View source for Storm Eagle Assault Gunship

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[[Image:StormEagleArt.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Storm Eagle Assault Gunship{{Fn|4a}}]]
The '''Storm Eagle Assault Gunship''' is an aircraft used by [[Space Marines]].{{Fn|1}}

==Overview==
The Storm Eagle dates back to the [[Great Crusade]], designed to be a smaller attack craft to compliment the larger [[Stormbird]]s and [[Thunderhawk]]s.{{Fn|2}} The first Storm Birds were constructed on [[Terra]], but primary production later transferred to [[Anvilus]], [[Galatea]], and [[Tigrus]].{{Fn|9}}

The legendary mobility of the [[Adeptus Astartes]] has won planet-spanning conflicts with a single strike; providing the precise application of deadly force at the point where it proved most decisive.  A [[Chapter]]'s fleet of attack craft is the keystone that makes this possible, and it is the iconic [[Thunderhawk]]s and [[Drop Pod]]s that are at the forefront.  Craft such as the Storm Eagle Assault Gunship follow close behind to lend their weapons to the devastating assault. A formidable gunship, the Storm Eagle mounts fearsome firepower for a vehicle of its size and is capable of transporting twenty Space Marines directly into the thick of an assault.  The exact provenance of the Storm Eagle is unknown, but it bears clear similarities to the [[Stormraven]]s employed by the [[Blood Angels]] and [[Grey Knights]].  Certain sources place the principal manufacture of the Storm Eagle upon [[Tigrus]] and [[Anvilus IX]], both primary-grade [[Forge World]]s that suffered catastrophic damage during the [[Horus Heresy]].{{Fn|1}}

In recent decades the number of Storm Eagles in active service has begun to increase, especially amongst those Chapters known to have favourable relations with the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]]. But despite its increase in production, the Storm Eagle has yet to be deployed as widely as the [[Storm Raven]].{{Fn|4a}} [[Chaos Space Marine]] warbands are also known to still employ the Storm Eagle, though these date back to the Great Crusade and have often since become Daemonically corrupted.{{Fn|5a}}
[[Image:Steagle1.4.jpg|right|thumb|280px|A Storm Eagle Gunship of the [[Salamanders]] [[Chapter]]{{Fn|1}}]]
==Armaments==
The Storm Eagle generally has the following weapon systems - 
*A hull-mounted set of either twin-linked [[heavy bolters]], twin-linked [[multi-meltas]] or a [[typhoon missile launcher]]{{Fn|4b}}
*A hull-mounted [[Vengeance launcher]]{{Fn|$b}}
*A pair of twin-linked [[lascannon]] or a set of four [[hellstrike missiles]]{{Fn|4b}}

==Technical Information{{Fn|4c}}==
{{Imperial Aircraft
|Type=Orbital Dropship
|Vehicle Name=Storm Eagle
|Forge World of Origin=Unknown
|Known Patterns=
|Crew=Pilot
|Powerplant=2x combination rocket/afterburning turbofans
|Weight=68 tonnes
|Length=18 m
|Wingspan=11.8m
|Height=7.2m
|Operational Ceiling=N/A 
|Max Speed=2000 kph approx.
|Range=30,000 km in atmosphere
|Main Armament=[[Vengeance launcher]]
|Secondary Armament=twin-linked [[Heavy Bolter]]s
|Main Ammunition=48 missiles
|Secondary Ammunition=2000 rounds
|Superstructure Armour=45 mm
|Hull Armour=55 mm
}}

==Known Patterns==
===Roc Pattern===
The '''Roc Pattern''' Storm Eagle is used primarily by the [[Minotaurs]] and [[Red Templars]], serving as a formidable tank hunter while sacrificing troop carrying capacity. It is armed primarily with a [[Vengeance launcher]] with Roc warheads.{{Fn|4a}}

===Nighthawk-pattern===
Designed by [[Iron Father]] [[Sabik Wayland]] of the [[Iron Hands]] [[Space Marines Legion|Legion]].  This pattern was in use by the time of the [[Horus Heresy]] despite not having been officially sanctioned by the [[Mars|Martian]] [[Mechanicum]].  It was noted for its superior maneuverability, high velocity and inbuilt stealth technologies.{{Fn|7}}


