Tigrus

Tigrus was once a vital Forge World of the Adeptus Mechanicus. This forge world was responsible for the development of the mighty Vanquisher Cannon as well as the Fellblade Accelerator Cannon. Tigrus was also known to be the only forge world that produced Hunter Shells for Leman Russ Tanks' Battle Cannons. In M35, Tigrus was overrun by the WAAAGH! of the Warlord Arrgard the Defiler. This world has been held under Ork dominion ever since, a stain to the honour of the Adeptus Mechanicus, who refuse to let this important bastion of the Machine God remain in the vile Greenskins' filthy hands.

History
The early history of this once vitally important Forge World has been lost down the long millennia. More than likely, Tigrus was discovered and colonised by early Mechanicum Explorators some time during the Dark Age of Technology or millennia later, during the Great Crusade era. Once a part of the Realm of Ultramar, this vitally important Forge World was responsible for several designs of various heavy weaponry utilised by heavy-armoured vehicles as well as mass-producing small arms for the elite Space Marine Legionaries of the Legiones Astartes. For over five millennia, Tigrus continued to play an important role as a prosperous and vitally important forge world within the Segmentum Ultima. But some time in M35, Tigrus fell to the ravages of the rampaging Ork WAAAGH! Arrgard. Since that time, the forces of the Imperium have attempted to take back Tigrus from the vile Greenskins, but thus far have failed in every attempt. Tigrus continues to remain in the hands of the Orks.

Manufactoria Capabilities
The Fellblade Accelerator Cannon was a cogitator-assisted high velocity weapon designed on the Forge World of Tigrus. The Fellblade cannon was a superior heavy armament able to switch between density-core annour piercing shells for use against enemy armour and fortifications, and powerful high-explosive fragmentation rounds against concentrations of troops. Tigrus was also known for the development of the more sophisticated Leman Russ Vanquisher heavy-tank. Once a more common sight wherever the lmperium's armies fought, it is becoming increasingly rare as the skills and technology required the construction of its long battle cannon were lost when the Forge World of Tigrus was overrun by WAAAGH! Arrgard in M35. Such is the power of its gun and the sophistication of the weapon's ammunition there is no known armour a Vanquisher cannon cannot penetrate, even the thick armour of Titans has been known to have been punctured by a direct hit. Since the loss of Forge World Tigrus, the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus have made strenuous efforts to reproduce surviving Vanquisher cannons, meeting with limited success.

Once the cutting edge of battle cannon technology, the Hunter Shell was developed on Tigrus and only ever produced on that Forge World; the knowledge of its construction was lost with Tigrus' capture by Orks. A few shells are occasionally found in storage and issued, but the vast majority of tank crews will never see a Hunter shell, let alone fire one. The Hunter shell is considered blessed by the Machine Spirit by those who have the good fortune to be issued with it. This is due to a small logis engine within its casing, similar to that in a hunter-killer missile, which directs the shell after firing. Upon locking onto a target, it will track its movement, and then just before impact will steer the shell upwards so it can drop down on top of the target and hit its thinner top armour.

Tigrus was also notable for the being a long-time developer of weapons for the Adeptus Astartes, which included the the mighty and iconic Bolter. During the latter days of the Great Crusade, the Tigrus-pattern Bolter was first discovered in the depths of Forge World Tigrus. The STC data for this sleek weapon was quickly disseminated throughout the Imperium before the outbreak of the shadowed Horus Heresy. The noble bastion of Mars suffered irreparable damage at the hands of the Traitor Legions, yet the Bolters that bear its name continue to see service in the 41st Millennium; revered and honoured as ancient relics of Mankind's lost glory. Though one of the rarer patterns of Astartes weaponry seen on the modern battle, Tigrus-pattern Bolters are renowned for their accuracy and the facility of their weapon spirits to operate in co-ordination with the systems incorporated within Space Marine Power Armour.