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Howling Griffons

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Howling Griffons
Howling Griffons Livery.jpg
HowlingGriffinsPrimaris.jpg Howlinggriffonsmini.jpg
Founding Chapter: Ultramarines[17]
Founding: M33
Chapter Master: Alvaro[1]
Homeworld: Mancora[6]
Fortress-Monastery: The Proud Eyrie[7]
Colours: Yellow and Red quartered
Specialty: Codex Chapter
Strength: Unknown
Battle Cry For Guilliman, son of the Emperor! For the Founding Father![Needs Citation]

The Howling Griffons are a Space Marine Chapter with a long and glorious history.


Overview

Howling Griffons Fortress-Monastery
Spoiler!
This page contains spoilers for: Chapter War (Novel)

The Howling Griffons are staunch traditionalists and consider their primary role to be defenders of the Imperium and an instrument of the Emperor's ideals. They see the Codex Astartes as a treatise that has yet to be bettered, rather than holy scripture. As a Chapter, they do not specialize in any one form of warfare and as such maintain an even balance across all disciplines covered by the Codex. Competition within the Chapter is high, but never allowed to degenerate into discord.[7]

They take special pride in their oaths, seeing each as an eternal conflict until the deed is finished. Before battle, additional oaths are added to their already exceedingly long lists, some for the chapter and others more personal. Once an oath is taken, a battle brother goes to extreme lengths to complete it and it is never forgotten, even after decades. Completed or satisfied oaths are a badge of honor, often inscribed on parchments or directly in the armor of the Howling Griffons Space Marines.[2]

The events of 220.M38 has set the Chapter on a dangerous road. Upon being raised to the rank of full Battle-brother, each warrior takes an oath to avenge the fallen whenever possible and as a Chapter the Howling Griffons have sworn to destroy Periclitor whatever the cost, even if this means going into the depths of hell itself[7].

Due to their glorious battle records and a near permanent campaigning status, they have gained the right to recruit initiates from several different worlds, including Dennar IV, in order to counteract the high levels of attrition that they face. As their main point of recruitment Mancora is kept in a constant state of warfare in order to provide them with a solid base of well disciplined initiates. The high birth rate of psykers on Mancora has also led to a high number of powerful Battle-Psykers within their ranks.[7]

The Howling Griffons are known to have seconded many Battle-Brothers to the Deathwatch over the years.[17]

Notable Battles

Commorragh

In M35, the Howling Griffons were among the Chapters that took part in the Commorragh Raid.

Arios System

220.M38. The Howling Griffons were ambushed by Chaos Lord Periclitor on their return to Mancora. the ambush led to the death of Chapter Master Orlando Furioso (see Orlando Furioso, below) as well as most of their 1st and 3rd Companies[7]. This has sparked a long standing feud between the Word Bearers and the Howling Griffons.[Needs Citation]

Valerian Purges

The Howling Griffons, with the Cadian 108th "Wyverns", also saw action in the Valerian Purges.[4]

The Dennar IV Suppression

109.M40. The Howling Griffons 3rd Company, led by Captain Penvath Joachim, responded to a call for aid from Dennar IV. When they arrived at the agri world, they discovered a hand full of city-states full of refugees holding out against a horde of cultists and daemons. Using their superior armor and tactics, the Howling Griffons rallied the local forces and led a long and bloody struggle to clear the planet of the uprising. After this action, the Howling Griffons have kept a lasting oath to protect the planet; in return they are able to count Dennar IV as one of their recruiting planets.[7]

The Jorun Retaliation

143.M41. On route to the Gothic War an Imperial Battlegroup, the 15th Heraklion Ironclads, turned on their Commissariat attachment and went renegade. Investigations into this turn of events uncovered the foul Xenos taint of Dark Eldar, who had managed to ensnare and corrupt General Jorun and his command structure. Jorun and his fleet raided planet after planet, enslaving whole populations for their masters. The full Howling Griffons chapter (about 8 Companies worth) was given command of the strike force, with support from the Ultramarines and Sons of Orar Chapters. Initial contact was made as the traitor forces were landing on Asturia. With no armor unloaded, it became a massacre, with over 5,000 Guard dying in an hour. The Howling Griffon's 4th Company, led by Chaplain Armand Titus, led the final strike on Jorun's forces ; fighting through Jorun's Ogryn cadre as well as Dark Eldar troops. Titus delivered the killing blow to Jorun, while slowly succumbing to poisoned wounds and sealing the fate of the Heraklion Ironclads.[7]

