The Black Chains

Rule and court

At the head of the entire armoured division stands the divisional command tank D00, \"Vanmeer\'s Fist\", under General Uska Dallow, accompanied by the Commissar-General\'s tank D01, \"Grandmother\'s Flatiron\", under Commissar-General Halloran Corrigan. At regimental level, R00, \"Yarnell\'s Will\", under Colonel Havik Holt, leads, flanked by R01, \"Postal Delivery\", the tank of Lord Commissar Renth Marrowdine. These four vehicles form the backbone of the chain of command, never driving at the head of the advance, but wherever the vox-channel stands most secure.

The 8th Company, in which the formation described here exercises its reconnaissance role, is led by Captain Karsk Sorrick in the company command tank 800, \"Kelver\'s Homecoming\", accompanied by the Commissar\'s tank 801, \"Headstone\", belonging to Commissar Skorra Selkarn. Attached to the entire formation is the Enginseer Zantherim, who tends the machine spirits of the column and performs the rites of maintenance upon tracks and guns at every halt.

The Mechanicus bond

The formation stands under the protection of a Forge World whose name is not recorded in the archive, but whose deliveries arrive regularly and abundantly. Spare parts, from road wheels to complete gun turrets, reach the column via supply transports, accompanied by consecrated oils and the prescribed prayers. The good supply allows the formation to make good losses swiftly and even to maintain Super-heavy vehicles such as the Baneblade, which would be unthinkable in less favoured regiments. The Tech-Priest Zantherim is held to be the mediator of this favour, his reports to the Forge World deciding the priority and order of deliveries.

Strength and preferred patterns

The core of the named vehicles is formed by three Leman Russ of the Mars-Alpha pattern (D00, R00, 800), which serve as command tanks and are fitted with improved sensors for the reconnaissance role. Seven Leman Russ of the standard pattern bear the main burden of the squadrons, supplemented by one each of Vanquisher (812), Demolisher (813), Exterminator (823), Punisher (832) and Executioner (833), which give the 8th Company its versatility in close combat as well as at range. A Baneblade (S11) stands ready as the Super-heavy backbone, three Basilisk guns (B11 to B13) deliver indirect fire, two Valkyries of the flight (L11, L12) are attached to the formation as air support.

Within the squadrons of the 8th Company, this variety is deliberately distributed: each of the three squadrons fields a squadron leader in a standard Leman Russ, supplemented by one specialised pattern each, so that each unit can independently respond to armoured targets, infantry, or fortifications. The reconnaissance focus shows itself in that the faster and more manoeuvrable patterns, foremost the Vanquisher with its range, always advance ahead of the main column, while the Demolisher and Punisher secure the flanks.

Doctrine and warfare

The formation advances according to the principle of the staggered advance: light and fast units, foremost Sentinels of other elements of the formation and the forward Leman Russ squadrons, probe the terrain, reporting enemy positions by vox to the regimental staff, before the heavier mass, Baneblade and Basilisk battery, advances and concentrates fire. The Valkyries of the flight not only fly supply and drop missions for the drop troops, but also serve as flying observers, assigning the tanks targets beyond the jungle canopy.

Every crew learns early the saying that speed matters more than armour in the jungle, for he who stands still sinks. The Baneblade, too heavy for most paths, is deployed only where cleared lanes or firm ground can bear it, but there it decides battles single-handedly.