Equipment of the Imperium (Warhammer 40,000)

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This list names the various types of equipment used by the Imperium in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Often known as wargear, these are grouped according to their category, are discussed in detail including their in-universe specs and their in-game use. With the evolution of the Warhammer 40,000 setting over some 20 years, many types of equipment have been described in the various editions of the various games. Some of these are no longer in use in the most current editions. Whenever appropriate, the history of the weapon in-game is described, including some of the more notable units that are known to carry that weapon. Armaments, weapons and vehicles have their own, separate pages.

The Imperium is a vast, galaxy-spanning empire in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe. There are several armed branches of the Imperium's military and police services, and much of their equipment is common to multiple branches. The armed forces of the Imperium include, but are not limited to the Space Marines, the Imperial Guard, the Adeptus Mechanicus, the three Ordos of the Inquisition, the Adeptus Arbites and the Orders Militant of the Sisters of Battle.

The information below is taken mainly from the Warhammer 40,000 rulebooks,^[1][2] and the Warhammer 40,000 second edition wargear book.^[3] Some of the weapons descriptions are also supplemented by information from the first edition of the Necromunda rulebook, which contains detailed writeups on the various weapons in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.^[4] Specific weapon descriptions have been taken from their appropriate Codex entries, including the various Space Marine,^[5] Imperial Guard^[6][7] and Inquisition codices.^[8][9]

In addition, some of the descriptions of the weapon effects are taken from the Warhammer 40,000 video games, Dawn of War and its expansions.^[10][11][12]

Contents 1 Personal Equipment 1.1 Armour 1.1.1 Mesh armour 1.1.2 Flak armour 1.1.3 Carapace armour 1.1.4 Power armour 1.1.5 Terminator armour 1.2 Bionics 1.3 Cameleoline 1.4 Frenzon 1.5 Jump Pack 1.6 Medi-pack 1.7 Servo-arm 1.8 Targeter 1.9 Teleport homer 1.10 Teleporter 1.11 Vox-caster 1.12 The Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer 2 Vehicle Equipment 2.1 Dozer blade 2.2 Electro hull 2.3 Extra armour 2.4 Improved comms 2.5 Pintle mount 2.6 Searchlight 2.7 Smoke launchers 2.8 Void Shields 3 Note on Chaos Marines 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 See also

[edit] Personal Equipment

[edit] Armour

[edit] Mesh armour

Mesh armour is a bodysuit usually made from carbon-ceramic polyfibres. Phased out of the Imperial Guard in the 31st millennium, its use is — and always was — far more common in the hive gangs. The gangs preferred them as all a ganger needed to make one was a loom, water, and some powdered bone.

[edit] Flak armour

Made from high-tensile padded fabric, flak armour is usually designed as a vest or a sleeveless jacket which covers the upper torso. It is rather uncomfortable and unpopular although it is cheap to make and generally mass-produced. Really only useful for protection against shrapnel and low calibre weaponry (hellguns, bolters and pulse rifles will invariably pass right through it), the flak jacket may not exactly be the armour of choice for many but, like-it or lump-it, it is the only armour that most Guardsmen have access to.

[edit] Carapace armour

Comprised of rigid plates of armaplas or ceramite, carapace armour is made up of plates that are moulded to (loosely) fit the body. Usually a carapace suit will cover the torso and major joints with separate plates for the limbs along with a helmet, although it is also available in full-body suit form. Most wearers are in a relatively fit condition compared to other flak-wearing troopers, due to the armour being so heavy. Unlike flak armour it can realistically be expected to stop a large variety of mid-range weaponry. During periods of relative peace, and during training exercises, some Space Marines will don carapace suits- such garb befits a Space Marine during times of wait. Space Marines Scouts are allowed access to Carapace Armour as they are not yet worthy enough to wear power armour and that their Black Carapace has yet to have grown in so they are unable to properly interface with the armour. Carapace armour is also used by Imperial Guard stromtroopers, Kasrkin squads and some regiments of high-tech Imperial Guard regiments like the Harakoni Warhawks.

