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ChaplainDreadnought002

Chaplain Dreadnought Nalr of the Red Scorpions Chapter during the Siege of Vraks

A Chaplain Dreadnought, also known as the Chaplain Venerable Dreadnought, is a variant of the Castraferrum Dreadnought combat walker used by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. Dreadnoughts are cybernetic combat walkers that house the mortal remains of a fallen Space Marine hero so that he may continue fighting for the Emperor of Mankind and his Chapter even after his body has been fatally crippled.

Chaplain Dreadnoughts are also considered a variant of the Venerable Dreadnought, as all Chaplain Dreadnoughts are just as highly venerated by their Chapter as the oldest of the Ancients amongst them. Chaplain Dreadnoughts differ from standard Imperial Dreadnoughts in that their occupants are Astartes Chaplains.

A Chaplain is a specialist officer of the Adeptus Astartes that serves as the appointed spiritual leader of a Space Marine Chapter. Chaplains are the warrior-priests who administer to the spiritual well-being of their fellow Battle-Brothers, instilling in them the values and beliefs of the Chapter and promoting the veneration or, in much rarer cases, the actual worship of the Emperor as a god.

When a Chaplain falls in battle and is damaged beyond repair he may be placed in a Dreadnought, as Chaplains offer their Battle-Brothers unparalleled morale benefits. A Chaplain afforded the honour of being encased within a Dreadnought chassis becomes a highly respected living shrine to the glory of the Chapter. Chaplain Dreadnoughts are unwavering in their faith and conviction and show righteous hate for the enemies of Mankind. They will take to the field of battle with their Vox and speaker systems shouting a booming oratory that stokes the fires of wrath in the hearts of their Battle-Brothers.

Much like Venerable Dreadnoughts, Chaplain Dreadnoughts are veterans of countless wars and have gained vast amounts of knowledge and insight into the ways of war over the course of their long lifetimes. These warriors have such faith in the Emperor that they become almost impervious to damage, and can only be stopped by the complete and total destruction of their armoured sarcophagus. These Dreadnoughts will use their wisdom and spiritual teachings to shape generation after generation of new Space Marines for their Chapter.

Armament[]

ChaplainDreadnought003

A Chaplain Dreadnought of the Red Scorpions Chapter in combat during the Badab War

Chaplain Dreadnoughts can be armed in the same manner as all other Castraferrum Dreadnoughts. Chaplain Dreadnoughts are usually armed with a Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon and a long-range weapon arm. The most common close-combat weapons found on these Dreadnoughts are a bladed version of the common Dreadnought Powerfist that is sometimes referred to as a Dreadnought Power Claw.

These weapons are most common on Dreadnoughts of any type that utilise the Mark IV Dreadnought chassis. There are rarer patterns of Dreadnought Powerfists that take the shape of a four-fingered human hand, and rarer ones still that feature a full five fingers. These rare patterns allow Dreadnoughts the use of an opposable thumb, which provides a greater degree of manual dexterity when picking up objects or enemies.

Chaplain Dreadnoughts can take any of the long-range weapons used by other Dreadnoughts, such as twin-linked Lascannons, Heavy Bolters, Heavy Flamers, or Autocannons, along with weapons such as Plasma Cannons, Flamestorm Cannons, Assault Cannons, and Multi-Meltas. The combat walker can forgo the use of long-range weapons entirely and be armed with two Dreadnought Close Combat Weapons.

Much like all Dreadnoughts, Chaplain Dreadnought close-combat weapons are usually outfitted with either built-in weaponry or weapons that are attached to the underside of the walker's chassis, such as a Storm Bolter or a Heavy Flamer. Chaplain Dreadnoughts can also be outfitted with Extra Armour Plating, usually in the form of ostentatious icons of gold that depict the entombed warrior's status as a Chaplain and spiritual leader of the Chapter.

Chaplain Dreadnoughts are outfitted to appear similar to the common iconography of a Space Marine Chaplain's Power Armour, so that they are all black in colour and possess a skull-shaped helmet and other skeletal ornamentation. These Dreadnoughts can be equipped with both Searchlights and Smoke Launchers and any other upgrades that may be unique to their respective Chapters.

Known Chaplain Dreadnoughts[]

The following are all known Imperial Chaplain Dreadnoughts:

Unit Composition[]

  • 1 Chaplain Venerable Dreadnought

Wargear[]

A standard Chaplain Venerable Dreadnought is armed and equipped with:

A Chaplain Venerable Dreadnought may replace one of its Dreadnought Close Combat Weapons (Dreadnought Powerfists or Power Claws) with built-in Storm Bolter with any of these options:

Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications[]

Chaplain Dreadnought
Vehicle Name: Chaplain Dreadnought Main Armament: Weapon Arm-mounted twin-linked Heavy Bolters
Forge World of Origin: Mars Secondary Armament: Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon with attached or in-built Storm Bolter
Known Patterns: I - IV Traverse: 360 degrees
Crew: 1 Implanted Operator Elevation: -90 to 90 degrees
Powerplant: Thermic Reactor Main Ammunition: 2,000 Rounds
Weight: 12 Tonnes Secondary Ammunition: 1,000 Rounds
Length: 2.2 metres Armour:
Width: 3.4 metres
Height: 3.7 metres Superstructure: 75 millimetres
Ground Clearance: N/A Hull: 75 millimetres
Max Speed On-Road: 10 kilometres per hour (approx.) Gun Mantlet: N/A
Max Speed Off-Road: 5 kilometres per hour (approx.) Vehicle Designation: 8681-756-0115-DR 040
Transport Capacity: N/A Firing Ports: N/A
Access Points: N/A Turret: N/A

