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An Imperial Guard Medusa Siege Tank

The Medusa Siege Tank is an aging Imperial Guard siege platform used when attacking the thick walls of an enemy-held city or fortress. Built on the Chimera chassis, the Medusa suffers from a number of disadvantages compared to other artillery pieces like the Basilisk or Griffon, but its immense firepower ensures its continued use in the siege warfare depressingly common to the 41st Millennium.

Overview

The centerpiece of the siege tank is its Medusa Siege Gun which, unlike other artillery cannons, fires its heavy shells directly into the enemy's fortifications. It does this for days on end, from well-protected positions, until the constant barrage has created a large enough breach for friendly forces to assault through and secure a bridgehead.^[1a][2a] Beyond this limited role however the Medusa is less of a success. The gun itself is short-ranged compared to the weapons on Basilisks, Manticores, and even Bombards, limiting its use in a conventional artillery role. The Medusa also suffers from ammunition issues as it can only carry eighteen heavy shells; while not a problem during a siege with stable lines of resupply, this limits its endurance when operating in the field. It is viable as an urban assault gun, leveling enemy buildings with a single shot in support of infantry assaults, but such close-range fighting leaves the Medusa's exposed crew too vulnerable to enemy fire compared to the thick armour protecting Demolishers and Thunderers. For this reason many armoured regiments will have at most a battery of Medusas kept in reserve for use only when breaching a wall or assaulting a bunker line, as most commanders will avoid deploying them directly on the frontline if possible.^[1]

Forge World Variations

• Gryphonne IV - standard pattern
• Armageddon - Hades pattern - fully enclosed fighting compartment
• Vanaheim - Vanaheim pattern - distinctive gunshield

Technical Specifications

In addition to its Medusa Siege Gun the Medusa is also armed wit a hull-mounted weapon, either a Heavy Bolter or Heavy Flamer. Other standard equipment includes a Searchlight and Smoke Launchers. Common upgrades to the design include an Armoured Crew Compartment, Camo Netting, Dozer Blade, Extra Armour, a Hunter-Killer Missile and/or pintle-mounted Storm Bolter or Heavy Stubber.^[2b]

Technical Specifications

Vehicle Name:	Medusa Siege Gun	Main Armament:	Medusa Siege Gun
Forge World of Origin:	Gryphonne IV	Secondary Armament:	Heavy Bolter
Known Patterns:	II-XIII	Traverse:	3°
Crew:	Commander, Gunner, Driver, 2 Loaders	Elevation:	From +0° to +40°
Powerplant:	Vulcanor 16 Twin Coupled Multi-Burn	Main Ammunition:	18 rounds
Weight:	38 tonnes	Secondary Ammunition:	300 rounds
Length:	5.29m	Armour
Width:	3.78m
Height:	3.72m	Superstructure:	100mm
Ground Clearance:	0.45m	Hull:	150mm
Max Speed - on road	50kph	Gun Mantlet	60mm
Max Speed - off road:	35kph	Vehicle Designation:	0427-941-3021-BA112
Transport Capacity:	None	Firing Ports:	n/a
Access Points:	n/a	Turret:	N/A

Regiments known to contain Medusa Siege Tanks

• 13th Cadian Armoured Regiment - Cadian garrison forces
• 2nd Palladius Armoured Regiment
• 101st Tallarn Armoured Regiment - Vanaheim pattern
• 8th Valhallan Armoured Regiment - Sallan's World Crusade
• 28th Krieg Armoured Regiment - Galan V Expedition Force
• 122nd Cadian Shock Troops Regiment - Siege of Vogen City

Sources

• 1: Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy, pg. 165
• 2: Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)
  • 2a: pg. 53
  • 2b: pg. 103