Marine
From Lexicanum
Contents |
Overview
Marine is the generic name for any of the genetically modified warriors of the Space Marine chapter and make up all of their fighting forces. Every unit within the Space Marine forces is made up of variations in the equipment and desires of the marines, however they are all the technically still regular Space Marines.
Background
Space Marines are created from genetically engineered implants known as zygotes. They are placed within a potential Marine over a period of years in which they train to be one of the ultimate fighting forces in the galaxy.
Squads are led by Sergeants and they are often the most experienced members of the squad itself. They are allowed greater flexibility in their armament and commonly arm themselves with close combat equipment to give their squads greater effectiveness if they should find themselves in combat.
Command Squad
The Command Squad is there to join a member of the HQ as its bodyguard, but also functions as a rallying point with several specialist units. A Command Squad is made up of a Sergeant and four to nine Marines as well as up to three Marines acting as an Apothecary, Company Standard Bearer and Company Champion. The squad can use a Rhino or Razorback, if their numbers allows this. If a Chaplain is leading the Command Squad, it becomes a Reclusiam Command Squad where the Company Standard Bearer can carry a Holy Relic instead of the Company Standard. If a Librarian is leading a Command Squad it becomes a Librarium Command Squad, although the composition doesn't change.
Tactical Squad
A Tactical Squad is made up of between 4 and 9 Marines and 1 Sergeant and may be mounted in a Rhino or, if the squad is sufficiently small, a Razorback.
Assault Squad
An Assault Squad is a unit of Marines who have dedicated themselves to high speeds, high flying and close combat. Their power armour is modified to incorporate a Jump Pack although on occasion they will fight without them if the situation calls for this.
Devastator Squad
A Devastator Squad is made up of those Marines who have decided to specialize in long range fire fights with heavy weapons. Often their Power Armour is modified in order to make it stronger or to have it carry a larger power source for the weapon they are wielding.
Veteran Squad
A Veteran Squad is a group of Space Marines who have survived a large number of battles and campaigns and have become recognized as knowledgeable and tough in the face of danger. They are usually given a wide variety of weapons and equipment and a little more leeway to do with as they wish.
Ultramarines Tyrannic War Veterans
Tyrannic War Veterans belong to the Ultramarines only and represent the culmination of training and equipping of marines designed for combat against Tyranids. With the destruction of the First Company during the defence of Macragge against Hive Fleet Behemoth, the Ultramarines desire to maintain the Codex Astartes led them to rapidly repopulate the First Company veterans with marines selected by Chaplain Cassius. These new elites were not perfectly in alignment with the Codex Astartes, however they can be seen to replace the First Company, though they are far more specialised and would not generally be deployed against other races.
Ultramarines Honour Guards
Ultramarines Honour Guards are some of the greatest warriors of the Ultramarines chapter. They are granted Axes of Ultramar and disperse amongst the chapter, lending aid where they can.
Shrike's Wing
Shrike's Wing are formed of the best marines Shrike trained himself during his two year behind-the-scenes campaign on Targus VIII, when he was stranded behind Ork lines. They are very well equipped and are adept at sneaking up behind enemy forces and engaging them before disappearing into the darkness before they can be counter-attacked. they are equipped with jump packs and lighting claws, which makes them the probably deadliest close-combat Marines in the galaxy.
Equipment
Weapons
The standard armament for a Marine is the Bolter, launching a self-propelled explosive bolt which is effective against many forms of lighter armour and smaller vehicles.
- Special Weapons
- Flamer - A promethium based weapon used by most units for destroying large groups of lightly armoured enemies.
- Plasma Gun - An ancient relic from the past containing the power of a collapsing star but also being about as dangerous to the user as the enemy it is targeting.
- Meltagun - A high-powered energy weapon which specializes in breaking through armour but with only a very short range.
- Heavy Weapons
- Missile Launcher - A solid slug self-propelled and guided missile with two payloads - anti-infantry and anti-vehicle
- Heavy Bolter - Rapid firing heavy version of the standard Bolter specializing in anti-infantry tasks.
- Lascannon - A very heavy version of the Lasgun designed specifically for an anti-tank role.
- Multi-melta - A specialist anti-vehicle weapon which excels at destroying thick vehicle armour but with only a short range compared to other similar devices.
- Plasma Cannon - An ancient heavy weapon capable of blasting a small area with super-heated plasma.
- Close Combat Weapons
- Bolt Pistol and Close Combat Weapon - The common armament of Assault Marines and Sergeants
- Plasma Pistol and Close Combat Weapon - A less common variant for Assault Marines and Sergeants
- Lighting Claw usually used in a pair. These are very liked in the Raven Guard.
- Grenades
- Frag Grenades - Used when assaulting cover by forcing the enemy to drop down to avoid the flying shards of shrapnel.
- Krak Grenades - Stuck to vehicle armour plating and detonated in order to reduce armour to scrap metal.
- Melta Bombs - A device similar in operation to melta weapons and is especially effective against armour and lightly built structures.
- Ammunition
- Bolter round - The standard explosive rounds used by most Space Marines.
- Hellfire round - A special round developed for the use of Tyrannic War Veterans against Tyranids.
Armour
All Marines wear the same standard Power Armour. This grants them extra strength and durability originally allowed by their implants. Many of the systems within the armour cannot be used without these implants and the armour has been developed over thousands of years into a highly advanced piece of technology.
Transports
- Rhino - A fast but lightly armoured vehicle capable of transporting up to ten Marines. They are the most commonly seen Marine transport due their ease of production and good performance. Tactical, Veteran, Devastator and Command Squads can use Rhinos.
- Razorback - Based on the same chassis as the Rhino, the Razorback mounts either Heavy Bolters or Lascannons to aid those it is transporting depending on their specialisation.