[edit] Power armour

Possibly the most prominent feature of the Space Marines is their power armour, a suit of ceramite plates with armoured fibre bundles and servos that replicate the wearer's movements and enhances a Space Marine's already superhuman strength, as well as allows them to easily withstand fire that could kill a normal human. The suit is coupled to the nervous system of the Space Marines via the Black Carapace. There are eight known versions of power armour in use by the Space Marines.

• Mk1 Thunder Pattern Power Armour; the first Power Armour created for the Space Marines. It was developed from the armour worn by the techno-barbarians that plagued Holy Terra near the end of the Age of Strife. It was used during the Emperor's campaign to retake and unite the Terran solar system before the Great Crusade. It was by no means unique to the first Space Marines - in fact, the techno-barbarian warriors the Emperor fought during the conquest of Terra wore it too, and the Emperor's forces were wearing it even before the first Space Marines were developed. However, because it was designed with Earth-fighting in mind, it is not fully enclosed, with no means to support the wearer in a vacuum. Only the upper body is powered, due in part to the fact that during the Conquest of Terra, ranged weapons were difficult to make due to technological constraints, and so a warrior's upper-body strength was his most important asset. It takes its name from the thunder symbol the Emperor had before adopting the double headed eagle.
• Mk2 Crusade Pattern Power Armour; was developed towards the end of the Age of Strife and was used during the dawn of the Imperium during the Emperor's Great Crusade to retake the lost worlds of man. It was designed as a fully enclosed suit with life-sustaining systems that now allowed the Space Marines to fight in deep space and on alien worlds with hostile atmospheres or environments. The armour was made up of circular armour rings fitted under and over each other, making this armour relatively tedious to repair (see also Lorica segmentata). These precious relics are still used during ceremonial procedures by some chapters and given to champions as battle armour in others. These suits are also referred to as Crusader Armour.
• Mk3 Iron Pattern Power Armour; it was soon realized that fighting in the tight corridors of spaceships was very dangerous. The Iron suit was designed to give greater protection to the Marines. The frontal armour was much thicker (thereby giving greater protection), but the rear armour was thinner to compensate. The wedge-shaped helmet (designed to deflect incoming fire) formed the basis of the distinctive Corvus beak helmet.
• Mk4 Maximus Pattern Power Armour; this armour was to be the replacement for the old Mk2 armour of the Great Crusade; it was the first armour to incorporate many components used in modern armour. However, it was made from rare alien materials, and when the Horus Heresy broke out soon after it was issued, it was discovered that most legions cut off from supplies could not find the materials needed to make it or repair it, and they often suffered irreparable damage by relatively minor battles.
• Mk5 Heresy Pattern Power Armour; this armour was developed as a solution to the supply problems of the Horus Heresy. It was easily made from the most basic of materials, and it was easy to maintain. Almost all soldiers used spikes to hold the armour layers together, making the studs shown universally on all examples of this armour. In time, it became traditional for the studs to be found on the head, lower legs, and left shoulderpad of the armour. Due to the sub-standard materials used in the construction of this armour variant, it had a tendency to over-heat quickly, and many marines had to endure sub-standard performance by turning down the power output of their backpack to prevent intolerable heat build-ups.
• Mk6 Corvus Pattern Power Armour; this classic variant can be traced back to the time of the Horus Heresy and is still commonly used in contemporary Chapters. It is characterized by the beak-like muzzle on the helmet and a studded Auto-reactive shoulder plate on the left shoulder of the armour. The beak or muzzle led fans to nickname this variant "Womble armour" or "Beakie armour", and a dictionary of the Orkish language in the 2nd Edition Ork Codex listed Marines as "beakies". This was the style of the first Space Marine models released by GW and did not get its Mk6 terminology until after models with the Mark 7 styling were released. Models with this style were not part of new releases until the launch of the next range of 28 mm plastic models.
• Mk7 Aquila Pattern Power Armour (also known as Imperator armour) is the contemporary variant most commonly used by the Space Marine Chapters. Characterized by the grim looking Vox caster (external vocalizer) on the faceplate, and the plastron displaying the Imperialis (a winged skull), which has given the armour different names such as Armorum Impetor or Eagle Armour ("Aquila" being the name of the two-headed eagle which symbolizes the Imperium). A variant of the Aquila helmet is known to exist, yet is no different to the regular helmet, save an armoured trim around the external vocalizer.
• Mk8 Errant Pattern Power Armour; this is an update to the Aquila pattern armour, and is distinguished by a raised collar at the front, and armoured plating for the torso cables. Full versions of this armour are almost never seen; however, it is common to find parts of it being used by officers and veterans on the battlefield.[1]

