Difference between revisions of "Terminator Armour"
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'''Terminator Armour''' or '''Tactical Dreadnought Armour''' is the toughest and most powerful form of personal armour humanity has ever developed. The scarcity and expense to maintain Terminator suits means they are available only to the elite troops from the veteran companies of the Adeptus Astartes [[Space Marine]] Chapters. | '''Terminator Armour''' or '''Tactical Dreadnought Armour''' is the toughest and most powerful form of personal armour humanity has ever developed. The scarcity and expense to maintain Terminator suits means they are available only to the elite troops from the veteran companies of the Adeptus Astartes [[Space Marine]] Chapters. | ||
| − | Terminator armour was developed thousands of years ago by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] Tech Adepts of Mars. Its design is a blend of [[Dreadnought]] armour, standard Marine [[power armour]] and heavy suits used by engineers working in the most hostile environments (such as micro-asteroid plagued orbits or radioactive engine cores of | + | Terminator armour was developed thousands of years ago by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] Tech Adepts of Mars. Its design is a blend of [[Dreadnought]] armour, standard Marine [[power armour]] and heavy suits used by engineers working in the most hostile environments (such as micro-asteroid plagued orbits or radioactive engine cores of stellar frigates). Terminator suits, similar to power armour, have an outer shell of [[ceramite]] bonded plates powered by electrically-motivated fibre bundles. Plates of heavy [[plasteel]] further armour the ceramite sections, especially on the front of the suit. External [[adamantium]] ribs support the immense weight of the armour. The shoulder displays the [[Crux Terminatus]] badge, each of which is said to contain a piece of the Terminator Armour the [[Emperor]] wore when he fought [[Horus]] during the final battle of the [[Horus Heresy]]. |
Due to the massive strength its fibre bundles and advanced servo motors afford the wearer, weapons normally too heavy to be considered man portable can be used without impeding performance. [[Heavy Flamer]]s and [[Assault Cannon]]s can be wielded with the same ease a normal man would a handle a [[Lasgun]] or [[Boltgun]]. | Due to the massive strength its fibre bundles and advanced servo motors afford the wearer, weapons normally too heavy to be considered man portable can be used without impeding performance. [[Heavy Flamer]]s and [[Assault Cannon]]s can be wielded with the same ease a normal man would a handle a [[Lasgun]] or [[Boltgun]]. | ||
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Most Marine chapters maintain some Terminator suits in their armouries, and train some squads in their use. Some adaptive surgery for the sensorium interface is also necessary. However, Terminator armour is not used by these Marines as a matter of course, but issued as and when required. Conventionally armoured Marines, for example, would not be expected to clear the densely-packed corridors of a hive world. Their task would be to form a cordon, while Terminator-armoured squads carried out the clearance. | Most Marine chapters maintain some Terminator suits in their armouries, and train some squads in their use. Some adaptive surgery for the sensorium interface is also necessary. However, Terminator armour is not used by these Marines as a matter of course, but issued as and when required. Conventionally armoured Marines, for example, would not be expected to clear the densely-packed corridors of a hive world. Their task would be to form a cordon, while Terminator-armoured squads carried out the clearance. | ||
| − | Terminator Armour has its own integrated weaponry: a [[Storm Bolter]] and a [[Power Fist | + | Terminator Armour has its own integrated weaponry: a [[Storm Bolter]] and a [[Power Fist]]. The Storm Bolter is a multi-chambered, short-barrelled development of the trusty standard bolter already used by the Astartes. It shoots at a faster rate than the original weapon, allowing it to lay down a curtain of fire. It is also quite short, partly because it is built into the exo-armour, making it an ideal close combat weapon. Such a combination in a single weapon has proven useful, to say the least. The Power Fist is already standard issue in many Chapters, and needs little work to adapt it to exo-armour. |
Heavier weapons include the [[Heavy Flamer]], the [[Assault Cannon]] and the [[Cyclone Missile Launcher]]. | Heavier weapons include the [[Heavy Flamer]], the [[Assault Cannon]] and the [[Cyclone Missile Launcher]]. | ||
Revision as of 11:43, 9 September 2008
Terminator Armour or Tactical Dreadnought Armour is the toughest and most powerful form of personal armour humanity has ever developed. The scarcity and expense to maintain Terminator suits means they are available only to the elite troops from the veteran companies of the Adeptus Astartes Space Marine Chapters.
Terminator armour was developed thousands of years ago by the Adeptus Mechanicus Tech Adepts of Mars. Its design is a blend of Dreadnought armour, standard Marine power armour and heavy suits used by engineers working in the most hostile environments (such as micro-asteroid plagued orbits or radioactive engine cores of stellar frigates). Terminator suits, similar to power armour, have an outer shell of ceramite bonded plates powered by electrically-motivated fibre bundles. Plates of heavy plasteel further armour the ceramite sections, especially on the front of the suit. External adamantium ribs support the immense weight of the armour. The shoulder displays the Crux Terminatus badge, each of which is said to contain a piece of the Terminator Armour the Emperor wore when he fought Horus during the final battle of the Horus Heresy.
