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Macharius (Heavy Tank)

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Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Tank. For other uses of Macharius, see Macharius (disambiguation).
Macharius Heavy Tank standard variant[6a]

The Macharius is a Heavy Tank named after the legendary Lord Commander Solar Macharius and referred to as a 'second generation' Baneblade, fulfilling the same battlefield role.[3a] The Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars tightly controls the information necessary to build true Baneblades, allowing only a handful of Forge Worlds permission to build these deadly machines to the same standards as those during the Great Crusade. For Forge Worlds seeking to secure large military contracts but lacking the necessary STC data, or who experience a shortfall in Baneblade production, the Macharius is a viable lesser alternative and has become a common sight in the regiments of the Imperial Guard.[1][2]

History

In the mythic past it is known that the Imperial Army once fielded many types of heavy tanks during the Great Crusade, though the knowledge of their design, construction and even the name of some of these tanks has likely been lost. It is the job of the munition-adepts of the Adeptus Mechanicus to rediscover this lost data, a tireless effort which can last years. During one such mission Magos Nalax of forge world Lucius, through diligent study of his world's vast archives, discovered fragments of a blueprint for such a tank. The task of reconstructing the missing data became his life's work, cross-referencing data with components used on the Baneblade and other vehicles, until finally he presented a complete plan before the Fabricator-General on Mars for final approval. The process took two hundred years of careful study and consultation with other forge worlds before acceptance was given and Lucius sanctioned to begin production, though Nalax would not live to see his dream realized.[1][2]

Ironically by this time Lucius had successfully lobbied for the right to build Baneblades and was already constructing them. However they soon found themselves swamped by the Departmento Munitorium's demands for the vehicle, and when the world of Krieg was returned to the Imperial fold it was Lucius that was charged with equipping their newly-raised regiments. To meet these demands Lucius turned to the Macharius, and in 852.M41 the first of these heavy tanks rolled off the production lines for the Death Korps of Krieg. Since that time other forge worlds have been granted permission to build Macharius tanks of their own, and its usage has spread to other regiments.[1][2]

The original name of this vehicle is now lost and remains unknown.[5]

Technical Information

Macharius Heavy Tank

Smaller and with fewer weapons, the Macharius cannot hope to match the Baneblade in firepower, armor, engine performance or advanced logic-engines. Despite these failings it is still a solid heavy tank, carrying very thick frontal armor and twin synchronized Battle Cannons in its main turret. Secondary fire comes in the form of a hull-mounted twin-linked Heavy Stubber and two sponson-mounted Heavy Stubbers, although the latter can be switched out for Heavy Flamers or Heavy Bolters.[1] Some tanks will also carry a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter or Heavy Stubber and/or a single Hunter-Killer Missile.[3a]

The tank requires a large crew to operate manually, with the commander, gunner and two loaders in the turret, while the hull seats the driver, comms-operator/heavy stubber gunner, and two sponson gunners.[1]

Vehicle Name: Macharius[1] Main Armament: 2 x Battle Cannons
Forge World of Origin: Lucius Secondary Armament: 2 x Heavy Stubbers

2 x Heavy Bolters

Known Patterns: I-III Traverse: 360°
Crew: Commander, Driver, Gunner, 2xLoaders, 2xSponson Gunners, Comms-Operator Elevation: From -2° to +28°
Powerplant: LC400 V18 P2 Multi-Fuel Main Ammunition: 40 rounds
Weight: 175 tonnes Secondary Ammunition: 1000 rounds and 600 rounds
Length: 10.9m
Width: 7m Armour
Height: 4.8m
Ground Clearance: .45m Superstructure: 200mm
Fording Depth: {{{Fording Depth}}} Hull: 190mm
Max Speed - on road 26kph Gun Mantlet 150mm
Max Speed - off road: 18kph Vehicle Designation: 8769-128-8734-MA12
Transport Capacity: None Firing Ports: N/A
Access Points: N/A Turret: 220mm


Variants

In addition to resurrecting what became known as the Macharius, Magos Nalax also produced variants which replaced the tank's main armament with alternate weapons.[2]

Macharius 'Vanquisher'

Macharius 'Vanquisher'

The Macharius 'Vanquisher' is armed with twin-linked Vanquisher Cannons in the main turret. While rarer and harder to manufacture than battle cannons, they are capable of using special anti-tank shells in addition to beast hunter shells and standard munitions. Fired at very high velocities, the anti-tank shells can penetrate even the thickest of armour, turning this variant into a potent tank hunter. The Macharius 'Vanquisher' features the same secondary weapons as the original with the ability to mount an additional pintle weapon and/or hunter-killer missile.[3b]

