Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought
The Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought is a Space Marine Dreadnought developed prior to the Horus Heresy. The Contemptor is larger and more powerful than standard Dreadnought patterns, featuring systems similar to those used by the automatons of the Adeptus Mechanicus Legio Cybernetica branch, including Atomantic Shielding field generator technology that would be implemented into the Storm Shields of Space Marine Terminators.[1]
Contents
Overview
The Contemptor comes equipped with a twin-linked Heavy Bolter, a Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon with inbuilt Storm Bolter, and Smoke launchers. The Contemptor can replace its standard equipment with a variety of weaponry, including: a Multi-melta, twin-linked Heavy Flamers, Plasma Cannon, heavy Conversion Beamer, or twin-linked Lascannons. The Contemptor can also replace its inbuilt storm bolter with a heavy flamer. The Contemptor can also be upgraded with Extra armour and a Searchlight.[2]
Once the standard pattern of Dreadnought in the Great Crusade-era, the ability to create new Contemptors is now beyond the Adeptus Mechanicus or perhaps a closely guarded secret by certain Tech-Priest factions. At the time of the Horus Heresy it was a recent design, equipped with advanced energy generators that allowed for enhanced speed and strength as well as defensive energy field systems. These advantages came with a price however, for it requires a higher degree of maintaneance and a catastrophic meltdown may occur if its arc reactor is breached.[36] Some believe that the design may share systems with the dreaded, near-mythical battle-automata of the Legio Cybernetica. If this is the case, it may explain why so few Contemptors remain in service as of M41. Those few that still remain in service are relics of the Great Crusade, Horus Heresy, and The Scouring.[4a] In the 41st Millennium, the Castaferrum Pattern Dreadnought has become the most common.[3]
Technical Information[4b]
| Vehicle Name: | Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought | Main Armament: | Twin-linked Heavy Bolters, Lascannons, Volkite Culverins, or Heavy Flamers, or single Multi-Melta, Plasma Cannon, Conversion Beamer, Rotor Cannon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Mars | Secondary Armament: | Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon, Storm Bolter or Heavy Flamer |
| Known Patterns: | I-XXVI | Traverse: | 360° |
| Crew: | Interred Space Marine | Elevation: | From -90° to +90° |
| Powerplant: | Atomantic arc reactor | Main Ammunition: | Variable |
| Weight: | 14.5 tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | Variable |
| Length: | 2.1m | ||
| Width: | 3.1m | Armour | |
| Height: | 4.5m | ||
| Ground Clearance: | N/A | Superstructure: | 75mm |
| Fording Depth: | Hull: | 75mm | |
| Max Speed - on road | 12kph | Gun Mantlet | N/A |
| Max Speed - off road: | 7kph | Vehicle Designation: | 8681-756-127-DR 081 |
| Transport Capacity: | N/A | Firing Ports: | N/A |
| Access Points: | N/A | Turret: | N/A |
Variants
Variants used by multiple Legions
Contemptor-Cortus Class Dreadnought
First created during the Ullanor Crusade, the Contemptor-Cortus was a variant of the highly successful ‘Prime’ Contemptor pattern. Utilizing many base components, the most sophisticated systems were replaced with robust - if less potent - systems which could be more readily fabricated in the field by the Legiones Astartes. The result was a war machine with its own unique strengths and combat characteristics, but also with a not-undeserved reputation for instability. However, as the Horus Heresy broke out, this more easily produced variant of Contemptor Dreadnought was returned to widespread service.[5]
Contemptor-Mortis Class Dreadnought
Instead of standard twin-linked heavy bolters, this class is armed with two weapons of the same type - Multi-Meltas, twin-linked Autocannons, Kheres pattern Assault Cannons, or twin-linked Lascannons.[4b]
Variants used by specific Legions
Contemptor-Incaendius Class Dreadnought
The Contemptor-Incaendius Class Dreadnought was a variant of Contemptor used by the Blood Angels Legion. Classified as a "fast attack" Dreadnought, the chassis was equipped with a Incaendius Booster Pack which allowed for the Dreadnought to fall from low orbit or make small jumps despite its bulk. This class of Dreadnought was only built within Mechanicum enclaves located on Baal's first moon as per an agreement between the Blood Angels homeworld and the Forge World of Anvillus. Armed with twin Talons of Perdition with built-in Heavy Flamers, the Incaendius served as a shock assault unit of unparalleled ferocity.[9]
Osiron Class Dreadnought
The Osiron Class Dreadnought was a type of Contemptor used by the Thousand Sons. These dreadnoughts were created by Magnus himself, and consisted of a mortally wounded psyker Space Marine laced with a psychometric barrier for his brain. This allowed the Dreadnought to perform psychic abilities that was far safer to the user and its allies. As such, these Dreadnoughts were equipped with Force Weapons.[8b]
Custodes Variants
Contemptor-Achillus Class Dreadnought
The Contemptor Achilus Dreadnought is a model used by the Custodian Guard.[7]
