Leviathan Dreadnought
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This article is about the Space Marine Dreadnought. For other uses of Leviathan, see Leviathan (disambiguation). |
The Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought was a large type of Space Marine Dreadnought used during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy by the Legiones Astartes.
Contents
Overview
Built in limited numbers during the latter days of the Crusade, the Leviathan was developed in secret on Terra without the knowledge of the Mechanicum. Its massive frame incorporates hybridised technologies, some dating back into the Dark Age of Technology. The resources to build these machines were nearly equal to that of a Knight.[2] Towering over later Imperial walker patterns, this heavily armoured dreadnought is savagely powerful.[1]
Those few Leviathan Dreadnoughts which survive into the 41st Millennium are ancient and terrible relics, rarely spoken of and rarely deployed, dreaded as much as they are revered by those Chapters that possess them. The tormented and ravaged minds of those interred within are driven to the edge of madness by the little-understood mechanisms unique to the Leviathan, trapped in dreams of the Heresy which haunt the machines themselves, and soon suffer a final dissolution owing to the terrible strain the Leviathan inflicts on those who would dare to master it. Only the full authority of a Chapter Master is sufficient to unleash these terrifying machines in war, as where they strike and what they kill is as often determined by their dark dreaming as it is the will of their commanders.[1a]
While the Leviathan is extremely rare today, some machines still remain in service. Most notable is Carab Culln, Chapter Master of the Red Scorpions.[4] Chaos Space Marines still use ancient Leviathan Dreadnoughts, which have since become Daemonically corrupted.[5]
Weapons
The Leviathan Siege Dreadnought bristled with weaponry, including two arm mounts that could be equipped with a combination of[1]:
- Ranged weapons:
The Leviathan Dreadnought interning Carab Culln in M41 was instead equipped with twin-linked Assault Cannons.[7]
- Melee weapons:
Melee weapons would incorporate a meltagun.[1]
Its torso was equipped with a pair of Heavy Flamers or twin-linked Volkite Calivers. Additional weaponry could include up to three Hunter-Killer Missiles and/or a Phosphex Bomb discharger. Finally, it would typically be armed with frag and smoke grenades, as well as a spotlight.[1]
Notable Leviathan Dreadnoughts
- Carab Culln — Red Scorpions
- Jophial - Blood Angels
- Hrimthursar Arn Therod — Space Wolves, took part in the Burning of Prospero.[3]
Images
Word Bearers Leviathan Dreadnought
Night Lords Leviathan Dreadnought
Imperial Fists plastic leviathan for The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness[6]
Carab Culln of the Red Scorpions as a Dreadnought[7]
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Forge World
- 2: The Horus Heresy Book Six, pg. 236
- 3: The Horus Heresy Book Seven, pg. 78
- 4: Forge World
- 5: Warhammer Community
- 6: Warhammer Community: Heresy Thursday – The Plastic Leviathan Siege Dreadnought Is a Walking Artillery Piece (posted 2/6/2022) (last accessed 2/6/2022)
- 7:Warhammer Community : Heroes of the Red Scorpions (01/12/17) (saved archive, last accessed 07/05/23)
