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[[Image:TankCommander.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A tank Commander riding in the cupola of his tank{{Fn|1}}]]
'''Tank Commanders''' are veteran [[Imperial Guard]] armour officers who have been given leadership over entire formations of [[Tank|Battle Tanks]]. They are often promoted from [[Tank Ace]]s.{{Fn|4a}} 

==Overview==
Sometimes referred to as ''tread heads'' by infantry officers, to become a tank commander an officer requires singularly obsessive focus on mastery of the art of armoured warfare. Veterans of dozens of battles and multiple wars, the average Tank Commander is a steel eyed [[Tank Ace]], commanding very best crew the [[armoured regiment]] has to offer. These grizzled guardsmen are virtually one with their machine, possessing an implicit knowledge of armoured warfare in all its forms.{{Fn|4a}}

[[Image:Tank Commander Heirarchy - Cadia A Codex Astra Militarum Supplement pg 66.jpg|thumb|right|200px|In the example of this [[Cadian Shock Troopers|Cadian]] [[Battle Group]], a Tank Commander may be assigned overall command of the entire battle group, while a different Tank Commander has been placed in charge of three squadrons of [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]]s.{{Fn|6}}]]

The size of the formations a Tank Commander will oversee can vary, as can their actual rank within [[Imperial Guard Hierarchy]]. Examples include:
*'''Tank Squadron Commmander''' - Typically [[Lieutenant (Imperial Guard)|Lieutenants]], they oversee a '''squadron''' consisting of several tanks.{{Fn|2a}}
*'''Tank Company Commander''' - Typically [[Captain (Imperial Guard)|Captains]], they oversee an [[Astra Militarum Company#Armoured Company|armoured company]] consisting of several armoured squadrons.{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|26}}
*'''Battle Group Commander''' - Occasionally, a Tank Commander may oversee an entire [[Battle Group]] consisting of several armoured companies.{{Fn|6}}
*'''Regimental Commander''' - Occasionally, a Tank Commander may oversee an entire [[Armoured Regiment]]. One example is [[Lord General]] [[Coron Grizmund]]{{Fn|23}}

Tank Commanders possess an air of authority not only over their own crew but to entire squadrons of tanks, on par with that of an [[Lieutenant (Imperial Guard)|infantry commander]] directing the many squads of an infantry [[Imperial Guard Platoon|platoon]].

Tank Commanders will often be assigned temporary command over infantry and artillery assets{{Fn|4a}} as well as siege assets such as [[Thunderer]]s and [[Hellhounds]].{{Fn|2c}} This may see them leading an armoured spearhead to break through the enemy lines ahead of a mighty infantry offensive, or digging in to defend vulnerable artillery, or outflanking an enemy to reduce and disperse the amount of incoming fire. Though infantry often grumble when assigned to a Tank Commander, feeling that they would not grasp the hardships and limitations of men on foot, such complaints turn to cheers at the sight of the Tank Commander leading his force to smash directly into the foe's ranks, guns blazing and treads churning up the enemy. Blending excellent personal combat experience with good leadership, the soldiers of non-armoured regiments soon learn to trust the Tank Commander's prowess.{{Fn|4a}}

Tank Commanders are given a great degree of freedom when selecting their preferred command vehicle.{{Fn|26}} Granted their pick of the armoured fighting vehicles available to their regiment, they are further entitled to pick their vehicle's crew from the finest veterans.{{Fn|4a}} Most typically, they can be seen commanding from the cupola of mighty [[Leman Russ battle tank]]{{Fn|4a}}. This can be of any [[Leman Russ Battle Tank#Known patterns|pattern]] the regiment is able to provide{{Fn|1}}. Some Tank Commanders, such as [[Colonel]] [[Stranski]], prefer to command their armoured forces from the cupola of a [[Chimera]] instead.{{Fn|16a}} Another might prefer to command from a [[Manticore]] artillery vehicle.{{Fn|25}} And still others may choose to command from a heavy [[Rogal Dorn Battle Tank]].{{Fn|26}}

Tank Commanders may sometimes command from within a [[Super Heavy Vehicle]] such as a [[Baneblade]]{{Fn|16a}}{{Fn|16b}}{{Fn|13}}{{Fn|17b}}, where they will be better able to direct the fire of its various weapons and crew. In this position, the Tank Commander is able to accurately direct the fire of all the Baneblade's weapons and their gunners.{{Fn|9}}{{Fn|12}} The Baneblade is able to serve as a mobile Field HQ, and its sight can bolster the morale of nearby troops.{{Fn|16b}}


<gallery heights="250px" widths="250px" mode="nolines" caption="">
MaximillianWeisemann2.png|[[Tank Ace]] and Tank Commander [[Maximillian Weisemann]], in the cupola of his [[Baneblade]], ''[[Arethusa]]''{{Fn|16a}}
Baneblade Tank Commander - White Dwarf 240 (AU) pg 93.jpg|A Tank Commander in the cupola of a Baneblade{{Fn|13}}
</gallery>

Tank Commanders may adorn the hull of their vehicles with battle trophies. Those of the [[Armageddon Ork Hunters]] are most famous for this, mounting the skull of a slain [[Warboss]] on the prow of their tank. Pious commanders may convert their tanks into mobile shrines, full of ornate reliquaries, burning braziers, and vox speakers to broadcast an unceasing stream of hymns and prayers onto the battlefield.{{Fn|4a}} A notable example includes Captain "Crazy" [[Obadiah Schfeer]], who has attached a large speaker to his [[Leman Russ Vanquisher]] to blast military music during an advance.{{Fn|2e}} Others will attempt to inspire their men by adopting a visible trademark look, such as swagger stick, a colorful billowing cape, a chest full of shiny medals, or a big cigar, making them easy to distinguish on the battlefield.{{Fn|4d}} For example, Lord General [[Grizmund]] would often carry the  [[Regimental Standard]] of the [[Narmenian Armoured]] himself, holding it while standing from his tank's cupola. His sub-commanders could easily identify his command Leman Russ ''[[The Grace of the Throne]]'' despite the confusion of battle.{{Fn|2e}} However, should such a commander be wounded or slain, it could have a disastrous effect on the morale of their troops who are able to easily see their commander fall.{{Fn|4d}}

