Lieutenant (Space Marines)

A Primaris Space Marine lieutenant of the Ultramarines Chapter armed with Bolt Pistol and Power Sword

Lieutenant is an officer rank first found amongst the formations of the Primaris Space Marines, then later expanded to include the Firstborn. In the wake of the resurrection of the Primarch Roboute Guilliman in 999.M41 and his revisions to the Codex Astartes, the rank has been introduced to all the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes since the start of the Indomitus Crusade. A lieutenant serves as a demi-company leader, with two assigned per full company of 100 Space Marines.

Lieutenants act as the right hands of their captains by providing flexibility and helping to direct their battle-brothers in engagements. Space Marine Battle Companies are frequently divided into two Battle Demi-companies of 50 Astartes each in order to spread their forces across multiple combat zones. In most Chapters, command of each demi-company falls to a lieutenant, who leads his brothers unflinchingly into battle.

Some Space Marine Chapters assign additional roles for lieutenants. The Salamanders, for example, have given these warriors a ceremonial duty as bodyguards to their company's captain, the three fighting as one.

Within the Iron Hands Chapter they are charged as naysmiths, questioning their captain's battle plans so as to probe for Human errors within his logic.

Unit Composition

• 1-2 Firstborn Lieutenants
• 1-2 Primaris Marine Lieutenants

Lieutenant Wargear

• Power Armour (Any Firstborn mark)
• Chainsword
• Master-Crafted Bolter
• Bolt Pistol
• Frag Grenades
• Krak Grenades
• Any Pistol (including Plasma Pistol, Bolt Pistol or Grav-pistol as replacement for Master-Crafted Bolter)
• Any Combi-weapon or Storm Bolter (as replacement for Master-Crafted Bolter)
• Any Melee Weapon (including Chainsword, any Power Weapon, Thunder Hammer or Lightning Claw as replacement for Master-Crafted Bolter)
• Any Melee Weapon (including Chainsword, any Power Weapon, Thunder Hammer or Lightning Claw as replacement for Chainsword)
• Jump Pack (if leading a combat drop)

Primaris Lieutenant Wargear

• Mark X Tacticus Power Armour
• Master-crafted Auto Bolt Rifle
• Bolt Pistol
• Frag Grenades
• Krak Grenades
• Power Sword (Optional replacement for Master-Crafted Auto Bolt Rifle)
• Master-crafted Stalker Bolt Rifle (Optional replacement for Master-Crafted Auto Bolt Rifle)

If a Primaris Lieutenant is wearing Mark X Phobos Power Armour, the wargear available changes as follows:

• Mark X Phobos Power Armour
• Bolt Pistol
• Master-crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine
• Paired Combat Blades
• Frag Grenades
• Krak Grenades
• Grav-Chute

If a Primaris Lieutenant serves as a Reiver, the wargear available changes as follows:

• Mark X Phobos Power Armour
• Bolt Pistol
• Heavy Bolt Pistol
• Combat Blade
• Frag Grenades
• Krak Grenades
• Smoke Grenades

Battle Leader

A Firstborn Space Wolves battle leader in Terminator Armour armed with Power Axe and Storm Shield.

A battle leader is an officer rank of the Space Wolves Chapter equivalent to that of lieutenant in Codex Astartes-compliant Chapters. Aside from choosing their personal bodyguards among their Wolf Guard, a Wolf Lord also selects from amongst their Great Company a pair of veteran warriors; champions of renown to act as mentors for the younger and less-experienced Space Wolves. Possessed of battlefield experience, tactical acumen, preternatural talent or some combination of these attributes, they make excellent role models.

Often, the two battle leaders in a Great Company will have complementary natures -- a fiery, passionate warrior may be teamed with a cool, calculating tactician. Battle leaders with an overabundance of charisma or dominant personality are assigned to lead several packs of Space Wolves and guide them in the arts of war.

A Space Wolves Primaris battle leader in Mark X Tacticus Power Armour armed with Bolt Carbine and Power Axe.

The most heroic battle leaders, typically those judged by their Wolf Lord as born to the role of command, are sometimes assigned the control of an entire Space Wolves strike force. Should such a battle leader prove himself capable of excelling above and beyond his liege's high expectations, he may find himself next in line when his Wolf Lord finally passes into legend. Battle leaders have traditionally been drawn from the warriors of the Wolf Guard.

Upon gaining this honour, some Wolf Guard battle leaders adopt new wargear better suited to their position as the alpha of several Space Wolf packs (squads). Some even take a Thunderwolf as a mount, particularly those in the Deathwolves. In recent times battle leaders of the Chapter have also been drawn from packs of Primaris Space Marines. These warriors, though relatively new to the Great Companies in the Era Indomitus, have already proven their worth on countless battlefields.

Unit Composition

• 1 Firstborn Battle Leader
• 1 Primaris Marine Battle Leader

Wolf Guard Battle Leader Wargear

• Power Armour (Any Firstborn mark)
• Bolt Pistol (Can be replaced with Bolter, Plasma Pistol, any melee weapon or any Combi-weapon)
• Bolter
• Plasma Pistol
• Chainsword (Can be replaced with Plasma Pistol, Storm Shield or any other melee weapon)
• Frag Grenade
• Krak Grenade
• Any Melee Weapon (including Chainsword, any Power Weapon, Thunder Hammer or Lightning Claw as replacement for Chainsword)
• Jump Pack (if leading a combat drop)

Primaris Battle Leader Wargear

• Mark X Tacticus Power Armour
• Bolt Pistol
• Bolt Carbine
• Master-crafted Auto Bolt Rifle
• Master-crafted Stalker Bolt Rifle
• Power Axe
• Power Sword

Wolf Guard Battle Leader Terminator Wargear

• Terminator Armour (Any pattern)
• Teleport Homer
• Power Sword
• Storm Shield
• Storm Bolter

Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf

• Power Armour (Any Firstborn mark)
• Bolt Pistol (Can be replaced with Bolter, Plasma Pistol, any melee weapon or any Combi-weapon)
• Bolter
• Plasma Pistol
• Chainsword (Can be replaced with Plasma Pistol, Storm Shield or any other melee weapon)
• Frag Grenade
• Krak Grenade
• Any Melee Weapon (including Chainsword, any Power Weapon, Thunder Hammer or Lightning Claw as replacement for Chainsword)
• Thunderwolf

Sources

• Dark Imperium (Novel) by Guy Haley
• Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Marines (8th Edition), pp. 12, 62, 147
• Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Wolves (8th Edition), pp. 48, 90-91
• Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition) (Revised Codex), pp. 62, 113-115
• Warhammer Community - Primaris Space Marines: Gaming
• Warhammer Community - A New Breed of Hero
• Warhammer Community - Primaris Space Marines: FAQ.

Gallery

A Primaris Space Marine lieutenant of the Ultramarines Chapter wielding an Auto Bolt Rifle and a Bolt Pistol.

A Primaris lieutenant of the Ultramarines Chapter armed with a Power Sword.