiency),a s well as to take damage to multiple engines and keep running at reduced power, greatly increasing its combat survivability.

Confirmation that fuel quality affects engine performance, alongside the usual Rhino blurbs.

Page 170

One additional weapon system ofen encountered fitted on the Rhinos used by Chaos forces is a true relic of the ancient days of the Great Crusade, which has since fallen out of use with the Imperium, the Havoc Launcher. THe multi-barreled Havoc fires clusters of rockets fitted with high explosive, fragmentary warheads, intended as an anti-personnel weapon.

Havoc launcher. I believe they use these on Dreadnoughts too. I also wonder why it fell out of use.

Page 171
Rhino (Chaos version)
Weight: 30 tonnes Length 6.6M Width: 4.5 M Height: 3.6M, Ground clearance: .44M
Max speed: on road 70 kph off road 55 kph
Armament: Storm bolter
Traverse: 360 degrees elevation: -65 to +45 degrees
Main ammunition 800 rounds
Superstructure: 60mm hull 60mm

Page 173

..from the fratricideal conlfict that broke out betwene Traitor Legions following the attempted cloning of Horus..

Possible confirmation yet again the "Horus Clone" theories are true, to an extent at least

Page 173

..there are many accounts both apocryphal and sealed under the veil of Inquisitorial authority, of Predator tanks operating under malefic influence, evidencing no crew, and surrounded by strange and unexplained phenomena. These hellish vehicles are said to act more in the manner of a living beast that hungers for the kill, rather than any driven machine of war and seem to be able tos hrug off damage more in the manner of a living being.

Rather like the possessed tank we see in Armour of Contempt too. We know vehicles can become daemon infested, after all.

Page 173

The Predator variant sacrifices the Rhinos' troop carrying capcaity in exchange for a substantial increase in armour, and a reinforced chassis, as well as a greatly expanded armament. The Predator's armoured turret is usually equipped with either a rapid-firing destructor (or other heretic pattern) autocannon, or alternately twin-linked lascannon for an anti-armour role. Additionally, the Predator may also feature side-sponson mounted heavy bolters or lascannons..
...
..there are numerous recorded incidences of them sporting additional secondary weapons, reinforced armour, rough-terrain modifications...
..
..to additional advanced command-and control systems, as well as strange and esoteric armaments such as vile toxin sprays or psycho-sonic weapons.

Chaos Predators can range from being fairly "standard' variants (Annihilator or Destructor) to weird kinds (nurgle or I guess Slaaneshi variants. I hesitate to think what other Slaaneshi types might occur to them, and so should you.)

Page 174
Predator destructor
Weight: 44 tonnes, Legnth: 6.6 M Width: 6M with sponsons, Height 4.4 M
Ground clearnace: .44M
Max speed: on road: 68 kph Off road: 50 kph
Main armament: autocannon Secondary armament: heavy bolters
Traverse: 360 degrees Elevation -15 to+28 degrees
Main ammunition: 120 rounds Secondary ammunition: 1100 rounds
Armour: Turret: 65mm Superstructure 65mm Hull 55mm Gun mantlet: 65mm

Page 176

In particular the Vindicator has been frequently found in the armouries of the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion, whose penchant for siege warfare and a tacticla doctrine of brutal direct assaults is well served by the Vindicator. Also, given the numbers of newly constructed Vindicators fielded in the armies of the 13th Black Crusade, it seems likely that either the Iron Warriors or some other faction has the required STC lore to mass-produce these vehicles.

They really NEED STC data to replicate it? Is it really that hard to make a Rhino that has structural reinforcement and a demolisher cannon attached?

Page 176

As a variant of the basic Rhino chassis, the Vindicator has the advantage of the utility, durability and ease of repair of the Rhino's STC design, using many common components and compatiblity with numerous standard weapon and drive systems. Its most prominent and unique feature of course is its mounting of the heavy demolisher cannon, and the vast majority of the vehicle's interior space is taken over by the weapon itself, hydraulic recoil systems for the cannon, its automated loading mechanism and a magazine for 16 of its huge shells...

Aside from the neat STC/standardiztion fluff, we again see that a vindicator for all intents and purposes does not seem all that difficult to create.

Page 176

Its demolisher cannon firs a hugely powerful, high calibre, rocket-assisted shell capable of breaching heavily reinforced or fortified constructions. Although relatively unstable and short ranged owing to its sheer size of shell, the demolisher cannon's firepower can also be used to smash wih ease through even densely plated vehicle armour when called on to do so.

Demolishers using rocket assisted ammo. Presumably their penetration is form sheer mass/momentum.

Page 176

It is in the close confines of urban warfare though that the Vindicator's design excels.

I'd say that Demolishers might be a wee bit better, aside from the rocket assisted ammo, since Demolishers have turrets.

Page 176

Battlefield rumours and scattered after-atction reports also persist of Chaos Vindicators which seem to have become mutated, as if infected iwth the stuff of the Warp, and of other, seemingly all but unstoppable Vindicators, bound with webbings of chains and talismans, and graven glowing runes carved into their hulls, crewed by no living being.

Daemonic possession, in other words.

Page 177
Chaos Vindicator:
Vindicator stats:

Weight: 42 tonnes Length 7.5 m, width 4.5 m, height 3.6m

Ground clearance .44M

Max on-road speed: 64 kph. Max off road speed 48 kph

Demolisher cannon (Armament) Traverse 2 degrees, elevation (-0 to +45 degrees)

Main ammo: 18 demolisher rounds

armour: 65mm superstructure, 65mm hull, 55 mm gun mantlet.

Page 179

On its own a Land Raider is a match for any other tank of its size, and many that are larger. As well as a battle tank, it is also a secur transport vehicle equipped with an assault ramp, enabling a whole squad of Space Marines or a Termiantor unit to be delivered directly into the thickest fighting.

Land Raider fluff

Page 179

..the principle source of Land Raider production was the dedicated forge world of Anvilus 9, which the Warmaster and his allies plotted to ensure fell quickly to the rogue Mechanicus elements bound to his service. This had the duel effect of at once denying the loyalists access ot these important weapons, while ensuring their continued supply to the rebels. Though ultimately the Taitor's grip on Anvilus would prove short lived, during this time it churned out large numbers of Land Raiders for the Triator Legions, and when the Traitor factions were eventually forced from the forge world, it was left devastated beyond repair. The enemy took the knowledge of the secret arts of the Land Raider's constructon with them.
..
It is though that within the twisting depths of the Eye of Terror, production of new Land Raiders for the Chaos forces remains largely in the hands of the Dark Mechanicus, and is used by them in the bargaining chip in the incessant intrigues and sturggles for power between the Traitor Factions.

More histroical fluff on the Anvilus IX land raider production place, and the use of bartering in the Eye of Terror.

Page 179

Heavily armed and armoured form every angle, reactor-driven and enviromentally sealed, it can operate successfully on almost any battlefield conceivable from the seabed, to burning ash wastes, and endure hellish corrosive storms and hard vacuum. Its defences are sufficient to shrug off fire that would cripple or destroy lesser machines, while its own firepower can lay waste to enemy tanks and infantry alike.

Land Raiders are versatile and perfect. They even describe it as perfect (and apparently even Choas think so.) Because its for Space Marines.

Page 180
Land Raider:
Weight: 72 tonnes Length 10.3 M, Width 6.1 M, Height: 4.11 M, Ground clearance: .45M
Max speed: on road: 55 kph Off road: 48 kph
Main armament: 2x Twin linked lascannon Secondary armament: twin linked heavy bolters
Traverse: 180 degrees Elevation -32 to +42 degrees
Main ammunition: unlimited from powerpack Secondary ammunition: 2,600 rounds
Armour: Superstrucutre: 95mm Hull: 95mm

Page 182

As to the fate of their [Titan] crews it was a dark one. Bound together in war with their machine, most have long since become as one flesh with it, their bodies and souls sacrificed on the altar of battle, merging with the metal and DAemon in their endlessd amnation.

Even the Titans get possessed. Better with daemons.

