Frankly its hard to take all of the primer useful except for some very technical things, because, like some of the earlier stuff, its blatnatly over the top propoganda and stupid shit we don't actually see in the books and such. Nonetheless, this source often gets cited as a legitimate authority by people, and often I've seen the "joke" bits taken seriously.
I will say, though, the sorts of things they teach or train the Guard on IS surprising (especially the medical bit.)
[b/]Page 8[/b]
Going by the "on paper" way the Guard is run, your typical Guardsman would be littel better than a slave/prisoner (well he still is, but this is worse than the truth.) in reality, it is nowhere NEAR this harsh under most cases. Examples abound of Guardsmen drinking, gambling, even fighting without significant punishment, and without it being "constantly monitored."You will know neither privacy nor solitude again. Your daily programme of acitvities is pre-determined. your living quarters (when available) will be monitored. Your equipment will be inspected with frequency. Your behaviour, mental disposition and moral fortitude will be under non-stop scrutiny. You are being watched, monitored and judged at all times.
Pages 8-12
- I'm not going to bother listing specific crimes, but its interesting (and amusing) to note that on paper (in the primer) alot of different crimes warrant various punishments (mainly hanging, flogging, and shooting) I say "on paper", because in practice (as shown in the novels) it tends to be alot less severe when some of these activities occur. Some examples:
- Gambling is worth flogging and prison time, yet Guard soldiers have been known to gamble without penalty.
- Failure to salute an officer is worth flogging, but is not always observed. (This seems to be more a "case by case" basis - not all officers are stuck up assholes.)
- duelling or brawling/fighting is punishable by hanging (the former) or by incarceration and other (to be determined) punishments in the case of the latter. Nonetheless it does happen (the Validans vs Catachans in Death World, for example.)
- Intoxication/sleeping on sentry duty is worth death generally. Neither is explicitly Seen in the books, but Guards have been seen to be more relaxed and/or possess alcoholic beverages (just not outright drunkeness), like Hawke in Storm of Iron.
Briefly speaking - this is another case of the "higher echelons" of the Imperium trying to impose their own (usually absurd/unrealistic) ideas on the lower ranks, and at most meeting with partial success - the individual regiments/grroups tend to make up their own minds "unofficially."
I will note that the "crimes during insurrections" rule (which prevents looting, murder, rape, and all manner of other crimes.) IS upheld and punishable by death, as we see in Guns of Tanith if I can remember correctly. The other usual suspects [Heresy, Desertion, collaboration with the enemy, etc.) are to be expected.
Page 13
The training of regiments will, of course, differ because of the fact that regiments come from myriad different planets. It also reinfores the idea that the Guard/regiment system is a form of specialized production (IE Catachans are jungle fighters, Tallarn are raiders/skirmishers, Attilan rough riders, Elysian drop troops, etc.)Details of the training regime will differ from regiment to regiment, depending on their individual skills, traditions, customs and established practices.
Page 14
It is not unusual for average guardsmen to have access to visual enhanecment gear of some kind (which presumes includes infrared goggles and such.)If you have access to lux-amp goggles or any visual aid, make use of them.[
Page 15
Again Guardsmen seem to be (in theory) little mroe than a slave/conscript army. It is interesting that becoming a Guardsman means you are no longer a citizen of the Imperium (what "freedom and rights" might mean under the Imperium probably varies and I'll leave up to others to decide). On one hand, the military basically owns you, though it does care for you pretty well frrom what we've seen. On another, you're effectively out from under civil law and justice anywhere you go (the military decides, which usually means either the regiment itself, the commissarat, or both.)Upon becoming a component of the Imperial Guard (however this may have occured) you have forfeited your freedom and rights as a citizen of the Imperium, in return for the glory of fighting for the just cause of our Immortal Emperor.
This also effectively keeps the Guard out from under the control of "local" authority.
