An Astraeus super-heavy tank of the Red Scorpions Chapter

The Astraeus, formally the Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank, is a massive, super-heavy grav-tank utilised exclusively by the Primaris Space Marines. Just as these new transhuman warriors represent the pinnacle of the Adeptus Astartes' capabilities, the Astraeus super-heavy tank embodies the apex of Imperial engineering, a devastating war machine that serves as the perfect accompaniment for any Primaris Astartes force.

The Astraeus uses similar anti-grav plate technology as the Repulsor transport also used by the Primaris Space Marines, but on a far grander scale. The enhanced repulsor plates of the Astraeus provide a stable firing platform for the tank's tempermental weapons, which also allow the vehicle to advance inexorably over hostile terrain.

The vehicles' thick armour and additional protection from its on-board layered Void Shields allow it to shrug off even the most devastating of weapon strikes. The Astraeus is a symbol of the Imperium's might, unbowed by the dawning of a bloody new millennium and unbroken by the onslaught of its foes.

History

For millennia Mankind had lost the secrets to constructing anti-gravity devices, which only a few relics from the Dark Age of Technology remaining. It was the discovery of an ancient STC by the famed Arkhan Land that led to a breakthrough in rediscovering and restoring this potent technology to the Imperium during the Great Crusade.

The ancient Mechanicum and its Adeptus Mechanicus successor was able to once more produce anti-gravitic generators and impeller units that -- while nowhere near as elegant or refined as those heretical technologies used by certain xenos species like the Aeldari -- were robust, reliable and could be adapted for use on a variety of hulls, from light reconnaissance craft like the Land Speeder right up to the Astraeus super-heavy grav tank.

After the opening of the Great Rift, with the direct sanction of both Roboute Guilliman as Lord Commander of the Imperium and the Fabricator-General of Mars, a select handful of chosen Tech-priests like Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl continued research and development into new gravitic battle tanks with which to bolster the battle lines of the Adeptus Astartes.

The Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank was developed for use by the Primaris Space Marines, however, the vehicle's design does not originate directly from the work of Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl's Repulsor transport, but instead blends his innovations with Standard Template Construct (STC) technology already in possession by the Imperium.

The STC technology in question was allegedly recovered by the Minotaurs Chapter during the so-called Perun Cross Incident, a battle whose records are sealed to all but the highest echelons of the Inquisition. As such, the production of the Astraeus is focused among the more distant Forge Worlds, primarily the fortress-forge of Mezoa, where the gaze of Mars cannot so easily pry.

Armament

The Astraeus' turret-mounted set of twin-linked Macro-Accelerator Cannons

The Astraeus possesses an enormous hull which mounts a devastating range of defensive and offensive systems. The main weapons of the Astraeus super-heavy tank are a set of turret-mounted twin-linked Macro-Accelerator Cannons, coupled with sponson-mounted Las-Rippers or Plasma Eradicators. The Macro-Accelerator Cannons are particularly powerful, but the tank also possesses a co-axial, turret-mounted Ironhail Heavy Stubber and a set of hull-mounted, twin-linked Heavy Bolters or Lascannons positioned on the front of the vehicle.

The Astraeus is protected by layered Void Shields and is held aloft by powerful anti-gravitic generators, which are powerful deterrents to enemy assault units. Unlike its smaller counterpart, the Repulsor, the Astraeus does not have any Astartes transport capacity -- instead, this colossal machine is dedicated to destruction alone.

While there are few targets that can stand up to one of the Astraeus super-heavy tank's furious fusillades, it particularly excels at shooting down aircraft. This war machine can fire on the move, or even when locked in close combat, making it a surprisingly flexible and mobile unit despite its great size. The Astraeus is also outfitted with a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, which can be replaced with an additional Ironhail Heavy Stubber atop the vehicle's turret.

Unit Composition

  • 1 Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank

Wargear

A standard Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank is armed and equipped with:

An Astraeus may replace its hull-mounted twin-linked Heavy Bolters with:

An Astraeus may replace its 2 sponson-mounted Las-Rippers with:

An Astraeus may replace its Pintle-mounted Storm Bolter with:

Formations

  • Astraeus Super-Heavy Detachment - The Astraeus Super-Heavy Detachment is a Primaris Space Marine battle formation consisting of three Astraeus Super-Heavy Tanks.

Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications

The technical specifications of the Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank have not yet been made available by the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Sources


Primaris Space Marine Forces
Command Primaris Captain • Primaris Lieutenant • Vanguard Lieutenant • Primaris Ancient
Specialists Primaris Apothecary (Helix Adept) • Primaris Librarian • Vanguard Librarian • Primaris Chaplain
Battleline Intercessor • Vanguard Infiltrator
Close Support Inceptor • Reiver • Incursor
Fire Support Hellblaster • Aggressor • Vanguard Eliminator • Vanguard Suppressor
Combat Walkers and Vehicles Astraeus • Redemptor Dreadnought • Repulsor • Repulsor Executioner • Impulsor • Gladiator • Raider (Bike) • Invader ATV • Invictor Tactical Warsuit • Stormspeeder
Aircraft Overlord