Page 182

Protecte dby crackling void shields, they carry weapons of awesome firepower capable of laying waste to vast swathes of conventional armour and troops.

.
..utterly corrupted by the touch of the Warp and are now as much Daemon as machine.

Chaos Titan capabilities.

PAge 183
Warhound Titan stats:

Weight: 410 tonnes Length: 12.1 M Width: 11 M height 14m at rest

Ground clearance: 6.5M

max speed on road: 58 kph, 8.25 M stride length.

Max speed off road: 42 Kph

Main armament: Plasma blastgun. Secondary armament: Vulcan Mega bolter

TRaverse: 100 degrgees, Elevation -33 to +34 degrrees

Ammo: 14000 rounds for Vulcan MEga Bolter

Armour: Superstrucutre 95mm, hull 95mm.

Page 204

Certain super-heavy vehicles of the Imperium are surrounded by a number of protective energy fields called void shields, which utilise warp technology to displace incoming attacks. These work exactly like power fields, with the exception that collapsed void shields can be raised again. This process is slow and requires vast quantities of energy, supplies of which which can be quite erratic in combat conditions.

Void shields are based on warp technology, as hinted at by the recent Deathwatch RPG and by the novel "Path of the Warrior", path of the seer, and I believe Salvation's Reach. They also require significant amounts of energy to raise back up again, but apparently do not require a constant source of energy input to maintain (or at least a significant amount of energy to keep up.)

[Connor MacLeod]

A shaped charge works with a nuke to some unknown extent, an EFP is a very specific form of shaped charge and pretty bloody unlikely to work. The paper only talks about this in the most vague terms while showing a diagram of a known ALCM warhead configuration that involves two separate warheads, so not much reason to think it is more than a random thought. I'd have to really question that any known material as a warhead liner could stay together to make an EFP under the intensity of a nuclear blast. Nukes also present the problem that since the energy is coming from a specific point that is fairly small, rather then being wrapped around the liner you need a bunch of waveshapers and intermediate materials to have any hope of forming any kind of coherent jet.

Good point. On the other hand I still like it for the possibilities it presents if nothing else - its one way to help explain how 40K starships can (somehow) use cased ammo/propellant in their big capital ship guns (thematic crap striking again. Ugh) whilst in other cases they seem to behave more like EM guns (eg no propellant.) Part of me wonders if the idea of the 'nuclear propelled projectile' is a variation on pure electrothermal weapons, or something.

That's just stupid for the record. Why the hell have a vent that wastes gas.. at that point it might as well fire out of a tube on the top of the tank with much less trouble. A real gun launch missile has its exhausted clear by the bore evacuator or an air blast system functioning as normal.

Oops I should have claririfed. The Baneblade doesn't have vents like that bolter did, it has more like the example Irbis provided (although on the model it looks like the 'vents' are incorporated into the barrel's sides, which makes me worry if that is deliberately weakening the barrel against the pressures involved.) If they could route vents to the top, I'd imagine there's more effective ways to vent it than simply straight up. (assuming you could make such a thing work to begin with - again I'm pretty sure they tried this IRL too and ran into some problems with it.)

Binders can control burn rates, but some really do just serve to bind everything else together and turn into gas.

I believe it was thermoplastic elastomers used in propellant to help develop higher muzzle energies I was thinking of (25% increase is what I heard) - I think it tied into the stuff you said about 'using nanotechnology' in the way the propellant is designed - does that mean they already brought this into production? Its always hard to tell depending on the informatin you find (at least for me it is.) I'd really like to be able to invest in some books on the subject (I'm sure they exist) but I couldn't begin to afford them at this time.

Ideally you pretty much do want as much explosive velocity as possible as long, as you can avoid bursting the gun, because its going to give off more energy. You can use less powder if you want less velocity for the projectile. Other specific factors come into play at this point which have not been direction mentioned, such as time to reach peak pressure known as brisance which affects how material is shattered as opposed to shoved. Also keep in mind confining an explosive raises the detonation velocity compared to an open air blast; the velocities normally quoted are peaks. The propellant used by US Army 120mm ammo for example is a mixture of very violent high speed nitroglycerin and slower but more gas happy nitrocellulose to avoid shattering the gun.

I think I can see why having ways to 'control' those various parameters would be an advantage in boosting velocity - the more you can change the more efficient the propellant gets.

I am curious about the barrel - I know that (for example) a larger diameter increases the surface area for the propellant to 'push' against when propelling something (part of the reason why 140mm was considered for discarding sabot ammo, I believe) but does increasing diameter (EG 120-140mm, or 105-120mm) also impact the pressures in the barrel because a wider barrel means 'less confined'...

I also know that, at least as far as modern propellants go, longer barrels provide a net benefit because it extends the time the propellant can 'push' the round, but would there be any circumstances in which a shorter barrel might be better (given the 'thematic' design of 40K tanks I'm sure you can imagine why I'd ask THAT.) Like if you were using a HE propellant? Gun launched missiles or rocket propelled ammo also seems to favor shorter barrel.

[Irbis]

A tube launched missile wouldn't have the same capabilities, it would have much better capabilities including not jokelike range, and far more design flexibility.

Well, it all might be true, but I just wanted to point out from where the look of "rocket-assisted bunker-breaching gun with vents" probably was copied from and that someone thought it useful enough to actually field. Still, very nice reply, thanks.

Though, I kind of don't see 'you never really see the concept used again' because the weapon was used until Nazi capitulation and after that, it was kind of hard for Germany to keep producing it.

Also, if you mind, you say tube launched weapon would be better. What would be post-war tube launching analogue then? I just can't seem to recall any vehicle or even missile well suited to the same role (much less armored as well), heck, even guns don't seem to have similar capabilities. I checked, and 21 cm gun you say Germans intended to field has similar firepower, but is far heavier.

If I may ask, compared to contemporary (heaviest assault gun mounted on WWII German vehicle) 15 cm sIG 33 (launching 25 kg of explosives to 4-4.5 km) 38 cm RW 61 doesn't seem to have crap range or firepower (125 kg to 6 km) - am I mistaken here?

Edit - also, knowing IoM mindset, for them enormous flashes and deafening the crew are probably seen as intended side effect, "awing the wicked xeno with Omnissiah's might" or other such crap, so I wouldn't discount them purely on this account

[Sea Skimmer]

[quote="Connor MacLeod
Oops I should have claririfed. The Baneblade doesn't have vents like that bolter did, it has more like the example Irbis provided (although on the model it looks like the 'vents' are incorporated into the barrel's sides, which makes me worry if that is deliberately weakening the barrel against the pressures involved.) If they could route vents to the top, I'd imagine there's more effective ways to vent it than simply straight up. (assuming you could make such a thing work to begin with - again I'm pretty sure they tried this IRL too and ran into some problems with it.)[/quote]

Weapon Alfa was a ASW rocket launcher that had a vent out the top; this was to make mounting the turret easier as you didn’t have to worry about placing a blast shield behind each mount. It worked fine, but homing torpedoes quickly replaced it in actual service.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvP2h1U2Bk

I believe it was thermoplastic elastomers used in propellant to help develop higher muzzle energies I was thinking of (25% increase is what I heard) - I think it tied into the stuff you said about 'using nanotechnology' in the way the propellant is designed - does that mean they already brought this into production?

Nanotechnology explosives are certainly in production, some have been used in combat in cruise missiles, but I have no idea on powder propellants for guns.

Its always hard to tell depending on the informatin you find (at least for me it is.) I'd really like to be able to invest in some books on the subject (I'm sure they exist) but I couldn't begin to afford them at this time.

Unlikely to be worth buying books that will be outdated so quickly. Web articles have lots of stuff, though a fair portion is behind pay walls.

I think I can see why having ways to 'control' those various parameters would be an advantage in boosting velocity - the more you can change the more efficient the propellant gets.

Yup, its about tailoring it to a specific job.

I am curious about the barrel - I know that (for example) a larger diameter increases the surface area for the propellant to 'push' against when propelling something (part of the reason why 140mm was considered for discarding sabot ammo, I believe) but does increasing diameter (EG 120-140mm, or 105-120mm) also impact the pressures in the barrel because a wider barrel means 'less confined'...

