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Land Raider Achilles

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The Land Raider Achilles is a siege variant of the Space Marines' Land Raider, designed in the closing days of the Great Crusade. First forged by the Imperial Fist Legion in response to a now-extinct xenos threat, they are an incredibly rare variant with supreme longevity and, even by Land Raider standards, invulnerability.

A Land Raider Achilles.[2]

History

According to the Liber Armorum, work on the Achilles was begun as a joint venture between Imperial Fist Techmarines and the Archmagos of Xan-Ebon in response to a pocket xeno-empire[1] that used fearsomely potent energy weapons[4] and was located far to the galactic south. Though their name has since been forgotten to the sands of time, the xenos had nevertheless managed the impressive feat of bogging down an entire Crusade, necessitating the design of the Achilles. However the ancient mysteries used in the Achilles' final construction prevented any sort of mass production, such that by the Horus Heresy its use had not extended beyond the spearhead units of the Imperial Fists themselves, along with certain gifts delivered to the Dark Angels, Thousand Sons and Salamanders. By the time of the 41st Millennium the Land Raider Achilles exists in small numbers throughout a number of Space Marine Chapters, though fittingly only the Imperial Fists and their successors field them in significant quantities, while outside the Adeptus Astartes it is said only the Ordo Reductor of the Adeptus Mechanicus maintains access to the design. The inability to mass produce the tank means each individual machine has its own idiosyncrasies, while even the rumour of a nearby wrecked or abandoned Achillies is enough to divert an entire Space Marine strike force to reclaim it.[1]

Design Features

Armament

In its role of a heavy siege tank the Achilles was fitted with a number of powerful weapons to break through the enemy's defences. Both sponson mounts are fitted with twin-linked Multi-meltas, while the centerline hull mount was originally fitted with a Viper pattern quad-launcher, a rapid-firing four-barreled cannon which has since been replaced in surviving models with a Thunderfire Cannon. While this impressive armament helps it break through a siege, it also decreases the vehicle's transportation capacity.[1][2]

Armour

The most secret arts of the Cult Mechanicus went into the construction of the Achilles' structure, such that only a supreme Master of the Forge or Enginseer Artificier could potentially comprehend and produce them. Ancient electromagnetic incantations and ferromantic computational algorithms were etched at a molecular level at each and every layer of its fabrication.[1] Every centimeter of the surface of an Achilles is etched with the most secret runes of the techno-magi, and the sigils inlay with meta-conducting zirconium.[4] The resulting tank is almost impossible to harm with any sort of projected energy weapon and only a massive kinetic impact is perhaps guaranteed to destroy it.[1]

Equipment

Among the standard features the Achilles shares with the original pattern is the use of a Machine Spirit to guide the crew in operating the vehicle, however, the Enhanced Necris-Phobos Pattern Machine Spirit Genius Loci is the most warlike and frighteningly self-aware of any found on a Space Marine vehicle. The exact origins of this are unknown, with some speculation that it could be an after-effect of the vehicle's unique construction, but means that any attempt to recover these vehicles must be done so with extreme propitiation to avoid bloodshed.[1]

The Land Raider Achilles also comes standard with a Searchlight and Smoke Launchers, and can be upgraded with a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, a Hunter-Killer Missile, Dozer Blades and/or a Siege Shield.[2]

Transport Capacity

Because of the added space taken up by the Achilles' weaponry, the vehicle can only transport up to six Space Marines; it also lacks the frontal assault ramp found on standard Land Raiders, with its passengers forced to disembark out of one of two access doors on either side of the hull.[2]

Field Role

Due to its limited transport capacity the Land Raider Achilles is often fielded in conjunction with other types of Land Raiders, like Land Raider Crusaders, and used in the support high-destructive role.[4]

Achilles-Alpha Pattern

The Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider was the original model from which the Land Raider Achilles was derived. The Achilles-Alpha was the most durable vehicle used by the Legiones Astartes, capable of shrugging off strikes that could even cripple a Fellblade and survive against the most toxic environment. Each vehicle was equipped with a quad mortar tooled with exacting precision and capable of launching shatter shells as well as the more common frag shells, and two sponson-mounted twin-linked Volkite Culverins. In the field of war, the Achilles-Alpha was used by the Legions as a spearpoint in any assault under fire trusting its near-impregnable armour and punishing weapons array to break any defense position. The construction of the vehicle fell under the direct oversight of a Forgeworld's Macro-tek Magos and was so costly to produce that no legion fielded more than a handful of them. Although the Land Raider Achilles was easier to produce it only held a fraction of the power of the original model.[5]

