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The '''Land Raider Achilles ''' is a siege variant of the [[Space Marines]]' [[Land Raider]] variant, designed in the closing days of the [[Great Crusade]]. First forged by the [[Imperial Fist]]s [[Legion]] in response to a former now-extinct [[xenos]] threat many ages ago. Because of its age and arcane construction, it is rarely found outside the Imperial Fists they are an incredibly rare variant with supreme longevity and their sucessor chapters. It is legendary for its durability, which is more than that of a standard even by Land Raider; the ancient technology going into making this variant's hull can reduce the affects of many attacksstandards, invulnerability.[[File:Achilles1. This, combined with the standard equipment of a jpg|thumb|300px|right|A Land Raider, allows it to be a very powerful war vehicleAchilles.¹{{Fn|2}}]]

==History==According to the ''Liber Armorum'', work on the Achilles was begun as a joint venture between Imperial Fist [[Techmarines]] and the [[Magos|Archmagos]] of [[Xan-Ebon]] in response to a pocket xeno-empire 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 [[File:Achilles1Salamanders]].jpg|thumb|300px|right|A By the time of the [[41st Millenium]] the Land Raider Achillesexists 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.^{{Fn|1]]}}

The ==Design Features=====Armament===In its role of a heavy siege tank the Achilles is mainly used by was fitted with a number of powerful weapons to break through the enemy's defences. Both sponson mounts are fitted with [[Imperial Fiststwin-linked]], their [[Successor ChapterMulti-meltas]]s and , 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 [[Ordo ReductorThunderfire Cannon]] of . While this impressive armament helps it break through a siege, it also decreases the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]]. It is rarely seen with other [[Space Marine]] [[Chapter]]vehicle'stransportation capacity. ^{{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}}

==Weapons and Armament=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 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. The resulting tank is almost impossible to harm with any sort of projected energy weapon and only a massive kinetic impact is guaranteed to destroy it.{{Fn|1}}

===Equipment===Among the standard features the Achilles variants are armed shares with the original pattern is the use of a [[Thunderfire cannonMachine Spirit]]to guide the crew in operating the vehicle, which can propell various kinds however the Enhanced Necris-Phobos Pattern Machine Spirit Genius Loci is the most warlike and frighteningly self-aware of tank shells at high speed; its three different modes any found on a Space Marine vehicle. The exact origins of standardthis are unknown, airburstwith some speculation that it could be an after-effect of the vehicle's unique construction, and subterranian can come into great help when fighting foesbut means that any attempt to recover these vehicles must be done so with extreme propitiation to avoid bloodshed. It {{Fn|1}} The Land Raider Achilles also comes standard with two a [[sponson-mounted]] [[twin-linkedSearchlight]] and [[multi-meltaSmoke Launchers]]s, which gives it an advantage in close combat. This tank and can be equiped upgraded with a [[pintle-mounted]] [[storm bolterStorm Bolter]], a [[dozer bladeHunter-Killer Missile]], [[Dozer Blades]] and/or a [[hunter-killer missileSiege Shield]].{{Fn|2}} ===Transport Capacity===Because of the added space taken up by the Achilles' weaponry, and a the vehicle can only transport six Space Marines in [[Power Armour]] or half as many wearing [[siege shieldTerminator Armour]].<sup> 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.{{Fn|2}} ==Technical Information=={{Imperial Vehicles|Vehicle Name=Land Raider Achilles{{Fn|1<}}|Forge World of Origin=[[Mars]]/[[Gryphonne IV]]|Known Patterns=II / IV|Crew=Driver, Commander, Ordnancer|Powerplant=Adaptable Thermic Combustion/Magnon-Fusion Reactor|Weight=76 tonnes|Length=10.4m|Width=6.2m|Height=4.11m|Ground Clearance=0.50m|Max Speed - on road=50kph|Max Speed - off road=40kph|Main Armament=2x [[Twin-linked]] [[Multi-melta]]s|Secondary Armament=1x [[Thunderfire Cannon]]|Gun Traverse=180&deg;|Gun Elevation=From -32&deg; to +42&deg;|Main Ammunition=30x1 Second Blasts|Secondary Ammunition=48 Rounds (Variable Payload)|Turret Armour=N/A|Superstructure Armour=100mm|Hull Armour=95-115mm|Gun Mantlet Armour=N/A|Vehicle Designation=0120-766-0724-PR113|Transport=6 (3)|Fire Ports=N/sup>A|Access Points=3}}

*^{{Endn|1}}:[http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer[Imperial Armour Volume Ten -40000/Space_Marines/SpaceThe Badab War -MarinePart Two]], pg. 148*{{Endn|2}}: [[Imperial Armour -Tanks/LAND-RAIDER-ACHILLES-COMPLETE-KITApocalypse Second Edition]], pg.html Land Raider Achilles at Forge World] - ''no longer online''30*²{{Endn|3}}:[http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space-Marine-Tanks/LAND-RAIDER-ACHILLES.html Land Raider Achilles at Forge World]