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"Sure, we're slow. Sure, we make big targets. Somehow though, 6,000lbs of high-ex payload encourages the enemy not to laugh too hard about it."

—Vox Operator/Bombardier Morn Lachan, 92nd Imperial Navy Bomber Wing
Marauder00

A Marauder Bomber in flight

The Marauder Bomber is the primary atmospheric bomber aircraft used by the Imperial Navy. The Marauder was previously used by the Imperial Navy as their primary bomber for operations in vacuum, but has since been replaced by the more powerful Starhawk Bomber. The aircraft is usually based on an orbiting starship, and can operate in the vacuum of space as well as in a planet's atmosphere.

During a prolonged Imperial campaign, Imperial Navy Aeronautica Imperialis airbases can be established on the ground, but due to the Marauder's extreme range they are located safely behind the front, sometimes even on another continent from the frontlines. During ground assault missions, the Imperial Guard forces on the ground will mark the enemy's positions with coloured flares. Sometimes experienced Imperial Navy pilots will accompany the ground forces to better coordinate air strikes.

Tactical Roles[]

Imperial Marauder

A Marauder under attack by Ork Fighta-Bommers

The Marauder Bomber is the workhorse of the Imperial Navy, mostly due to its extreme range, high speed and large payload for an aircraft of its modest size. The Marauder is used in several common tactical roles such as:

  • Strategic Bombings - The Marauder will fly long-range missions to attack enemy cities, spaceports, industrial centers, and supply routes. The Marauder can operate at extremely high altitudes that are usually out of the range of enemy anti-air defence weapons. During these missions the bomber is usually accompanied by Thunderbolt Fighters to provide anti-fighter support.
  • Free Range Interdiction - Marauder Bomber squadrons will fly deep into enemy territory without ground support and seek targets of opportunity. The bombers will attack targets that may have already been identified by aerial or orbital reconnaissance. These targets can include enemy supply convoys, fuel dumps, troops and vehicles in the open, airfields, and others as they present themselves. The Marauder is most effective in this role.
  • Heavy Air Support for Ground Forces - Marauder Bomber squadrons will fly in direct support of ground forces, striking targets along the front line and engaging enemy armour. These are generally the most dangerous, as the bombers have to fly at lower altitudes, allowing enemy anti-air weapons to target them and can sometimes cause friendly causalities.

Variants[]

Marauder03

A Marauder Destroyer squadron in flight

There are several known variants of the standard Marauder Bomber in use by the Imperial Navy. These variants allow the Marauder to engage in different roles, or to be more effective in a single role. Known variants of the Marauder Bomber include the following:

  • Marauder Destroyer - By far the most widespread variant, the Destroyer variant replaces a portion of the standard Marauder's bomb capacity with missiles to engage enemy armoured units. It also replaces the nose-mounted turret Lascannons with 3 Twin-linked Autocannons to better engage enemy infantry. This variant was first developed during the Second War for Armageddon, to fight the Orks who had air superiority.
  • Marauder Colossus - The Colossus variant of the Marauder bomber replaces both the internal bomb storage and top-mounted turret of the original with room for a single warhead. The warhead carried by the Colossus is a single 10,000 kg Guided Bomb. This weapon allows the Marauder to destroy heavily fortified structures and positions. This variant also replaces the nose weapons with a single set of Twin-linked Heavy Bolters.
  • Marauder Vigilant - The Vigilant variant of the Marauder replaces the internal bomb storage and top-mounted turret of the original with sophisticated surveillance equipment. This variant is used to gather intelligence on enemy positions and bases, flying at a high altitude allows the craft to remain relatively safe. This variant also replaces the nose weapons with a single set of Twin-linked Heavy Bolters.

Armament[]

MarauderBomber000

The Marauder Bomber's nose turret armed with twin-linked Lascannons

The Marauder is armed with a large amount of weapon systems, including nose-mounted, movable turret with Twin-linked Lascannons, rear turret-mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolters, dorsal-mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolters, 12 200 kilogram High Explosive Bombs in an internal bomb bay, and up to 6 400 kilogram Heavy Bombs on an external bomb rack. The Destroyer variant replaces the Lascannons with 3 Twin-linked Autocannons and the rear-mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolters with Twin-linked Assault Cannons. The Colossus and Vigilant replace the bomb storage with a single heavy bomb and surveillance equipment, respectively. They also replace the nose weapons with Twin-linked Heavy Bolters. All variants of the Marauder can be outfitted with ejector seats, flare or chaff launchers, extra armour for the cockpit, infra-red targeting equipment, illumination flares, and distinctive paint schemes and decals.