==Variants==
===Fire Raptor===
*{{Main|Fire Raptor}}
The '''Fire Raptor''' is a dedicated gunship version of the Storm Eagle{{Fn|5b}}

===Darkwing===
[[Image:DarkFury.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Darkwing{{Fn|5a}}]]
The '''Darkwing''' was a specialized variant of the Storm Eagle used by the [[Raven Guard]] during the [[Horus Heresy]] and [[Great Crusade]]. These craft were constructed on [[Kiavahr]] and the technology that made them was not shared with the greater [[Adeptus Mechanicus]]. This aircraft was extremely stealthy and possessed systems barely understood to the Imperium such as rad-shrouded armour and quantum field repellors. The space these systems took up however reduced infantry-carrying capacity. Thus, these craft were often used to insert small elite units deep into enemy held territory.{{Fn|3}}

===Alphawing===
The '''Alphawing''' is a specialized variant of the Storm Eagle used by the [[Alpha Legion]]. It is a variant of the [[Raven Guard]]'s [[Darkwing]]-pattern, which was among the schematics the Alpha Legion claimed after infiltrating the [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]], during the [[Horus Heresy]].{{Fn|10}}

===Spiderwidow===
The '''Spiderwidow''' is an [[Inquisitorial]] void-capable variant of the Storm Eagle. It carries few armaments, lacking space in the enlarged plasma-housing for anything but engines and assorted sensor-baffling archeotech, but it retains wing-mounted lascannons and a pair of heavy bolters at the prow.{{Fn|6}} It is armoured in [[plasteel]] and [[adamantium]]. Beating a [[Thunderbolt]] in range  while being slower and less manoeuvrable, the Spiderwidow can still navigate through confined spaces when piloted by a capable enough person.{{Fn|12}}

==Known Named Storm Eagles==
*''[[Barbed Angel]]'' - [[Flesh Tearers]] Chapter{{Fn|11}}
*''[[Blood Drinker]]'' - [[Flesh Tearers]] Chapter{{Fn|11}}
*''[[Herodal's Wrath]]'' - Roc Pattern Storm Eagle, [[Minotaurs]] Chapter{{Fn|4d}}

==Images==
[[Image:AIStormEagle.jpg|thumb|center|220px|[[Aeronautica Imperialis (Game)|Aeronautica Imperialis]] Storm Eagles{{Fn|8}}]]

==See Also==
*[[Space Marine Vehicles (List)]]
*[[Thunderhawk Gunship]]
*[[Stormraven Gunship]]
*[[Stormtalon Gunship]]

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-NZ/Storm-Eagle Forge World Storm Eagle] ''(last accessed 18 April 2016)''
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Imperial Armour Aeronautica]], pg. 28
*{{Endn|3}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Three - Extermination]], pg. 278
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Two - Second Edition: War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes]]
**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 134
**{{Endn|4b}}: pg. 137
**{{Endn|4c}}: pg. 140
**{{Endn|4d}}: pg. 141
*5: [[Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - War Machines of the Lost and the Damned]]:
**{{Endn|5a}}: pg. 71
**{{Endn|5b}}: pg. 75
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne (Novel)]], Chapter 11
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Angel Exterminatus (Novel)]], Chapter Six
*{{Endn|8}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/05/06/warhammer-fest-online-day-4-warhammer-underworlds-necromunda-and-aeronautica-imperialis/ Warhammer Community: Warhammer Fest Online: Day 4 – Warhammer Underworlds, Necromunda, and Aeronautica Imperialis (Posted on 06/05/2021)] (Last accessed on 6 May 2021)
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Liber Hereticus]], pg. 62
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Renegades: Harrowmaster (Novel)]], ''Harrowmaster''
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Flesh of Cretacia (Novella)]] - Chapter 3
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Vaults of Terra: The Dark City (Novel)]], Chapter Eleven

{{SMVehicles}}
{{ChaosForces}}
[[Category:Attack Craft]]
[[Category:Chaos Aircraft]]
[[Category:Fleet (Space Marines)]]
[[Category:Imperial Aircraft]]
[[Category:Vehicles (Adeptus Mechanicus)]]
[[Category:Vehicles (Chaos)]]
[[Category:Vehicles (Space Marines)]]

[[fr:Storm Eagle]]