One design feature of Mks 6 through to 8 is their adaptability; it is fairly common within most Space Marine chapters to see a suit combining parts originally created for three or four suits, salvaged from dead brothers on the battlefield. Mk 7 armour, in particular, was created with this simple modularity in mind.

The Sisters of Battle and several high-ranking members of the Inquisition also use Power Armour, but they are not directly linked to their suits in the way Space Marines are, which decreases the armour's effectiveness.

The above mentioned types are of standard issue armour. Commanders, Chaplains, Librarians, Inquisitors, and other important characters have access to a specialised version of power armour. Artificer armour is crafted from the finest materials with the utmost care. These afford protection equal to that of Tactical Dreadnought armour(see below) but keeps the relative freedom, thus allowing the wearer to ride bikes and wear jump packs. Artificer armour is afforded to characters, Techmarines, Veterans, and Chapter Champions. Ultramarine Honour Guards are also issued this armour and so is the Emperor's Champion of the Black Templars. Often these are combined with the Iron Halo and Jump Packs.

[edit] Terminator armour

See Tactical Dreadnought Armour

Tactical Dreadnought ('Terminator') Armour was developed for close-quarters fighting, where staying power was more important than maneuverability. The technology was originally developed to enable maintenance crews of space ships to operate in hard vacuum or in other adverse conditions. It was combined with power Armour technology and brought about the invention of terminator armour during the Great Crusade. It was hoped that it would replace Power Armour, but was relegated to its current role due to a lack of maneuverability.

It is manufactured from a ceramite plasteel alloy as an exoskeleton with servo assisted interfaces with the users own neurological and muscular systems to enhance movement. It is the heaviest armour in any Imperial arsenal, is able to withstand tremendous punishment, and serves as a solid heavy-weapons platform in open-field combat. The First Company of most Space Marine Chapters uses Terminator armour extensively, and only those Marines who earn the Crux Terminatus are permitted to wear it. It is also said that a piece of the Emperor's armor is built into the "Crux Terminatus" but in order to put a piece into each suit, only the most minuscule of pieces is put in.

Less frequently, high ranking members of the Inquisition have been known to wear Terminator armour. Notably, members of the Ordo Malleus can be seen wearing them.

[edit] Bionics

Bionics are mechanical replacements for injured or damaged body parts.

[edit] Cameleoline

Cameleoline is a special fabric often used in camouflage attire by special forces of the Imperium.

[edit] Frenzon

Frenzon is a collective term for a cocktail of psychoactive drugs injected into a willing (or unwilling) recepient in order to manipulate his psychological state. They are used by a few Imperial units.

[edit] Jump Pack

Jump Packs are bulky, vectored thrust engines that can be worn by a single soldier, designed to be attached to the Space Marine's or Sisters of Battle's existing powered backpack. They are used to make powered jumps across the battlefield, allowing the troopers wearing them to quickly engage their foes. Jump Packs are thus used by assault troops, primarily the Assault Marines of the Space Marine chapters, and the Seraphim of the Sisters of Battle. Jump pack equipped infantry are often dropped from low-flying Thunderhawk gunships and deepstrike into combat, as the jump pack also functions as a makeshift anti-grav parachute.

