Leman Russ Executioner

The Leman Russ Executioner is a variant of the Imperial Guard's primary main battle tank, the Leman Russ. The Leman Russ is named after the Primarch of the Space Wolves Space Marines Chapter, Leman Russ, and is one of the most common armoured vehicles used by the Imperium of Man. The Leman Russ Executioner variant differs from the standard pattern Leman Russ in that its main weapon is the powerful Plasma Destroyer, as opposed to the Battle Cannon.

History
The Executioner variant of the standard Leman Russ Battle Tank is one of the oldest still in use by the Imperium. Ancient records from the archives on Mars show that during the Great Crusade there were entire Imperial Army armoured regiments equipped with nothing but Executioners. Over the thousands of years since the Horus Heresy the Adeptus Mechanicus has slowly lost the ability to produce quality Plasma Technology. In the 41st Millennium the only Forge World in the entire Imperium is still capable of building the Plasma Destroyer used by the Executioner, Ryza. The Forge World is renowned throughout the Adeptus Mechanicus for its devout worship of the ancient and mystical arts of plasma reactor and magnetic containment field construction. The Skitarii regiments of Ryza are equipped almost entirely with Executioners, yet the Skitarii of other Forge Worlds and the massed regiments of the Imperial Guard are left with only a slim few Executioners of their own.

Armament
The Leman Russ Executioner's main weapon, the Plasma Destroyer, is a larger and much more powerful version of the Plasma Gun used by the Space Marines and Imperial Guard. The Plasma Destroyer is a temperamental and poorly understood weapon, difficulties containing the vast amount of heat and energy can lead to catastrophic explosions. The tank also lacks the room to store large quantities of photonic fuel cells which are used to power the weapon, because of this the Executioner cannot operate during prolonged combat. Unlike other Leman Russ variants, the Executioner is equipped with heat vents on its turret and heat shielding for the crew. The shielding is useful during a non-catastrophic containment breach, allowing the crew to escape. The rear of the turret is equipped with a chemical coolant flask that is to be used during emergencies, but due to the coolant lines being exposed these can be damaged by enemy fire. Due to the temperamental weapon, and less than reliable emergency cooling system it is been known that rookie tank crews will abandon the vehicle at the first sign of a problem. Many Imperial Guard tank crews do not favour the Executioner, and undertake many superstitious rituals before a battle, Executioner crews that enjoy this vehicle are often considered brave, or insane, by the others. The Leman Russ Executioner, like all Leman Russ variants the Executioner is equipped with a hull-mounted weapon, either a Heavy Bolter or a Lascannon, and can also be equipped with two sponson mounts, one on each side. The most common configuration for the sponson-mount is 2 Heavy Bolters or 2 Heavy Flamers. Leman Russ tanks that are a part of an unusually well-equipped armoured regiment sometimes have 2 Multi-Meltas or 2 Plasma Cannons as their sponson weapons. The tank can also be equipped with camouflage netting, extra armour plating, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, improved communications equipment, a mine sweeper, a searchlight, a pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber or Storm Bolter, track guards, rough terrain modifications, a dozer blade, and smoke launchers.

Notable Users of the Leman Russ Executioners

 * Imperial Guard - The Leman Russ Executioner is used as a "breakthrough" tank by the Imperial Guard, and is used by many Imperial armoured regiments and companies that receive their vehicles from Gryphonne IV.
 * Planetary Defence Forces - The Leman Russ Executioner is used by several Planetary Defence Forces stationed on Imperial worlds near Ryza.
 * The Lost and the Damned - The Lost and the Damned is the name collectively given to the multitude of beings that have turned to Chaos over the millennia, the vast majority of whom are the ordinary mortals who fight for Chaos. They are not a single coherent force, but rather a diverse and infinite collection of war-bands and hosts under the leadership of Chaos Champions. These forces take their weapons and vehicles with them, and as many of them were former members of the Imperial Guard or Planetary Defence Forces, they make use of an unknown number of Leman Russ Executioner tanks.
 * 71st Saviar Chem-Dogs Regiment - Part of the ill-fated Goru Campaign
 * 28th Death Korps of Krieg Armoured Regiment - Part of the Galan Expeditionary Force
 * Armageddon Steel Legion - Used during the Third War for Armageddon
 * 122nd Cadian Regiment - Fought in Vogen City during the Zai-Khann Uprising
 * 31st Cadian Armoured Regiment - Fought during the Levilnor IV Campaign
 * 8th Valhallan Armoured Regiment - Fought during the Sallan's World Offensive
 * 11th Death Korps of Krieg Tank Regiment - Fought against Traitor Forces during the Siege of Vraks
 * 61st Death Korps of Krieg Tank Regiment - Fought against Traitor Forces during the Siege of Vraks
 * 6th Cadian Armoured Regiment - Fought in the defence of Betalis III against the Eldar of Craftworld Mymeara
 * 46th Palladius Armoured Regiment
 * 42nd Phyressian Armoured Regiment
 * 8th Pardus Armoured Regiment

Also See

 * Vehicles of the Imperial Guard
 * Leman Russ Tank

Gallery
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