Land Speeder Tempest

The Land Speeder Tempest is a heavily modified variant of the standard Land Speeder used by the Adeptus Astartes. The Land Speeder Tempest forgoes the standard Land Speeder's usual role of long-range reconnaissance and fast attack craft and instead is used as a pure gunship and attack craft. The Land Speeder Tempest is slightly larger than the standard Land Speeder, the increased size comes from the vehicle's additional armour plating and more powerful engines. The Land Speeder Tempest, unlike all other known Land Speeder variants including the Land Speeder Tornado, Land Speeder Typhoon, or Land Speeder Storm, is fully enclosed with amour plating to protect the vehicle's pilot and sensitive electrical systems from enemy fire. The Land Speeder Tempest's amour plating and heavy weaponry require a set of more powerful engines in order to propel the craft forwards. These engines, known as VF-33-SD afterburning ramjets, are capable of propelling the Tempest up to 350 kph, and while the craft is not as fast as any conventional aircraft, it is extremely fast for a low-level anti-grav skimmer. The Tempest is capable of flying very low to the ground, allowing it to quickly approach and engage unprepared enemies. The Tempest, like all Land Speeders, is capable of using its anti-grav plates to reach altitudes of up to 100 metres. The Tempest can use this as a way to attack enemy forces from the air. The Land Speeder Tempest is able to make high speed maneuvers at this height due to the inclusion of an actual set of wings, other Land Speeders only make use of small stabiliser fins.

History
The Land Speeder Tempest was first built and used by the White Scars Space Marine Chapter during the Evacuation of Barac in M38. The Techmarines of the White Scars developed the Tempest to provide fast moving fire support for the lightning raids of their Assault Bike squads. During this time a squadron of 3 Tempests, commanded by Veteran Sargent Jegun, were credited with the destruction of a Flaming Skulls Traitor Legion Reaver Titan that was threatening to overrun the White Scars rearguard command post. The Titan was destroyed, taking the Sergeant with it during its fall, but ever since the White Scars have named one of the Tempest squadrons "Jegun's Avengers" to honour him. Sometime after the campaign the Tempest was adopted by many other Space Marine Chapters, although the majority of them are held by the White Scars and their Successor Chapters. There are some Space Marine Chapters that openly shun the Land Speeder Tempest as an unapproved and possibly even blasphemous design. It is unknown in Imperial records why the Land Speeder Tempest's design has yet to be approved, or ever will be approved by the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Armament
The Land Speeder Tempest forgoes the standard Land Speeder's usual role of long-range reconnaissance and fast attack craft and instead is used as a pure gunship and attack craft and as such the Land Speeder Tempest is the most heavily armed and armoured variant of the standard Land Speeder. The vehicle is armed with a nose-mounted Assault Cannon and a set of twin-linked Missile Launchers located on the sides of the vehicle. The twin-linked Missile Launchers are able to hold up to 8 missiles, and are a mixed load of Frag and Krak missiles. Due to the added weight of both the weapons and the armour plating that covers the vehicle, the vehicle's gunner is replaced with an advanced targeting system that is slaved to both the vehicle's Machine Spirit and the pilot, this is help cut back on weight. Unlike many other Imperial vehicles, the Land Speeder Tempest has no upgrades or attachments that can be equipped.

Known Users of the Land Speeder Tempest

 * White Scars - The White Scars Space Marine Chapter are the original inventors of the Tempest variant and have many of them in their armoury. The White Scars use them to support their lightning fast hit-and-run style of warfare. The White scars have deployed Land Speeder Tempests in several campaigns, such as the Evacuation of Barac against the Traitor Legions and during the Third War for Armageddon against the Orks.
 * White Scars Successor Chapters - The Successor Chapters of the White Scars also make heavy use of the Land Speeder Tempest.
 * Dark Angels - The Dark Angels make use of the Land Speeder Tempest as part of their renowned 2nd Company, the Ravenwing.
 * Raven Guard - The Raven Guard Space Marine Chapter have been known to make use of the Land Speeder Tempest as it fits their battle doctrine of fast hit and run attacks and lightning quick raids, they deployed several during the Imperial raid against the Orks of Kastorel-Novem.
 * Space Wolves - The Space Wolves Space Marine Chapter have been known to make use of the Land Speeder Tempest, they deployed several during the defence of Betalis III against the Eldar.
 * Star Phantoms - The Star Phantoms Space Marine Chapter have been known to make use of the Land Speeder Tempest, they deployed several during the Badab War against the Secessionist Forces of the Tyrant of Badab, Lufgt Huron.
 * Astral Claws - The Astral Claws Space Marine Chapter have been known to make use of the Land Speeder Tempest, they deployed several during the Badab War against the Imperium.
 * Blood Ravens - The Blood Ravens Space Marine Chapter have been known to make use of the Land Speeder Tempest, they have deployed them during the Dark Crusade and the Kaurava Campaign.
 * Ultramarines
 * Revilers 
 * Imperial Fists
 * Black Templars
 * Salamanders

Also See

 * Imperial Vehicles

Gallery
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