View source for Medusa (Siege Tank)

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{{otheruses|USE=Imperial Tank|OTHERPAGE=Medusa (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:MedusaArt.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Medusa Siege Tank{{Fn|4}}]]
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 [[M41|41st Millennium]].{{Fn|1}}

==Overview==
[[Image:Medusa.jpg|thumb|right|220px|An Imperial Guard Medusa Siege Tank]]
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.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|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, [[Manticore (Tank)|Manticores]], and even [[Bombard]]s, 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 [[Demolisher]]s and [[Thunderer]]s.  For this reason many [[Imperial Guard Regiment#Armoured Regiment|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.{{Fn|1}}

During the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Horus Heresy]], the Medusa was used by [[Space Marine Legion]] siege units.{{Fn|3}}

==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 Launcher]]s.  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]].{{Fn|2b}} 

{{Imperial Vehicles
|Vehicle Name=Medusa Siege Gun{{Fn|1}}
|Forge World of Origin=[[Gryphonne IV]]
|Known Patterns=II-XIII
|Crew=Commander, Gunner, Driver, 2 Loaders
|Powerplant=Vulcanor 16 Twin Coupled Multi-Burn
|Weight=38 tonnes
|Length=5.29m
|Width=3.78m
|Height=3.72m
|Ground Clearance=0.45m
|Max Speed - on road=50kph
|Max Speed - off road=35kph
|Main Armament=[[Medusa Siege Gun]]
|Secondary Armament=[[Heavy Bolter]]
|Gun Traverse=3&deg;
|Gun Elevation=From +0&deg; to +40&deg;
|Main Ammunition=18 rounds
|Secondary Ammunition=300 rounds
|Turret Armour=N/A
|Superstructure Armour=100mm
|Hull Armour=150mm
|Gun Mantlet Armour=60mm
|Vehicle Designation=0427-941-3021-BA112
|Transport=None
|Fire Ports=n/a
|Access Points=n/a
}}

==Regiments known to contain Medusa Siege Tanks==
*[[Cadian 13th Armoured Regiment]] - [[Cadia]]n garrison forces
*[[Cadian 122nd Shock Troops Regiment]] - [[Khai-Zhan Uprising|Siege of Vogen City]]
*[[Krieg 28th Armoured Regiment]] - [[Galan V Expedition Force]]
*[[Palladius 2nd Armoured Regiment]]
*[[Tallarn 101st Armoured Regiment]] - Vanaheim pattern
*[[Valhallan 8th Armoured Regiment]] - [[Sallan's World]] Crusade

==Images==
<gallery heights="170px" widths="300px" mode="packed" caption="Models">
ArmageddonMedusa.jpg|Armageddon pattern Medusa
VanaheimMedusa.jpg|Vanaheim pattern Medusa
LegionMedusa.jpg|[[Horus Heresy]]-era Medusa
SolarMedusa.jpg|[[Solar Auxilia]] Medusa ([[Forge World (Company)|Forge World]])
MedusaSA2024.jpg|[[Solar Auxilia]] Medusa (plastic){{Fn|5}}
BasilisksMedusasLISA.jpg|Epic-scale Solar Auxilia Medusa{{Fn|6}}
</gallery>

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy]], pgs. 165-166
*2: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)]]:
**{{Endn|2a}}: pg. 53
**{{Endn|2b}}: pg. 103
*{{Endn|3}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book One]], pg. 220
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume One (Second Edition)]], pg. 160
*{{Endn|5}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/02/22/heresy-thursday-artillery-of-the-solar-auxilia/ Warhammer Community : Heresy Thursday – Artillery of the Solar Auxilia  (22/02/24)]
*{{Endn|6}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240331202753/https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/legions-imperialis-solar-auxilia-basilisks-medusas-2024 Warhammer Webstore : Legions Imperialis: Medusa and Basilisk Batteries] (saved archive)

{{IGVehicles}}

[[Category:Artillery Tank]]
[[Category:Vehicles (Astra Militarum)]]

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