A Damocles Command Rhino co-coordinating Space Marine forces during a planetary assault campaign
The Damocles Command Rhino is a variant of the standard Rhino used by all Space Marine Chapters. The Damocles is used as a command vehicle during large-scale military operations, and acts as the main communications link between all Space Marine ground forces and the orbiting Astartes fleet assets. The Damocles is a good example of the kinds of advanced Imperial technology that the Space Marines are given access to, and it is equipped with unusually sophisticated communications and tracking equipment. The Damocles is primarily deployed only during large-scale planetary assault operations that involve either entire companies or multiple companies of Space Marines serving alongside other Imperial forces.
Armament
A Damocles Command Rhino belonging to the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter armed with a Storm Bolter
The Damocles is not a combat vehicle and is usually unarmed. It is almost always found near the rear of any advancing force. Each and every Damocles is crewed permanently by a driver and a two-man command team, which are part of the Chapter Master's headquarters staff. One of the men is a communications controller and the other is a operations controller who monitors all squads, tracks their positions, and the enemy's movements. Each of these brothers, including the driver, are full Space Marines in their own right, but they all receive additional training by the Chapter's Techmarines to use the sophisticated equipment. There is also a seat inside the vehicle for the Space Marine Force Commander, alongside the driver, and while many commanders prefer to lead from the front they are able to make use of the Damocles between battles in order to keep up to date with the developing strategic situation.
Features
The Damocles is full of special command, control and communications technologies, such as:
- A company or battlegroup command and control hub, Vox signal boosters, squad-to-squad, ground-to-air, and ground-to-orbit Vox-links.
- A special multi-band information channel for co-ordinating with other Imperial military forces during a campaign, such as the Imperial Guard, Adepta Sororitas, Adeptus Arbites, Adeptus Mechanicus, and the Imperial Navy.
- A multi-spectral ground surveillance Auspex for locating enemy units.
- A Chapter-wide squad and vehicle tracking system, which supplies information via orbital relay.
- A powerful Teleport Homer Beacon that provides a strong global positioning signal for teleporting troops to lock-on to, which allows for safer and more accurate teleportation.
- A transmission monitoring system for intercepting enemy communications and a decryption engine for breaking enemy codes and cyphers. This system is also capable of scrambling enemy communications so they cannot be understood.
- The Damocles is equipped with a bio-status readout for every single Space Marine engaged in combat that is relayed directly from each Astartes' Power Armour.
The Damocles can also be outfitted with several upgrades that are common to the Rhino chassis, such as a dozer blade, extra armour plating, a Pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, a searchlight, and smoke launchers.
Notable Users of the Damocles Command Rhino
- Ultramarines - The Ultramarines Space Marine Chapter used a Damocles Command Rhino during the Defence of Ichar IV from the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Kraken.
- Silver Skulls - The Silver Skulls Space Marine Chapter used a Damocles as part of the Beta-Garmon IV Expeditionary Force
- Raptors - The Raptors Space Marine Chapter used a Damocles during the Angelis Campaign and also during the Taros Campaign against the Tau
- Red Scorpions - The Red Scorpions Space Marine Chapter used a Damocles during the Badab War against the Secessionist Forces of the Tyrant of Badab, Lufgt Huron, and the Astral Claws Space Marine Chapter
Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications
| Vehicle Name: | Damocles | Main Armament: | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Macragge | Secondary Armament: | N/A |
| Known Patterns: | I - IX | Traverse: | N/A |
| Crew: | 1 Driver, 2 Controllers | Elevation: | N/A |
| Powerplant: | Quad MkII Adaptable Thermic Combustor Reactor | Main Ammunition: | N/A |
| Weight: | 30 Tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | N/A |
| Length: | 6.6 metres | Armour: | |
| Width: | 4.5 metres | ||
| Height: | 5.1 metres | Superstructure: | 60 millimetres |
| Ground Clearance: | 0.44 metres | Hull: | 60 millimetres |
| Max Speed On-Road: | 70 kilometres per hour | Gun Mantlet: | N/A |
| Max Speed Off-Road: | 55 kilometres per hour | Vehicle Designation: | 0120-766-0765-RH 935 |
| Transport Capacity: | N/A | Firing Ports: | N/A |
| Access Points: | N/A | Turret: | N/A |
Also See
Sources
- Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition, pp. 77-82
- Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pp. 54, 122, 131
- Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One, p. 92
- Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, pp. 160-162
- Imperial Armour Apocalypse, p. 30
Gallery
