Rhino
The Rhino is a common armoured troop transport produced by the Imperium. Its use is entrusted to only the most loyal of soldiers: the Space Marines, Sisters of Battle, Adeptus Arbites and the Inquisition.[2b]
The Rhino is also used by the Chaos Space Marines, who either took their Rhinos with them after the Horus Heresy, or have stolen them in the millennia since then.[3]
The Rhino's versatile design has allowed the development (mostly through the rediscovery of STC designs) of several variants, each fulfilling a different tactical role. Popular variants include the Razorback, Predator, Whirlwind and Immolator.[2b]
Contents
History
The Rhino has been in service throughout the history of the Imperium. As a Standard Template Construct vehicle, the Rhino dates back to the distant time of Mankind's initial colonisation of the galaxy.[1]
Originally named "RH1-N0 Tracked Exploration and Multi-Purpose Defense Vehicle," it was used to explore newly colonised worlds. First field-tested on Mars, the "Rhino," as it came to be known, was a success, thanks to its extreme dependability, ability to run on any semi-combustible fuel source, and the fact that it can be produced from any locally available material, thus it is a simple and extremely adaptable vehicle.[2b] The material composition of a standard template Rhino is roughly 60 percent various metals and 40 percent other materials.[14]
Military Use
The military value of such a vehicle was soon recognised, and soon each planet in the burgeoning human empire had its own customised versions of the Rhino, fitted with tons of varying weapons.[2b]
According to the ancient Liber Armorum the earliest evidence of the Rhino in combat was at Torben's World in battle against the indigenous alien population.[2b] During the attack, three hundred Rhinos were deployed to the largest alien city. The speed of the assault meant the xenos had no idea of the coming of the humans and had not prepared any defences. The Rhinos poured their firepower into the flimsy structures and then deployed nearly three thousand warriors. The city was destroyed and, with the alien presence removed, the colonisation proceeded easily. The news of this victory spread and the use of the Rhino was adopted more and more by other planets and local colonies.[Needs Citation]
In the early Imperium, the Rhino was a far more ubiquitous vehicle, employed by most Imperial military forces. Since then, knowledge has faded, and the employment of the Rhino has become limited to the Space Marines and a few other Imperial organisations. [1]
As the empire expanded, more aliens were encountered, and the STC system gave a forward army access to advanced vehicles such as the Predator, Immolator and Whirlwind. Unfortunately, during the Age of Strife, the STC systems were lost, and all the planets of the empire were affected. With the loss of the STC systems, the ability to construct Rhinos was also temporarily lost, leading to many Rhinos becoming holy relics, thousands of years old. Eventually the rediscovery of STC printouts (hard copy blueprints and information on their construction) by the Adeptus Mechanicus allowing the construction of Rhinos to resume. [2b]
Patterns
MkIb Mars Pattern
The oldest surviving Rhino pattern is the MkIb Mars Pattern, which was produced in such numbers that many surviving examples still exist. However, these machines are considered past their prime and no longer constructed, though they are still used with honour and respect. Compared to the current MkIIc pattern, the MkI's drive and engine system is less robust, lacking the same redundancy system. However it has a slightly higher top speed, load-bearing capacity, and requires less maintenance time.[2b]
MkIc Deimos Pattern
A variant of the MkIb, the MkIc or Deimos Pattern was the mainstay of the Legiones Astartes during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. The MkIc Deimos Pattern Rhino is amongst one of the oldest variants, first issued en-masse to the Space Marine Legions of the Great Crusade. It standard armament consisted of two pintle-mounted remotely controlled Bolters.[5] The MkIc is more sophisticated than the MkIIc, featuring more advanced functionalities and a superior machine spirit.[16]
Deimos Rhino Variants
- Damocles Command Rhino
- Deimos Pattern Predator
- Deimos Pattern Vindicator
- Rhino Advancer
- Castellan Rhino
- Whirlwind Scorpius
MkIIc Mars pattern