Most of the combustion takes place in the firing chamber, so not by very much. The 140mm guns had several times as much propellant packed around and behind the projectile. If you used the same powder a bigger firing chamber would produce different pressures, but they’d adjust the propellant to get it back up to being as high as possible. The basic issue was your peak pressure is relatively fixed by modern gun steel and has been for a while, a bigger barrel means the same peak pressure acts on a larger surface and thus produces more work. But since you actually produce a pressure curve when a gun fires, you have a lot of room to fiddle with things and adjust for the larger space.

I also know that, at least as far as modern propellants go, longer barrels provide a net benefit because it extends the time the propellant can 'push' the round, but would there be any circumstances in which a shorter barrel might be better (given the 'thematic' design of 40K tanks I'm sure you can imagine why I'd ask THAT.) Like if you were using a HE propellant? Gun launched missiles or rocket propelled ammo also seems to favor shorter barrel.

If you desired less velocity, then you would normally use a shorter barrel because it will provide a more efficient balance; but nothing stops you from firing lower velocity ammo out of a longer barrel unless you got real extreme about things. Lower velocity allows for thinner shell walls and larger explosive capacity, but this is an ammunition design issue independent of the gun design. Gun launched missiles or rocket assist may or may not like a shorter barrel, to a considerable point it would make no difference except that the barrel is lighter and cheaper.

[Raxmei]

The use of Ordo Xenos letterhead in volume 2 is likely an art error caused by carelessly recycling material from the Taros and Anphelion books. Forgeworld isn't known for their editing. Comparable records in the next book use the Adeptus Mechanicus Departmento Manufactorum letterhead that was used for loyalist equipment in this book.

[Sea Skimmer]

Well, it all might be true, but I just wanted to point out from where the look of "rocket-assisted bunker-breaching gun with vents" probably was copied from and that someone thought it useful enough to actually field. Still, very nice reply, thanks.

That’s why its important to know why a weapon was fielded, not just look it exists.. but I’m sure the people writing 40K have little or no clue.

Though, I kind of don't see 'you never really see the concept used again' because the weapon was used until Nazi capitulation and after that, it was kind of hard for Germany to keep producing it.

And the requirement to breach walls just evaporated with Nazi Germany? Sorry but no, very real requirement, people came up with other, better solutions that were not so inflexible and impractical. Good ideas for weapons keep being used. The Strumtiger meanwhile has the amazing capability of being a 65 ton vehicle potentially vulnerable to machine gun fire because the barrel is so gaping huge and short, when the breach is open its plausible gunfire could enter the fighting compartment with dangerous velocity.

The Russians actually came up with similar rockets, before and after WW2, but always mounted them external to normal tanks. The allies in the west had a bunch of different rocket firing tanks with tubes on the roof, in some cases within armored boxes. A number of US Shermans for example had 7.2in demolition rockets, as many as 24, mounted. You could volley them all off in seconds and then run away from counterfire to reload all at once. In reality, the concepts didn’t make that much sense anyway because exploding a large charge external to a building is generally not as effective as flinging a high velocity shell into it which can explode internally. Meanwhile the flash of launching the rockets just always turned into you being bombarded by enemy artillery, thus the desirability of shoot and scoot.

Now you do see the 165mm demolition gun used on both British and American AFVs until fairly recently; but it was a quite conventional gun able to be mounted in normal tank turrets and firing a HESH shell. This doesn’t explode internally, but it does cause internal spall. The vehicles also have twice as much ammunition as Strumtiger while being considerably smaller.

Also, if you mind, you say tube launched weapon would be better. What would be post-war tube launching analogue then?

Nobody ever went very far down that road, because tank guns got so powerful so rapidly and indirect fire artillery steadily improved, without even considering air support which is generally the most satisfactory means of destroying heavy buildings as they never have as thick of roofs as walls. The Germans were probably the only people in WW2 who actually got weaker in indirect fire artillery as the war went on. But you have IT-1 for a missile firing tank, and TOS-1 for a heavy caliber rocket launcher tank and all the bunker buster missile variants for infantry fighting vehicles as well as dedicated anti tank missile carriers like Shturm-S that automatically reloads. Nothing would stop you from having a wire guided or radio command guided missile of Maverick scale only a lot cheaper, if you wanted it. Or you could just use a recoilless rifle and save considerable propellant and thus ammunition mass over a rocket weapon. Funny enough the Germans actually did field some prototype vehicles late in WW2 which had recoilless rifles within armored housings, exhaust pipe sticks out the back, reload from the side basically.

I just can't seem to recall any vehicle or even missile well suited to the same role (much less armored as well), heck, even guns don't seem to have similar capabilities.

As far as defeating massed concrete or stone protection goes modern 120-125mm tank guns would be multiple times as effective as Strumtiger was, and able to defeat 30ft thick concrete. Damage per shot might be less, though it depends on how you measure it, but this is more than made up for by the 120mm gun having several times the ammunition, the ability to actually traverse the gun to more easily gain firing positions, much higher rate of fire and immensely lower times to restock the vehicle once empty. Urban combat in WW2 wasn’t as easy in large part just because so many tanks only had 75mm guns and ammunition design left much to be desired.

I checked, and 21 cm gun you say Germans intended to field has similar firepower, but is far heavier.

You could not have checked, as detailed specifications for the proposed 21cm howitzer armament are not known, but it’s believed to have been styled after the stubby 15-cm infantry howitzer. The Germans had a different vehicle to mount the full scale 21 cm Mrs 18, which was the Grille 21 on a Tiger II chassis.

If I may ask, compared to contemporary (heaviest assault gun mounted on WWII German vehicle) 15 cm sIG 33 (launching 25 kg of explosives to 4-4.5 km) 38 cm RW 61 doesn't seem to have crap range or firepower (125 kg to 6 km) - am I mistaken here?

It could only fire that far with a special shell that had a large secondary rocket motor that fired once it cleared the barrel, with all the accuracy problems that brings, as well as a reduced payload. The range with normal ammunition was much less, intended to be 3.5km IIRC but actually more like 1.5km IIRC in practice. This secondary rocket concept makes the idea of firing the weapon out of a mortar even more silly. If it was made a pure rocket than it could be built lighter and cheaper, mounted on anything and hold even more explosives. I’ve never seen a clear reason why the weapon was even designed for ASW use in the first place; but given that it failed and was not adapted for that role perhaps it never had one except German over engineering.

Edit - also, knowing IoM mindset, for them enormous flashes and deafening the crew are probably seen as intended side effect, "awing the wicked xeno with Omnissiah's might" or other such crap, so I wouldn't discount them purely on this account

That would only make it even more stupid though. You could always just explode a aircraft style flash bomb if you really wanted; this is actually plausible for night combat as a weapon to blind the enemy, though not a very good one compared to strobe lights.

[Connor MacLeod]

I have reached the end of my patience for Vraks. When I was writing this up I pretty much felt a similar frustration and impatience.. things were getting tiresome and I wanted to move on. Hearing about yet more SIEGE WARFARE was just tiresome, and I think I was skipping over stuff just so I could finish it (I honestly don't even recall if I missed things, and I really don't care at this point.) So its possible I missed things, or there were errors... I just really didn't care about the series at this point, and I wanted it over.

And for that reason I'll pretty much be putting out the last of Vraks in a single update. It's a short update (about on par with my own IA 9 and 10) but I really just want it done so I can move on. There's other stuff to cover, and my desire to pursue IA is waning, so I'm thinking I might just be rushing through it, especially since other people have covered it as well or better (or at least parts of it) than I did. I can just gloss over 8-10, and maybe focus on 11 (which honestly is my favorite of the entire series.) and then more onto other things. I'd like ot start Rogue Trader, for one thing, and I could cover the Ultramarines (although I'm not sure I want to do any more Space Marine stuff than I have to) or maybe some other series. Last Chancers or maybe revisit the Rennie BFG novels.