Page 16-17
Quite a bit of equipment in the Guard, but they seem really well equipped. Of particular note, the "blessed" range-finder (targeting aid? Its not for sight calibration as that is a separate device, nor is it field glasses which is under "other items.") the medical kit (each trooper seems to have one), helmet with a comm bead, "full body" flak armour (full body protection, in other words.) 4 lasgun power packs,List of attire
Combat fatigues
Shirt
Undershirt
Socks x 4
Undergarments
Greatcoat
Rain overalls
Combat boots and laces
Full body flak armour
Webbing
Leg gaiters
Belt and hoslters
Bandolier
Field rucksack w/ straps
Helmet w/ micro bead pic-up (where available)
List of arms/ammunition/maintnenace of
Short pattern M-G standard lasgun
Spare power packs x4
Long patter bayonet/combat knife w/ sheath
Auto-pistol w/ 5 spare clips and holster
Frag grenades x4
Blessed range finder
Lasgun maintenance kit, consisting of -
Blessed Sight Calibrator
Sanctioned cleaning agent
Oiling agent
Bottle of Sacred Unguent of Cleansing
Bottle of Sacred Oil of Lubrication
Tin of Blessed Sealing Wax
Blessed soft-cloth for swabbing
Muzzle rod and swab
holy toolbox w/ repair instruments
Spare lasgun stock (engraved with icon of faith)
Spare lasgun barrel (engraved with icon of true-shot)
List of tools
9-70 entrenching tool
Hand axe
Multi-purpose tool kit
Standard issue lamp-pack
List of medical supplies
Standard swabs
Salt tablets
Water purifying tablets
Food supplement tablets
Guard issue medi-pack consisting of-
Gauze/bandages (blessed)
Vein clamps (sterilized)
Lotion of embalm
Phials of morphia x4
Sterilizing fluid of cleansing
cleansed surgical grapple
Synth-skin canister
Sanctioned insect repellent
Blessed lotions, acids, ,alkali, meidicinal tonics, tablets and internal cleansers (for enema adminstration)
List of other items
Sand bags X4
Mess kit (spoon, knife, fork, mug, tray)
Canteen
Collapsible water bag
Canvas sack
Blanket
Sleep bag
Field glasses
Gas respirator w/ morius MkVIII filter
Spare boot laces
Dry rations
Dog tags
Tent w/ pole, rope and pins
Whistle
Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer
Adhesive tape
Tinder box
Grooming kit, consisting of
White soap
Dry scrub brush
Shaving brush
Razors X2
Toothbrush
Tooth powder
Its also worth noting that the Guard does put an emphasis on hygiene and health, which one might not expect from the "feudalism in space, its GOOOTHIIIC" attitude.
Page 18
The lasgun is made to the same specifications (with a few variations) all over the galaxy. It is the most reliable ranged weapon ever manufactured. It is light, simple to maintain, has decent range and accuracy and has won many wars since the incecption of the Imperial Guard. You can drop it, hit it, use it as a club or submerge it, ,and it will keep on working. (although it is recommended that you do not do any of these things unless absolutely necessary)
The lasgun provides the following virtus-
Lightness, combined with strength.
Simplicity, and ease of stripping in the field
Ability to fire either in bursts or in a succession of single shots.
Lasgun description. most of it is "already known", of course. The two important details.. its noted to have "decent range and accuracy", but relative to what isn't speficied (relative to an auto-gun?, for example?)
Also, the "ability to fire in bursts" or a succession of "single shots" - note this for later, in regard to the "rate of fire" given. It does imply it can fire multiple shots per burst/pull of the trigger.
Page 18
It [lasgun] operates on a nineteen megathule range and can therefore utilise any Departmento Munitorum sanctioned power packs. It can fire on two power settings, 'low' and 'high'. On the low power setting it has a whining sound, and on full power a sharp cracking report.
Although of universal design, variations do exist, ,usually dependent upon the type of raw materials available on the planet of manufacture.
Reiteration of the "nineteen megathule" concept, though it doesn't specify what this refers to. Interestingly (despite what is hinted at in Guns of Tanith) this particular lasgun seems to be able to utilize multiple kinds of power pack (at least Imperium made) suggesting the Ghost weapons were more specialized weapons. It also has "multiple" power settings (it says two, but the diagram shows what may be three, and other sources imply more than two, given that based on First and Only and the "triplex" lasgun, ,settings may alter power by a factor of two or maybe three.)
Both settings sound distinctly different from each other.
Page 18 and 20
Service designation - Standard M-G short pattern lasgun/lasrifle
Weight - 2.3 kg
Length - 90 cm
Magazine type - 19 mt's (inc. rechargable)
Type of fire: single shot or fully automatic
Rate of fire (cyclic) - 220 shots per minute
Shot intensity - low to high
Sights -Adjustable, back and front sights w/ optional laser sight/integral optics.
Stats on the MG pattern lasgun. Note that the "nineteen megathule" thing implies it refers to the "magazine type", though what this means I don't know. It is interesting that it seems to "include" recahrgable types of magazines.
The cyclic ROF is pathetically low though. Tha tworks out to about 3.67 shots per second, about what you could do with a semiautomatic pistol by pulling a trigger. (even shotguns have higher rates of fire.) It may be that rate of fire is variable or depends on the rifle. (earlier it was noted that "bursts", which may imply that a lasgun could fire several shots per pull... 6-8 shots per second.)
Lastly note that "integral optics" are considered optional here, though they're implied to be standard elsewhere (and many examples of Guard/PDF rifles have scopes of some kind.) Also note that they can use a "laser sight".
Page 19
- Lasgun diagram. Of note:
- firing controsl on M-G pattern located near trigger - power setting seems to have "Max" and "min" (but can also be set in between, ,implying three settings, not two). fire rate varies between "Automatic, "repetition, single shot", and "safe.)
