Deimos Predator Infernus

The Deimos Predator Infernus, also known as the Predator Infernus, is a variant of the standard Deimos Predator Destructor battle tank used by the Space Marine Legions and after the Second Founding by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. The Deimos Predator Infernus is an ancient and revered design that dates back to the time of the Emperor of Mankind's Great Crusade, where it was used by the Space Marine Legions as they conquered the galaxy. The Deimos Predator design differs from other Predator variants in that its turret and sponson-mounts are eloquently curved to the point that they are almost circular and the tank makes use of more advanced internal systems and support for technologies now lost to the Imperium. Each and every Deimos Predator was Artificer-crafted by the finest machine-wrights of the great forge-complexes of Mars. The Deimos Predator Infernus is no longer constructed on a large scale, or at all, for the Chapters of the Space Marines as the Mars Pattern Predator is now used almost exclusively by the Adeptus Astartes. However, these vehicles still survive in the Armoury of many Chapters, revered as both relics of the long-forgotten past and as symbols of a Chapter's ancient heritage.

History
The Deimos Predator Infernus variant dates back to the Great Crusade where it was fielded by the Space Marine Legions as a relatively common vehicle in support of the Legion's ground infantry. The design is sited in ancient data sources that speculate that the Predator Infernus was an attempt to replicate the Baal Predator Standard Template Construct (STC), stubbornly held by the Blood Angels and their successor Chapters, and the same conjectural sources imply the superiority of this latter design in terms of speed, armour and armament. The Predator Infernus has now largely been replaced by the Land Raider Redeemer in many Chapters, although several Chapters such as the Crimson Fists, Fire Lords and Subjugators, among others, still value its close-range firepower when combating such xenos hordes as Orks, and in particular it is seeing resurgence amongst those Chapters confronting the Tyranid menace.

Armament
The Deimos Predator Infernus replaces the standard Deimos Predator's turret-mounted Autocannon, known as a Predator Cannon, with a turret-mounted Flamestorm Cannon. The Flamestorm Cannon is a massive, vehicle-sized Flamer weapon. The Predator Infernus was fielded in large numbers by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade, although by the 41st Millennium it has been mostly replaced in many Chapters with the more heavily armoured Land Raider Redeemer. It is not recorded in available records if the Infernus variant is exclusive to the Deimos Pattern Predator or if any other Predator pattern, such as the Mars Pattern Mark IVb, which is the most common Predator pattern used in the late 41st Millennium, is capable of utilising the Infernus variant. The Deimos Predator Infernus can also be armed with a turret-mounted Magna-Melta in place of its Flamestorm Cannon. The Megna-Melta is a powerful Melta Weapon that makes use of a miniature fusion reaction to produce a blast of intense, searing heat that is capable of reducing armoured targets to charred scraps of molten slag. The Deimos Predator Infernus, as with all Predator tanks, can be armed with up to two sponson-mounted weapons including Heavy Bolters, Heavy Flamers, or Lascannons. The tank can be equipped with a variety of Pintle-mounted weaponry, including a Combi-Bolter or other Combi-Weapon, a Heavy Flamer, a Heavy Bolter, or a Havoc Missile Launcher. The vehicle can also be outfitted with a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, a dozer blade, an auxiliary drive system, extra armour plating, armoured ceramite plating, or a Machine Spirit. All Deimos Predator Executioners are equipped with smoke launchers and a searchlight. It is unknown if the Predator Infernus tanks used by Chapters in the 41st Millennium are able to make use of these weapons and upgrades, or even if the Infernus variant used makes use of the Deimos Predator chassis or the Mars Predator chassis as it is unspecified in current Imperial records if the Mars Predator is capable of making use of the Infernus variant.

Also See

 * Imperial Vehicles

Gallery
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