Caradryad Sector

905-906.M41. Shortly before the Badab War the Howling Griffons 4th Company along with parts of their 6th, 10th and 1st Companies carried out a lengthy search and destroy campaign within the Caradryad Sector. It can be safely assumed that a large number of planetary assaults were carried out during this action as they were severely lacking in Thunderhawks and drop pods when answering the call for aid in the Badab War as they had not had the chance to return to Mancora.[7]

Badab War

906-909.M41. The Howling Griffons, along with the Novamarines responded to calls for aid during the Badab War.Having just finished a campaign in the Caradryad Sector, the Howling Griffon's task force was no more than 250 Space Marines and had insufficient planetary assault resources to aid in front line assaults. As a result, their initial engagements were to carry out garrison duties or convoy protection. Their largest deployment was to garrison the airless moons in the Khymara system, rebuilding old listening posts as staging areas for later in the war. Unfortunately this posting put them in the path of the Executioners in 907.M41[12] who were coming to aid the Secessionists as part of their blood oath to Huron. The Howling Griffons were annihilated; after the Executioners withdrawal, the casualty rate was more than 70%, including the catastrophic loss of their strike cruiser, Augeias, and Chaplain Dreadnought Titus. Despite these losses, the remaining force continued to fight wherever they could until officially relieved in 909.M41[7]

The Eye of Terror Campaign

998.M41. During the 13th Black Crusade the Howling Griffons sent 8 Companies.[1] The 1st Company of the Howling Griffons including Chapter Master Alvaro, where based on the battle-barge Force of Destiny and engaged upon a mission to track down and persecute a company of Night Lords under the command of the infamous Daemon Prince Periclitor.[3]

During the campaign in the Mackan System, the 5th Company of the Howling Griffons was flushed from cover by the mutants of the Stigmatus Covenant and then attacked by Chaos Knights of House Khomentis.[16]

Liberation of Vanqualis

Vanqualis was under attack by Orks. The Howling Griffons along with the 901st Penal Legion fought against the Orks.[2] Shortly after landing they turned on the Soul Drinkers chapter, believing them to be the bearers of a Chaos artifact, the Black Chalice.[Needs Citation]

Dennar IV Rebellion

The Howling Griffons 3rd Company took part in this campaign.[5a] One of the battles — Assault on Hill 103[5b]

Crusade of Fire

The Howling Griffons under Captain Xerxes took part in the Crusade of Fire.[Needs Citation]

Lazar Blockade

The Howling Griffons Fleet took part in the Lazar Blockade.[10]

Siege of the Fenris System

The Howling Griffons were one of the twelve Chapters to accompany the Dark Angels in the Siege of the Fenris System.[13]

Indomitus Crusade

The Howling Griffons, accompanied by Chapter Master Alvaro, took part in the Indomitus Crusade of M42.

Vigilus

The Howling Griffons sent 3 companies to Vigilus in the War of Beasts.[15]

Plague Wars

The Chapter provided 6 Companies to aid Ultramar during the Plague Wars.


Heraldry

As with many of the Howling Griffons stationed at the Khymara system during the Badab War, many of the battle-brothers still maintained their Codex Approved Night World Battle Livery from their prior deployment in the Caradryad Sector.[7]

The standard Howling Griffons armour colour scheme is quartered red and yellow.[18]

During activities on Khymara during the Badab War, the Howling Griffons wore approved Night World camo which combines black armour with a grey chest eagle. The shoulder pads are quartered red/yellow with grey rims and Sergeants wore grey helmets. Khymara camo for Terminators was pure black with the right shoulder bearing the red/yellow quartered livery. The Terminator's Power Fists were also painted red.[7]


Chapter Elements

Known Vessels

Known Vehicles

  • GloriamRhino. Attached to tactical squad Maximus.[9]
  • ManeusRazorback. Attached to devastator squad Tercon. Armed with twin linked Lascannons and Hunter Killer Missile Launcher.[9]

Notable Members

Images

See also

Related Articles

Related Products

Sources

Uncited