Gallery

Video

Astraeus_Super-Heavy_Tank

Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank


Primaris Space Marine Forces
Command Primaris Captain • Primaris Lieutenant • Vanguard Lieutenant • Primaris Ancient
Specialists Primaris Apothecary (Helix Adept) • Primaris Librarian • Vanguard Librarian • Primaris Chaplain
Battleline Intercessor • Vanguard Infiltrator
Close Support Inceptor • Reiver • Incursor
Fire Support Hellblaster • Aggressor • Vanguard Eliminator • Vanguard Suppressor
Combat Walkers and Vehicles Astraeus • Redemptor Dreadnought • Repulsor • Repulsor Executioner • Impulsor • Gladiator • Raider (Bike) • Invader ATV • Invictor Tactical Warsuit • Stormspeeder
Aircraft Overlord
Space Marine Forces
Chapter Command Chapter Master • Master of the Keep • Master of Sanctity • Chief Librarian • Master of the Apothecarion • Master of the Forge • Master of the Watch • Master of the Fleet • Master of the Arsenal • Master of the Marches • Master of the Rites • Master of Relics • Chief Victualler • Lord Executioner • Master of Recruits • Master of Reconnaissance • Master of the Signal • Chapter Ancient • Primaris Ancient • Chapter Champion • Honour Guard
Company Command Command Squad • Reclusiam Command Squad • Captain • Primaris Captain • Lieutenant • Primaris Lieutenant • Company Ancient • Company Champion
Specialists Librarian (Epistolary • Codicier • Lexicanium • Primaris Librarian • Vanguard Librarian) • Chaplain (Reclusiarch • Primaris Chaplain) • Apothecary (Primaris Apothecary • Helix Adept) • Techmarine
Veteran Squads Veteran Marines (Sternguard Veteran • Vanguard Veteran) • Terminator Squad • Terminator Assault Squad
Battleline Squads Tactical Squad • Intercessor Squad • Infiltrator Squad
Close Support Squads Assault Squad • Inceptor Squad • Reiver Squad • Incursor Squad • Suppressor Squad • Bike Squad • Centurion Assault Squad
Fire Support Squads Aggressor Squad • Devastator Squad • Hellblaster Squad • Eliminator Squad • Centurion Devastator Squad
Neophyte Squads Scout Squad • Scout Bike Squad
Light Vehicles Assault Bike • Attack Bike • Scout Bike • Land Speeder (Land Speeder Storm • Land Speeder Tempest • Land Speeder Tornado • Land Speeder Typhoon • Land Speeder Vengeance • Land Speeder Proteus • Darkshroud)
Combat Walkers Dreadnought (Castraferrum Dreadnought • Siege Dreadnought • Hellfire Dreadnought • Ironclad Dreadnought • Venerable Dreadnought • Mortis Dreadnought • Chaplain Dreadnought • Librarian Dreadnought • Furioso Dreadnought • Death Company Dreadnought • Redemptor Dreadnought • Wulfen Dreadnought • Doomglaive Dreadnought) • Nemesis Dreadknight • Invictor Tactical Warsuit
Armoured Personnel Carriers Rhino • Razorback • Damocles Command Rhino • Rhino Primaris • Rhino Advancer • Impulsor
Main Battle Tanks Predator Destructor (Predator Annihilator • Baal Predator) • Land Raider (Land Raider Phobos • Land Raider Crusader • Land Raider Redeemer • Land Raider Achilles • Land Raider Prometheus • Land Raider Terminus Ultra • Land Raider Ares • Land Raider Excelsior • Land Raider Wrath of Mjalnar • Land Raider Angel Infernus • Land Raider Solemnus Aggressor • Land Raider Anvilarum) • Deimos Vindicator Laser Destroyer • Repulsor • Repulsor Executioner • Astraeus
Artillery Whirlwind • Vindicator • Stalker • Hunter • Whirlwind Hyperios • Land Raider Helios • Thunderfire Cannon
Aircraft Stormtalon • Thunderhawk • Thunderhawk Transporter • Shadowhawk • Stormraven • Storm Eagle • Fire Raptor • Stormhawk Interceptor • Caestus Assault Ram • Dark Talon • Nephilim Jetfighter • Stormfang • Stormwolf • Corvus Blackstar • Overlord • Drop Pod
Rare or Retired Vehicles Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought • Deredeo Pattern Dreadnought • Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer • Leviathan Dreadnought • Javelin Attack Speeder • Jetbike • Deimos Predator • Deimos Rhino • Sabre Tank Hunter • Land Raider Proteus • Mark IIb Land Raider Phobos • Sicaran Battle Tank • Sicaran Venator • Sicaran Punisher Assault Tank • Sicaran Arcus Strike Tank • Sicaran Omega Tank Destroyer • Spartan Assault Tank • Typhon Heavy Siege Tank • Fellblade • Falchion • Mastodon • Deimos Whirlwind Scorpius • Xiphon Pattern Interceptor • Stormbird • Kharybdis Assault Claw
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.