Vehicles of the Tau Empire (Warhammer 40,000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This WFB or WH40K-related article or section describes an aspect of the series in a primarily in-universe style. Please rewrite this article to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective. |
The Tau Empire have a wide and varied collection of vehicles at their disposal. They range from light scouting craft to huge space-capable drop-ships.
Contents |
[edit] Armoured fighting vehicles
[edit] Devilfish
Devilfish are the basic vehicle of the Tau Empire. Tough and durable, they are used as APCs, with room for 12 passengers. The Devilfish also carries a burst cannon and a pair of gun drones, and has three entrance doors.
The Devilfish is the standard APC of the Tau Fire Caste. Capable of carrying 12 Warriors or Pathfinders, the Devilfish is equipped with a burst cannon and two gun drones. The drones may be replaced by a single Smart Missile System to provide heavier fire support.
The Devilfish is a central part of the tactic many Tau players have called the "Fish of Fury". In this maneuver, a Devilfish loaded with Fire warriors comes close to an enemy squad, disembarking its passengers just within the 12" needed for the Fire warriors to use the "Rapid Fire" rule, with the Devilfish providing extra assistance. With the Devilfish between the Fire warriors and the enemy squad, it is nearly impossible for most surviving units of the target squad to get within assault range of the Fire Warriors, and the next turn, the Tau player can try to finish the enemy off, or withdraw the squad to a safer location.
Other Tau vehicles are modeled on the Devilfish's chassis. Many box sets for the other vehicles will in fact have all the sprues needed to build a Devilfish, along with the separate special sprues for the other vehicle's major parts. Many players take advantage of this and do not glue the specific parts for each vehicle on, allowing them to switch out a Hammerhead or Skyray for a Devilfish should the need arise.
In Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Dark Crusade the Devilfish uses stealth field technology similar to that used by Stealth Battlesuits. However, this is not supported by any Games Workshop literature.
[edit] Hammerhead
The Hammerhead is the Tau Empire's main battle tank. Based on the Devilfish chassis, it has considerably reinforced armour and mounts either an ion cannon or a railgun on its turret. It also carries either a pair of burst cannons or a smart missile system in its drone bays.
Based on the hull design of the Devilfish, the Hammerhead Gunship is the main battle tank of the Tau Empire. The troop carrying ability of the Devilfish is removed, as the space is needed for the complex generators and capacitors required to power the Hammerhead's turret weapon. Early models of the Hammerhead were armed with twin-linked weapons similar to those used by Crisis Suits, but scaled up in size, range, and power. Advances in weapons technology replaced these weapons with a single railgun or ion cannon. These alternate armaments are available as conversion kits by Forge World.
[edit] Piranha
The Piranha light skimmer is a vehicle originally designed and sold by Forge World, but was fully incorporated into the official Tau army list in the 4th edition Tau Empire Codex, and re-released as a plastic model by Games Workshop.
The Piranha is a light infantry support vehicle designed to work alongside the hunter cadres, especially on frontier worlds. They can also be used as transports for important figures in the Tau community. The Piranha has room for two fire warriors and two drones. It is armed with either a burst cannon or fusion blaster.
The Piranha Light Skimmer is a small, fast, lightly armoured, two-person vehicle used in a number of roles including scouting, support, rapid response, and VIP transport. They are deployed in squads of up to five craft and are armed with a pair of gun drones and a burst cannon or a fusion blaster. Upgrades to the Piranha give it better protection for the cockpit, and replace the central weapon and drones with a variety of weapons, including rail rifles.
[edit] Skyray
The Skyray is the hunter cadre's first line of defence against aircraft. Another Devilfish-based tank, it has the same options as the Hammerhead in its drone bays, but carries six seeker missiles and a networked markerlight designator on its turret.
A variant of the Hammerhead Gunship, the Skyray Missile Defence Gunship is armed with a turret mounted array of six seeker missiles that can be launched by the vehicle's crew or by Fire Warrior teams equipped with markerlights. Missiles fired from the Skyray have especially large range and accuracy. It is also armed with either a pair of gun drones, burst cannons, or a smart missile system.
