Hazard Close Support Armour
The XV9 'Hazard' Close Support Armour is a newly-introduced Battlesuit used by the Tau Empire. Though highly sophisticated and powerful, the XV9's introduction has caused controversy.[1]
Overview
At its core, the XV9 is a short-range close combat weapons platform, its reinforced chassis being much larger than any other Battlesuit design and using experimental technology to pack enormously-powerful weapons powered by a compact energy core.[1] This loadout, besides going against typical Tau military doctrines, also requires a substantial expenditure of resources to produce. Traditionalist elements of the Ethereal and Earth Caste have argued that that these costs would be better used building more tried and true weapons, however those Fire Caste members who use it, especially members of the Ke'lshan Sept, swear by its ability to fulfill the counter-attack role.[1]
Because of the sophisticated nature of the XV9's controls, only Shas'vre with years of experience piloting Crisis Battlesuits are assigned to pilot the 'Hazard' armour.[1] They will typically operate in teams of one to three, including a team leader.Three of these teams will often operate as part of a Swift Protector Wing to perform dangerous battlefield duties.[1]
Equipment
The standard XV9 armour is armed with two Twin-linked burst cannons and has inbuilt photon casters to launch defensive Photon Grenades. In addition to their jetpack, the armour also has Vectored Retro-Thrusters for increased maneuverability. Support systems include a Multi-tracker and either a Blacksun Filter, Drone Controller, Target Lock or Shield Generator.[1] One or both of the Burst Cannons can be replaced with a Pulse Submunitions Rifle.[1]
Variants
- XV9-01: Armed with Fusion Cascades[2]
- XV9-04: Armed with Phased Ion Guns[3]
Images
XV9-01 with Fusion Cascades[2]
XV9-04 with Phased Ion Guns[3]
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour - Apocalypse II, pgs. 58–59
- 2: XV9-01 (last accessed 30 October 2015)
- 3: XV9-04 (last accessed 30 October 2015)
Tau Empire Forces | |
---|---|
Leadership | Ethereal • Tau Commander • Fireblade |
Troops | Fire Warrior Team (Strike Team • Breacher Team) • Pathfinder Team • Stealthsuit Team • Drone Squadron |
Battlesuits | XV8 Crisis (XV8 • XV8-02 • XV81 • XV84 • XV85 • XV86 • XV89) • XV15 Stealth • XV22 Stealth • XV25 Stealth • XV95 Ghostkeel • XV88 Broadside • XV9 Hazard XV46 Vanguard • XV104 Riptide • XV107 R'varna • XV109 Y'vahra • KV128 Stormsurge • KX139 Ta'unar |
Vehicles | Devilfish • Drone Harbinger • Hammerhead • Piranha • Sky Ray • Tetra • Swordfish |
Aircraft | Barracuda • Manta • Orca • Sun Shark • Razorshark • Tiger Shark • Remora |
Auxiliaries | Kroot Shaper • Kroot Carnivore Squad • Kroot Hound • Krootox • Knarloc • Great Knarloc • Vespid Stingwing • Gue'vesa |
Special Characters | Aun'va • Aun'shi • Shadowsun • Farsight • Darkstrider • Longstrike |