IA7 brings a sort of resolution to it in most respects you could figure form IA: tons of grimdark, lots of bizarre shit and general frustration with the Imperial way things are handled, and nothing is clear cut. It's a pyrrhic victory (duh) for the Imperium, which makes you wonder WHY this was the best idea. The series tries to explain it, but I'm not really sure it can be justified than 'we put our thematic ideas before eveything else, deal with it'. The Inquisition has stepped in and they need to stop an emerging chaos threat on Taros (shocking, huh?) and its supposedly (at least during the opening bit) about how politics can fuck things up in the Imperium. Take that as you will.

The update is in two parts. This is part one, and part two will follow a day or so after, I imagine. Depending on when I get around to posting updates to the other stuff.

Page 4

At its heart hte Imperium is a massive, faceless bureacracy, driven by a labyrinthine political system, the pinnacle of which are the Lords of Terra. Below them are many factions within the Imperium and it does not operate in a single unified whole (That's the Tau Empire). Instead, political pressures from within can have far reaching effects. Here, control of the Vraksian war is used as a pawn with which to get access to more fighting men and materials from other wars. Whilst the different factions of the Inquisition are devoutly loyal to the Emperor, they are also rivals for resources to fight their own battles with and each faction has its own alliances and supporters.

A bit out of universe, but explaining how politics is a significant driving factor in the Imperium. This may also attmept to be an explanation of why things are so fucked up in the Imperium, but I'm not sure I buy it or not given all the previous discussion leading up to it. At least, I accept the premise far les sthan I started.

Page 6

Today the great Lord-Inquistors of the Conclave of Scarus would sit in full session, and many items were listed upon the agenda. From the indictment of numerous failing Administratum Principles and ADepts on minor charges, to those accused of the most heinous crimes of blasphemy and heresy against the Emperor and facing the ultimate punishment of excommunication.

Sounds like a court more than anything.

Page 6

..the subsequent prophesy of the renowned and honoured hunch-backed Warp-seer Malphius - whose mastery of the predictive power of the Emperor's Tarot was second to none. Malphius' readings had made grim and worrying news. Lord Rex believed the aged, misshapen seer had seen the future of Vraks..

Precog relating to Vraks. Makes you wonder where this was before hand? Seems like Big E dropped the ball here.

Page 6

...the Inquisitor-Lord wanted the authority of his conclave behind him. With it he could take overall command of the war on Vraks and deploy all the resources available to the Ordo Malleus to counter the threat. If needs be he could always invoke his Inquisitorial Mandate and proceed without his conclave's full backing, but to do so would seriously weaken his power within the chamber and, should his mission fail, open him up to accusations and indictments from his enemies, especially in the Ordo Hereticus.
..
Even an Inquisitor-Lord of the Ordo Malleus was not beyond their reach. Lord Rex knew that the Witch Hunters would seize any opportunity they could to take control of the war on Vraks. They had already assisted the Ecclesiarchy in lobbying hard to be granted command of the siege army fighting on Vraks.
..
Lord Rex expected that todays debate on Vraks would be hard fought, and failure in the council chamber might see him forced to act alone, and risk the ire of the Ordo Hereticus.

Politics and the limits it places even on the theoretically unlimited authority of an Inquisitor (especailly given that there are other Inquisitors.)

Page 6

Perhaps Vraks might become a daemon world, where the barriers between the Warp and realspace have been broken down completely, and daemons roam at will. Defeat would mean that the Chaos gods would have gained a foothold in the Scarus sector and more attacks and raids would then follow, perhaps becoming a Black Crusade.

Malleus Inquisitor ponders potential consequences of Vraks now that Chaos takes a hand. Might be over-reacting, but this is Chaos and if Vraks did become a daemon world it could very well act as a base of operation and safety for Chaos forces - one that would have to be quarantined to keep it from spreading.

Of course, one wonders why they waited this long for such a threat to develop in this manner, and didn't take steps to nip it in the bud sooner, but those are simply repetitions of the same questions being asked over and over ever since I started this. I guess I shouldn't expect answers now.

PAge 7

Here were the great and powerful lords [of Conclave of Scarus] that could determine the fate of all within the Scarus sector, planets as well as mere citizens. From menial Administrtum workers to planetary governors, army generals and even, should occasion and law demand it, fellow Inquisitors.

This suggests that the Inquisition has a parallel hierarchy to the rest of the Imperium (eg components operating at sector and segmentum and other levels.) This probably acts as a complement to the Administratum and other branches as far as getting things done and responding to threats - Inquisitors are potentially more flexible and independent of the bureacracy and can (potentially) get more done (even if there might be consequences.)

I also think I can hear Inquisitors Ravenor and Eisenhorn crying at this happening. You'd think that given Eisenhorn the conflict in Scarus coudl have been handled, oh.. more competently. And by now you almost wish Abnett had been writing it, I bet.

Page 7

Behind him [A senior Inquisitor Lord] followed lords fo the Ordo Hereticus, Ordo Xenos, Ordo Malleus, and the other lesser orders. Those lrods tht could not be present due to circumstnaces or duties far away, had sent representatives in their place, to vote by proxy and report back on the developments and decisions of the conclave.

This suggests that the Conclave is quite large, numbering many dozens of Inquisitor Lords and such of the various major and minor Ordos. Doesn't include lesser Inquisitors, acolytes or interrogators or the like it would seem. Also doesnt mention Lord Rex (at least 4 Malleus, probably at least sa man for the others, and so on)

Page 7

The hard liners would not be turned. But in the end Lord Inquisitor Balzac abstained, and took three fellow radicals with him.
..
The hard liners had failed to be convinced of anything, except that the Proctor-General [Rex] was exceeding his jurisdiction in inducting the 88th siege army intoa w ar that was clearly theirs to be fought [eg heretics].

Hereticus 'radical' inquisitor lords.. at least 4 such, plus at least 2 or more conservaties. 6 Hereticus Inquisitors.

We also see the source of Rex's opposition, being that the Hereticus consider the Vraks war to be their "territory" and resent others stepping on their toes (As they see it.) This will be problematic in the future (as if Vraks needed MORE problems, especially political ones..) I believe this means that basically the Inquisition decided to dispatch a number of warbands from each Ordo (or faction) to Vraks to see their own agendas were met. I think Rex was nominally in charge, but this being the Inquisition that means that infighting is inevitable.

Page 8

Each Inquisitor [including Rex] would have his own retinue and the power to call upon other weapons of the Imperium should he need them; soldiers of the Inquisitorial storm trooper regiments, agents of the Officio ASsasinorum and not least Space MArines of the Ordo Malleus' order militant - the secret Grey Knights...

At least Rex can bring some better forces to the table than the previosu contenders. He'll liekly need them.

Page 8

The Red Hunters Chapter also had a long history of putting themselves at the service f the Inquisition. So strong was the link between this Chapter and the three great Inquisitorial orders that rumour was that they had been foundeda t the request of the Inquisitorial representative on Terra, and that there was a secret pact between the Inquisition and the Chapter for mutual support.

A non-aligned Astartes chapter which for all intents and purpsoes is semi-permanantly seconded to Inquisitorial service. Interesting. I wonder if there are others?

Rex also makes calls to the Red Scorpions and Dark Angels for assistance. Since the Dark Angels are distrusted and secretive (and dicks) Rex doesnt think he'll get help from them. Also, givne the casualties they suffered in the last conflict (which they are unlikely toh ave made up significantly) its doubtful they could do much to help

Page 8

Lord Rex chose his best diplomat and dispatched him via fast courier across the galaxy to find the Red Scorpions and ask them to return, in force, to Vraks. He did not expect ot see a rapid response. The journey alone would be arduous...

"Across the galaxy" implied from the Scarus sector, suggesting a distance of some at least 70,000-80,000+ Light years and back to retreive the Scorpions. Small wonder he's pessimistic. Also, yet another case where IA decides it needs to haul in forces from ridiculously far off.

Page 8

In all 38 Inquisitors of Lord Rex's chamber-practical and their retinues would be quickly re-deployed to Vraks. They would be placed in each regiment's headquarte,s to observe operations and to lead from the front when the time came.

