Thunderer
From Lexicanum
The Thunder (Siege Tank) is a conversion of the Destroyer Tank Hunter chassis. It allows the chassis to be reused by replacing the Laser Destroyer with a Demolisher Cannon when it breaks. It was probably created in a Departmento Munitorum Field Workshop during a major battle as a way to reuse weaponless chassis for close street fighting.
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History
Originally it was probably created to reuse spare chassis, but it soon came to be used as a close range infantry support vehicle in difficult terrain. They can help infantry advance by destroying intervening terrain features while also giving them rapid support if they come across something they can't handle.
In the 41st Millennium
Once the Laser Destroyer has been stripped out, as well as its capacitors and batteries, there is just about enough space for a Demolisher Cannon and ammunition to be installed, although only around 18 Demolisher Shells can be carried at once, a pitiful amount in a battlefield situation.
Often, commanders will still chose a Leman Russ Demolisher over the Thunderer, but the main role of the Thunderer is to engage enemy held buildings or bunkers which are directly in front of it. Having no turret reduces the chances of taking a fatal hit which could disable the weapon and it reduces the overall profile of the vehicle. While the vehicle could potentially destroy tanks, the short range and small traverse distance of the gun makes it less useful for this.
The Thunderer is not a vehicle produced specifically for deployment as it is more likely that the regiment will have Demolishers. Any Thunderers will likely be there to fill any gaps in the Demolisher line. It is possible however that a few Thunderers have been produced as newly built vehicles.
Often extra armour plates and bracing is installed in the roof of the vehicle to protect from overhead attacks in tight city fights.
Regiments known to contain Thunderers
- 18th Catachan Jungle Fighters Regiment - 'the Swamp Rats'
- 17th Tallarn Armoured Regiment
- 2nd Palladius Armoured Regiment
- 21st Krieg Armoured Regiment - Vorenz III
- Skitarii - Mars regiment
- Armageddon Steel Legion
Armament and Upgrades
The Thunderer is armed with a Demolisher Cannon. It may also be upgraded with Camo Netting, Extra Armour, a Hunter-killer Missile, Improved Comms, a Mine Sweeper, a pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber/Storm Bolter, a Rough Terrain Modification, a Searchlight, Track Guards and Smoke Launchers.
| Vehicle Name: | Thunderer Siege Tank | Main Armament: | Demolisher Cannon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Field Conversion | Secondary Armament: | None |
| Known Patterns: | I-II | Traverse: | 5 degrees |
| Crew: | Commander, Gunner, Driver | Elevation: | From -3 to +12 degrees |
| Powerplant: | HL230 V12 multi-fuel | Main Ammunition: | 18 rounds |
| Weight: | 52 tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | N/A |
| Length: | 7.08m | Armour | |
| Width: | 4.86m | ||
| Height: | 3.40m | Superstructure: | 200mm |
| Ground Clearance: | 0.45m | Hull: | 150mm |
| Max Speed - on road | 32kph | Gun Mantlet | 150mm |
| Max Speed - off road: | 22kph | Vehicle Designation: | 0427-941-2020-LR011 |
| Tranport Capacity: | None | Firing Ports: | n/a |
| Access Points: | n/a | Turret: | N/A |
Sources
| Leman Russ Chassis | Leman Russ Battle Tank • Leman Russ Demolisher • Leman Russ Annihilator • Leman Russ Conqueror • Leman Russ Exterminator • Leman Russ Executioner • Leman Russ Punisher • Leman Russ Vanquisher • Destroyer Tank Hunter • Thunderer • Bombard • Atlas |
|---|---|
| Chimera Chassis | Chimera • Hellhound • Basilisk • Griffon • Medusa Siege Tank • Salamander Command • Salamander Scout • Hydra Flak Tank • Manticore • Trojan |
| Other | Sentinel • Cyclops • Siegfried • Bruennhilde• Centaur |
| Super Heavy Tanks | Baneblade • Stormblade • Shadowsword • Stormsword • Stormhammer • Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport |
