BACKGROUND · REFERENCE

8th Necromundan Regiment

GW canon

Soldaten des 8. Necromundanischen Regiments mit Spinnentätowierungen und Antifrag-Platten in der Unterstadt der Makropole Palantine, dahinter Chimera und Panzer.

Category

Regiment

Description

The 8th Necromundan Regiment (Necromundan 8th), commonly called “The Spiders”, is regarded as the most famous regiment the hive world of Necromunda has raised for the Imperial Guard and is one of the classic regiments of the old background material. It shows by example how a hive world exports its gang culture into the Imperial Guard: recruited from the Spider Clan of the underhive of Hive Palantine, the regiment takes over the gang structure unchanged — a gang becomes a platoon, its leader an officer. It shares its name with the giant spiders of the Necromundan underhive, large specimens of which the regiment keeps as mascots.

Its soldiers are recognisable by their spider facial tattoos and the anti-frag plates over chest and shoulders; even their tanks bear the spider symbol against the wishes of their superiors. A mixed infantry and armour formation with roots in M30/M31, it has been wiped out and re-raised several times without losing its reputation; among its known units is the 5th Siege Tank Squadron.

How deeply the regiment resonates in Necromunda's underworld is shown by its deserters. In Justin D. Hill's audio drama “The Deserter”, Corenne, struggling to survive in the underhive, meets a stranger who claims to have served in the 8th and whose tattoos and medallion bear witness to it. The bounty hunter Vorgen Mortz also wears the regiment's insignia on his flak armour and, according to most tales, is a deserter. Former soldiers, the “Tunnel Jacks”, became a gang of House Orlock under their leader Doc. The sister regiment, the 7th “Lucky Sevens”, is known from the short story “Hellbreak”.

Arm of service

Line infantry

Additional Information

Homeworld

Necromunda (hive world); the 8th recruits from the lower levels of Hive Palantine

Nickname

8th: “The Spiders”; 7th: “Lucky Sevens”

Specialisation

Mixed regiment of infantry and tanks. Recruited from the Spider Clan, the dominant gang of the lower levels of Hive Palantine. On entering the Imperial Guard, entire gangs each provide complete platoons, with the gang bosses becoming officers. Founded around M30/M31, destroyed and re-raised several times

Principal equipment

Facial tattoos showing the Necromundan spider; Necromundan anti-frag armour plates over chest and shoulders; the tanks carry spider emblems — despite official disapproval. The regiment keeps large specimens of the underhive's giant spiders as mascots. Known formation: 5th Siege Tank Squadron

Notable members

“The Deserter” — claims to have served in the 8th and bears the regimental tattoos and a medallion with the regiment's insignia; the bounty hunter Vorgen Mortz, whose flak armour bears the insignia of the 8th and who, according to most tales, is a deserter; associated with the deserters are the “Tunnel Jacks”, former soldiers who under their leader Doc became a gang of House Orlock

Known from

Warhammer 40,000 Compendium; Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd edition); Justin D. Hill, the audio drama “The Deserter” (Necromunda collection “Venators”); White Dwarf 458 (Tunnel Jacks); the short story “Hellbreak” (for the Lucky Sevens)

Soldaten aus den Gangs der Unterstadt kämpfen sich durch rostige Industriegänge, während ein Panzer aus einer Tunnelmündung Feuerschutz gibt.
Hive Palantine: close-quarters fighting in the underhive

Sources

Warhammer 40,000 Compendium; Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd ed.); short story “Hellbreak” (for the Lucky Sevens); Justin D. Hill, “The Deserter” (Venators; Fantastic Fiction); White Dwarf 458; Lexicanum

The pictures in this entry are fan art made for Anvil of War — not official depictions by Games Workshop. All famous regiments →