A Heavy Flamer is a larger, more powerful version of the standard Flamer, capable of projecting hotter and denser flames. This means that Heavy Flamers possess better armour-piercing capabilities than standard Flamers. Heavy Flamers are often used by specialists in dense conditions, such as jungle warfare, urban warfare and close-quarters melee combat.
Imperial Usage
As an infantry weapon, they are not as common as standard Flamers among the Imperial military forces and fewer units are capable of using them. The Sisters of Battle of the Adepta Sororitas are one of the few Imperial infantry units outside of the Adeptus Astartes who make use of Heavy Flamers because of the spiritually purgative associations made with the use of fire as a weapon. Among the Astartes, the Salamanders Chapter is most famous for its preferred use of Flamer weapons including the Heavy Flamer and the Heavy Flamer is a standard special weapon used by all Space Marine Terminators. Some Imperial Guard Regiments are capable of fielding Heavy Flamers in squads of infantry, such as the Catachan Jungle Fighters. Heavy Flamers are also encountered on Imperial armoured vehicles, such as the Sentinels and Chimeras of the Imperial Guard. They are possible secondary weapons for some Space Marine vehicles as well, such as Dreadnoughts and Land Speeder Tornadoes. The Orks possess an analog to the Heavy Flamer, the so-called Skorcha.
Sources
- Warhammer 40,000: Wargear