Legion Veteran Tactical Squad

A Pre-Heresy Astartes warrior of the Emperor's Children Legion. This warrior was a member of the Palatine Blades, an elite Veteran formation composed of the finest swordsmen within the III Legion.

A Legion Veteran Tactical Squad was a tactical formation of the ancient Space Marine Legions used during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras in the late 30th and early 31st Millennia.

These squads were composed of the most experienced warriors within a Legion and were singled out for their acumen and honoured with additional training in all aspects of warfare.

The Astartes of these squads received the highest quality and most advanced weaponry available to their Legion.

History

In the ancient Legiones Astartes a common tactical formation was the Veteran Tactical Squad. These Legionary Veterans were amongst a Space Marine Legion's most experienced warriors. They were consummate fighters who had ground the armies of scores of worlds under their armoured boots.

These exceptional and experienced Astartes within the ranks of the Space Marine Legions were quickly singled out by their officers, equipped with the finest wargear and trained in all aspects of combat to further enhance their battlefield power. Certain Legions would further separate their Veterans from the rank-and-file of the battlelines and raise them above the common ranks of Astartes by inducting them into warrior brotherhoods, martial cults or specified Veteran companies.

This served to create an elite body within the Legion to which other warriors could aspire to ascend, and from which new officers were ultimately drawn.

Notable Veteran Formations

Legion Number	Legion Name	Veteran Formation Name
III	Emperor's Children	Palatine Blades
IV	Iron Warriors	Stor-Bezashk
V	White Scars	Brotherhood of the Storm
VI	Space Wolves	Grey Hunters
VIII	Night Lords	Atramentar
VIII	Night Lords	Night Raptors
XII	World Eaters	Caedere
XV	Thousand Sons	Sekhmet
XVI	Sons of Horus	Catulan Reavers
XVI	Sons of Horus	Justaerin
XVII	Word Bearers	Gal Vorbak
XVII	Word Bearers	Vakrah Jal
XX	Alpha Legion	Effrit Stealth Squad

Unit Composition

• 4-9 Legion Veteran Space Marines

• 1 Legion Veteran Sergeant

Wargear

• Power Armour (Any Firstborn pattern)

• Bolter

• Bolt Pistol

• Chainsword or Combat Knife

• Frag Grenades

• Krak Grenades

Optional Wargear

• Nuncio-vox

• Legion Vexilla (Legion Standard)

• Melta Bombs

• Volkite Serpenta or Volkite Charger

• Power Weapon

• Melta Gun

• Plasma Gun

• Heavy Flamer

• Heavy Bolter and Suspensor Web

• Missile Launcher (with Frag and Krak Missiles)

Optional Wargear (Veteran Sergeant Only)

• Artificer Armour

• Power Fist

•  Lightning Claw (Single)

• Thunder Hammer

• Combi-weapon (Any type)

• Plasma Pistol

Sources

• The Horus Heresy Book One: Betrayal (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pg. 194