Steel Rain

"...allowing for multiple simultaneous and devastating deep strikes using Drop Pods. The Codex Astartes calls this manoeuver 'Steel Rain'..."

- Captain Indrick Boreale of the Blood Ravens explaining his favoured tactic.

The term Steel Rain refers to one of the many tactics penned down by Roboute Guilliman in his Codex Astartes as answer to a specific tactical need. This manoeuver capitalizes on the speedy (re-)deployement of forces through the use of Drop Pods to prevent either being bogged down or to be forced to commit valuable Battle-brothers to man a static defense line needlessly.

History
After the dark days of the Horus Heresy, Roboute Guilliman imposed upon the whole of the surviving Loyalist Astartes to be divided into Chapters one thousand Space Marines strong. This downsizing brought forth a whole host of tactical problems, for the limited number of Space Marines could no longer grind down an opponent through mass and attrition. Guilliman's reform prompted the Astartes' modus operandi to evolve toward quick, overwhelming strikes meant at crushing the head or heart of any opposition immediately, and avoid prolonged operations and grinding battles wherever possible.

the 'Steel Rain' manoeuver is such a tactic developed by Guilliman, for those occasions where a vital objective needs to be defended. Instead of sending part of the Battle-Brothers to defend the objective directly, those Astartes are kept in reserve on board of a Strike Cruiser or Battle Barge. The objective itself is monitored, either by automated sensors or by coördinating with any other present Imperial forces, and if it becomes threatened, or if the already deployed Space Marines manage to bring the battle to the enemy, the reserves are quickly deployed where they are necessary via Drop Pod assault. Once the situation is over, both the Space Marines and their Drop Pods are quickly brought back to the orbiting starship, and redied for the next instance where their assistance is necessary. The focus on using multiple Drop Pods at once has coined the tactic the name 'Steel Rain' or 'Rain of Steel', with each Drop Pod being one drop.

Notable Users

 * Captain Indrick Boreale of the Blood Ravens - The 'Steel Rain' was Captain Boreale's favoured tactic, allowing him to quickly deploy his Astartes where their presence was required. Alas for him and the Blood Ravens, the tactic did not prove efficient enough to deliver victory in the Kaurava system, and Captain Boreale paid for his over-reliance on quick redeployments with his life.