Praetor

The Praetor Armoured Assault Launcher is a variant of the Imperial Guard's Crassus Armoured Assault Transport, and is named after the unique weapon it mounts known as a Praetor Heavy Assault Launcher. The Crassus Armoured Assault Transport along with the Praetor Heavy Assault Launcher and the Dominus Heavy Siege Bombard weapons systems were found on the recently re-conquered and re-consecrated Forge World of Zhao-Arkkad. The STC data for the Crassus, Praetor, and Dominus were found deep in the vaults of the Forge World. It is believed that the last time the Praetor weapon system saw widespread use was on the land-leviathans of the Tellarite Rebellion Forces that had made their own pocket-empire during the dark years of the Nova Terra Interregnum.

In the 41st Millennium
After the re-discovery of the STC data required for the development of the Praetor weapon system specifically designed to be fielded on a Crassus Armoured Assault chassis the Praetor variant of the Crassus has spread swiftly throughout the Imperial Guard front-line regiments, especially those of the Segmentum Tempestus, although, due to the weapon's complexity it has not been as widely distributed as the basic Crassus transport. During the major Eldar attack on the Imperial Mining World of Betalis III the crews of the few Praetors that were on the planet distinguished themselves greatly in battle against the Eldar Corsairs that attacked Battle-group Empteda at the Bregan Glacier, and while the the Praetors received very little damage during the attack, they managed to account for the majority of confirmed kills against the attackers, but were all destroyed in the detonation of the facility.

Armament
The Praetor is named after the main weapon system it carries, known in full as the Praetor Heavy Assault Launcher, the weapon is a sophisticated multiple heavy missile launcher akin to the Whirlwind Missile Launcher of the Space Marine Whirlwind tank and Helios Pattern Land Raiders, although it is much larger and more powerful. The weapon is capable of firing several types of warheads, such as the Foehammer, Firestorm, and Pilum warheads. The weapon takes up the area where the basic Crassus holds is cargo of soldiers, and is fully capable of engaging both land and air targets. The Praetor is also armed with two front-mounted Heavy Bolters for defense, and these can be replaced with Heavy Flamers, Autocannons, or Lascannons. The Praetor can also accept the following enhancements, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, a dozer blade, and a Pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber or Storm Bolter.

Known Users of the Praetor Armoured Assault Launcher

 * Imperial Guard Front-line Regiments - The Praetor has spread to the front-line regiments of the Imperial Guards of the Segmentum Tempestus and beyond.
 * 8th Cadian Vengeance Company - The 8th Cadian Vengeance Company used several Praetors against the Eldar invasion of the Mining World of Betalis III.

Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications
The Technical Specifications of this vehicle have yet to be released by the Adeptus Mechanicus.