Heavy bolter

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Astartes MK IVa Heavy Bolter, with Belt Feed

Backpack with Belt Feed

The Heavy Bolter is a Bolt Weapon generally used for fire support missions, also known as the "Back Breaker" or the "Bruiser" by the crew who have to carry it because of its great weight - but also because of the heavy punishment it can deal out to the enemy.¹ It fires a round considerably larger than that of the bolter, with a much higher rate of fire and longer range. These factors allow this anti-personnel weapon to be used against better armoured foes, including Lightly armoured vehicles, than the standard pattern Bolter. While generally operated by a two man crew, the Heavy Bolter is capable of being held and fired by a lone individual in Power Armour such as a Space Marine or Sister of Battle. The weapon also commonly finds itself employed as a support weapon system on many of the Imperium's vehicles.

The most modern version of the Heavy Bolter in wide spread use is the Astartes Mk IVc. The weapon goes through rounds very quickly using either a disintegrating belt or 40 round high capacity box magazine.⁴ It can be fitted with Hellfire Rounds, that launch thousands of needles with mutagenic acid on impact, which are especially effective against Tyranids.^1,2 It may also be fitted with a bipod to be used in a sustained fire capacity.