Stormsword
The Stormsword is an Imperial Guard super-heavy vehicle based on the Shadowsword. Built specifically for sieges and street-fighting, the Stormsword is geared towards providing troops close-quarter support with a variety of heavy weapons.[1][2a]
Contents
Overview
The Stormsword was originally a field conversion of salvaged Shadowsword chassis created during the siege of Coldarkh Hive[7]; though such "unofficial" conversions are frowned upon by the conservative elements of the Adeptus Mechanicus, most Guard commanders take a more pragmatic view.[2a] In place of the Shadowsword's Volcano cannon is a large Stormsword Siege Cannon[6] firing rocket-propelled siege shells.[1] While sufficiently powerful to level an entire building with a single shot, typically by destroying the ground floor and collapsing the structure, the weapon's limited range and restricted elevation severely limits its utility on the open battlefield.[2a]
The Stormsword's formidable secondary armaments are also geared towards the close confines of a street brawl: a coaxial Heavy Bolter is supported by two sponson-mounted twin-linked Heavy Bolters atop which are turret-mounted Heavy Flamers.[2a] Although, some Stormswords replace their sponsons with extra armour plating. The Stormsword can also mount additional weapons such as a Hunter-Killer Missile and/or a pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber/Storm Bolter.[1]
While it remains a rare vehicle, the Stormsword has earned its place within the Imperial Guard, leading the charge in the heart of intense city battles, and it is rumoured some Forge Worlds have begun producing them in limited numbers.[2a]
Vehicle Name: | Stormsword[2a] | Main Armament: | Stormsword Siege Cannon |
---|---|---|---|
Forge World of Origin: | Unknown, most are workshop conversions | Secondary Armament: | 2 Heavy Flamers, 2 Heavy Bolters |
Known Patterns: | I-XII | Traverse: | 2° |
Crew: | Commander, Driver, Main Gunner, Remote Gunner, Comms Operator, Loader |
Elevation: | From -2° to +12° |
Powerplant: | MR507 V18 Multi Fuel | Main Ammunition: | 20 Rounds |
Weight: | 302 tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | 2000 Rounds |
Length: | 13.5m | ||
Width: | 8.4m | Armour | |
Height: | 5.85m | ||
Ground Clearance: | 1.2m | Superstructure: | 220mm |
Fording Depth: | {{{Fording Depth}}} | Hull: | 210mm |
Max Speed - on road | 25kph | Gun Mantlet | 200mm |
Max Speed - off road: | 18kph | Vehicle Designation: | 0427-658-0215-SW201 |
Transport Capacity: | N/A | Firing Ports: | N/A |
Access Points: | N/A | Turret: | N/A |
Fording Depth: 3.1m[5]
Known Stormswords and Regiment that include them
- 21st Teutonian Heavy Tank Company[2e]
- 61st Tank Regiment — consist of Arkurian-pattern Stormsword, fought during the Vraks campaign where earned the right to bear the Imperial Eagle as an honour badge.[4a]
- 143rd Siege Regiment[4b]
- Armageddon 8th Heavy Tank Company, 9th vehicle, unknown unit[2c]
- Cadian 8th Heavy Tank Regiment, one of six vehicles, possibly refitted from a Shadowsword during the 13th Black Crusade[2d]. Another one of Stormlords - Eye of Judgement[8]
- Cadian 12th Heavy Tank Regiment, 6th Squadron, fought during 13th Black Crusade[2b]
- Tallarn 17th Heavy Tank Company, attached to the Tallarn 101st Armoured Regiment, fifth vehicle of the company, bears eagle's head honour badge after leading the first assault on the Palace of Tears[2d]
Notable Individual Stormswords
- Eye of Judgement - Cadian 8th Super-Heavy Armoured Regiment.[8]
- The Imperial Reaver - a Death Guard Stormsword from the Horus Heresy period.[3]
- Majestic Retribution - One of the first Stormswords constructed in the siege of Coldarkh Hive.[7]
Miniatures
Forgeworld released an Arkurian pattern Stormsword in 2008 and they also produce an Epic scale version, which Games Workshop does not supply.
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour - Apocalypse Second Edition, pg. 7
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume I
- 3: Horus Heresy - Collected Visions, pg. 381
- 4: Imperial Armour Volume One - Second Edition: Imperial Guard
- 5: Imperial Armour Update, pg. 20
- 6: Codex: Astra Militarum (8th Edition), pg. 125
- 7: Warhammer 40,000: Escalation, pg. 47 - Imperial Guard: Stormsword
- 8: Codex: Astra Militarum (9th Edition), pg. 122 - Datasheets