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Space Marines Portal

The Warhawk VI dropship, commonly known as the Stormbird, was an assault and transport aircraft used by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade, before the introduction of the smaller Thunderhawk pattern^[1].

History

Capable of both void and atmospheric flight, the Stormbird was first manufactured on Terra, by the Yndonesic Bloc for use against the Panpacific tribes, during the Unification Wars. They were in use throughout the Great Crusade, although by the time of the Horus Heresy, most of the Legions had switched to the smaller, more agile Thunderhawk. The Luna Wolves were one of the few Legions that deliberately kept Stormbirds in service, since these ships had carried them into battle since the beginning^[1]. A Stormbird was piloted by two Marines sitting back-to-back, along with two hard-wired servitors^[1].

During the Heresy, Nathaniel Garro, former Captain of the Death Guard Legion, used a Stormbird to travel to various planets, on the orders of Malcador the Sigillite. Like Garro's Power Armour, the ship bore no Legion insignia or colours, and was a uniform grey^[2][3].

Since the Heresy, aging Stormbirds are still utilized by some Chaos Space Marine forces such as the Word Bearers^[5]

Trivia

• Horus Rising states that "They sat in two rows of three, wings extended" ; therefore it is possible that their wings can be folded or collapsed in some manner.^[1]
• The Stormbird can carry at least 50 marines.^[1]
• It is also described as having missiles slung under both wings and cannons mounted under the nose and wings.^[1][4]

Sources

• 1: Horus Rising by Dan Abnett, Part One, Chapter 7, pgs. 139-149
• 2: Garro: Oath of Moment (Audio Book) by James Swallow, Track 2 : War Rages
• 3: Garro: Legion of One (Audio Book) by James Swallow, Track 2: Garro's Arrival
• 4: False Gods (Novel) by Graham McNeill, Chapter 5
• 5: Dark Disciple (Novel) by Anthony Reynolds, Chapter 3