Due to the massive strength its fibre bundles and advanced servo motors afford the wearer, weapons normally too heavy to be considered man portable can be used without impeding performance. Heavy Flamers and Assault Cannons can be wielded with the same ease a normal man would a handle a Lasgun or Boltgun.
The creation of Terminator was prompted to provide heavy armour and firepower to troops fighting in cramped battle zones, such as the claustrophobic tunnels of hive worlds and space hulks, too confined for Dreadnoughts and vehicles.
It must be noted that there is no such thing as a "new" suit of Terminator armour. Like cathedrals, they are in a constant state of repair and renewal. If an additional suit is required it is cobbled together from refurbished parts salvaged from the remains of Marines killed in action. This explains the frequently disparate and ragged look of Terminator squads. Of course new components are produced, but the expense is so great that it is avoided if at all possible. Indeed, as time marches onward the knowledge of how to fabricate some of the more complex pieces becomes an increasingly faded memory in the decrepit minds of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and "reverse engineering" is an all too common science in the 41st millennium.
By the 41st millennium, Terminator armour is so prized that its use is reserved for when it will be at its most effective. Terminators may be used in boarding actions, where the cramped conditions and long corridors mean that the Terminator's strength and firepower can be brought to bear without the risk of flanking manoeuvres. Terminator armour may also be deployed on the open battlefield, either to wield devastating long range fire with their heavy weapons, or deep-strike teleporting to attack the enemy's command structure.
Terminator Armour also incorporates many more auxiliary systems than normal Marine armour. The armour's sensorium, based upon tendril sensors, links directly into the wearer's own awareness. The sensorium allows the wearer to use a vast number of scanners and detectors without conscious thought. Sensoriums can also be linked together, allowing every squad member to see exactly the same view of the battle as his comrades.
Most Marine chapters maintain some Terminator suits in their armouries, and train some squads in their use. Some adaptive surgery for the sensorium interface is also necessary. However, Terminator armour is not used by these Marines as a matter of course, but issued as and when required. Conventionally armoured Marines, for example, would not be expected to clear the densely-packed corridors of a hive world. Their task would be to form a cordon, while Terminator-armoured squads carried out the clearance.
Terminator Armour has its own integrated weaponry: a Storm Bolter and a Power Fist. The Storm Bolter is a multi-chambered, short-barrelled development of the trusty standard bolter already used by the Astartes. It shoots at a faster rate than the original weapon, allowing it to lay down a curtain of fire. It is also quite short, partly because it is built into the exo-armour, making it an ideal close combat weapon. Such a combination in a single weapon has proven useful, to say the least. The Power Fist is already standard issue in many Chapters, and needs little work to adapt it to exo-armour.
Heavier weapons include the Heavy Flamer, the Assault Cannon and the Cyclone Missile Launcher.
Development and History
Several designs of Terminator armour evolved in parallel from the forge worlds of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the armouries of the Marines. Often bearing little physical resemblance to each other, these different exo-armour suits have much in common. Massively armoured, sealed against any external conditions and incorporating their own armament, Terminator Armour designs proved their worth from the first. Like power armour, the suits were equipped with fibre-bundle muscles and despite their immense weight, imposed few movement restrictions upon the wearer.
The Thule Decimation of 728.M40 is one of the most noteworthy examples of the use of Terminator armour. Six entire companies of Grey Knights were equipped with Terminator Armour, including suits that had been requisitioned from five other Chapters. The assault was mounted with such haste that there was no time for repainting the suits. The Grey Knights were forced to attack in the colours of six different Chapters and, apparently faced by six Chapters of Marines, the defenders surrendered within three hours. One in ten on the planetoid city were subsequently executed for their part in the rebellion.
The Ultramarines' crusade against the Tyranid Hive Fleet Behemoth also included several important actions by Terminator Squads. These included the first breach in the fleet's outer hull, and the subsequent destruction of the vats and nest chambers.2
Armour Variants
- Terminator mini MK2.jpg
Terminator Armour MK I
- Terminator MK 2.jpg
Terminator Armour MK I
- TerminatorB.JPG
Terminator Armour MK II
- TerminatorC.JPG
Terminator Armour MK III Prototype
- TerminatorD.JPG
Terminator Armour MK IV
- TerminatorF.JPG
Grey Knights Terminator Armour MK III
- Ordo Malleus Inquisitor Terminator armour.png
Ordo Malleus Inquisitor in Terminator Armour
Adeptus Custodes Terminator Armour
Sources
- Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)
- 1:Warhammer 40,000 Compendium
- 2:White Dwarf 109, Terminator Squads