In those isolated cases where the body has been all but irrevocably destroyed but the Custodian’s mind remains intact and their will to survive undimmed, internment within the cold and unyielding body of a Dreadnought is the next step. To this purpose, the few Dreadnoughts of the Legio Custodes are as singularly advanced as their other wargear, outfitted with weapons and systems artificer-made by the servants of the Imperial Court. At the time of the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, the most widely employed was the Contemptor-Achillus, a general battle unit which combined phenomenal strength and speed with the echoes of the interned Custodes’ own unmatched martial skill.[7]
The primary weapon of the Contemptor-Achillus was the mighty Dreadspear, a weapon modeled closely on the Custodes Guardian Spear but larger and equipped with a Corve Las-Pulser. It was also equipped with two wrist-mounted storm bolters, incinerators or Adrathic destructors.[7]
Contemptor-Galatus Class Dreadnought
Similar in aspect to the Contemptor Dreadnoughts of the Legiones Astartes, the Contemptor-Galatus is a markedly superior war machine. The unrivalled skills of the warrior entombed within its sarcophagus notwithstanding, the Contemptor-Galatus is stronger, faster and better armoured.[Needs Citation]
Designed to provide an anchor for a Legio Custodes battleline, the Contemptor-Galatus is armed in similar fashion to the Custodes themselves – wielding a huge Galatus Warblade with its inbuilt twin-linked infernus incinerator, and equipped with a vastly enlarged version of the Custodes Praesidium shield. Already able to withstand heavy assaults with its armour and refractor field, the Praesidium shield allows the Contemptor-Galatus stand nigh on impregnable, enduring the enemy onslaught and reaping a murderous toll with its immense power blade.[6]
Notable Contemptor Pattern Dreadnoughts
- Aesir of the Space Wolves[11]
- Svell Graniteback of the Space Wolves[24]
- Hrend of the Iron Warriors[17]
- Berossus of the Iron Warriors[12]
- Promodon of the Iron Warriors[14]
- Bombastus of the Iron Hands[13]
- Brantar of the Iron Hands[14]
- Urien of the Iron Hands[26]
- Dhekarst of the Sons of Horus[15]
- Hecaton Aiakos of the Minotaurs[16]
- Kargul of the Death Guard[18]
- Lhorke of the World Eaters[19]
- Appius of the Imperial Fists[34]
- Romuald of the Imperial Fists[20]
- Seraphis of the Thousand Sons[15]
- Sagittarus Malacque of the Custodian Guard[21]
- Ynnades if the Adeptus Custodes[22]
- Sor Gharax of the Word Bearers[23]
- Talon of the Ultramarines[25]
- Tegusai of the White Scars[Needs Citation]
- Hamonah of the Blood Angels
Gallery
Contemptor Dreadnought of the Astral Claws chapter[28]
Contemptor Dreadnought of the Word Bearers[29]
Contemptor Dreadnought of the Thousand Sons[30]
Comtemptor Dreadnought of the Blood Angels[31]
Space Wolves Comtemptor Dreadnought[32]
White Scars Contemptor Dreadnought[33]
The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Contemptor Dreadnought[35]
See also
Sources
- 1: Forge World — Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought (accessed 2011.07.01)
- 2: Forge World — Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought (PDF) (accessed 2011.07.01)
- 3: The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal pg.99
- 4: Imperial Armour Volume Two - Second Edition: War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes:
- 5: Forge World
- 6: Forge World
- 7: Forge World
- 8: The Horus Heresy Book Seven - Inferno:
- 9: The Horus Heresy Book Eight - Malevolence, pg. 209
- 10: Forgeworld Legion Osiron Dreadnought (last accessed 10/30/2021)
- [11]: Horus Heresy (game system): Core Set — Aesir, card description
- 12: The First Wall (Novel), Chapter 15
- 13: Angel Exterminatus (Novel), Chapter 8
- 14: Horus Heresy (Artbook Series): Collected Visions: pgs. 296-298
- 15: Horus Heresy (game system)
- 16: Imperial Armour Volume Twelve - The Fall of Orpheus, pg. 147
- 17: Tallarn: Ironclad (Novel), Chapter 7
- 18: The Buried Dagger (Novel) — Interval IV
- 19: Angron: Slave of Nuceria (Novel) - Chapter 26
- 20: White Dwarf 128 (2016) — Parade Ground
- 21: Master of Mankind (Novel), Chapter 6
- 22: Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor's Legion (Novel), Valerian Chapter 8
- 23: White Dwarf 93 (2015) — Betrayal at Calth
- 24: White Dwarf November 2016, pgs. 118–119
- 25: Gathering Storm: Fall of Cadia, chapter 2
- 26: The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre, pg. 78
- 27: The Horus Heresy Book Eight - Malevolence, pg. 60
- 28: Forge World Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought (Dead Link)
- 29: Games Workshop Betrayal at Calth (dead link)
- 30: Forgeworld Thousand Sons Contemptor Dreadnought (last accessed 2/11/2021)
- 31: Warhammer Community: Warhammer Fest Europe: Live Blog (posted 18/8/2018) (last accessed 2/11/2021)
- 32: Warhammer Community: Codex: Space Wolves Preview – Hunters Unleashed and Datasheets Galore (posted 15/8/2018) (last accessed 2/11/2021)
- 33: Warhammer Community: The Horus Heresy Weekender 2019 Live Blog (posted 2/2/2019) (last accessed 2/11/2021)
- 34: Champion of Oaths (Short Story)
- 35: Heresy Thursday – Lead the Charge With the All-singing, All-dancing Contemptor Dreadnought (posted 28/4/2022) (last accessed 10/5/2022)
- 36: Liber Hereticus, pg. 40
