Veteran Marines

Veterans of the Ultramarines Chapter

Ultramarines Sternguard Veteran Space Marines

Ultramarines Vanguard Veteran Space Marines

Veteran Marines are those Astartes in the Loyalist Space Marine Chapters who have gained considerable experience in the service of their Chapter and often serve in the Chapter's elite 1st Company which is comprised of solely of Veterans. Veteran Squads are exclusively a part of the 1st Company of the Chapter. The Veteran Squad's white tactical symbol is based on the Crux Terminatus used by the Chapter's Terminators. There are many variations of this symbol and the Codex Astartes not only approves the use of these variations but also encorurages the Master of the Chapter to regularly change the symbol to confound the Chapter's foes.

Veterans are exceptional warriors, even by the elite standards of the Adeptus Astartes. They excel at all forms of combat and are supplied with the best equipment the Chapter has to offer. They are normally at the forefront of the fighting, leading by example, inspiring the less experienced troops around them with their determination, fortitude and skill in battle.

Those Veterans who have been trained in the use of Terminator Armour are entitled to wear the Crux Terminatus honour badge. Of course, this great stone badge is fixed to the left shoulder of the actual Terminator suit. If the Astartes is not fighting in a Terminator suit he will carry and display a small metal version of the Crux. Supplmenting this badge will be various painted or stencilled Crux on the Astartes' armour. Collectively these markings are known as Terminator Honours.

All of the Battle-Brothers and the squad leader Sergeant in the 1st Company are Veterans, vastly experienced Space Marine warriors who have seen many combats and have survived them all. All of these Marines would have been recruited from within the ranks of the Chapter's Battle and Reserve Companies. The Sergeant will have received special leadership training to fully equip him for his additional command responsibilties although any of the Veteran Battle-Brothers is capable of leading the Squad should the Sergeant be taken out of action.

Space Marines Veterans can be deployed in multiple ways in the field: Individual Veterans are often detached to another Company to serve as Squad Sergeant, granting their younger battle-brothers the benefit of their centuries of experience. The most esteemed of the First Company's Veterans will serve as either their Captain's or the Chapter Master's Honour Guard. The remaining Veterans will form up into either Terminator Squads (when the use of the rare and invaluable Terminator Armor suits is warranted), or either as Sternguard or Vanguard Squads.

Of all Space Marines, Veterans are most likely to have a mix of different patterns and configurations of Power Armour within their ranks. Space Marine Power Armour is individually produced, with each suit adapted to its wearer. Each Marine treasures his suit and repairs and maintains it religiously. Furthermore, in their careers Veterans are likely to have acquired an extensive personal catalogue of honours and blessings. These will be displayed on the Marine's armour enhancing its customised look.

As in a Tactical Squad, two of the Battle-Brothers of a Vanguard Veteran Squad may be chosen to carry other weapons into combat. One Space Marine may be designated as a Heavy Weapon Trooper and will carry one of the three types of heavy weapons available to the squad: the Heavy Bolter, the Lascannon or the Missile Launcher. These options dramatically improve the tactical flexibility of the squad and improve its chances of success in a wide variety of combat situations. This is equally true for the Special Weapon Trooper who may be chosen to carry one of the following weapons: Flamer, Meltagun or Plasma Gun. The Flamer is suseful for clearing obstacles of enemy troops and can be especially deadly in confined areas. The Plasma Gun is a medium-range armour-piercing weapon useful against foes with a preponderance of body armour. The Meltagun is particularly effective against armoured vehicles although it has a very short range. The Heavy Bolter is an anti-personnel weapon with limited use against armoured troops or vehicles. The Lascannon is a potent anti-tank gun with few war machines able to withstand its lancing beam. The Missile Launcher offers a multi-role use, able to load and fire various different types of missiles. Frag Missiles provide effective anti-infantry support, whereas Krak Missiles add a vital tank-busting capability to the squad.

Vanguard Veterans, on the other hand, often equip themselves in a similar way as an Assault Squad, favoring the Jump Pack, pistol and close-quarter weapon combinaison that has served the Astartes so well over the millenia since their inception. However, as befit their seniority, Vanguard Veterans have access to a much larger choice of weapons drawn from their Chapter's Armouries, and it is common to see such a squad wielding devastating weapons such as Relic Blades, Lightning Claws and Thunder Hammers.

The whole Veteran Squad will also usually carry grenades of which by far the most common types are Frag Grenades (wide area, fragmentation blast) or Krak Grenades (tightly focused armour-piercing blast). Other grenade types are occasionally used on special missions but are generally restricted to officers and squad leaders.

Veteran Squads are often provided with armoured transports; usually Rhinos (armoured personnel carriers) but sometimes Razorbacks (Rhinos with a cupola-mounted heavy weapon). This enables the squad to advance quickly on the battlefield or rapidly redeploy to a new sector of the fighting.

Sources

• Insignium Astartes
• Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition) pp. 62-63; 136-139