[edit] Medi-pack

Varying from a medikit to a diagnostic computer, the Medi-pack, generally helps a medic to heal wounded or ill troopers in a battlezone. Sometimes in particularly vicious and dangerous warzones, medics will have to scrounge for medical supplies and beg for drugs from aid stations and passing Munitorum cargo transports.

The Narthecium is a medi-kit/medi-pack used by Space Marine Apothecaries and are automated units. They carry drugs and equipment that is geared for the hardier constitution of a Space Marine, and thus can be dangerous to use on normal humans. They also include a Reductor, which allows the Apothecary to withdraw the precious gene-seed from a fallen Space Marine so that the Marine's gene seed returns to the chapter.

Sister of Battle Hospitallers have a down scaled version of the Space Marine narthecium, usable on normal human anatomy - and, in the service of the Inquisition, for torture. Many an Imperial servant has had reason to thank the gentle touch of the Hospitaller, and many an Imperial enemy has had bad experiences with this 'gentleness'.

[edit] Servo-arm

A servo-arm is a special tool used by members of the Adeptus Mechanicus to assist them in repairing mechanical equipment.

[edit] Targeter

A targeter is a device issued to some elite Imperial Guard and Space Marine soldiers. It usually appears as a scope of some sort attached to a firearm. In-game, the targeter allows the player to measure the distance between the unit with the equipment and any prospective targets.^[7]

[edit] Teleport homer

[edit] Teleporter

[edit] Vox-caster

A communications array, similar to a radio, that can be as small as helmet mounted links to massive banks of equipment at the HQ. Usually a squad or platoon will have a link to HQ via one vox unit and smaller relays for trooper-to-trooper communications. Command units usually use more complex versions of vox casters-known as master voxes. These can receive and transmit on multiple frequencies at once, making them ideal for coordinating many squads at once. In absence of any vox communications, troopers are taught to sign to each other when in battle.

Space marines and Sisters of Battle (and high ranking members of the Inquisition, Adeptus Mechanicus) have miniature vox-casters built into their power amour (or cranium in the case of the Adeptus Mechanicus). Most of these are short ranged and used only for squad to squad communication.

[edit] The Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer

A small book issued to all guardsmen in the Imperial Guard that is full of prayers and descriptions of basic tasks an infantryman must perform. Regulations and forms are also part of the book to ensure each trooper has his own book. Troopers are encouraged to read and memorize most of the primer, while disgruntled regiments may refer to these books as "toilet-paper" (and occasionally use them as such). The Primer has been published by Black Library (but went out of print), and some sections appear to be subtle satire against the Imperium itself from a loyal, yet disgruntled guard writer, for example the sections on Duty to Commissars.

[edit] Vehicle Equipment

[edit] Dozer blade

The dozer blade is, as its name suggests, a bulldozer shield attached to the front of an armoured vehicle to allow it to move through rough terrain easier.^[5] In Imperial Guard armies, they are referred to as rough terrain attachments and can take other forms, such as chainsaws attached to hydraulic arms.^[5][7]

[edit] Electro hull

An electro hull is a special modification in Imperial vehicles designed to protect tanks from infantry assaulting it. Electro hulls were present during the second edition of the Warhammer 40,000 game, but were removed from the rules with the release of the third edition.^[3]

[edit] Extra armour

Some Imperial vehicles have additional armour plated bolted or welded onto their hulls. These are collectively referred to as extra armour, and minimize the damage and shockwaves suffered by the vehicle and its crew whenever it is hit. In-game, this is represented by minimizing the effect of any damage to the vehicle's crew, allowing it to function in light of potentially-paralyzing hits.^[5][7]

[edit] Improved comms

Found in Imperial Guard armies, improved comms is an upgrade to a vehicle representing improved communications equipment, such as that found in modern battlefield command vehicles.^[7]

[edit] Pintle mount

A pintle mount is an option to add an anti-personnel weapon to an Imperial vehicle. This weapon is used, either by the vehicle's commander or by remote control, to engage secondary targets and immediate threats while the gunner focuses the vehicle's main firepower against enemy armour or major objectives.

