Space Marine Command Squad
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This article is about the the Space Marine unit. For other uses of Command Squad, see Command Squad (disambiguation). |
A Command Squad is a specialized unit formed around the Commander of a Space Marine Company.
Description
A command Squad is a cadre of highly disciplined Veterans carrying special or heavy weapons, serving as bodyguard unit for the Force Commander.[1]
Marines selected for a Command Squad are chosen not only for their combat skills, but also an equal measure of tactical and strategic aptitude. A Captain and his Command Squad inevitably go where the fighting is thickest in any battle, so only the luckiest and most experienced warriors survive more than a few battles - and those that do have proven themselves beyond all doubt, and are often nominated to succeed their Captain in the event of his death.[3a]
These specialists provide vital support as honour guards and aides – Company Champions defend their Chapter's honour with martial excellence, Ancients guard its inspirational banners, and Company Veterans lay down hails of fire from relic bolt weapons.[11]
Equipment
It is not uncommon for Space Marine Command Squads to be mounted on Space Marine Bikes if the commander they are guarding is also using one. The command squad may be outfitted with specialist gear such as melta bombs or storm shields, and may take a dedicated transport such as a Rhino or Razorback.[3a]
Command Squads trough the Ages
Command Squad composition has seen variations depending on the era:
Heresy era
During the Horus Heresy a Legion Command Squad could be formed at the Chapter, Battalion or Company level.[12a]
It was typical for Praetors to fight alongside a squad of exceptionally disciplined and skilled warriors. This squad acted as both the commander's personal guard and the bearers of one of the Legion's standards, serving as a focal point for rallying the Legion's troops on the battlefield. These selected Space Marines were equipped with the finest weaponry the Legion had to offer and epitomised the honour of the Legion in combat.[12b]
- Composition
- 2-4 Space Marine Chosen
- 1 Legion Standard Bearer
- Available Wargear
- Artificer Armour, Combat shield, Legion Standard, Terminator Armour[12b], Nuncio-vox[13]
- Bolter, Bolt pistol, Chainsword, Combat Blade, Frag and krak grenades, Heavy chainsword, Charnabal Sabre, Power Fist, Lightning Claw, Plasma Pistol, Volkite Charger[12b]
- Warhawk Jump Pack, Spatha Combat Bike, Legion Scimitar Jetbike[12b]
Time of Ending
During the Time of Ending era, the basic structure of a Command Squad was 1 Sergeant leading between 4 and 9 Space Marines, forming a bodyguard unit. A bodyguard could also be joined by a specialist such as an Apothecary, a Techmarine or a Company Standard Bearer; a Veteran Sergeant can lead the squad instead of a simple Sergeant. They accompanied a Leader, Commander, Force Commander, Librarian or Chaplain.[1]
A Terminator Command Squad could also be formed; its basic structure was 1 Sergeant leading between 3 to 9 Terminators.[2]
Age of the Dark Imperium
After the reforms to the Codex Astartes introduced by Roboute Guilliman in the Age of the Dark Imperium[9], a Command Squad was formed from the Heroes of a Company, serving as Honour Guard to Captains and Chapter Masters and was composed of[11]:
Chapter Variations
The exact nature and title of a Command Squad varies between Chapters. Some examples include:
- The Terrorblades of the Death Spectres;
- The Pyre Wardens of the Fire Lords;
- The Foeseekers of the Omega Marines;
- The Prognosticars of the Silver Skulls;[1a]
- The Wolf Guards of the Space Wolves;
- The Ravenwing Command Squad and Deathwing Command Squad of the Dark Angels;
Noteworthy Command Squads
- The Inferno Guard — Salamanders Third Company, Captain Ko'tan Kadai.[5]
- "The Lions of Macragge" — Ultramarines Second Company, Captain Cato Sicarius[1b]
- "The Swords of Calth" — Ultramarines Fourth Company, Captain Uriel Ventris[5]
Images
Legion Command Squad (Horus Heresy)[14]
See also
Sources
- 1: Codex: Space Marines (3rd Edition), pg. 8
- 2: Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition), pg. 30
- 3: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition):
- 4: The Chapter's Due (Novel), Chapter Eight, pg. 106
- 5: Fires of War (Short Story)
- 6: Games Workshop webstore : Space Marine Command Squad (saved archive, last accessed 16/09/23)
- 7: Games Workshop The 2002 Catalogue, pg. 25
- 8: Warhammer Community: NOVA Open Previews – Codex: Space Marines and the Heroes of the Chapter (posted 30/8/2023) (last accessed 31/8/2023)
- 9: Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition), pg. 63
- 10: Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition), pg. 88
- 11: Codex: Space Marines (10th Edition), pg. 152
- 12: The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal:
- 13: Liber Astartes, pg. 27
- 14: Warhammer Community : Heresy Thursday – Plant Your Flag With New Legion Command (28/04/24) (saved archive)