Also See[]

Sources[]

  • Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks - Part Two, pp. 128-130, 132
  • Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three, pg. 73
  • Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One, pp. 134, 158-159
  • Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, pg. 208
  • Imperial Armour Apocalypse (2nd Edition), pp. 30, 35
  • Imperial Armour Index: Forces of the Adeptus Astartes (8th Edition), pg. 27

Gallery[]

Space Marine Forces
Chapter Command Chapter MasterMaster of the KeepMaster of SanctityChief LibrarianMaster of the ApothecarionMaster of the ForgeMaster of the WatchMaster of the FleetMaster of the ArsenalMaster of the MarchesMaster of the RitesMaster of RelicsChief VictuallerLord ExecutionerMaster of RecruitsMaster of ReconnaissanceMaster of the SignalChapter AncientPrimaris AncientChapter ChampionHonour Guard
Company Command Command SquadReclusiam Command SquadCaptainPrimaris CaptainLieutenantPrimaris LieutenantCompany AncientCompany Champion
Specialists Librarian (EpistolaryCodicierLexicaniumPrimaris LibrarianVanguard Librarian) • Chaplain (ReclusiarchPrimaris ChaplainJudiciar) • Apothecary (Primaris ApothecaryApothecary BiologisHelix Adept) • Techmarine
Veteran Squads Veteran Marines (Sternguard VeteranVanguard VeteranVeteran IntercessorVeteran Assault IntercessorBladeguard Veteran) • Terminator SquadTerminator Assault Squad
Battleline Squads Tactical SquadIntercessor Squad (Heavy Intercessor Squad) • Infiltrator Squad
Close Support Squads Assault SquadAssault Intercessor SquadJump Pack Intercessor SquadInceptor SquadReiver SquadIncursor SquadSuppressor SquadBike SquadOutrider SquadCenturion Assault Squad
Fire Support Squads Aggressor SquadDesolation SquadDevastator SquadHellblaster SquadEradicator SquadEliminator SquadInfernus SquadCenturion Devastator Squad
Neophyte Squads Scout SquadScout Bike Squad
Light Vehicles Assault BikeAttack BikeScout BikeRaider Pattern Combat BikeInvader ATVLand Speeder (Land Speeder StormLand Speeder TempestLand Speeder TornadoLand Speeder TyphoonLand Speeder VengeanceLand Speeder ProteusDarkshroud) • Storm Speeder (Storm Speeder HailstrikeStorm Speeder HammerstrikeStorm Speeder Thunderstrike)
Combat Walkers Dreadnought (Castraferrum DreadnoughtSiege DreadnoughtHellfire DreadnoughtIronclad DreadnoughtVenerable DreadnoughtMortis DreadnoughtChaplain DreadnoughtLibrarian DreadnoughtFurioso DreadnoughtDeath Company DreadnoughtRedemptor Dreadnought (Brutalis DreadnoughtBallistus Dreadnought) • Wulfen DreadnoughtDoomglaive Dreadnought) • Nemesis DreadknightInvictor Tactical Warsuit
Armoured Personnel Carriers RhinoRazorbackDamocles Command RhinoRhino PrimarisRhino AdvancerImpulsor
Main Battle Tanks Predator Destructor (Predator AnnihilatorBaal Predator) • Land Raider (Land Raider PhobosLand Raider CrusaderLand Raider RedeemerLand Raider AchillesLand Raider PrometheusLand Raider Terminus UltraLand Raider AresLand Raider ExcelsiorLand Raider Wrath of MjalnarLand Raider Angel InfernusLand Raider Solemnus AggressorLand Raider Anvilarum) • Deimos Vindicator Laser DestroyerRepulsorRepulsor ExecutionerGladiator (Gladiator ReaperGladiator ValiantGladiator Lancer) • Astraeus
Artillery WhirlwindVindicatorStalkerHunterWhirlwind HyperiosLand Raider HeliosThunderfire CannonFirestrike Servo-turret
Aircraft/Air-Deployed StormtalonThunderhawkThunderhawk TransporterShadowhawkStormravenStorm EagleFire RaptorStormhawk InterceptorCaestus Assault RamDark TalonNephilim JetfighterStormfangStormwolfCorvus BlackstarOverlordDrop PodHammerfall Bunker
Rare, Relic or Retired Vehicles Contemptor Pattern DreadnoughtDeredeo Pattern DreadnoughtCerberus Heavy Tank DestroyerLeviathan DreadnoughtJavelin Attack SpeederJetbikeDeimos PredatorDeimos RhinoSabre Tank HunterLand Raider ProteusKratos Heavy Assault TankMark IIb Land Raider PhobosMalcador Assault Tank (Malcador Annihilator) • Sicaran Battle TankSicaran VenatorSicaran Punisher Assault TankSicaran Arcus Strike TankSicaran Omega Tank DestroyerSpartan Assault TankTyphon Heavy Siege TankFellbladeFalchionMastodonDeimos Whirlwind ScorpiusXiphon Pattern InterceptorStormbirdKharybdis Assault Claw
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