Storm Bolters are the most common weapon used with a pintle mount, although Heavy stubbers are also used by the Imperial Guard. The Black Templars deviate significantly from this usage, mounting multi-meltas to their Land Raider Crusaders. The Chaos Legions also use pintle-mounted weapons, usually a combi-bolter, although combi-flamers and combi-meltaguns are also used.

[edit] Searchlight

Searchlights are attachments found on various vehicles of the Imperium.^[5][7]

[edit] Smoke launchers

Smoke launchers are attachments found on various vehicles of the Imperium.^[5][7]

[edit] Void Shields

Void shields are devices usually employed by warships and titans of imperial manufacture (some vehicles now under the power of chaos still maintain these devices). The void shield or field is a powerful defence system that can stop all but the most powerful weapons. A void shield appears as a shimmering curtain possibly akin to looking at something through a thin layer of water. The circuitry in void shield systems create a strong smell of ozone prior to being activated. Any object coming into contact with the shield once activated is not damaged but makes a sizzling sound.

Any objects, unless fired at or striking the shield with phenomenal power simply bounce off or are halted in mid air. Organic materials, liquids or simply energy with harmful potential (e.g. a laser) are stopped or dissipated. Explosive munitions will detonate on contact. Any object caught in the field when activated is simply sliced in half. For instance, a human body caught in the beam will be sliced in half as if viewed in cross-section and munitions caught in this way are destroyed explosively. This makes the void field deadly, if impractical in offense rather than defensive situations.^[13]

[edit] Note on Chaos Marines

It should also be noted that much of the weapons and equipment used by the Chaos Space Marine Legions also come from this list—especially the equipment wielded by Space Marines. Since the Horus Heresy, the Imperium has made some advances in technology; thus much of the Chaos Marines' equipment is of older design, or the Chaos Marines simply have restricted or no access to some of the items listed above.

For example, the Chaos Marines possess plasma weapons - however, their plasma cannons, being much older, are simply too large to be carried by a man; thus they are always vehicle-mounted. Rather than Stormbolters, which were designed around the time of the Heresy, the Chaos Marines possess older combi-bolters—which are essentially two normal bolters combined into a single gun, but the effect is not quite as effective as the Stormbolter. This has, however, given Chaos pintle-mounted combi-bolters a special utility unknown to Imperial vehicles: the weapon can be adapted to consist of a single bolter combined with a single-shot flamer or meltagun.

Further still, the Chaos Marines have extremely limited access to jump packs (which were designed shortly prior to the Heresy), and no access to assault cannons, psycannons or the special ammunition types for bolters (except inferno bolts), as all of these were invented after the Heresy.

However, some equipment is replaced by similar daemonic gear. For example, some Chaos Marines can be seen with mutated wings, which act similar to jump packs. While Chaos Marines do not have Artificer Armour (a type of power armour which is well crafted so that it affords better protection), they can have their armour mutated by the powers of Chaos, creating Daemon Armour, which is similar to Artificer Armour. Lastly, the Iron Warriors Legion is known for salvaging Imperial siege equipment, such as the Imperial Guard Basilisk (an artillery piece which carries the Earthshaker cannon) and the Space Marine Vindicator.

[edit] Bibliography

• Priestley, Rick (1995). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Imperial Guard, 1st Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-872372-92-9. 
• Chambers, Andy; Haines, Pete, and Hoare, Andy (2003). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Imperial Guard, 4th Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-410-8. 
• Chambers, Andy (2004). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines, 4th Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-526-0. 
• Johnson, Jervis; Chambers, Andy, and Thorpe, Gav (2000). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Wolves. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-010-2. 

Various Warhammer 40,000 articles

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Vehicles of the Imperium (Warhammer 40,000)
• Weapons of the Imperium (Warhammer 40,000)
• Vehicles of the Imperial Guard (Warhammer 40,000)
• Vehicles of the Space Marines (Warhammer 40,000)