Kharybdis Assault Claw
The Kharybdis Assault Claw was a type of Drop Pod used by the Legiones Astartes during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy.[1]
Description
The Kharybdis is a monstrous drop pod capable of carrying large assault forces through the void and mounting significant firepower to blast a path through defending small craft. As a fully operational dropship, these craft serve as orbit-to-surface transports, a role that allows them to use the firepower of their storm launchers and melta cutters to scour clean their chosen landing zone before disembarking their deadly cargo.[1]
Some aggressive commanders employed the Kharybdis as a tank hunter, ramming enemy armour in low-altitude attack runs.[1]
The hatch is beneath the hull, and passengers can disembark at ground level.[1]
Machine Spirit
The Kharybdis was the product of the same machine-lore that had produced the Dreadclaw. At some point, the vessel's machine core developed some manner of intelligence. The Kharybdis became attached to individual masters, and grew unpredictable when those were not close to hand: after the master left or died, the machine might open its hatch during atmospheric descent, incinerating its occupants.[2]
During the Scouring, Loyalist Space Marines ceased employing the Kharybdis. However, it remained in use within the Traitor Legions and the bitter machine anima at the heart of the Kharybdis became a thing of darkly sentient and malefic intent, keeping with the nature of the Traitor legions themselves.[2]
Gallery
Kharybdis Assault Claw iris hatch[3]
See also
Sources
- 1: The Horus Heresy Book Three - Extermination, pgs. 236-237
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - War Machines of the Lost and the Damned, pgs. 92-93
- 3: Forge World webstore : Legion Kharybdis Assault Claw (archived page, last accessed 27/2/23)