If each of the other major Ordos had similar numbers, there are in excess of 100 Inquisitors in Scarus Sector. more probably hundreds alone. This implies hundreds of thousands to millions of Inquisitors in the Imperium, total (Thousands of sectors) if the ratios held constant.

Page 9

At 101827.M41 the fast strike cruiser honour-Amentum arrived in the VRaks system, speeding into orbit directly from its hoem base on Titan. Amongst the swiftest vessels in the Imperium's fleet, heavily armed for its size and equipped with enough powerful teleportation chambers to allow multiple squads to teleport to the surface at once, the Grey Knights strike cruiser was the cutting edge of the Imperium's fleet...
..
Each ship's navigator was the best the Navis Nobilis houses could provide..
..
With their aid a Grey Knights stirke force could speed to any location in the galaxy faster than any other forces available to the Imperium.

Page 79 of IA6 specifies that the earliest known date prior to this book as 989826.M41, which was the "zero hour" of the Red Scorpions assault at Vraks. Rex's commentary suggests that the Scorpions had long arrived back at their bases "across the galaxy" long before the Grey Knights arrived, so we're definitely talking less than a year.. months tops for both events to occur.

The Grey Knights had to cover some 20 or 30,000 light years (assuming a straight line course) to get to Vraks (scarus sector) and as previously noted the Red Scorpions are a good 70-80 thousand Light years away in all probability.

Genrally its less than a year, so we can safely say tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands times c in both cases, probably.

Page 9

From the north this offensive would have over sixty kilomtres to cover...

Four regiments of 30 Line korps expected to complete encircling the fortress by covering ~60 km. not sure if this is straight line of circumferential distance.

Page 11

The time set for the opening battle was 273827.M41

Rex got his shit into gear faster than the previous two generals, probably do to INQUISITOR POWAH . Also sets the timeframe again.

Page 11

The old rusting hulks of tanks and guns lay half buried in the mud or abandoned in shell craters alongside the smashed remains of old trenches and fortifications and seemingly random sprouting of rusted razrwire...

Shell craters are big enough to encompass tanks. Again suggests a diameter at or near 10 m, if not more (bigger tanks like Macharius or super heavies), but again we dont know what kinds of bombardment platforms it would be from, or if its single or overlapping craters.

Page 11

Squads that blundered into a concentration of [TPIII] gas were quickly wiped out; nothing remained, they simply vanished as the acid ate away their flesh and bones.
..
Through it all the tanks rumbled on. Within their sealed hulls the crews were safe from teh gas, and they now formed the poit of the attack.

TP3 and chem warfare make an appearance yet again.. tanks are fine infantry are screwed. BUT NOT THE ASTARTES.

Page 11

Visibility was reduced to just a few mretres by the acid clouds, tanks were becoming bogged down as they lbundered into large shell craters or long forgotten tank traps. Several Leman Russ hit mines.

Again Leman-Russ sized shell craters.

PAge 11

By the end of the first day they had made ten kilometres of ground.

1/6 of the way. Sigh.

Page 11

As it joined the battle, teh 269th regiment reported encounters with plague zombies. These were hordes of creatures of ragged flesh and bone which sambled through the mud and smoke armed only with teeth and nails..
..
They were the remains of long, dead, risen from their graves to fight again...
..
the dead of both sides now fought for the enemy, mindless and unarmed they were cut down by the Krieg guardsmen in their hundreds, but still they came on, heedless of their losses. Some died once, only to rise again, and were cut down time and again until nothing was left of their once human forms.

Plague zombies. Millions of them probably. Only way to stop them is to blast them apart. A great way for Chaos (esp Nurgle) to recycle its dead (and their enemies') into viable troops for their own purposes. And even worse, some kinds (like those in Necromunda - cf Back from the Dead) can use guns and other weapons. Heavily armed undead - just what the Imperium needed on Vraks.

Page 11

To break the stalemate the Inquisitors leading the battle authorised the counter use of chemical weapons, adding to the poisonous landscape with chemical shells, and in the process coating sectors 59-45 and 60-45 in a toxic soup that would make them uninhabitable for hundreds of years.

Once more Krieg breaks out the chem weapons. Better hope that is of the 'flesh dissolving' variety, or it will do fuck all against the Zombies. Or much at all to Nurglite troops, given their patron's areas of influence.

I would ask why they aren't using aerial/orbital bombardment, Deathstrikes, or nukes of any kind if they're willing to break out WMD and fuck up the planet at this point, but I suspect it would be 'not trench warfare-y enough' to fit the theme.

Also at this point in the war, the (thin, badly tattered) pretense of wanting to take the place habitable and intact has completely and utterly broken down. Its all pure grimdark from this point onwards.

Page 15

Such a severe case of neurofibromatosis, with attendant tumours should induce chronic pain, but it seems not to affect Nurgle's follower in any way.
..
Despite its seemingly decayed and rotting state, Necrosius' body appears to shrug off extremely serious injuries, with uncomfirmed reports of his flesh almost instantaneously healing the damage done to it by las-fire and bolter rounds. In addition the sorcerer appeared able to withstand any egre of ambient pollution, including the deadly toxins and gases employed by his own side in the conflict without additonal protection.

Basically Nurgle marines are tough bastards, with a high resistance to pain and damage,and its pointless using chem and bio attacks on them. Are we really shocked the Imperium tried something we could expect to fail and then realized it had failed in this book? No we are not. I would also try remembering whether or not the previous book made mention of Nurglites using chem and bio weapons on the field already from the Vraksian stockpiles and not being bothered by that, but complaining about potential self-contradiction seems rather silly at this point.


Page 15

The psycho-responsive metal of the force weapon [glaive in this case] allows a psyker such as Necrosius to focus murderous energies into the blade, rendering it able to cleave through even hardened ceramite and directly sever the life force of an individual wounded by it.

Force weapon capabilities.

Page 15

..Necrosius is known to be armed with a bolt pistol, which he has personally adapted to fire 'plague bolts'. The warheads of each bolt are converted to contain biological warfare agents, whicha re scattered when the bolt explodes. These are believed to be adaptations of the psyker's own invention.

As if things weren't bad enough. Why not just stick life eater in the shells?

Page 15

the use of warp-power will often incur physical manifestations of power, summoned from the ether. Most commonly this might be lightning or flashes of energy, but the use of psychic activity has been noted to cause all maner of other manifestations, from rapid temperature change,s sudden winds, disembodied voices, screaming or howling, unexpected levitation, to inducing fits or uncontrolled psychotic episodes.

Psyker side effects.

Page 15

These totems are thought to have a use in ritual practises providing a psychic focus for the sorcerer's malign energies as well as fufilling other symboilc functions.

Again with the importance of psychic foci.

Page 16

The regiment's first objective was the seizing of highpoint 187, the next was to tackel a series of three defence laser silos, all hardened facilities, well protected from artillery bombardment.

Mention again of the protected nature of the defence laser "silos"

page 16

With 8th assault Korps in support [of 470th regiment], approximately 350 tanks were ready to join the advance, along with 30 heavy tanks.

Armoured forces from two regiments joining the assault. I dont remember if those were krieg troops or not. Its so hard to remember exact details from this book at this point when I tried to ignore them.


Page 17

The Nurgle worshippers fought fanatically, unleashing more chemical and biological weapons. Traitor Space Marines of the Purge were blamed for the indiscriminate use of such weapons of mass destruction but they were not alone. Imperial Navy air support was flying daily, bombing and strafing.

And.. yet more WMD... but no nukes. REally I do have to note that aomic weapons, chem and bio weapons all seem to be restricted use by the Imperium in most cases (this series apparently being an exception) but all my previous objections still apply.

Page 17

It was only during the Ordo Malleus' long and thorough investigation into the events behind the Vraksian war that information regarding affrais within the upper echelons of the VRaksian traitors was revealed.
..
Only prisoner interrogations and the use of invasive telepathic psykers from the Schola Psykana would later deduce a clear picture.

Malleus investigative techniques post battle.

