Cadian Shock Troopers var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};

Imperial Guard Portal

The Cadian Shock Troopers are Imperial Guard regiments from the fortress world of Cadia. Located at the edge of the Eye of Terror, Cadia forms the first line of defence against Chaos incursions, such as the Black Crusades. Because of this, Cadia is one of the most strategically important planets in the Galaxy, and the entire population is militarized to some degree.^4a

The Cadians are widely regarded as some of the best troops in the Imperium, short of the Space Marines themselves.^1,2

Basic Data	Miniature
- Cadian Shock Troopers - Homeworld: Cadia Regiment Name: Cadian Shock Troopers Specialities: Discipline, Marksmanship

Ursarkar E. Creed and the Cadian 8th at the Battle of Tyrok Fields.

Recruitment and training

As a fortress world, the entire population of Cadia is under arms. Cadian children are taught to strip, assemble and shoot a Lasgun before they are taught how to write.^4a As soon as they are of age, every Cadian teenager is inducted into the Youth Armies, organized into Whiteshield platoons and trained under grueling conditions at a castellum. When not in combat alongside the Shock Troopers these Youth Armies fight mock battles against each other in the Cadian wilderness. The best and most promising of these cadets are selected for special training, eventually joining the elite Kasrkin Storm Troopers.^5e

Additionally, one out of every ten Cadian soldiers, regardless of their abilities or achievements, are inducted into the Cadian Interior Guard. For this reason many excellent soldiers serve their entire military service on Cadia, making the planet's defense forces one of the best military organizations in the entire Imperium.^5a

Cadian training emphasizes strength, stamina, marksmanship, self-sacrifice and above all discipline. Every challenge and exercise undertaken during basic training is performed in groups of squad-size or larger, with success possible only when the team operates effectively together.^4b As such, Cadian regiments tend to have a higher number of Veteran Squads, and every Cadian soldier is considered a formidable marksman.^4a,5c Cadian nobles are raised from birth to be officers and are trained in the dictates of the Tactica Imperium to become excellent tacticians and strategists.^4a,5c

Equipment and Organization

Standard Uniform pre M38

As a heavily industrialized and militarized planet, Cadia is able to supply the Shock Troopers with the finest equipment available. Their uniforms are camouflaged to suit the various terrains found in the Cadian wilderness.^4a The M36 Kantrael lasrifle, the stock lasgun of the Shock Troopers, is noted for its robustness compared to other lasgun marks.^4b The standard Cadian tri-dome helmet and mark XI re-breather allows Shock Troopers to withstand poison and gas attacks, as well as plague weapons, and permit limited operation within an airless environment.^3b Officers are also noted for wearing a distinctive gorget used to contain refractor field generators.^3b Grenade Launchers are the preferred squad support weapon of Cadian infantry, while autocannons are favored among heavy weapon squads.^3c

Sentinels, especially the Cadian-pattern Sentinel, as well as Hellhounds are used for a variety of roles, while Chimeras are the standard personnel carrier.^5c For armour support the Cadians favour the Leman Russ Battle Tank and Demolisher variant, though they also make use of the Vanquisher, Conqueror, and Executioner.⁹ More rare vehicles include the Destroyer Tank Hunter.⁶ Super-heavy vehicles include the Baneblade, Shadowsword, Stormblade and Stormsword.⁶ Salamander Scout and Command vehicles are also used for reconnaissance, while Basilisks, Griffons, Medusa Siege Tanks and Manticores provide artillery support.⁶ Anti-aircraft duty is fulfilled by Hydra Flak Tanks and Manticore variants, while static weapon systems include the Tarantula.⁶ Support functions such as vehicle recovery or resupply are fulfilled by dedicated vehicles such as the Trojan or Atlas.⁹

Cadian regiments are organized around a core of companies, typically a maximum of twelve,^7,9 although some have as many as twenty-four.^3a Infantry and mechanized infantry companies are composed of a command section and anywhere from three to five platoons, sometimes including a heavy weapons platoon. Each platoon can include as few as three⁹ or as many as six⁷ squads, sometimes including a heavy weapons squad, led by a platoon command section. Normal squads are given a unique three-digit identifier, while command squads use a two-digit number with a central skull motif; special veteran or Kasrkin squads use a three-digit number beginning with one or two zeros.^3b The platoon may also have additional units attached to it, such as a sentry gun battery or recon squadron of Sentinels.⁸ In some infantry regiments, the heavy weapons and infantry are segregated, in which case every fourth company is a dedicated Heavy Weapons Company.⁹ Additional formations can be attached to the regiment to provide support, such as a reconnaissance company of Salamanders or an artillery brigade with Basilisks, Griffons and Hydras.⁷ Regimental headquarters, in addition to its normal staff, also includes a signals and medic company or platoon, along with any other attached units such as ordinance companies or Commissars.^7,9

Armoured regiments will have a similar number of companies, with typically three squadrons of three vehicles and a command vehicle each.⁹ Occasionally an armoured regiment will include a super-heavy company, which at most will include three vehicles.⁶ Armoured regiments will typically have additional units attached to provide support, including reconnaissance and artillery formations.⁹

Noteworthy Engagements

Cadian regiments have been involved in many engagements, both on and off their homeworld.

During Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade, the Cadians had to fight on their own soil. In the early stages of the Crusade, they confronted and destroyed the Volscani Cataphracts (a renegade Imperial Guard army) at the Battle of Tyrok Fields. They were eventually successful at securing the Cadia system, although at a heavy price to human life and resources.^{5 p. 12}

Cadians were also among the Imperial forces that fought in the Third War for Armageddon.¹⁰

Notable Cadian Shock Troopers

• Lord Castellan Ursarkar E. Creed – Supreme Commander of Cadia's military forces, Colonel-in-Chief of the 8th Cadian
• General Sturnn - 412th Cadian
• Colonel Stranski - 114th Cadian Mechanised
• Warden-Colonel Parmenion Thade - 88th Cadian Mechanised Infantry
• Knight Commander Pask - Cadia's greatest tank ace
• 2nd Lieutenant Mira - 203rd Cadian
• Colour Sergeant Jarran Kell - 8th Cadian, Lord Castellan Creed's right-hand man
• Guardsman Drasquez - 91st Cadian
• Lord General Mohamar Antoninus deViers - Supreme Commander, 18th Army Group Exolon
• Major General Gerard Bergen - 18th Army Group Exolon
• Sergeant Lukas Bastonne
• Sergeant Oskar Andreas Wulfe - Tank Commander, 81st Cadian Armoured

Quotes

• "Any Cadian who can't field-strip his own lasgun by age ten was born on the wrong planet." – Anonymous^4a
• "If it was a miracle then it was a Kantrael short-pattern nineteen-megathule Lasrifle miracle" - General Karnow following the 122nd Cadian's victory at Vogen^5c

Images

A 2nd Edition Cadian Lieutenant

A squad of Cadian Shock Troopers

Sources

• ¹:Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition), p. 11
• ²:Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 1st Codex)
• ³:Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)
  • ^3a: p. 10
  • ^3b: p. 16
  • ^3c: p. 58
• ⁴:Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)
  • ^4a: p. 14
  • ^4b: 38
• ⁵:Codex: Eye of Terror
  • ^5a: p. 5
  • ^5b: p. 6
  • ^5c: p. 37
  • ^5d: p. 38
  • ^5e: p. 39
• ⁶:Imperial Armour Volume One
• ⁷:Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, p. 265
• ⁸:Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project, p. 138-139
• ⁹:Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse, p. 103
• ¹⁰:Codex: Armageddon, p. 32