From Lexicanum

The Deathwind Orbital Strike Force was an Adeptus Astartes unit used by the Imperium of Man.

Overview

Drop pods were used by the Adeptus Astartes since the time of the Horus Heresy which allowed Space Marines to be deployed onto the battlefield quickly and without warning from their orbiting Battle barges where they landed where they were most needed making them an unexpected force for the enemy. Though this was the most used tactic, the drop pods were flexible machines that were capable of performing a wide variety of functions rather then deploying troops. They were capable of being reconfigured into boarding torpedoes to assault enemy ships or be fitted with stealth fields to land a squad behind enemy lines undetected. However, most of all, they were used as part of the Deathwind Orbital Strike.

Those drop pods that were part of the Deathwind Orbital Strike Force did not carry troops but rather made use of Deathwind missile launchers which were packed with extra ammunition as well as more powerful sensors which directed the weapons with increased range as well as firepower. Once done so, the drop pods were launched in a coordinated pattern where they were aimed into the heart of the enemy's army. As they crashed onto the landing field, the drop pods ramps opened and its arsenal of weapons blanketed enemy positions with a barrage of fire.

A typical Deathwind Orbital Strike Force formation consisted of a single locator beacon drop pod with three standard deathwind equipped drop pods.¹

Sources

• ¹: UK White Dwarf 348; pg 41