Legion Jetbike Sky Hunter Squadron

Pre-Heresy World Eaters Legion Jetbike Sky Hunter Squadron

A Legion Jetbike Sky Hunter Squadron was a specialised fast attack unit of the ancient Space Marine Legions used during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras in the late 30th and early 31st Millennia. These strike units utilised powerful jet engine propelled anti-gravity hovercraft known as Jetbikes as mounts, performing reconnaissance and hunter-seeker missions. By the time of the late 41st Millennium, this archaic Jetbike technology is virtually extinct within the Imperium of Man.

History

Primarch Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars Space Marine Legion leads a Jetbike Sky Hunter Squad in an attack against Orks during the Great Crusade

Imperial Jetbikes are a nearly extinct form of archeotech that dates back to the earliest days of the Imperium of Man. During this bygone era, any Space Marine Legions as well as other Imperial military forces, such as the Legio Custodes and the Sisters of Silence, also fielded Jetbikes. These gravity-impellor assisted, jet engine-propelled hovercraft were more akin to compact aircraft than ground bikes and were able to maintain great speeds for extended periods of low-altitude flight. Their lift-strength was sufficient not only to carry a heavily armoured Space Marine and his wargear aloft, but also to transport a variety of heavy weapons mounts and stocks of ammunition, giving the Sky Hunters extremely potent firepower. The Jetbike patterns in service with the Legiones Astartes were modifications of designs which considerably predated the existence of the Imperium and given the materials required to make and maintain them, the demand for them by the Legions always outstripped the available supply from the Mechanicum.

Unit Composition

• 3-10 Legion Space Marine Sky Hunters

Wargear

• Power Armour
• Bolt Pistol
• Chainsword or Combat Blade
• Frag Grenades
• Krak Grenades
• Space Marine Jetbike with Heavy Bolter

Optional Wargear

• Multi-Melta
• Volkite Charger
• Plasma Cannon

Optional Wargear (Sky Hunter Sergeant Only)

• Hand Flamer
• Plasma Pistol
• Power Weapon
• Power Fist
• Single Lightning Claw
• Melta Bombs

See Also

• Jetbike

Sources

• The Horus Heresy -- Book One: Betrayal by Alan Bligh, pg. 213
• Brotherhood of the Storm (Novella) by Chris Wraight