Hunter

The Whirlwind Hunter, also known simply as the Hunter, is a variant of the standard Space Marine Whirlwind Artillery Tank. The Hunter is the primary surface-to-air combat vehicle of the Adeptus Astartes and is the first known dedicated anti-aircraft platform fielded by the Astartes. Prior to the discovery of the Standard Template Construct (STC) data for the Hunter, many Space Marine Chapters had attempted to retrofit the Whirlwind in various ways, with mostly negative results. The vehicle is based on STC data which is much older than the much more recent Whirlwind Hyperios anti-air tank. Though the Whirlwind Hyperios is a stable pattern of anti-air combat vehicle and is becoming widely adopted by many Chapters, there are still many Chapters that have continued to use the Hunter on the battlefield, including the recent Third War for Armageddon, where the Hunter was used in great numbers. The Hunter also features improved front and side armour over the standard Whirlwind, and is outfitted with hydraulic stabilisers that anchor the vehicle to the ground so that when it fires its anti-aircraft artillery it can be completely stable.

Armament
The Hunter is a variant of the standard Adeptus Astartes Whirlwind Artillery Tank. The Hunter replaces the Whirlwind's Whirlwind Multiple Missile Launcher with a Skyspear Missile Launcher. The Sky Spear Missile Launcher fires pre-blessed savant warheads, each a relic in its own right, housing the entombed remains of a distinguished Chapter serf. The Servitor's mummified brain augments the missile's auto-targeters, allowing it to second-guess enemy pilots or home in on the heretical emissions of their debased aircraft's Machine Spirit. Against the dogged pursuit of a savant warhead and its entombed pilot, there small chance of escape, while the tank's servo-loaders maintain a steady rate of fire. The Hunter can also be outfitted with a dozer blade, extra armour plating, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, improved communications equipment, a Pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, a searchlight, and smoke launchers.

Previous Editions
The Whirlwind Hunter originally appeared in Warhammer Epic 40,000 and was equipped with a Hunter Missile Launcher instead of the Skyspear Missile Launcher. The Hunter Missiles fired by the Hunter Missile Launcher were faster and more accurate than those used by Whirlwinds armed with anti-air missiles, and made use of unfolding fins to help guide it to the target. The vehicle itself also had a longer operational range. The missiles themselves were guided by a large scanning array that featured an algorithmic precognitive targeter located opposite the cylindrical missile feed. These Hunters featured one large launch tube fed by a single rotary system, but some Techmarines have modified their charges with pairs launch units and a central sensor suite for improve efficiency. This version of the Hunter is no longer considered Canon.

Also See

 * Imperial Vehicles

Gallery
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