Legion Heavy Support Squad

An Emperor's Children Legion Heavy Support Squad during the Istvaan III Atrocity

A Legion Heavy Support Squad was a heavy support unit of the ancient Space Marine Legions used during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras in the late 30th and early 31st Millennia. Heavy Support Squads provided Legion infantry forces with mobile heavy firepower against enemy ground troops or armoured vehicles in withering hails of fire.

History

A Thousand Sons Legion Heavy Support Squad during the Burning of Prospero

The Legion Heavy Support Squad was the precursor of the present Devastator Squads of the Adeptus Astartes still utilised in the late 41st Millennium. During the Great Crusade Heavy Support Squads were formed to provide a mobile platform of heavy firepower when needed against enemy troops or to smash armoured vehicles.

Although tanks and field artillery outranged and outgunned Heavy Support Squads in most cases, as well as being heavily protected by armour plate, Heavy Support Squads possessed the flexibility of the infantryman, which allowed them to disperse in terrain, climb to heights to attain a better vantage point and fields of fire, and go where a main battle tank or even a Dreadnought could not.

Unit Composition

• 4-9 Legion Space Marines
• 1 Legion Sergeant

Wargear

• Power Armour
• Heavy Bolter
• Bolt Pistol
• Frag Grenades
• Krak Grenades

Optional Wargear

• Hardened Armour
• Heavy Flamer
• Missile Launcher (armed with Frag and Krak Missiles)
• Flak Missile
• Multi-Melta
• Plasma Cannon
• Volkite Culverin
• Lascannon

Optional Wargear (Sergeant Only)

• Artificer Power Armour
• Nuncio Vox
• Chainsword or Combat Blade
• Augury Scanner
• Melta Bombs
• Bolter
• Combi-weapon
• Bolt Pistol
• Plasma Pistol
• Power Weapon
• Power Fist

Sources

• The Horus Heresy - Book One: Betrayal, pg. 216
• Forge World - Legion Mk II Heavy Support Squad
• Forge World - Legion Mk III Heavy Support Squad
• Forge World - Legion Mk IV Heavy Support Squad