Alpha Pattern Land Raider Achilles[3]

Technical Information

Vehicle Name: Land Raider Achilles[1] Main Armament: 2x Twin-linked Multi-meltas
Forge World of Origin: Mars/Gryphonne IV Secondary Armament: 1x Thunderfire Cannon
Known Patterns: II / IV Traverse: 180°
Crew: Driver, Commander, Ordnancer Elevation: From -32° to +42°
Powerplant: Adaptable Thermic Combustion/Magnon-Fusion Reactor Main Ammunition: 30x1 Second Blasts
Weight: 76 tonnes Secondary Ammunition: 48 Rounds (Variable Payload)
Length: 10.4m
Width: 6.2m Armour
Height: 4.11m
Ground Clearance: 0.50m Superstructure: 100mm
Fording Depth: {{{Fording Depth}}} Hull: 95-115mm
Max Speed - on road 50kph Gun Mantlet N/A
Max Speed - off road: 40kph Vehicle Designation: 0120-766-0724-PR113
Transport Capacity: 6 (3) Firing Ports: N/A
Access Points: 3 Turret: N/A


Named Land Raider Achilles

Sources


Space Marine Vehicles
Light Vehicles
Walkers & Dreadnoughts
Armored Personnel Carriers RhinoRazorbackDamoclesRhino PrimarisRhino AdvancerImpulsor
Battle Tanks Predator (AnnihilatorDestructorBaal) • Land Raider (PhobosCrusaderRedeemerAchillesPrometheusTerminus UltraAresExcelsiorWrath of MjalnarAngel InfernusSolemnus AggressorAnvilarum) • Vindicator Laser DestroyerRepulsorRepulsor ExecutionerGladiatorAstraeus
Artillery WhirlwindVindicatorStalkerHunterWhirlwind HyperiosLand Raider Helios
Aircraft StormtalonThunderhawk GunshipThunderhawk TransportShadowhawkStormravenStorm EagleFire RaptorStormhawkCaestus Assault RamXiphonDark TalonNephilimStormfangStormwolfCorvus BlackstarOverlord
Air-Dropped/Deployed Drop PodHammerfall BunkerFirestrike Servo-Turret
Rare/Retired Contemptor DreadnoughtDeredeo DreadnoughtLeviathan DreadnoughtArquitorCerberusDeimos RhinoDeimos PredatorFalchionFellbladeJavelinJetbikeKratosLand Raider ProteusLand Raider AchillesMastodonSabreSicaranSpartanTyphonWhirlwind ScorpiusStormbirdDreadclawKharybdis Assault Claw


Legiones Astartes Forces of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy
Command PrimarchLegion MasterPraetorCenturionSpace Marine Command SquadChief ApothecaryForgemasterChief LibrarianHeraldDecurion
Elite Troops Veteran SquadTerminator SquadDestroyer SquadMoritatChampion ConsulHonour GuardNullificator
Troops Tactical SquadAssault SquadBreacher Siege SquadSeeker SquadOutrider SquadSky Seeker SquadHussar SquadTactical Support SquadReconnaissance SquadHeavy Support SquadSky Hunter SquadDespoiler SquadNewbloods
Specialists Techmarine (MortificatorForge Lord)Apothecary (Primus Medicae) • ChaplainLibrarian (Esoterist)Master of SignalsConsul (PraevianDelegatusWarmongerArmistosOpsequiariNullificator)VigilatorSiege BreakerPathfinder
Dreadnoughts ContemptorDeredeoCastaferrumVenerableMortisLeviathan
Armored Vehicles Rhino (Advancer) • Predator (ExecutionerInfernus) • Land Raider (PhobosProteusAchilles) • SabreKratosTermite
Heavy Vehicles SpartanKratosSicaran (VenatorPunisherArcusOmega) • Malcador (AnnihilatorDefenderInfernus) • CerberusTyphon
Super-Heavy Vehicles Fellblade (Glaive) • FalchionShadowswordStormbladeMastodonCapitol ImperialisLeviathan
Fast Attack Vehicles JetbikeBike (Attack Bike) • Land SpeederJavelin
Artillery BasiliskMedusaWhirlwind (ScorpiusHyperios) • Vindicator (Laser Destroyer) • Arquitor (GravitonSpiculaMorbus) • RapierHeavy Quad LauncherTarantula
Aircraft Drop Pod (Deathstorm) • Kharybdis Assault ClawDreadclawStormbirdThunderhawk (Thunderhawk Transporter) • Storm Eagle (Fire Raptor) • StormstrikePrimaris Lightning Strike FighterXiphon InterceptorCaestus Assault RamOrgus FlyerApisLotusWrathLightning CrowStormhawkCorsairDeathbirdSwordstrikeCastellanPythosHarbingerHawkwing
Legion-specific