The modern Mars Pattern Rhino(MkIIc) also saw use during the Great Crusade, thought not at the levels seen with the Deimos pattern. The Mars Pattern Rhino was more easily reproduced, but had inferior environmental and secondary systems.[7]
Now, only the Adeptus Mechanicus possess the knowledge to build a Rhino (although a Rhino could easily be built on virtually any world in the Imperium if it possessed a copy of the Rhino design schemes). Each Rhino is purified and blessed, each piece appeased before being put in place. Should a Rhino be lost in battle, it will be salvaged and repaired if possible, being sent back out into the field to give the Machine Spirit a chance for retribution against its enemies.[2b]
Design
At its most basic level the Mars-Pattern MkIIc Rhino is an armoured personnel carrier with large tracks designed to cope with any terrain and protect its passengers from harm. It is such a basic design, able to be constructed from almost any material and be powered by any semi-combustible material, that little has changed throughout its 10,000 year history.[2b] Such is its resiliency that damage sustained in battle can often be repaired in the field by the crew themselves.[1]
Armament
The MkIIc Rhino is primarily armed with a Storm Bolter for close defense, which is remotely operated by the driver. It can also be equipped with a second pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, which can be fired by a passenger from the top hatch, as well as Hunter-Killer missiles and frag- or blind-grenades Auto-launchers.[2b][9] These cupola-mounted weapons can operate autonomously, tracking and engaging potential targets with the help of targeting augurs and range-finding lenses, even detecting and reacting to active weapon signatures.[17]
Armour
The most common form of armouring is a bonded ceramite layer over a cast plasteel hull. However, other materials have been known to be used instead, from composite carbon compounds to conventional hardened steel, adamantium or even special riveted plates.[2b]
Engine
The MkIIc Rhino is powered by four MkII Mars-pattern adaptable thermic combustor reactor engines. The engines are fed by a fan-assisted air intake and each one is hooked into a dynamo, which in turn is connected via power coupling to two electric motors, which power the vehicle's batteries. Each engine also has its own fuel tank and air supply to use if necessary (i.e. fighting in toxic atmospheres or vacuum). This level of redundancy means that, should one engine be disabled, power reduction is minimal; if both engines on one side are lost, the remaining two can still power the drive wheels through an auxiliary drive shaft and locking differential, though the Rhino's speed will be cut in half. Should all four engines be destroyed, electrical energy stored in the vehicle's batteries, recharged by the electric motors, can be used to continue operation for a short period of time.[2b] In addition, most Rhinos include rudimentary self-repair systems able to restore motive and drive functions. This basic design feature lends towards the Rhino's reputation as a rugged carrier, able to keep moving after suffering damage that would cripple lesser vehicles.[1] The Rhino's track are made from plasteel.[16]
Equipment
Each MkIIc Rhino comes equipped with a Searchlight and Smoke Launchers, and can be further upgraded with Dozer Blades, a Hunter-killer Missile and Extra Armour.[1]
Transport capacity
The capacity of a MkIIc Rhino is ten Power Armoured warriors, although it is not equipped to handle Terminator Armour or Jump Pack-equipped Space Marines. Two side hatches and a rear ramp allow for quick exits, while a fourth top hatch allows two passengers to fire from the Rhino, in addition to serving as an emergency escape hatch.[2b] The Rhino allows Space Marines to restock their supplies and refuel their reactor packs.[16]
Known Variants
Space Marines
It is known that when manufacturing the Rhino APC, Tech-Priests carry out a wide variety of rituals, peculiar blessing as it is tend to vehicles of any kind. This process is followed by predictions and omens, during which they investigate the properties of Machine Spirits of each individual machine. As a result Rhino can be earmarked as the primary Rhino, or the vehicle is returned to the forges to be outfitted as one of the many variants.[2a]
- a more heavily armed and armoured version of the Rhino personnel carrier.
- a support tank with heavier weapons and reduced transport capacity
- a short ranged siege tank
- a Rhino-based multiple rocket launcher
- an anti-aircraft missile vehicle variant of the Whirlwind
- an air defense vehicle.