Page 17

..he would provide the Sanctified with all they needed to open a warp portal on Vraks. The Sanctified were daemonancers, and they worked constantly to bring Khorne's children into the material universe. They had the expertise, now Zhufor would provide them with the tens of thosuands of sacrificial victims needed in order to create a warp portal through which daemon legions could pour out.

I wonder if this qualifies as "Khornate sorcerers?" They are, as I recall, Word Bearers descended, so technically priests but still psykers... and yet Khorne hates magic and sorcerers... agh my head hurts.

It may be due to the fact that Khufor is noted to be part of the Black Legion and working for Abbadon, and giventhe "generalist" nature of the Black Legion its possible greater cooperation between feuding forces is expected.

Also "tens of thousands" fo souls for a warp portal, I wonder if thats on top of the general bloodshed?

Khufor also promised to facilitate the summoning of the greatest daemon legion in Khorne's armies - An'ggrath. A bloodthirster apparently.

Page 18

The Quartermaster's reports showed that the gains included massive amounts of abandoned vehicles and captured equipment.

I guess despite being chaos tainted gear, they do salvage and re-use equipment. I'm frnakly surprised the Inquisition let the muniotrum do this, given the risks.

Page 18

A sniper bullet drilled the company commander through the head, his helmet punctured he lay dying for several hours.

Helmet didnt help this time, did it?

PAge 25

Mae virtus, the highly ornate personal Land Raider of Inquisitor Lord Thor Malkin. Such vehicles are regarded as valuable artifacts, signs of faith in the Emperor and advertise the Inquisition's presecne.

I guess the whole "only Space Marines can use the Land Raider by the Emperor's decree and noone has the balls to over-turn it." from IA2 isn't such a iron-clad rule after all. Again, shock at IA contradicting itself when the situation suits it is nothing new by this point.

Page 26

..the 88th siege army headquarters was issued with Directive 4887-72-09 by the Departmento Munitorum. It orderd 88th Siege army to withdraw from the frontline and prepare for transportation of a dozen Krieg regiments from Vraks. The Departmento Munitorum had reviewed troop allocations across the Scarus sector and had found that the current force strength on vRaks was no longer sustainable or required. Logistical and transportation resources would likewise have to be reduced. The siege of Vraks was being downgraded in priority, and with the projections of damage inflicted to the enemy the Departmento's logis calculations meant that the forces left would still be sufficient to finish the Vraksian war with an acceptable loss of time and the resulting extra casualties.

...
The Inquisitor's staff recognised the directive instnatly for what it was. Here was the meddling hand of the Ordo Hereticus and their Ecclesiarchy allies. Thwarted in their efforst ot seize control of the war themselves, they had been working behind the scenes to hamper the Ordo Malleus' efforts and secure some of the force allocation on Vraks for their own ends. What had the Synod of Cardinals-Astral promised in return for the use of the Imperial Guard regiments that were now to be taken from Vraks? No doubt their future support and votes in other political issues of great import.

Politics again. We see that the Munitorum, with the aid of the Hereticus and Ministorum, seeking to emasculate Rex and the Malleus, with effective results. Because apparently we can't have Vraks TOO competently lead by the Big Bad Inquisitor Hero archetype, can we? That wouldn't be IMPERIAL. I blame the salvage of tainted equipment.

Page 26

The Inquisitorial representative was a High Lord, one of twelve great masters of Mankind that interpreted the Emperor's will. he had the power to countermand the directive or at least press Inquistior Lord Rex's case with the Master of the Departmento Munitorum or, if needs must, the Master of the Administratum himself - the single most powerful Lord of Terra.

High Lord politics. Curious that the Master of the Adminsitratum is seen as the most powerful, even over te Inquisition or the AdMech. Considering that the Administratum, by and large, is run by bureacratically obsessed functionaries and the Imperium has no real ability to micromanage specific cases, I really have to wonder why this is stated to be so.

I'd be tempted to label the IA books in universe as Administratum/Munitorum propoganda, if it weren't for the fact Chaos, Orks and the tau tend to be far more competent. (The Eldar get as little of a break as the Imperium in these cases, so they don't count.)

Page 26

..only the other eleven High Lords could block the pronouncements of the Inquisitorial Representative.

Again the Inquistion has limits, even as a High Lord.

Page 26

The Inquisitorial Representative had petitioned the Master of the Departmento Munitorum...

...
..but the Departmento Munitorum's master hd sought the support of the Master of the Administratum. In turn, during the debate, the Administratum had also been backed by the High Ecclesiarch. It was a powerufl political concord. Other High Lords, such as the Fabricator General of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Lord Militant solar had abstained.
..
His own Inquisitorial Mandate was being overruled by the highest judgement in the Imperium - and their word was law.

And agian the Inquisition is blocked, and even Inquisitors cannot overstep the High Lords (at least in this case.)

Page 26

He [Rex] was Auditorii Imperator. He had passed into the Emperor's throne room on TErra and communed with the Divine Lord of Mankind himself. There he had been made fully aware that at stake in the endless war with Chaos was the future of the entirety of mankind.

Implies that the GEoM is still living, after a fashion, and does interact with some folk (like he did with Jaq Draco.) This has some interesitng implications - does he 'commune' with others as well, like the High Lords?


Page 26

At 253828.M41 the 1st line korps' three remaining regiments would all be withdrawn from Vraks, along with the 19th bombardment korps' three artillery regiments - halving the army's heavy firepower from its largest guns. The 8th assault korps was also being withdrawn, but his arguments had at least saved 11th tank regimentm which would now be moved into the 11th assault krops. Half the independent artillery companies, used to bolster the firepower of regiments at the cutting edge of the offensive,s would also go.
..
Most of the units would probably find their way ot the Eastern Fringes where the Tyrannic wars seemed to eat up Imperial Guard regiments as fast as they could be deployed.

Rex seems to end up losing a hefty chunk of his military forces, especially amongst the artillery forces (at least 6 infantry/assault regiments too.).
Also the fact he seems ot think that they might be sent halfway across the galaxy to the eastern fringe says something about the state of that war and how well it is going (also yet more general rage on my part at the whole 'troops being sent halfway across the galaxy' again. you'd think the Imperium had some sort of compulsive aversion to locally raised troops being involved in conflicts for some fucked up reason.)

Rex also learned his emissaries got assasinated - he figures by the Hereticus. Again politics.

Page 27

..Commissar-General Maugh climbed into the turret of his Leman Russ, Landwaster, from which he would lead the attack. He watched through his surveyor, intent on the distant curtain wall...

Tank Commissar with a surveryor.. either portable or mounted in the tank. Given this is forge world, I bet it has vaccuum tubes and cogwheels inside and you have to turn it with a hand crank to power it!

Page 27

A ragged horde launched itself through the gateway, its armoued doors rolling back as infantry, tanks, artillery and spider-like walking machines rushed through.
...
Then suddenly, in a blinding flash of light it was hit. A shell blast tore through the front armour of the turret - a direct hit that decapitated the gunner and incinerated the loader in a fraction of a second. The shell passed by Maugh's shoulder.

I kinda find it hard to believe that the tank shell literally "incinerated" (eg cremated) the loader - possibly it was either pyrophoric or moving fast enough that it severely burned him, but that's it (unless it is meant to erver to exploding or pulverizing the gunner, another possibility.)

Page 27

The Commissar-Gneral had lost his communicator

The Commissar at least has his own personal comms if noone else does.

Page 27

Meanwhile, repeated impacts form the Titan Aeacus Ultra's melta vannon had vaporised the gate and brought down the parapet above it.

The gates are presumably tall/wide enough to let even super-heavies through.. suggesting 5-10 meter height, and maybe 10 meters or so wide. Probably fairly thick (Say at least a foot?) and assuming iron.. it woudl take hundreds of gigajoules to vaporize at least, perhaps even several terajoules if it is bigger than I conjecture. The flip-side of that assessment of course is we dont know how long it fires or how many shots (probably not hours, bt even a few minutes or say ten seconds can alter the calc.) and this DOES assume that whole 'literal vaporization' thing some people take issue to. I would say that this WOULD be roughly consistent with certian other examples (EG the Superheavies in gunheads, Titan firepower in Fulgrim, titanicus, etc.)