Known Users of the Marauder Bomber[]

  • The Imperial Navy - The Marauder is the primary atmospheric bomber of the Imperial Navy and it can be found on nearly all warships that support ground operations and on airfields throughout the Imperium.
  • Imperial Navy 23rd Bomber Wing - The 23rd Bomber Wing made use of the Marauder Bomber during the battles fought on the Death World of Denkari-Prime.
  • Imperial Navy 133rd Bomber Wing - The 133rd Bomber Wing made extensive use of the Marauder Bomber during the Betalis III Campaign.
  • Imperial Navy 501st Bomber Wing - Marauder Bombers were used to great effect during the Taros Campaign against the Tau by the 501st Bomber Wing.
  • Imperial Navy 1099th Bomber Wing - The seven squadrons of the 1099th Bomber Wing were deployed in support of the 88th Siege Army during the second stage of the Siege of Vraks. The long range of the Marauder was the sole means the Loyalists had to bombard Vraks' Citadel at that point in the conflict.
  • Imperial Navy 1167th Bomber Wing
  • Imperial Navy 2424th Bomber Wing - The 2424th Bomber Wing used the Marauder Bomber during the Taros Campaign against the Tau and later in the Third War for Armageddon against the Orks.
  • Imperial Navy 4521st Bomber Wing - The 4521st Bomber Wing deployed the Marauder Bomber exclusively during the Third War for Armageddon against the Orks. It was during this conflict that the Marauder Destroyer variant of the aircraft was first conceived.
  • XXI Phantine Air Corps, "Halo" Flight - The Phantine Air Corps, one of the many affiliates of the Imperial Navy, also use the Marauder Bomber. As part of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, the Phantine XXI "Halo" Flight fought both in the Phantine Liberation campaign and the Enothian War. It was led by one of the most esteemed officers of the entire Phantine Air Corps, Wing Commander Oskar Viltry.

Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications[]

Marauder Bomber
Type Tactical Bomber Operational Ceiling 41,000 metres w/ Jet Engines
Vehicle Name Marauder Max Speed 1,800 kilometres per hour
Forge World of Origin Cypra Mundi Range 15,000 kilometres in atmosphere
Known Patterns I - XVI Main Armament Nose-mounted Twin-linked Lascannons, Rear turret-mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolters, Dorsal-mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolters
Crew 1 Pilot/Commander, 1 Navigator, 1 Bombardier, 1 Nose Gunner, 1 Tail Gunner, and 1 Turret Gunner Secondary Armament 6,000 lbs Internal Payload, 6,000 lbs External Payload
Powerplant 4 x J79-CS Afterburning Ramjet Main Ammunition 40 Shots From Battery Packs and 4000 Rounds
Weight 41 Tonnes Empty Secondary Ammunition 12 x 200 kg High Explosive Bombs Internal and 6 x 400 kg Heavy Bombs External
Length 19.2 metres Armour
Wingspan 24.6 metres Superstructure 45 millimetres
Height 4.8 metres w/ Landing Gear Down Hull 30 millimetres


Marauder Destroyer
Type Ground Attack Bomber Operational Ceiling 41,000 Metres w/ Jet Engines
Vehicle Name Marauder Destroyer Max Speed 1,800 kilometres per hour
Forge World of Origin Cypra Mundi Range 15,000 kilometres in atmosphere
Known Patterns I - VII Main Armament 3 Twin-linked Nose-mounted Autocannons, Rear-mounted Twin-linked Assault Cannons, Dorsal-mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolters
Crew 1 Pilot/Commander, 1 Navigator, 1 Bombardier, 1 Nose Gunner, 1 Tail Gunner, and 1 Turret Gunner Secondary Armament 3,000 Internal Payload, Hellstrike Missiles
Powerplant 4 x J79-CS Afterburning Ramjet Main Ammunition 300 Rounds and 2000
Weight 43 Tonnes Empty Secondary Ammunition 6 x 200 kg High Explosive Bombs and 8 Hellstrike Missiles
Length 19.2 Meters Armour
Wingspan 24.6 Meters Superstructure 45 millimetres
Height 4.8 Meters w/ Landing Gear Down Hull 30 millimetres

Sources[]

  • Apocalypse (4th Edition), pg. 127
  • Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy, pp. 229-40
  • Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pp. 93
  • Imperial Armour Aeronautica, pp. 17-18
  • Aeronautica Imperialis (Rulebook), pg. 23
  • Tactica Aeronautica, pg. 31
  • Imperial Armour Apocalypse, pg. 38
  • Imperial Armour Apocalypse (2nd Edition), pg. 38
  • Imperial Armour, pp. 76-79

Also See[]

Gallery[]

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