A rumored variant of the Skyray, known as the Stingray, carries more and heavier missiles, and seems to be primarily deployed only in larger-scale battles.
Like the Piranha, the Skyray was originally designed by Forge World, then later made official in the 4th Edition of the game.
[edit] Tetra
The Tetra is a light skimmer rarely used by Pathfinders as an alternative to the Devilfish. Like the Piranha, it is a two-tau vehicle, but with lighter armor, and is armed with a pair of mounted pulse rifles and a Markerlight.
Tetras are only available through Forge World as resin kits.
[edit] Aircraft
All Tau Aircraft are only available as resin models from Forge World.
[edit] Barracuda Superiority Fighter
The most numerous fighter in the Tau Navy, often used to support the Fire Caste in battle. The Barracuda is typically armed with an Ion cannon mounted off-center on the nose, and a pair of missile pods. Mounted on each wing is a burst cannon independently controlled by an AI similar to those used in Gun Drones. It may also carry seeker missiles for use by ground troops. In one on one engagements the Barracuda is slightly better than its Imperial equivalents the Thunderbolt and Lightning. However the lack of combat experience of Tau pilots usually evens this balance out, making for a very even match.
[edit] Manta Missile Destroyer
The Manta Missile Destroyer is a versatile ship capable of operating in space or in the air. It is often used in space to support the Tau Fleet as a bomber, or as a landing craft to transport an entire hunter Cadre on to the ground, complete with vehicles, and, if need be, to support them in battle. Armed with massive Railcannons that fire drone-guided rounds, a battery of Ion Cannons, missiles, and burst cannons for defense, a Manta is a formidable opponent to any force on the ground.
Tau Mantas were deployed towards the end of the Damocles Gulf Crusade to counter Imperial Titans on Dal'yth, and managed to stalemate the giant war machines.
A smaller version of the Manta, called the Moray, is used solely in a support function, and cannot carry troops.
Normally, a vehicle the size of a Manta would only be usable in large-scale games like Epic Armageddon, but Forge World has designed a model of the Manta scaled for use in Warhammer 40,000, the largest single model ever designed by the company. To demonstrate its size, the Manta could easily fit 2 armed hammerhead gunships, 2 devilfishes, along with 8 battlesuits, an Ethereal and 48 Fire Warriors at the same time.
[edit] Orca Dropship
The Orca dropship is a large craft used to transport up to 48 fire warriors, 8 gun drones, and an etheral onto the field. It can change 24 of the warriors for fewer, but larger troops, such as crisis suits. It is lightly armed for its size, carrying a twin-linked burst cannon and a missile pod coupled together on an underside-mounted retractable turret, for clearing enemy infantry and light vehicles from the drop zone.
A vehicle known as the Scorpionfish has also been seen in mass troop engagements. Based on the Orca's chassis, the Scorpionfish sacrifices its troop carrying capacity, as well as most of its flight capabilities, to carry a massive amount of missiles, including smart missiles and seeker and tracer missiles (a much larger and heavy type of seeker missile for anti-warmachine work).
The Orca was introduced in Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior, with a resin model being produced later for the Warhammer 40,000 and Epic tabletop games by Forge World.
[edit] Tiger Shark Strike Craft
Essentially a heavier version of the Barracuda, the Tiger Shark is armed with nearly twice the armament of the smaller fighter. In addition, it carries an underside rack containing a large amount of gun drones, which it can drop on enemy positions in its wake.
A variant of the Tigershark, the AX-1-0, replaces the Ion Cannons and drone storage racks with a pair of heavy Railguns, larger versions of the Hammerhead borne variety. This variant is primarily used by the Tau to assist in attacking large enemy war machines. They were first deployed against Imperial forces in the Taros Campaign, where their attack destroyed a Warhound titan and forced the rest of its battlegroup to retreat.
Another variant, the AX-2-2, foregos the main weapons entirely to make room for a pair of Remora drone fighters.
