Donian Crusade

Donian Crusade
Attacker	Orks
Defender	Black Templars
System	Unknown
Sector	Donian Sector
Segmentum	Segmentum Pacificus

The Donian Crusade was carried out by the Black Templars Space Marine Chapter beginning in 985.M39 to combat the swelling Ork population sweeping through the Donian Sector and surrounding wilderness space in the southern Segmentum Pacificus. The original Crusade Marshal, Brother Austein, was tragically killed in battle on the planet Nickel V, and was succeeded by Marshal Wernher in 988.M39. The Donian Crusade lasted for roughly 17 years before the High Marshal declared it successful in c.002.M40. Wernher went on to later become the Marshal of the Thangdorn Crusade. The figures listed here concerning the Black Templars' order of battle are estimates made at the time the Crusade gathered. There are no records of non-combat personnel such as Servitors, Apprenta, Chapter serfs, etc. The Crusade was later joined by the Strike Cruiser Apocalypton and at least 6 more rapid strike vessels. The number of Space Marines on board these vessels remains unknown.

Black Templars Estimated Order of Battle

Marshal's Household

• Marshal Wernher
• Brother Tomas - Emperor's Champion
• Chaplains Augustin and Leuter
• Crusade Banner Bearer Tonis
• Banner Bearer Klesel
• Household Banner Bearer Eckehart
• 2 Techmarines
• 4 Apothecaries
• 34 Sword Brethren
• 14 Terminators
• 4 Dreadnoughts
• 7 Land Raiders (2 Phobos Pattern, 3 Demos Pattern, 2 Crusader Pattern)
• 3 Rhinos
• 2 Predator Destructors
• 3 Predator Annihilators
• 3 Razorbacks
• 1 Whirlwind

Fighting Companies

Fighting Company Heinman

• Castellan Heinman
• Banner Bearer Klesel
• 2 Techmarines
• 2 Apothecaries
• 145 Initiates
• 34 Neophytes
• 2 Dreadnoughts
• 3 Land Raiders (2 Demos Pattern, 1 Crusader Pattern)
• 7 Rhinos
• 2 Predator Destructors
• 6 Razorbacks
• 3 Whirlwinds
• 17 Jump Packs

Fighting Company Lazarus

• Castellan Lazarus
• Banner Bearer Balthasar
• 3 Techmarines
• 2 Apothecaries
• 171 Initiates
• 56 Neophytes
• 3 Dreadnoughts
• 2 Land Raiders (Crusader Pattern)
• 11 Rhinos
• 3 Predator Destructors
• 2 Predator Annihilators
• 7 Razorbacks
• 6 Vindicators

Fighting Company Gotchalcus

• Castellan Lazarus Gotchalcus
• Banner Bearer Hildebrandt
• 1 Techmarine
• 1 Apothecary
• 87 Initiates
• 41 Neophytes
• 2 Rhinos
• 7 Land Speeders
• 24 Assault Bikes
• 24 Scout Bikes
• 4 Attack Bikes
• 34 Jump Packs

Fleet Assets

• Sigismund's Light (Battle-Barge)
• Heracles (Forge Ship)
• Dorn's Sword (Strike Cruiser)
• 3 Rapid Strike vessels
• 19 Thunderhawk Gunships

Sources

• Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition), pg. 65
• Index Astartes II, "Righteous Zeal - The Black Templars Space Marine Chapter" by Gav Thorpe, pg. 50