Page 30

The enemy ocunter-mined but did not have the vast reosurces tht the Krieg engineers had at their disposal - drilling machinery, hundreds of tonnes of explosives and seemingly endless manpower to hew their way towards the objective.

Engineer resources. The Enemy retailiates by unleashing mutants and chaos spawn into the tunnels.

Page 40

Shells smashed into the hillside or flashed and sparked off the Citadel's powerful void shield curtain every minute.
..
Despite months of Imperila Navy bombing raids and long-ranged artillery bombardment by the largest guns the Imperial Guard regiment could mster, the Citadel stood badly amaged but defiant.

Physical objects bouncing off a void shield? Really?

Also implied that the Citadel (presumably including the void shields protecting it) may have been weakened over the months of bombardment. Not unreasonable, especially considering the thing almost certainly has been active nearly non stop for close on two decades. And momentum/force and energy interact with a shield differently.

Page 40

A high prirotiy for the attack was to knock-out the Citadel's void shield generators. These massive shields, powered by geo-thermic heat-wells sunk under the Citadel rock, were the key to its invulnerability. Using the same arcane technology that protected Titans, the entire Citadel was surrounded by a protective forcefield. Each section of wall, tower or butress has its own projectors. Whilst the forcefield remained, there was little chance of seriously damaging the structure of the Citadel itself. Inquisitor Rex had no doubt in his mind, he would pour enough firepower into the Citadel that not a single stone would be left standing upon another by the time he had finished.

Void shields, implied to be Titan-Grade roughly, powered by geothermal power. Gives us an interesting benchmark I suppose if one looks to geothermal power potential. Of course given all the 'interesting' sorts of geothermal power taps (Atomic, fusion, and the 'planet destorying' geothermal grids..)...

Page 41

The void shields could be overloaded but only when the energy of enough hits forced the generators to cut out or explode themselves. Overloading each void shield, and keeping it down would be the job of the siege artillery. The Earthshakers, Medusas, and Bombards of the 21st bombardment korps could hammer the Citadel day and night with volleys of fire that would hopefully be too much for the void shield generators to cope with. They could only do this if enough ammunition was available, and so top priority was given for artillery ammunition to the bombardment korps.

The artillery used in weakening the shields. Note that they probably are using high explosives, which again interact differently with shielding than say, a beam of energy will. To say nothing of the kinetic impact. Gradual battering makes sense, since the force/monentum of the impact has to be transmitted to the generator, which would either put it unders train, or strain the bracings, or both. Or something else entirely.

Page 41

Then he gathered his staff and began to study the holo-maps and details the Inquisitor Lord had provided.

holo maps

Page 43

The Citadel's main power supply is situated down here, invulnerable to enemy attack. VRaks's many banks of void shield generators are also situated in the undercroft, along with other generators and transformer stations.

The Undercroft lists Generatorum, Geo-thermic heat sinks, Void shield generators and power plants on the listing (but not shown). Whether this is saying the citadel itself runs on geo-thermal power or that there are other power systems (backups?) as wlel I don't know for sure. Bear in mind my previous (hilarious) assertion that geothermal does not necesarily mean much as I already noted (hell IA9 and 10 mention geothermal atomics. Of course given that 'naturally occuring' fusion crap in that one HH short story where the Iron wArriors blow up a planet, maybe this isnt too far fetched!)

Page 44

A thousand shells fell in the first minute.
..
.the Citadel and its slopes vanished in a cloud of flame split explosions. Shell after shell added to the bombardment, thickening the ring of flames that now consumed the Citadel.

1000 Earthshaker, Medusa and Bombard shells in the first minute.

Page 44

The lead [Gorgon] transport of 7th company took a direct hit in the side from a hidden artillery gun, the Earthshaker shell tore through the hold, shredding those inside, before exiting the far side, leaving a ragged hole. A second shot also hit, its high explosive warhead blasting the survivors into torn corpses.

2 Earthshakers to essentially pulverize 2 companies of troops, although the first one seems to be mainly more armor piercing than H (the second is HE though.) Inferring roughly grenade level damage, and the fact each Gorgon carries a platoon (60 or so men) would suggest tens of kilos of TNT equivalent in an EArthshaker shell (how many tens of TNT is up for debate of course.. could be up to 40-50 kg potentially, for example if you figured one grenade per corpse and most of the Platoon wiped out by the second shell. Not pecise, but probably reasonable to within an order of magnitude and meshes with other Earthshaker calcs.)

If its an AP round then (within an order of magnitude) the momentum/KE of a Earthshaker round cn overpenetrate the side armor of a Gorgon (which makse sense, since looking at the visual diagram in IA5 the thing doesn't look especially heavy armored on the sides with the tracks and remote control turrets and such.)

Page 44

From high above, a defence laser silo opened fire, each huge laser impact tearing great scorch marks into the earth. First one, then a second, then a third Gorgon disappeared in a thunderous explosion of light and molten plasteel.

According to IA5 a Gorgon masses some 220 tonnes. Assuming iron composition would yield 264 GJ per Gorgon. We aren't given a specific timeframe (aside from presumably being short since its a battle.)

Page 45

The deluge of shells had, as predicted, overwhelmed the void shields, although they could not destory the generators. The generators were buried far below in the Citadel vaults, and so any damage done could only be temporary.

Void shields only temporarily knocked down by void shield fire. I presume this may refer to repairs or activating redundant generaotrs.

Page 49

Here [command throne] the Titan's commanding Princeps bonds with the mighty war machine, mastering its bellicose machien spirit to his will and governing its actions on the battlefield via the mind impulse unit. The Command throne is the hub of the Titan and allows for control of all the Titan's functions, should it be required, vai teh master override systems. As a last resort the Princeps has access to these manually activated orrides to control the Titan's gross motor functions, reactor output, and so on -
...
..using these controls is something only a highly trained and experienced Princeps has the monumental will power and self control to enact.

Titans, as other sources have depicted, have their own rudimentary sort of intelligence/awareness that must be mastered/controlled. In some sources (like the first Armageddon novel) its implied that the thoughts and personalities of past Princeps are imprinted upon the Titan. Other sources have hinted that Titans have animal personalities imprinted.

Also Titans have backup measures, so I guess MIU failure isn't always lethal.

Page 49

..mind impulse unit interfaces come in a variety of ofrms. The most common is shown here, being a series of cranial socket connectors and cyber-optic implants and are favoured by the traditions of the Legio Astorum (although other Titan Legions prefer to use spinal-cortex coils, or even more drastic measures such as the fully immersive vitro-tanks). Mind impulse units allow for the direct and intuitive control of the Titan and for the Princeps ot recieve information from its logis-engine, auspex and control systems directly through their own senses via neural connectors.

Various MIU techniques and methods described.

Page 49

As well as helping protecting the Princeps from injury from shrapnel caused by secondary damage form impacts, the heavy cuirass itself contains power and life support systems which provide the princeps with clean air. It also serves to help regulate body temperature and monitor their life signs for dangerous feedback form the mind impulse unit.

semi-independent body armor/life support gear.

Page 51

The gate itself was vaporised by multiple plasma blasts from a Stormblade, but the Guardsmen could not force a passage inside.

One of hte Vraks Citadel gates "vaporised" by repeated plasma fire from a super heavy. Not specified how large the gate is or how many shots, however.

Page 51

The Inquisitor was handed a surveyor by an aide and scanned the walls.[

Handheld surveryor again.

Page 53

As the REaver launched savoes of missiles at the bastion, suddenly, surprisingly, it returned fire. The first defence laser shot overwhelmed Tritus' remaining void shields, the second scored a direct hit - the massive laser cannon penetrating through the Reaver's frontal armour and critically damaging the plasma reactor within. Tritus staggered under the impacts, came to a halt and its weapons fell ominously silent. Then, spectacularly, the plasma reactor detonated. With the force of a small sun the reactor exploded into an incandescent ball of super-heated gases, so bright that its after-image burned into the retinas of those who saw it, and it was so hot that nothing within 100 metres survived.
..
Only black scorched ground for a hundred metres in every direction marked its death. Small fragments of smouldering, melted wreckage was all that could be recovered.

