Baal Predator
The Baal Predator is an infantry support tank used only by the Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter and their successor Chapters.
The Baal Predator was developed by Techmarines of the Blood Angels Chapter as a modification to their Predator Battle Tanks. It was designed to carry weapons with a high rate of fire, giving it devastating anti-infantry power and enabling it to lay down a withering hail of fire as the Blood Angels advance, scything down enemy infantry and light vehicles with terrifying efficiency.
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History
Like the other Predator variants, the Baal is based on the ubiquitous Rhino chassis. The pattern has seen service by the Blood Angels almost since their inception as a Legion. The STC template for the Baal's construction was recovered during the early parts of the Great Crusade on Atium III, from the ruins of the arch techno-heretic Lord de Ladt.2 Instead of giving the template to the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Blood Angels kept it and placed it within a stasis-cell on Baal where it remains to this day, protected as a relic of the Chapter.2 This has served as a source of friction between the Blood Angels, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, and the Adeptus Mechanicus, which claims that this variant and its STC template were never officially sanctified. Because of this, the design is now only produced by the Blood Angels themselves and by their descendant chapters.2
Design
Because of the Blood Angel's refusal its construction methods with others, the Baal Predator is only assumed to sport the same design features found in other Predator tanks.2 The main observable differences are the weapons which the Baal Predator carries. The Baal Predator's turret mounts either a set of twin-linked assault cannons or a Flamestorm Cannon3. Its side sponsons are capable of mounting heavy bolters or heavy flamers. This makes the Baal pattern highly effective at supporting close infantry assaults, part of the preferred method of combat practiced by the Blood Angels.2
Equipment
The Baal Predator can also be equipped with a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter as well as Dozer Blades, Extra Armour, a Hunter-killer Missile, a Searchlight and Smoke Launchers.
Technical Information
| Vehicle Name: | Baal Predator5 | Main Armament: | Twin-linked Assault Cannons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Baal | Secondary Armament: | Sponson-mounted Heavy Flamers |
| Known Patterns: | I-VI | Traverse: | 360° |
| Crew: | Driver, Gunner | Elevation: | From -15° to 28° |
| Powerplant: | Quad MkII Adaptable Thermic Combustor Reactor | Main Ammunition: | 1200 rounds |
| Weight: | 44 tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | 20 shots |
| Length: | 6.6m | Armour | |
| Width: | 6.0m (with sponsons) | ||
| Height: | 6.6m | Superstructure: | 65mm |
| Ground Clearance: | 0.44m | Hull: | 55mm |
| Max Speed - on road | 68kph | Gun Mantlet | 65mm |
| Max Speed - off road: | 50kph | Vehicle Designation: | 0120-766-0724-PR120 |
| Transport Capacity: | None | Firing Ports: | n/a |
| Access Points: | n/a | Turret: | 65mm |
See Also
Sources
- 1Codex: Blood Angels (3rd Edition)
- 2Imperial Armour Volume 2, p. 45
- 3Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition), p.36