[edit] Spacecraft
[edit] Gal'Leath (Explorer) Class Starship
The Explorer Class Starship was the cornerstone of the early Tau navy. It's massive phased warp drive allowed it to move through warp space at a pace 5 times slower than it's Imperial counterparts, but this speed was fast enough to facilitate the expansion of the Tau Empire in its fledgling steps outside of the core system. The Explorer could boast massive cargo capacity, extensive research facilities and the ability to serve as a mobile dock for semi-independent ships. Its cargo bays were also large enough to carry modular orbital units, waystations and even (more recently)message boats. It was the galleon of the Tau Empire and for nearly a hundred tau'cyr it was the only class of ship continually in production. During this time it moved from mark I to mark XXIII, benefiting from a succession of improvements and special adaptations. Conflict with the Orks was the class' death knell. It was not a specialist warship and its weaponry was incapable of keeping Terrorships and Killkroozers at a distance. Work on the Merchant class was accelerated. When it was complete production of the Explorer dropped 85%. There are, however, still a number in service. The most recently created Gal'Leath class is Dal'yth Gal'Leath Kessan, the first of the mark XXIV designs, and the flagship in an expedition launched by Aun'shi to research the Farsight Enclaves. It is unknown whether any further plans exist for continued support of this design.
[edit] Il'Fannor (Merchant) Class Starship
The Merchant class was originally developed to be the new workhorse of the empire. Its reactors were a fraction the size of the much larger Explorer's power plant but were capable of reaching a third of average warp speed, making them significantly faster. This was deemed essential to bind together the emergent Tau Empire. Conflict with the Orks caused significant revision of the design with field modifications that allowed virtually all of the cargo space to be converted to weapons systems if needed. The continued requirements of the fleet ensured that the Merchant class remained predominantly a warship until the Hero class was laid down.
[edit] Lar'Shi (Hero) Class Starship
The pinnacle of Tau technology, the Hero class was the product of Tau experience during the Damocles Gulf Crusade. The Tau were determined that they should have a ship that could match the Imperial Lunar class. As it became evident, they failed but they did succeed in producing a credible ship of the line in the Lar'shi.
[edit] Kir'Qath (Defender) Starship
Just as the Lar'shi is the Tau response to the Imperial Lunar Class, the Kir'Qath is their answer to the Imperial Sword class. The Kir'Qath is the only true escort in the Tau fleet and is used in squadrons to provide close support for the larger vessels. Its main weakness is the lengthy recharge time for its drives. It can make up to half a dozen warp dives in succession but will then be unable to do any more for at least a rot'aa. This means it is not suitable for scouting as it either travels slowly across interstellar space or risks being unable to retreat when it arrives. This can make it a liability in rapid fleet manoeuvres. Consequently, squadrons are spread through Tau space where heavier units can call upon them for support if required.
[edit] Skether'Qan (Messenger) Class Starship
The Messenger is the smallest self-sufficient Tau vessel. It mostly comprises a gravitic drive and a hold but it is occasionally used as a fleet scout as it is quite maneuverable and has unmatched data handling and communications facilities. These systems were soon adapted for combat applications. The Messenger's weaponry is purely intended to deter pursuit so in fleet actions it tends to stay close to a capital ship, helping against attack craft in return for protection against true warships.
[edit] Kass'L (Orca) Gunship
The Orca was designed to provide the Tau fleet with an Escort. Unable to build a drive light enough to produce a normal escort the Orca is transported within a capital ship's gravitic sheath. Once unleashed, however, it is a powerful gunship able to contend with any Imperial or Ork escort vessel.
[edit] Orbitals
The Tau have made extensive use of orbitals since their earliest forays in space. The Air caste had always been at the forefront of the conquest of the upper atmosphere and provided enthusiastic crews for the first orbitals. Many orbitals exist purely to provide homes for the Air Caste. Others are used for manufacturing and Trade.
Normally individual orbitals are assembled into arrays of up to five individual orbitals which are all linked together.
Waystations are distributed through the Tau Empire. These mark the main routes between Tau septs and are used to speed communications between outposts, since Tau cannot rely on Astropathic messengers. These waystations typically consist of a core orbital module, and a security module.