I - Deathwing (Companions) • Dreadwing (InteremptorsNaufragia) • Firewing (Enigmatii) • Ironwing (Forge-wrightsExcindio Class Robot) • RavenwingStormwingPaladinKnights CenobiumIII - KakophoniPalatine BladesPhoenix GuardSun KillersIV - Iron CircleIron HavocStor-BezashkTyranthikosTyrant Siege TerminatorDodakathikThunderstrikeThunderburstWarsmithCastellan RhinoV - KeshigEbon KeshigGolden KeshigFalcon's ClawsKaraoghlanlarKyzaganSagyar MazanStormseerVI - Blood ClawsDeathswornFenrisian WolfGrey SlayerGrey StalkerBlood ClawBlack CullRune PriestWolf GuardWolf PriestHrimthursarEldthursarHunterVII - CastellanHuscarlsPhalanx WarderTemplar BrethrenVIII - AtramentarNight RaptorTerror SquadContekarReaverIX - Angel's TearsBurning EyesHigh HostContemptor-IncaendiusCrimson PaladinsDawnbreakerSanguinary GuardX - GorgonIron FatherMedusan ImmortalMorlocksXII - DevourerRampagerCaedereRed ButchersTriariiBloodiedRed HandXIII - EvocatiFulmentarusLocutarusInvictariiPraetorianNemesis DestroyersXIV - DeathshroudGrave WardensMortus PoisonersPlague MarinesXV - Ammitara OccultCastellax-AcheaHidden OnesKhenetai OccultOsironScarab OccultNumerologistsXVI - JustaerinLuperciReaverXVII - Anakatis KulAshen CircleDark ApostleDiabolistGal VorbakMhara GalVakrah JalProcuratorXVIII - Forge WardenFiredrakesPyre GuardPyroclastSanctifierXIX - Dark FuryDarkwingMor DeythanRaptorShadow WardensDeliverersWhispercutterXX - LernaeanHeadhunterOperativeSaboteur

Support Forces Imperial Army (Imperialis MilitiaSolar AuxiliaImperial Armada) • Mechanicum (Collegia TitanicaTaghmata OmnissiahSkitarii) • Sisters of SilenceCustodian Guard


Chaos Space Marine Forces
Command Chaos LordExalted ChampionSorcerer LordDaemon PrinceDark Commune (Cult DemagogueMindwitchIconrachBlessed Blades)
Specialists Sorcerer (Balefire Acolyte) • WarpsmithDark ApostleMaster of PossessionMaster of ExecutionLord DiscordantWarsmithApothecaryInfernus Abomination
Troops Chaos Space MarinesHavocsChosenChaos TerminatorsPossessed (Greater PossessedAnointed) • Khorne BerzerkersPlague MarinesNoise MarinesRubric MarinesObliterators (Mutilators) • Dark DiscipleShrivetalonButcherCultists (Accursed MutantTorments) • Chaos SpawnFallen
Fast Attack BikersRaptorsWarp Talons
Chaos Dreadnoughts HelbruteFerrum Infernus DreadnoughtContemptor DreadnoughtSonic DreadnoughtBerserker DreadnoughtHellforged Leviathan DreadnoughtDeredeo Dreadnought
Vehicles & Daemon Engines RhinoPredatorInfernal Relic PredatorVindicatorLand RaiderLand Raider ProteusLand Raider AchillesLand Raider Hades DiabolusRelic SicaranSicaran VenatorMaulerfiendForgefiendDefilerBrass ScorpionBlood SlaughtererDecimatorBlight DroneKytanPlague HulkVenomcrawlerWhirlwind Scorpius
Heavy Vehicles SpartanFellbladeTyphonCerberusFalchionMastodonLord of SkullsDeath WheelPlaguereaperPlague Centurion
Aircraft HeldrakeStormbirdThunderhawkStorm EagleFire RaptorHell BladeHell TalonHarbingerDreadclawKharybdis
Summoned Greater DaemonsLesser DaemonsDaemonic Beasts
Special Characters Abaddon the DespoilerKharn the BetrayerTyphusAhrimanHuron BlackheartFabius BileCypherHaarken Worldclaimer