Battle of Macragge
From Lexicanum
The Battle of Macragge was one of the most important to take place during the 41st Millennium as it was the first major engagement with the Tyranids, specifically Hive Fleet Behemoth.
Forewarned of the impending Tyranid attack on Macragge by Inquisitor Kryptman, the Ultramarines Chapter Master Marneus Calgar was able to prepare the system's defences. The Ultramarines, bolstered by units of the PDF of Ultramar and a Segmentum Tempestus battlefleet that had been dispatched from Bakka prepared to repulse the alien invaders.
When the Tyranids finally launched their attack the Imperial Fleet had not yet arrived, so the Ultramarines employed a risky strategy; They trapped the Tyranid fleet between the orbital defences of Macragge and the Ultramarines fleet. Realizing it's predicament the Hive Mind launched an attack on the polar fortresses of Macragge which were guarded by the Ultramarines 1st Company, which consisted mainly of Space Marines equipped with the ancient and deadly suits of Terminator Armour. With support from the PDF, the Titans of the Legio Praetor made the Tyranids pay for every inch of ground they tried to take. With the timely arrival of the fleet from Bakka the Tyranid fleet was caught in a deadly vice and began to take heavy losses.The combined Imperial fleet also took heavy losses, including the Emperor Class Battleship Dominus Astra which, in a noble act of sacrifice, charged into the midst of the Tyranid fleet and activated its warp drives, dragging the remaining Tyranids into the uncontrolled warp vortex. With the Hive Fleet smashed, the Ultramarines raced back to the polar fortresses on Macragge. The 7th company was dispatched to deal with the southern fortress whilst the 3rd company was deployed to cleanse the northern fortress. After a long and hard battle the last Tyranid on Macragge was dead and Hive Fleet Behemoth was defeated, though at a terrible cost. The entire Ultramarines 1st company was wiped out, a grievous blow to the chapter, and one from which it has taken the Ultramarines over a century to recover.
