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Vindicator

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Vindicator Siege Tank of the Space Wolves[7]
Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Space Marine vehicle. For other uses of Vindicator, see Vindicator (disambiguation).

The Vindicator is a short ranged siege tank used by Space Marine Chapters. Based upon the Rhino chassis, it shares many of the same design features, though with equipment and armament optimized to deliver heavy ordnance at short range.

History

The origins of the Vindicator are fragmentary, although the earliest records show it was developed along with the other Rhino STC variants during the Dark Age of Technology. The fragments at the request of General Vindictis were recovered from the Librarius Omnis and within this request the General asked for a self-mobile weapon of high calibre, capable of following up with advancing armies and able to engage well-protected targets with a high angle of fire. It is believed that General Vindictus was personally responsible for instigating the idea of the 'Vindicator' so the vehicle was thus named in his honour. The record states that on the planet Rostern 10 assembled Vindicators fought against raiding Orks and though 9 out of 10 were ultimately destroyed in the process, Imperial forces were victorious.[1a] Other records show that the Vindicator was first fielded during the early years of the Horus Heresy on Rostern I, when massive Thunderer Cannons were mounted onto remodeled Rhinos and used to blast heavily dug-in Traitor positions among the urban rubble.[2a]

Later records stated that Vindicators were mentioned very little and it's assumed that these machines fell out of favor. It seems that the production of Vindicators was halted during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy or that the manufacturing site was destroyed. Only when the mighty Primarch Guilliman mentioned the Vindicator in the Codex Astartes did the Siege tank reappear in the Space Marine Armies. Since the Heresy, the bulky Thunderer Cannon has been replaced with the more compact, but no less potent, Demolisher Cannon, along with other minor modifications to armouring, fire control and driving systems.[1a][2a] The Vindicator has become a vital part of a Chapter's siege and urban combat capabilities, with most retaining a dozen or so vehicles within their Armoury.[2a]

A Vindicator belonging to the Ultramarines.

Tactical Use

As laid down by the Codex Astartes, the Vindicator's chief role is in urban combat, to provide assault and tactical squads with destructive firepower against enemy strongpoints and snipers. Standard combat doctrine has the Vindicator advance down a street towards the target structure, supported by Space Marine squads advancing from building to building on either side of it, blasting holes in the walls if necessary. Once in position, the Vindicator opens fire on the target building, reducing much of it to rubble and opening the way for subsequent assault by Space Marines with close-combat weaponry.[1a]

Outside of urban combat, the Vindicator also sees a limited role in tank warfare, with many armoured thrusts containing at least one Vindicator for close-quarter engagements.[2a] For particularly hardened targets, Vindicators will form into Line Breaker Squadrons, combining their firepower for devastating effects.[Needs Citation]

Technical Information

Armament

The Demolisher Cannon gives the Vindicator immense destructive capabilities. Firing rocket-assisted siege shells, the Demolisher Cannon can reduce a building to rubble in a matter of moments, crushing the enemies taking shelter under tonnes of rubble.[2a] The cannon's two exhaust vents for vacating rocket back-blast are located behind its multi-spectral targeting array. The Rhino chassis's transport capacity is given over completely to ammunition storage, of which it can carry 16 shells in its racks. That number is normally increased by two, with one shell preloaded and a second stored on the collapsible loading ramp.[1a] Some variants of the Vindicator are equipped with a crane-winch which helps it reload faster.[7] The Vindicator is also armed with a Storm Bolter for close defense.[2a]

Armour

In order to survive the brutal close-combat fighting typical of urban warfare, Vindicators have much thicker armour compared to the standard Rhino, especially along its front and top facings. This armour is further supported by extra bracing, which adds additional weight to the frame.[1a]

Equipment

Dozer Blades in combination with a Siege Shield are typical on most Vindicators, allowing them to easily clear a path through rubble-strewn streets.[2a][2b] Other standard equipment includes a Searchlight and Smoke Launchers. It can be further upgraded with a Hunter-killer Missile, Extra Armour, and a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter.[2b]

Variants

Deimos Pattern Vindicator of the World Eaters

Chaos Vindicators

Vindicators were used extensively by the Traitor Legions during the Horus Heresy, specifically in the Siege of the Imperial Palace, and have remained in service with Chaos Space Marine forces since then. The Iron Warriors in particular, field many squadrons of Vindicators and deface them with defaced statuary of fallen cities they have conquered. The Vindicator can also be possessed by a bound daemon.[3][5]

Deimos Pattern Vindicator

The Deimos Pattern Vindicator was an early type of Vindicator used by the Legiones Astartes during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, although many still operate as of M41 in Space Marine Chapters.[6]

Vindicator Laser Destroyer

Vindicator Laser Destroyers is a powerful tank-destroyer variant of the Vindicator used primarily during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, though many are still in service today.[Needs Citation]

Specifications

Vehicle Name: Vindicator[1a] Main Armament: Demolisher Cannon
Forge World of Origin: Lucius Secondary Armament: N/A
Known Patterns: II-XXVI Traverse:
Crew: Driver, Gunner Elevation: From -0° to +45°
Powerplant: Quad MkII Adaptable Thermic Combustor Reactor Main Ammunition: 18 rounds
Weight: 42.0 tonnes Secondary Ammunition: N/A
Length: 7.5m
Width: 4.5m Armour
Height: 3.6m
Ground Clearance: 0.44m Superstructure: 65mm
Fording Depth: Hull: 65mm
Max Speed - on road 64kph Gun Mantlet 55mm
Max Speed - off road: 48kph Vehicle Designation: 0120-766-0833-VI054
Transport Capacity: N/A Firing Ports: N/A
Access Points: N/A Turret: N/A


Named Vindicators

Images

See also

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


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