Tank Commander

A Tank Commander is an officer of the Astra Militarum who commands the armoured companies or regiments of the Imperial Guard depending upon his given rank in the command hierarchy. A Tank Commander most often rides to battle in the cupola of a mighty Leman Russ main battle tank. These grizzled Guard officers are virtually one with their machines, possessing an implicit knowledge of mechanised warfare in all its forms. Granted their pick of the armoured fighting vehicles available to their regiment, they are further entitled to select their crew from the finest veterans. The average Tank Commander is therefore a steely-eyed ace, heading up a crew of the very best his or her regiment has to offer.

Role
To become a Tank Commander, an Astra Militarum officer requires a singular and obsessive dedication to the art of tank combat. Each possesses an authority over their vehicle crew on par with an infantry commander directing the many squads in a platoon. With a single word, a Tank Commander can coordinate the movement, targeting, firing and reloading of their mechanical steed. A moment's hesitation or a minute lack of clarity could leave their Leman Russ floundering ineffectually on the battlefield. The skill of these "tread-heads," as they are sometimes called by infantry officers, becomes obvious in combat. A Tank Commander is a veteran of dozens of battles, and knows where and when to direct his or her attacks to deal maximum damage. The most dangerous Heretics and abominations are obliterated before they can reach Imperial lines, while those who lead them are eradicated from afar.

Each Tank Commander is placed at the head of a tank company, where their authority and expertise is put to use directing the actions of multiple squadrons. A skilled Tank Commander is intimately familiar with the vehicles in his company -- he understands the strengths and weaknesses of each armament, the limitations of various engine patterns and the idiosyncrasies of every Machine Spirit. This allows him to wield his squadrons like a rapier or a battering ram depending on the needs of the battle. The Tank Commander knows when to order his battle tanks to launch full-throttle advances, moving to outflank the enemy position or dispersing to dilute incoming fire. Having lived through wars against the Imperium of Man's myriad foes, he can also identify weak spots in the enemy's armour towards which his company's gunners will direct their fire. To compel the might of the Astra Militarum's war machines is an awesome responsibility, for along with the lives of the soldiery a Tank Commander is also charged with responsibility for his regiment's armoured assets -- a resource that is far more valuable and difficult to quickly replace.

These veteran armour commanders will often be assigned temporary leadership of Astra Militarum infantry or artillery assets. This may see the Tank Commander's squadron line-breaking at the head of an overwhelming infantry offensive, or digging in to provide close cover for thundering batteries of big guns. Whatever the case, the Tank Commander’s strategic cunning and deadly armoured war machine can anchor an entire battle line, or smash that of the foe asunder. Infantrymen may grumble when assigned to the command of a tread-head, mistrusting such a man's grasp of the hardships faced by honest footsloggers, yet such complaints soon turn to cheers when the commander's tank squadron rolls into the foe's ranks, all guns blazing and tracks churning enemy bodies to bloody paste. It is a Tank Commander's fusion of combat experience and bellicose leadership that makes them especially deadly, and soldiers from non-armoured regiments serving under them quickly learn to trust in their prowess.

There have been countless Tank Commanders of note in the Astra Militarum's history. Astrov Yemenev of the Vostroyan 24th "Iron Bloods" Armoured Regiment was noted for taking out the dread Biel-Tan tank ace, Vathwal Heavenlance. The Iron Bloods encountered the Fire Prism pilot on Hive World Degis, alone and cut off from his invading army. With a trio of lancing blasts the Aeldari incinerated an entire squadron of Leman Russ battle tanks while weaving deftly between the returning Imperial fire. Three more blasts saw another squadron obliterated. With his company below half-strength, Yemenev ordered the remaining gunners to lay down a wide blanket of fire on either side of the zigzagging Fire Prism. This left but a narrow channel where Heavenlance could move, through which Yemenev fired the killing blow.

Some Tank Commanders adorn the hull of their vehicle with grim trophies collected by their company in battle. Those of the Armageddon Ork Hunters are renowned for this, and they will mount the skull of a defeated Warboss on the prow of their Leman Russ. Other, more pious commanders turn their tanks into battlefield shrines so that the light of the Emperor may ever guide their manoeuvres. Ornate reliquaries are fitted to the turret, the primary weapon is festooned with burning braziers, and from sponson-mounted Vox speakers comes the endless cry of incanted hymnals and Imperial Creed prayers.

Unit Composition

 * 1 Tank Commander riding in a Leman Russ Tank

Wargear
A Tank Commander has access to all the variable armament loadouts available to his Leman Russ Tank or any other pattern of Astra Militarum armoured vehicle he commands. Please see the individual pages of for those vehicles for more information.