Macharius 'Vulcan'

Macharius 'Vulcan'

The Macharius 'Vulcan' mounts the Vulcan Mega-Bolter, a fearsome weapon normally found on Imperial Titans. Firing thousands of rounds per minute, the Vulcan is a highly-effective anti-infantry platform, able to sweep clear trench systems and suppress enemy heavy weapons teams. Since the mega-bolter is fed by a high-speed autoloader, the Macharius 'Vulcan' requires only a crew of six, using the space previously taken up by the two loaders for more ammunition. The lack of penetrative power against fortified targets limits the tank's usage, while its main drawback is limited internal storage space. Able to carry only twenty seconds worth of continuous fire, most crews will fill the tank's stowage bin with extra ammunition and strap on additional ammunition crates to the hull.[2] The Macharius 'Vulcan' features the same secondary weapons as the original with the ability to mount an additional pintle mounted weapon and/or hunter-killer missile.[3c]

Vehicle Name: Macharius Vulkan[2] Main Armament: Vulcan Mega-Bolter
Forge World of Origin: Lucius Secondary Armament: 2 Heavy Stubbers

2 Heavy Bolters

Known Patterns: I-II Traverse: 360°
Crew: Commander, Driver, Gunner, 2xSponson Gunners, Comms-Operator Elevation: From -2° to +28°
Powerplant: LC400 V18 P2 Multi-Fuel Main Ammunition: 8000 rounds
Weight: 172 tonnes Secondary Ammunition: 1000 rounds and 600 rounds
Length: 10.9m
Width: 7m Armour
Height: 4.8m
Ground Clearance: .45m Superstructure: 200mm
Fording Depth: {{{Fording Depth}}} Hull: 190mm
Max Speed - on road 26kph Gun Mantlet 150mm
Max Speed - off road: 18kph Vehicle Designation: 8769-128-8734-MA14
Transport Capacity: None Firing Ports: N/A
Access Points: N/A Turret: 220mm


Macharius 'Omega'

Macharius Omega[4]

The Macharius 'Omega' is a relatively new addition to the Imperial arsenal, armed with a mighty Omega-pattern Plasma Blastgun. The Omega-pattern Plasma Blastgun, unlike the Ryza-pattern found on Imperial Titans, is a more compact design that is easier to manufacture.[3d] The STC for this weapon was originally discovered by Explorator-Magus Hum'nal in late M39, but a Mechanicus schism over the purity and completeness of its template delayed the testing and eventual deployment of the Omega pattern weapon for centuries.[4] While this allows it to be mounted on smaller vehicles, it is also highly unstable and more prone to overheating than its larger cousin. The comparable ease with which the Macharius 'Omega' can be manufactured and maintained has more then overcome its shortcomings in the eyes of the Departmento Munitorum[3d], and large quantities of resources have been devoted to the forge worlds which produce them such as Lucius, Hellgrace and Dynax Primus. Subsequently, the Omega has proven its worth on the battlefield of Orask, Nicanodes and in counter assaults against the Tyranids on the Sable Nebula.[6a]

Other differences with the Macharius 'Omega' is the removal of the hull-mounted Heavy Stubbers, while the sponsons can mount Heavy Bolters, Heavy Stubbers or Autocannons. It is similarly able to carry a pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber or Storm Bolter and/or a single Hunter-Killer Missile.[3d]

Regiments known to contain Machariuses

Sources


Imperial Guard Vehicles
Armored Vehicles Chimera (ChimeraxChimedonChimerro) • HellhoundBane WolfDevil DogTauroxTaurox PrimeTaurosSentinelSalamander ScoutPegasus AAVSalamander CommandPegasus Command
Tanks Leman Russ (AnnihilatorConquerorEradicatorExecutionerExterminatorPunisherVanquisher) • SiegfriedScyllaDestroyerThunderer
Heavy Vehicles Rogal DornCrassusGorgonMacharius (VanquisherVulcanOmega) • Malcador (AnnihilatorDefenderInfernus) • RagnarokValdor
Super-Heavy Vehicles BanebladeBanehammerBaneswordDoomhammerHellhammerShadowswordStormbladeStormhammerStormlordStormsabreStormswordCapitol ImperialisLeviathan
Artillery BasiliskMedusaColossusDominusWyvernManticorePraetorHydraMinotaurGriffon
Other CyclopsRobot CrawlerCentaurAtlasTrojanLand CrawlerHadesTermiteMoleHellboreSamaritan
Rare/Relic DracosanAuroxCarnodonLeman Russ IncineratorTestudoExcertusAethonHermes