Imperial Jetbike
Imperial jetbikes were sleek craft utilizing anti-grav technology, and were commonly used by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade. After the Horus Heresy however, the ability to produce them was eventually lost and now only one Imperial jetbike is known to exist outside of the Adeptus Custodes.
Pre-Heresy
Imperial jetbikes were common among the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade and the Heresy, typically operated by Sky Hunter Squadrons[4]. The last known version was the Mk14 'Bullock' jet-cycle, equipped with integrated auto-drive, and additionally, some were equipped with bio-scanners, energy-scanners, communicators, and auto-aim devices linked to the vehicle's weapons. Standard weapons were twin forward-firing bolters and could seat a single rider. The jet-cycle was capable of both flight and hover modes, and could be used in aerial-drop separation tactics (dropping out of drop ships before the ships land).[5]
Modern Imperium
The technology used in the production of these jetbikes has long since been lost to the Imperium. The only jetbike known to survive into the 41st Millennium is Corvex, used by the Grand Master of the Ravenwing company of the Dark Angels chapter, currently Sammael.[2]
Jetbikes and their technology are now distrusted by the imperium as being alien and inhuman, particularly in the examples of the Eldar and Tau. Sammael's jetbike was built to the highest standards, mounting a plasma cannon and twin-linked storm bolters. It is possible that some Second Founding chapters of the Dark Angels maintain other examples of jetbikes in their armouries or vaults.[2]
The Adeptus Custodes still operate Jetbike formations, notably the Vertus Praetors who ride atop Dawneagle Pattern Bikes.[6]
Known Patterns
- Scimitar Pattern[4]
- Mk.14 Bullock Jet-Cycle Pattern[5]
- Gyrfalcon Pattern - Used by the Adeptus Custodes
- Dawneagle Pattern - Used by the Adeptus Custodes. Relic of the Great Crusade. More durable and can deliver near supersonic turn of speed[7]
- Paragon Pattern - Used by the Adeptus Custodes
- Erinyes Pattern - Used by the Silent Sisterhood[8a]
- Shamshir Pattern - Used by the White Scars Golden Keshig[8b]
- Hornet Pattern - Used by the White Scars during the Horus Heresy[9]
- Taiga Pattern - Used by the White Scars during the Horus Heresy[9]
- Bullock Pattern - Used by the White Scars during the Horus Heresy[9]
- Erinyes Pattern - Used by the Silent Furies of the Sisters of Silence. Equipped with a Snare Cannon, Needle Cannon, or Adrathic Destructor.[11]
- Estoc Pattern Jetbike - Heresy-era[10]
- Sojutsu Pattern Voidbike - Used by Jaghatai Khan[8c]
- Escher Cutter - Used by House Escher on Necromunda.
Images
Mk14 Bullock Jet-Cycle (1st Edition)
Sammael, Master of the Ravenwing (4th Edition)
A "Scimitar" pattern Jetbike used by the World Eaters[4]
A Gyrfalcon Pattern Jetbike of the Adeptus Custodes
A Dawneagle Pattern Jetbike of the Adeptus Custodes
A Paragon Pattern Jetbike of the Adeptus Custodes
See Also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, [Needs Citation]
- 2: Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition), pg. 45
- 3: Brotherhood of the Storm page at Black Library (last accessed September 7, 2012)
- 4: SCIMITAR PATTERN SPACE MARINE LEGION JETBIKE at Forge World(site accessed 20/09/2012)
- 5: White Dwarf 96 (UK) (1987), pgs. 51-52 Chapter Approved, by Rick Priestley
- 6: Warhammer Community
- 7: Codex: Adeptus Custodes (8th Edition), pg. 41
- 8: The Horus Heresy Book Eight
- 9: Saturnine (Novel) Part 1 Chapter 4
- 10: The Horus Heresy Book Nine pg.195
- 11: Liber Imperium, pg. 47