Legion Basilisk

The Legion Basilisk was a common variant of the standard Imperial Army Basilisk Self-Propelled Artillery Tank that was used by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. As cohesive fighting forces able to operate and conquer in any theatre of war, with or without support from the Imperial Army, the Space Marine Legions maintained their own mobile heavy artillery units. The long-range Basilisk, Medusa Siege Tank, and the Deimos Whirlwind being some of the most common artillery units used by the Legiones Astartes. These vehicles proved their effectiveness both for protracted bombardments and as a defensive weapons against enemy armoured vehicles. The Space Marine Legions made far less use of heavy artillery units such as the Basilisk due in no small part to the fact that static warfare does not suit the character, strengths, or advantages of the Space Marines. However, some of the Legions whose extensive practice of siege craft, most notably the Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors, lends to them more reliance and trust in the so-called "big guns". The Deimos Whirlwind was the most common type of artillery vehicle used in most of the Legions as it was lighter and built upon the Deimos Rhino chassis and therefore easier to repair and support in the field.

In the 41st Millennium the various Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes no longer make use of long-range artillery tanks, instead they use the Whirlwind Multiple Missile Tank almost exclusively as their ranged support. Although no records are known to exist as proof, it is possible that some Chapters still maintain a cache of Legion Basilisks in their armouries, waiting for the day that they may again be of use to the Astartes.

Armament
The Legion Basilisk, like the standard Imperial Army Basilisk, was armed with a single Earthshaker Cannon. The Earthshaker Cannon was a 132mm calibre gun, capable of firing a 38 kilogram shell over 15 kilometres at a velocity of 814 miles per hour and was perfect for long-range bombardments. The Legion Basilisk is also armed with a single hull-mounted Heavy Bolter that can be used to engage enemy forces that get too close, but could also lower the main cannon to fire upon closer targets, but this was rarely done. The vehicle could be upgraded with a Dozer Blade, an Auxiliary Drive System,Extra Armour Plating, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, a Pintle-mounted twin-linked Bolter, a Searchlight, and Smoke launchers. The Legion Basilisk could replace its Pintle-mounted twin-linked Bolter with a Combi-Weapon, a Heavy Bolter, a Heavy Flamer, a Multi-Melta, or a Havoc Missile Launcher. If the vehicle was a part of a Legion Artillery Tank Squadron it could be also be a command tank.

Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications
The technical specifications of this vehicle have not been publicly released by the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Gallery
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