Sabre Tank Hunter

The Sabre Tank Hunter was a an anti-armour variant of the Rhino that was developed and used sometime shortly before or during the Horus Heresy. During this time large tank formations were very common among the Legions that fought on both sides of the war and so too was the need to combat them. The Sabre Tank Hunter was designed for just such a purpose. The Sabre Tank Hunter was armed with a powerful anti-armour weapon known as the Laser Destroyer. This powerful laser weapon gave the Sabre the ability to engage and destroy enemy armoured vehicles at range. The tank was developed in much the same way as the Vindicator Siege Tank, and it is unclear which one was developed first. In any event, it proved remarkably efficient in its role. Like the Vindicator, it was modified to carry a massive weapon in a limited-traverse mount on a modified and heavily armored Rhino chassis. While Imperial records are incomplete, it is believed that the Sabre is largely responsible for the dismantling of the large tank formations used by the Astartes and the Land Raider being assigned exclusively to Space Marine forces. After the Horus Heresy the use of the Sabre began to decline and many of the newly formed Chapters were not given any at all, and instead were given Land Raiders and Predators to perform their anti-armour needs. To make things worse for the Sabre the Adeptus Mechanicus' ability to manufacture the Laser Destroyer was nearly lost and only a few Forge Worlds are still capable to building them. Some Forge Worlds began to equip the Sabre with the more common Vanquisher Cannon, and while this allowed the Sabre to keep its role as a powerful tank hunter, that Vanquisher Cannon was much too heavy for the Rhino chassis to carry, and the ammunition was too large for its cramped interior.

In the 41st Millennium
In the 41st Millennium the ability to produce Sabres is limited to a handful of Forge Worlds and its complex construction limits the number that can be produced. For this reason, many Space Marine Chapters treasure the few that they have and employ them only in situations where their specialised abilities can be utilised to maximum effect. The Vanquisher-armed version is the most common variant, but the Laser Destroyer version can still be seen among those Chapters with the know-how to maintain them. The Aurora Space Marine Chapter is known to use both versions and it is speculated that they have enough Sabres to outfit an entire squadron. If true, the Aurora Chapter would have a considerable advantage against any other mechanised formation.

Armament
The Sabre Tank Hunter is equipped with a powerful Laser Destroyer is mounted on the front hull and is off-set to the left side of the vehicle giving it increased stability and making the overall size of the tank smaller and harder to target. The tank can also be equipped with a Siege Shield, much like the Vindicator, which gives it forwards protection from enemy attack. The Sabre can also be equipped with a Vanquisher Cannon, but due to the weight of the weapon, and its large shells it is too troublesome to use. There are some Sabres equipped with a Neutron Laser Cannon that is powerful enough to destroy its targets on the molecular level, but this weapon is now only equipped on Imperial Guard Valdor Tank Hunter and is extremely difficult to reproduce. The Sabre can also be outfitted with a dozerblade if it lacks a Siege Shield, extra armour plating, a Pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, improved communications equipment, a searchlight, and smoke launchers.

Known Users of the Sabre tank Hunter

 * Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter
 * Aurora Space Marine Chapter
 * Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter
 * Thousand Sons Legion

Notable Deployments of the Sabre Tank Hunter

 * Dark Angels - Sometime after the Horus Heresy the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter had retaken a city from a combined force of Ork Freebooters and Chaos Renegades, only to be pushed back by Ork reinforcements. The Dark Angels fell back over a massive bridge spanning a mile-wide crack called the Black Gorge. The bridge itself was built out of adamantium, originated from the Dark Age of Technology, and could not be destroyed. The Dark Angels set up a single squadron of Sabres at a cliff overlooking the bridge, and allowed the Orks to cross much of the bridge before the Sabres began to fire. The sabres destroyed the lead vehicles which blocked off the bridge's front. With the Ork column halted, the Sabres began firing at the column's rear, destroyed several vehicles and blocking any retreat. They then began to slaughter of the entire Ork column.

Also See

 * Imperial Vehicles

Gallery
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