[edit] Allied Vessels
[edit] Nicassar Dhows
Nicassar Dhows are small but elegant yachts that are propelled by the minds of the Nicassar themselves, who are powerful Psykers with particular mastery of telekinetic powers. These ships are very maneuverable but lack any practical interstellar capacity and until recently also lacked any notable firepower. Since being incorporated into the Tau Empire however the Weaponry of the Dhows, and all other Nicassar vessels, have been updated to Tau levels.
[edit] Kroot Warspheres
 |
I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. |
Unlike the Tau, the Kroot are capable of true warp travel but the exact method has been kept secret from their employers.
The famous Kroot Warspheres are self-contained towns wherein is kept the retained knowledge of Kroot technology and the choicest items they have received as payment for their services. as such they do not risk them in battle willingly and try to avoid direct action against warships unless the need is great or they are being exceptionally well rewarded.
Warspheres have a single drive running through their core from North to South pole and maoeuvering thrusters along their equator. These engines are reliable but very basic making Warspheres very slow. They are powerful enough to allow the Warsphere to land and take-off from a planet although the process is not elegant. When dirtside the manoeuvering thrusters will normally be used to bury the warsphere.
[edit] Demiurg 'Stronghold' Commerce Vessels
The Demiurg are an ancient and nomadic race known to have a deep reserve of hatred of the Orks. They work as mercenaries for various armies when seen at all, but seem to have a far closer relationship with the Tau.
The type classified as 'Stronghold' class is fairly typical of Demiurg vessels, being very large, technologically advanced, and extremely well powered. Strongholds appear to act as factory/processor vessels and bases for a fleet of intersystem asteroid mining pods, haulage flyers, and prospector probes (it is theorized that many of these are automated). Typically, lone strongholds have been encountered in the flare or mercurial zones of uninhabited star systems, hanging motionless and prow-on to the star with a cloud of small craft busily hustling to and fro to exploit local resources.
In most cases these ships withdraw their craft and disengage if challenged but in some instances have inexplicably turned on their attackers with surprising ferocity. It is worthy of note that every known encounter between Demiurg and Ork vessels has resulted in combat, and that renegade elements have often hired Demiurg vessels to fight as mercenaries in interplanetary and intersystem power struggles. As Warships, Demiurg vessels are slow but well defended, boasting considerable firepower at close ranges and the capacity for launching mining craft reconfigured as attack craft and torpedoes.
A notable trait of the Stronghold class is its employment of an array of electromagnetic fields around its prow to scoop up interstellar hydrogen. This is accelerated to the rear of the ship to provide motive power in a ram-jet effect but the complex shielding it requires evidently produces numerous other benefits. This process is little understood by the Adeptus Mechanicus and they would dearly like to secure an intact Stronghold for investigation but thus far the opportunity has eluded them.
[edit] Demiurg 'Bastion' Commerce Vessels
More common than the larger Stronghold Class, the Bastion is nonetheless only occasionally sighted in the giant vastness of wilderness space along the eastern rim of the galaxy.
Bastion class vessels appear to be more heavily configured for asteroid mining than the stately Stronghold, which is known to function as a factory/processor. Presumably resources and finished goods are exchanged between these vessels but there are no eye witness reports of such. Scattered reports by Rogue Traders indicate that a Bastion Class vessel is crewed by a 'brotherhood' and that Strongholds are homes to typically two or three brotherhoods, it is possible that Strongholds and Bastions form some extended affiliation but if this is the case each group must be widely scattered in different systems light years apart. The only exception to this is when the Demiurg muster for war, when two or three Bastions gather to protect each Stronghold.
As warships, Bastions compare to cruisers in most respects, though impressive lance turrets and battery firepower at close ranges make them a thorny prospect. As with the Stronghold class, Bastions have the capacity for launching mining craft and probes reconfigured as attack craft and torpedoes.
Also, like the Stronghold, the Bastion uses an electromagnetic field to scoop up interstellar hydrogen and accelerate it to the rear of the ship to provide motive power and energy for specialized cutting beams it employs for cracking asteroids or enemy ships.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Bibliography
- Hoare, Andy (2006). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tau Empire. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-712-3.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
