Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer

The Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer is a super-heavy tank destroyer that was used in limited numbers by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade and later during the Horus Heresy. The Cerberus was a rare and experimental variant of the super-heavy Spartan Assault Tank also used by the Space Marine Legions, both of which make use of the same hull, armour, and chassis design. While the Spartan Assault Tank was developed by the Mechanicum in response to the Space Marine Legions demanding a vehicle as powerful and versatile as the Land Raider Proteus yet also having the ability to carry Terminators into combat, the Cerberus was designed near the end of the Great Crusade by the Mechanicum of Mars as a way to field test archeotech weaponry that was rediscovered during the Great Crusade known as the Neutron Laser Projector. The Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer was used by several of the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, and after the Legions were broken down into Chapters during the Second Founding a small number of the newly-formed Space Marine units retained several of these vehicles in their armouries. It is unknown if the Adeptus Mechanicus is able to build new Cerberus tanks in the late 41st Millennium or if the technology has been lost like so much else from the Great Crusade era.

History
The Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer was used by the Space Marine Legions near the end of the Great Crusade as a testbed for the experimental Neutron Laser Projector weapon. The Neutron Laser Projector itself was retro-engineered by the Mechanicum after being rediscovered within Dark Age battlefield wreckage recovered at great cost from the Forbidden World of Deep Hyades-VI by Mechicum Explorators from the Forge World of Galatea. The Mechanicum placed the retro-engineered prototype weapon into the modified chassis of the Spartan Assault Tank, using the vehicle's large interior space to mount the sizable atomantic-arc reactors and radiation shielding needed for its operation. The result of the Mechanicum's labours was a relatively small and mobile weapons system that was capable of rivaling the firepower of the much larger Turbo-Laser weapons commonly found on Titans and other super-heavy vehicles, the Neutron Laser Projector was both more compact and capable of higher amounts of collateral damage. The weapon system wasn't welcomed without some controversy however, as it was unstable and presented safety concerns from many within the Mechanicum. Despite its instability the Mechanicum delivered preliminary detachments of the Cerberus into the service of several Space Marine Legions for comprehensive battlefield testing and trails, although it wasn't long after the vehicles were pressed to turn their destructive power against the Imperium itself rather than the war-machines of the xenos. During the Horus Heresy the Mechanicum didn't stop their study of Neutron Laser technology, and eventually developed a variant of the Neutron Laser Projector that was smaller yet just nearly as powerful known as the Neutron Laser Cannon, this weapon was mounted upon the Sabre Tank Hunters of the Space Marine Legions and the Valdor Tank Hunters of the Imperial Army, although it is unknown which of these two vehicles were developed first and which side of the conflict made the most use of them.

Armament
The Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer is armed with a hull-mounted, forward-firing Neutron Laser Projector, an experimental weapon retro-engineered from the battlefield remains of Dark Age wreckage. The Neutron Laser Projector was an extremely misunderstood weapon whose secrets are known only by the highest circles of the Mechanicum of Mars that is more powerful than any weapon system of its size, comparable only to Titan sized weaponry. The weapon fires a powerful energy beam capable of crippling or outright destroying most armored vehicles up to and including Titans. Unfortunately, the weapon is highly unstable and if the weapon's energy beam fails to penetrate its target it is prone to dangerous feedback that can cause serious harm to its operators and the vehicle's crew. The weapon itself and the atomantic-arc reactors required to power it are capable of erupting in an apocalyptic explosion if damaged or destroyed, the explosion is capable of seriously damaging or destroying nearby vehicles and buildings, along with removing any trace of the vehicle itself. The Cerberus can also be outfitted sponson-mounted Heavy Bolters or Lascannons and a Pintle-mounted twin-linked Bolter (Combi-Bolter) or other Combi-Weapon, a Heavy Flamer, a Heavy Bolter, a Multi-Melta, or a Havoc Missile Launcher for added firepower and defense. The vehicle can also be equipped with a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, armoured ceramite plating, smoke launchers, or a searchlight. Due the instability of the vehicle's main weapon and power source the vehicle is always equipped with a Flare Shield for extra protection from enemy fire.

Also See

 * Imperial Vehicles

Canon Conflict
In Imperial Armour - The Horus Heresy - Book One: Betrayal the Cerberus' main weapon is listed as being called both a Neutron Laser Projector and a twin-linked Neutron Laser Battery, as the weapon is called a Neutron Laser Projector on the vehicle's page on the Forge World website it will be used as its canon name until otherwise noted by Forge World. The Cerberus will be featured in the upcoming Imperial Armour - The Horus Heresy - Book Two - Part One: Massacre and whatever name is used in that book will be considered canon.

Gallery
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