Scorpion (Asuryani Tank)

An Eldar Scorpion Super Heavy Grav-Tank of Craftworld Ulthwé

The Scorpion is an Eldar Super Heavy Grav-Tank utilised exclusively by the Eldar. The Scorpion is amongst the largest vehicles recorded capable of anti-gravitic movement. Known to the Eldar as one of the Engines of Vaul, it combines sophisticated and powerful weaponry with the Eldar's customary manoeuvrability and speed. Protected by a holo-field and armed with two Pulsars, using similar technology to that of a Bright Lance but four or five times the size, the Scorpion has earned nicknames like the "Grave-maker" and "Deathsled" from the Imperium's tank crews. The Eldar regard the huge machines of the Imperium or Orks as crude and ungainly when compared with the grace of a Scorpion as it skims into battle.

Background

The Scorpion's hull is unnaturally resilient to damage but its main defence lies in its speed, manoeuvrability and the mysterious powers of its protective holo-field. The holo-field uses image distortion to protect it from direct hits. A holo-field fractures the image of a moving Scorpion. To the naked eye an active holo-field will appear as a sudden swirl of colours. Gunners report that it is very hard to target a holo-field protected target with any degree of certainty of knowing if or where a shot will hit. Even the most blessed targeting and tacking devices can be blinded by the disruptive energies.

The Scorpion's Pulsars are huge weapons, using similar technology to that of a Bright Lance, but each weapon weapon is much larger than their counterpart's. Each shot from a pulsar has been proved capable of cutting through the thickest armour, of slicing a Leman Russ Battle Tank clean in two, or destroying a building with a single shot. The Emperor's blessed tank commanders fear the weapon and have many nick-names for the Scorpion. This fearsome firepower is enhanced by the Scorpion's advanced sensory and targeting equipment. Even whilst flying at high speeds, jinxing and weaving, popping up from cover for only the briefest second, the Scorpion can still lock onto a target and fire with lethal accuracy.

The Eldar have used the Scorpion to spearhead an all out attack, especially against strongly defended positions where its Pulsars are used to engage bunkers and hard points. Alternatively it has been deployed as long range support to a fast raiding force, where the Scorpion will use its weapons range and hitting power to eliminate the principle threats from a distance before the main Eldar force moves in.

Technical Information

Technical Information
Length	18.43m
Height	6.8m
Wingspan	10.31m
Estimated Weight	70 tonnes
Barrel Length	10.31m
Armour	12-15mm material unknown
Combat Speed	60 kph
Estimated Max Speed	280 kph
Crew	1 driver, 1 gunner
Armament	Twin-Linked Pulsars, Bright Lance
Main Ammunition	Estimated 1,000 shots. Unconfirmed.

Sources

• Imperial Armour - Apocalypse (2008), pg. 55
• Imperial Armour II - Ork, Eldar, & Dark Eldar Vehicles for Warhammer 40,000, pp. 14-15
• Epic Swordwind (PDF), pg. 23
• Path of the Seer (Novel) by Gav Thorpe