- Optic sight "not standard" - or so it claims, debatable, sinc eother lasguns have demonstrated integrated optics and such (3rd edition, ,as well as in novels) Rare is the lasgun I hve seen (short of carbines) that lacks sightgs.
- lasgun stocks, powerpacks, scope/sights, and barrels can be easily added/removed. Long-las barrels (with flash suppressor) are shown alongside the regular barrel, implying that long-las and lasguns are largely a matter of swapping out components (or adding others)
Page 20
Exposing the thermal cells to light or heat will also, over time, charge up the packs. Placing the pack in an open fire will also have an effect, but this shortens the pack's life and reliability. It is recommended tha thtis method of recharging is only used in an emergency.
Means of recharging the powerpack. Note that it doesnt specify how long it takes to recharge, or how big a fire, so estimating output based on this is pure guesswork. It is implied to take awhile though, and this seems to be more of an "emergency" measure than the preferre dmeans.
Page 21
If a problem occurs that is beyond your skill to rectify, report the fault immediately to the armourer or techseers so a proper overhaul, with the correct litanies and incantations, can be prescribed to the ailing machine.
The Guard is implied here to have technical personnel who are not specifically AdMech techpriests (thats what I'm guessing a techseer is.), perhaps something akin to a Techmarine. One presumes, however, such personnel are overseen/under the influence of AdMech personnel of course.
Page 21-22
Some regiments will issue infantrymen with a pistol model of some description. It is felt in some quarters that a sidearm can be a useful addition to a soldier's armoury. This is not universal however, as many regiments believe that onyl officers should be equipped with such devicecs. Other regiments allow their ranks to acquire spoils from the battle field for their own use, and pistols are popular choices. Because of this, a brief description of the standard auto pistol is given here as a referencec.
The autopistol is simple, effective and manufauctured to roughly the same design all acorss the galaxy. It is a one-hnaded firearm that delivers solid bullets, using a hammer ot ignite the combustible element, over a medium to short range. Its acruacy is moderate, and is best used in short range or close quarters combat. It has considerable stopping power, but if the target is wearing armour, the force of the projectile can be greatly diminished.
These specifications are by no means universeal throughout the Imperium, but they can be considered generically accurate.
Sidearms are not a universally standard bit of gear (varies from regiment to regiment) as well as the type of sidearm (las, autopistol, or what.)
Page 22
Service designation - auto pistol
Weight- Between 300-800g
Length - between 9-25cm
Length of barrel - between 4-18cm
Magazine Type- straight, between 5-30 rounds
Type of fire - single or automatic
Rate of fire - between 60-150 shots per minute
Sights - fixed front and centre optic sight (custom sights universal)
Rate of fire here, agian is pathetic. basically 1-2.5 shots per second. This cannot refer to "automatic" rate of fire, because you could fire much faster in just in semiautomatic.
Autopistols can have VERY long barrels, though.. 18 cm is a bit over 7" long. (an MP-5 has a bout a 9" barrel) That would suggest some fairly long range and power at least in those configurations. Its also more of a PDW than a "pistol", as it has fully automatic fire. More like a compact Uzi I suppose. Or an MP-7.
They also have "optic" sights (as standard, it would seem.)
Page 23
They [frag grenades] work on a short fuse mechanism, and when the detonation process is begun the explosive is primed to blow. When it does [fuse time is adjustable] the device explodes, scattering a wide area (About 10 metres on unobtursive terrain) with lethal shards of metal. Anyone caught in the area of effect withotu sufficient protection will be torn to shreds as the blast debris buries itself in the victim's flesh.
The explosive radius of a frag grenade seems rather low for the grenade (US frag grenades can have 15-20 meters, like here) Its possible that this accounts for the kinds of enemies they face - these might be designed to be effective against creatures like Orks and Tyranids as well as human opponents, that would require alot of power. And we know Imperium grenades can be more powerful (and that conventional explosives are many times more powerful than what we have already.)
Page 23
Judge the enemy's location, estimated route, and speed and adjust the detonation timer for most effecitve use of the device. Do this by twisting the outer ring until the correct time (in seconds) in pointed to by the arrow marker.
Timer mechanism on frag grenades.
Page 24
The enemy may use such despicable methods as gas or chemical attacks at anyy time, and without warning. A confident and sure trooper can put his mask on in a matter of about seven seconds.
How long a "confident" trooper can take to put on his gas mask.
Page 24
The mask will protect your face, eyes, lungs and throat from most known gas, chemical and bio weapons.
...
Air is drawn through teh canister where deadly gasses, vapours and dark breathes of the enemy are removed, either mechanically or by chemical action.
Capabilities and design of the gas mask.