- a Rhino-based command vehicle
- an Imperial attack vehicle based on the Rhino armoured carrier, incorporating a fixed, forward firing weapon in its front hull
- battlefield support variant and command version of the Rhino
Adepta Sororitas Rhinos
In addition to the Mk.IIc that they also operate, the Sisters of Battle have the exclusive use of the Mk.IIIa Mars-pattern Rhino. Based upon improvements made by the incorporation of the Immolator STC, this version is slightly taller, featuring a superstructure with vision blocks arranged for all-round observation of the battlefield from inside, as well as two large circular hatches that can serve as access and firing points, or mount an observation cupola (or a turret in the case of the Immolator).[2c]
Like the Space Marine versions, those Rhinos possess embarkation stations to which the passengers can connect their power armour, in order to recharge their motive core and exchange data. This version is generally held as superior to the Mk.II when used in dense terrain due to its viewports and fireports arrangement, at the price of an increased vulnerability to anti-tank weaponry due to its higher profile.[2c]
Some Adepta Sororitas Rhinos also are equipped with twin cannons next to the driver's hatch instead of a storm bolter.[8]
Sororitas Rhino Variants
Chaos Rhinos
Chaos Rhinos are Rhino vehicles in the service of Chaos Space Marines. Serving as their most common vehicle, over the ten thousand years since the Long War began, Chaos Marines have continued to use the robust Rhino as their favored main transport. Chaos forces are known to loot and confiscate Rhinos from Imperial armies, though they quickly burn them clean of Imperial insignia and replace them with spikes, blades, and gory trophies. In some cases these rhinos may even be outright possessed by a bound daemon, nullifying the need for a crew.[6]
Adeptus Arbites Rhinos
The Rhinos of the Adeptus Arbites are employed for urban pacification and riot control.[19] They have a narrow interior, full with lockers and weapon racks for holding stub guns, mauls, grenade launchers, grapplehawks, shotguns and shields[18d] and carry ten Arbitrators and four cyber-mastiffs.[19] Some Arbites Rhinos are armed with a pintle-mounted storm bolter,[18b] while others have a pintle-mounted heavy stubber firing man-stopper bullets and a grenade launcher equipped with choke grenades.[19]
Abductor-pattern Rhino
The Abductor-pattern Rhino is a Rhino variant fielded by the Adeptus Arbites. It is used to transport prisoners, either by cramming them into its interior or carrying them on the outside on carry-hooks.[18a]
Legatus-pattern command Rhino
The Legatus-pattern command Rhino is a Rhino variant fielded by the Adeptus Arbites. It is equipped with a variety of transmitter vanes and serves as a command post when deployed.[18c]
Other Variants
Technical Information
| Vehicle Name: | Rhino Armoured Personnel Carrier[2b] | Main Armament: | Storm Bolter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Mars | Secondary Armament: | N/A |
| Known Patterns: | I-XXXV | Traverse: | 360° |
| Crew: | Driver | Elevation: | From -65° to +45° |
| Powerplant: | Quad MkII Adaptable Thermic Combustor Reactor | Main Ammunition: | 800 rounds |
| Weight: | 30.0 tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | N/A |
| Length: | 6.6m | ||
| Width: | 4.5m | Armour | |
| Height: | 3.6m | ||
| Ground Clearance: | 0.44m | Superstructure: | 60mm |
| Fording Depth: | Hull: | 60mm | |
| Max Speed - on road | 70kph | Gun Mantlet | N/A |
| Max Speed - off road: | 55kph | Vehicle Designation: | 0120-766-0724-PR113 |
| Transport Capacity: | 10 | Firing Ports: | 1 |
| Access Points: | 3 | Turret: | N/A |
Named Rhinos
See also
Sources
- 1: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 76
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition:
- 3: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition), pg. 25
- 4: Chaos Rhino (last accessed 25 March 2015)
- 5: Forge World (last accessed 25 March 2015)
- 6: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition), pg. 54
- 7: The Horus Heresy Book Three - Extermination, pg. 127
- 8: Daemonifuge, pg. 2
- 9: Codex: Ultramarines (2nd Edition), pg. 70
- 10: Games Workshop Deimos Pattern Rhino (last accessed 8/7/2022)
- 11 : White Dwarf 103 (UK), pg. 64
- 12 : Chapter Approved 2001, pg. 72
- 13 : Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition), pg. 89
- 14 : Blood Gorgons (Novel), Chapter 21
- 15: White Dwarf 309 (UK), pg. 118
- 16: Warhammer 40,000: The Ultimate Guide, pg. 36
- 17: The Beast of Calth (Short Story) — Iron Warriors: The Omnibus (Omnibus)
- 18: Crossfire (Novel) — Enforcer: The Shira Calpurnia Omnibus (Omnibus):
- 19: Dark Heresy: The Chaos Commandment: Apostasy Gambit III, pg. 22
Uncited
 |
- White Dwarf 103 (UK) (1988), Rampaging Rhinos, by Rick Priestley
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