2 Defence laser shots overwhelm the weakened shields of the Reaver Titan and destroy it via reactor overload. The explosion does not seem particularily destructive, not leaving a crater the way Warlord titans sometimes do, but it did seem to have left at least some molten debris.
I should note recoil limits do mean the Reaver Titan's weakened shields were almost certainly sub megaton. Probably alot less than 100 kilotons too. SO it does set an absolute upper limit for Reaver Titan durability, at least against lasers.

Also the idea that the Titans stand ANY chance against the defense lasers of vraks (rather than being obliterated outright) makes one wonder again why they did not handle this war differently. If the titans could get lcose like this, lots of other forces could have. ARRGH.

Page 55

Constructed of the finest ceramite, adamantium and the most advanced alloys the metallurgists of MArs can provide, it incorporates crystalline filaments within the suit that form the psychically attuned matrix, called the Aegis.
..
Much of the Aegis suit exactly mirrors the functions of a powered armour suit, with its autosesnes, bio-diagnostic functions, sub-atomic core power pack and muscle actuators. As well as this, an Aegis suit is also annointed and inscribed with hexagrammic wards, ritually consecrated against daemonic attacks and psychically charged to enahnce the wearer's mental powers.

Grey Knights Aegis suit.

Page 55

Like all force weapons, the Nemesis halberd is psychically attuned to its wielder, allowing him to channel psychic energy from the Warp, through his mind and into the balde. Wreathed by the glowing Warp energies, a nemesis force weapon then becomes almost unstoppable - smashing through the thickest armour with ease. A well-trained psyker can deliver devastating attacks, blasting foes apart with pure energy, as ewell as using the blade as a focus through which to unleash a holocaust of Warp energies.

Each Nemesis force weapon is made from rare psychically resonant mateirals. Where these are attained from is a closely guarded secret. Before entering service, each is ceremonially blessed at the Synod minstra on the Cardinal World of Ophelia IV and uniquely tuned to match the user's psychic field. Once complete, each force weapon can only be wielded by its owner...

Nemesis Force weapons, of particular note being the "tuning" aspect (presumably for more effective use as a focus and a weapon.)

Page 55

It [storm bolter] is the Space Marine's main ranged weapon, but it is only intended as a bakc-up to the halberd and formidable psychic powers of a Grey Knight himself.
..
Utilising the best technology that the munition-adepts can provdie, the Titan pattern, mark IX storm bolter is a very compact weapon. To free the user's left hand (To best use the force halberd), it is attacehd via a thought-activated wrist mount, which is a standard part of the suit's armoured vambrace. Connected via the suit's autosenses to targeter and range finder information, as wlel as an ammunition counter, temperature gauge and other weapon status readouts (all visible through the suit's displa), the storm bolter can be fired using only thought commands.
..
Lacking the more common patterns 'dual-magazine' design, the storm bolter's magazine carries just 20 bolts.

GK storm bolter. Wrist mounted like in the GK knovels.

Page 55

No Grey Knight has ever fallen to the powers of Chaos. No Grey Knight has ever borne the title of Traitor.

Technically true, although its been close, and there's some semantics involved (Hammer of Daemons).

Page 61

His emissary had sought out the REd Scorpions Chapter as ordered, travelled via TErra to the Zaebus system and placed the Inquisitor Lord's request directly into the hands of the Chapter's Lord High commander...
..
Preparations were to be made for four full companies to join the war. The battle barge Sword of Ordon was to make ready for the long journey back to Segmentum Obscurus.
..
The strike force arrived at 159830.M41, its arduous journey through the Warp complete.

From Terra to somewhere on the edge of the gaalxy, as implied earlier. Tens of thousands of LY, although my intiial belief (from Scarus to edge of galaxy) is clearly slightly off. We do know they left Segmentum Solar and aren't in Segmentum Obscurus though clearly. Ultima segmentum probably due to earlier hints.

It also took no more than 3-4 years or so for the emissary to find and contact the Red Scorpions, deliver the message, and for the force to be assembled and arrive. Hard to break it down more than that, but it gives an average speed of some tens of thousands of c.

Also, 400 battle brothers on a battle barge. Also two escorts.

Page 61

So far, due to the void shields that protected it, artillery fire had only damaged the surface of the gatehouse strongpoint.

Objects taking damage through shields from artillery, apparently.

Page 62

..the Sword of Ordon would manoeuvre into position in low orbit and begin an orbital bobmardment of the Citadel, including the Basilica. The Master of the Fleet would have to unleash every gun the battle barge had to overwhelm the void shields and prevent enemy reinforcements reaching the gatehouse. The enemy did have a few remaining defence laser silos still operational, but no longer possessed enough firepower to seriously threaten the massive Space Marine battleship.

Presumably the bombardment is not full powered, so the use of every gun is less for raw firepower than for coverage (bombarding the void shields AND suppressing reinforcements.)

note that yet again, orbital attacks are possible, but they wait for whatever bizarre, inane reasons until the VERY LAST MOMENT to do them. Which is massively infuriating.

Page 62

As Culln watched the first Thunderhawk roar in low over his position, the heat of its quad-jets washed over him as the gunship unloaded its cargo of plasma bombs directly onto the strongpoint. Culln's photo-chromatic lenses dimmed as the target vanished into a bright burning inferno of super-heated hydrogen that melted rock and sucked the surrounding air into a swirling vortex of dust and smoke. As the inferno burned out, it was time to go. Culln gave the order over his thougth-activated comm-link

Plasma bombs of the non Counter supersoaker variety.

Also thought activated Marine comms.

Page 63

Checking suit camera feeds, the Lord High Commander could see Culln's men were inside, clearing the strongpoint in blooy hand-to-hand fighting.
...
checking Culln's bio-readouts showed him to be under great stress, both hearts beat high...

Data feeds from individual Marines to the Damocles Rhino.

Page 63

Commander Ortys napped his helmet into place, engaged the night vision and hit the assault ramp open stud on the wall. Nothing happened.
..
He pulled open the control panel and disabled the mechanism, breaking the magnetic locks that held the huge armoured assault ramp in palce.

Night vision gear in Astartes helmets and magnetic locking mechanism on Rhino doors. Toook three space marines to push the door open.

Page 66

This armoured exo-gauntlet contains a powerufl energy field generator that disrupts matter at the molecular level, massively increasing the strength of the users's blows and allowing them to punch through stone or renda nd tear the heaviest armour plating with contemptuous ease.

Power fist. The strength augmentation aspect suggests that the power field provides "disruption" through some application of force.

Page 68

His [bloodthirster] axe cleaved down onto a Land Raider, the Grey Knights vehicle unable to reverse away fast enough, the weapon's saw-toothed blade sheared throught he armoured hull, driven deep by An'ggrath's vast strength, then it exploded into a fireball that engulfed botht the tank and its assailant.

Didn't harm the bloodthirster in the least apparently, but a nasty example of how strong they are.

PAge 68

Force power whipped from the halberds, and for the first time An'ggrath roared in pain, Arturus' brethren added to the psychic barrage...
...
An'ggrath writhed in agony and lashed out wildly, its first axe blow sending one brother flying through the air, its econd cut a Grey knight in two, torso severed.
...
But his reactions were still fast, and his halberd swept up to meet An'ggrath's axe as it cut down onto him. The weapons met and sparked with energy, but neither gave way.
...
An'ggrath swung again, a blow to split a mountainside...

Grey Knights attack and hurt/weaken the Bloodthirster with their psychic powers. Despite what it says, I would not leapt to the conclusion a Grey Knight can cut through a Land Raider also, since a possible reason he managed to block it is becasue the psychic attacks of the Grey Knights are weakening the Bloodthirster (it cannot strike at full power against the Grey Knights, in other words.)

sending a half ton or more Grey Knight flying is still pretty damn strong though. The "split a mountainside" thing might not be brute force purely (or at all, it could be hyperbole).