Siege Dreadnought

The Siege Dreadnought is a specialised variant of the standard Imperial Dreadnought combat walker used by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. Dreadnoughts are cybernetic combat walkers that house the mortal remains of a fallen Space Marine hero, so that he may continue fighting for the Emperor and his Chapter even after his body has been crippled. Dreadnoughts are classified in several different ways, the most common of which is simply by their armament. Standard Dreadnoughts are equipped with a long-range weapon such as an Assault Cannon in place of one of their arms and their other ends with a Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon, such as an enlarged Powerfist. Siege Dreadnoughts are specifically armed for either taking part in or actively leading an assault on fortified enemy positions, such as armoured pillboxes and ferrocrete bunkers. These variants of Dreadnoughts have their Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon on their left arm replaced with an Assault Drill and in-built Heavy Flamer, and their right weapon arm replaced with an Inferno Cannon. The Assault Drill with its in-built Heavy Flamer allow the Dreadnought to grind its way through ferrocrete in a matter of seconds, after the hole is created it quickly unleashes a blast of super-heated promethium into the structure, burning enemy infantry our of their fortifications or simply engulfing them in flames. The walker's other weapon, the Inferno Cannon, is a massive-sized Flamer that allows the Siege Dreadnought to excel at close-quarters fighting, such as dense street-to-street city fighting.

Armament
The Siege Dreadnought was specifically designed to fight in close-quarters, such as breaking through a static defense line, taking enemy fortifications, or dense city fighting. The Siege Dreadnought's armament relies heavily on the fear-inducing power of fire, which can easily clear entire rooms and defensive structures with ease. The Siege Dreadnought's Assault Drill is capable of creating breaches in enemy walls and bunkers, and its in-built Heavy Flamer can clear the other side of the breach of enemies, thus allowing friendly troops to enter without immediate retaliation. The Assault Drill also makes for an extremely effective close-combat weapon, one that is capable of destroying hardened rockcrete just as well as flesh and bone. The sight of a massive machine spouting fire and using a rock-crushing drill to utterly destroy all in its path is very effective at demoralising enemy forces. The machine's massive Inferno Cannon can be used to clear entire streets as well as the inside of enemy buildings and fortifications. The Siege Dreadnought can have its Inferno Cannon replaced with a Flamestorm Cannon or a Multi-Melta. The Siege Dreadnought can also be outfitted with extra armour plating, allowing it to shrug off even more enemy fire and can also be equipped with smoke launchers, a searchlight, and a Storm Bolter can be attached to the underside of its sarcophagus.

Known Siege Dreadnoughts
The following is a list of known Siege Dreadnoughts and the Chapters from which they belong to:
 * Brother Daeres - Brother Daeres is a Siege Dreadnought that is part of the Red Scorpions Chapter's 6th Company. Brother Daeres took part in the fighting during the Siege of Vraks, where his Assault Drill proved to be a valuable asset to the attacking Imperial Forces.
 * Brother Voral - Brother Voral was a Siege Dreadnought of the Astral Claws Space Marine Chapter, he was destroyed while fighting Imperial Forces at the Invasion of Pireaus, during the Badab War.
 * Ancient Herulian - Ancient Herulian is a Siege Dreadnought of the Novamarines Space Marine Chapter. Ancient Herulian fought during the Badab War.
 * Sura'kan Foehammer - Sura'kan Foehammer is a Siege Dreadnought of the Salamanders Space Marine Chapter, he fought against traitor forces during the Badab War.
 * Brother Galtus - Brother Galtus is a Siege Dreadnought of the Red Scorpions Space Marine Chapter.

Also See

 * Imperial Vehicles

Canon Conflict
The Siege Dreadnought has been described as having both an Inferno Cannon and Flamestorm Cannon as its main weapon. On pages 131 and 132 in Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks - Part Two, the Siege Dreadnought is shown as having an Inferno Cannon as its main weapon, along with a Storm Bolter, on its specifications page, and yet on the next page it is described as having a Flamestorm Cannon. In Imperial Armour Apocalypse (2nd Edition) the Siege Dreadnought is described as having a Flamestorm Cannon as its main weapon yet its picture, and every other officially released picture of the Siege Dreadnought to date, all show it as having the Inferno Cannon as a main weapon. The book specifically points to the walker's Inferno Cannon and labels it as such. Until it is full clarified which it the vehicle's main weapon we can only assume that fluff-wise it is capable of being equipped with both.

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