Thunderer Siege Tank

The Thunderer Siege Tank is a close range infantry support vehicle that was developed to replace lost Leman Russ Demolisher tanks by using the unused chassis of Destroyer Tank Hunter tanks. While not as effective as the Leman Russ Demolisher due to the lack of secondary weaponry, the Thunderer has found a place as a useful infantry support vehicle, and are even being produced at some Forge Worlds who cannot manufacture the Laser Destroyer weapon needed for the Destroyer Tank Hunter. Due to the Thunderer being a replacement vehicle, it is not included on any units "orders of battle"codex.

History
The Thunderer was developed as a field conversion sometime during the 38th Millenium by a Departmento Munitorum field workshop as a replacement for lost Leman Russ Demolisher tanks. Using a Destroyer Tank Hunter chassis and a spare Demolisher Cannon, the field workshop was able to quickly replace lost Leman Russ Demolisher tanks. Due to the advance technology used in the Destroyer Tank Hunters Laser Destroyer being very difficult to repair and costly to manufacture, there are many unused chassis that can be retrofitted with a Demolisher Cannon. After stripping out the Laser Destroyer and its capacitors and batteries and installing the Demolisher Cannon there is only room for 18 rounds, thus the tank cannot operate for long periods of time.

Known Regiments That Deploy Thunderers

 * Pardus 8th Armoured Regiment
 * Armageddon Steel Legion
 * Catachan 18th Jungle Fighters Regiment
 * Krieg 21st Armoured Regiment
 * Palladius 2nd Armoured Regiment
 * Skitarii Mars Regiment
 * Tallarn 17th Armoured Regiment

Armament
The Thunderer Siege Tank is armed with a single forward-firing Demolisher Cannon and no other weapons. The Thunderer has extra armour added to the top due to the needed protection from enemies in tall buildings during urban combat. The Thunderer can be upgraded with a Pintle-Mounted Heavy Stubber, a Pintle-Mounted Storm Bolter, camo-netting, extra armour, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, improved communications equipment, a minesweeper, rough tarrain modifications, searchlights, track guards, and smoke launchers.

Trivia
Another unnamed variant of the Thunderer is known to exist, instead of a Demolisher Cannon it is equiped with a Battle Cannon, probably used by armoured regiments when they are very low on functioning Leman Russ tanks.

Sources:
[[Category:T]]
 * Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard & Imperial Navy, ppg. 73-78