[[Image:Russ Indirect Fire.png|thumb|right|200px| Leman Russ tanks firing indirect bombardments, as would be coordinated by a Tank Commander (and about to have an unfortunate encounter with Ork [[Kommandos]]){{Fn|11}}]]
Customarily, the HQ tank in a Tank Company will be fitted with a '''Command Cupola''' for the Tank Commander, installed with specialist equipment such as comm-link scramblers, tactical [[cogitator]]s, and uplink modules to connect with other officers in the field. These HQ tanks serve as the nerve center for an entire company, and allowing the Tank Commander to coordinate its actions even when the company is widely dispersed. While in a Command Cupola, he is able to direct the fire of up to nine other vehicles that are equipped with either [[Battle cannon|Battle Cannons]], [[Earthshaker (Cannon)|Earthshakers]], [[Heavy Mortar]]s or [[Demolisher cannon]]s, calling in the coordinates over comm-link and allowing them to elevate their guns to fire indirect bombardments over intervening terrain at any target the Tank Commander himself can see.{{Fn|11}}

In the event of an emergency, a Tank Commander is prepared to take over the position of a driver or a gunner in a vehicle in case they are slain, though they will be unable to coordinate the actions of company vehicles while doing so.{{Fn|10}}

==Notable Imperial Guard Tank Commanders==
*[[Astrov Yemenev]] — [[Vostroyan 24th Armoured|Vostroyan 24th ‘Iron Bloods’ Armoured Regiment]].{{Fn|4a}}
*[[Raximillian Dragor]] - [[Moebian 53rd]] officer fighting on the frontlines in [[Hive Tertium]].{{Fn|5}}
*[[Dymetrin]]
*[[Kabe]]
*[[Kastock]] — Commands the [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]] ''[[Kasr's Vengeance]]'', defending the [[Imperium]] world [[Calder's Reach]].{{Fn|3}} 
*[[Maximillian Weisemann]]
*[[Pask]]
*[[Pysell Roderrik]] — Currently leading his [[Cadian Shock Troopers|Cadian]] armoured battle group in battle against [[Necron]]s.{{Fn|4b}}
*[[Silas Ovik]]
*[[Tulathan]] — [[Vastadt 4th Independent Tank Regiment]]
*[[Hadeya Etsul]]
*[[Colaron Vor Artem Lo Bannick]] - Initially commanding from the Leman Russ Tank ''[[Indomitable Fury]]''{{Fn|17a}}, and then the Baneblade ''[[Cortein's Honour]]''.{{Fn|17b}} Also had temporary command of the [[Shadowsword]] ''[[Lux Imperator]]''.{{Fn|18}}
*Colonel [[Nelson]] - A [[Death Korps of Krieg]] Tank Commander known for pushing his guardsmen into close combat with the enemy. This was often to point blank range, all while Nelson waved his [[Power Sword]], [[The Colonel's Deathblow]], from the cupola of his command tank.
*[[Obadiah Schfeer]]

==Images==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Tank Commander White Dwarf 216 (UK) pg12.png|Tank Commander of the [[Necromundan Guard]]
Catachan Savage Jaguars Tank Commander - Codex Astra Militarum 8th Edition pg 21.jpg|Tank Commander of the [[Catachan Jungle Fighters#Notable Regiments|Catachan DXIX ''Savage Jaguars'']] [[Imperial Guard Regiment#Armoured Regiment|Armoured Regiment]]{{Fn|4c}}
Mordian 4th Cobalt Lions Commander - Codex Astra Militarum 8th Edition pg 29.jpg|Tank Commander of the [[Mordian 4th Armoured|Mordian 4th]] [[Armoured Regiment]]{{Fn|4d}}
Captain Suhara Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign pg63.png|[[Captain (Imperial Guard)|Captain]] [[Suhara]] of the [[Tallarn 17th Armoured]]{{fn|28}}
</gallery>

==Miniatures==
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="200">
Tank_Commander_in_Command_Cupola.png|<sup>A Tank Commander in his '''Command Cupola'''. Evidently from the [[Baal System]], possibly from either "Baal IV" as a planet, or a regiment with the designation of IV from [[Baal]] ([[Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition Rulebook|2nd edition]]).{{Fn|10}}</sup>
Tank Commander Codex Imperial Guard (2nd Edition) pg 95.jpg| A Tank Commander of the [[Turan XXI]] in a [[Leman Russ Demolisher]] ([[Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition Rulebook|2nd edition]])
Deathkorp5.jpg|[[Death Korps of Krieg]] Tank Commander, ([[Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition Rulebook|4th edition]])
Forgeworld Tallarn Tank Commander.jpg|[[Tallarn Desert Raiders]] Tank Commander
Pask.jpg|Tank Commander [[Pask]] ([[Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook|5th edition]])
Tank Commander Leman Russ 2023 Box.jpg|A Tank Commander ([[Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition Rulebook|10th edition]]){{Fn|8}}
Grizmund.jpg|[[Lord General]] [[Coron Grizmund]]
Forge World Tank Commanders.png| Tank Commanders, including a [[Manticore]] Tank Commander (center) ([[Forge World (Company)|Forge World]] miniatures)
Armoured Division Officer.png| Armoured Division Officer ([[Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition Rulebook|10th edition]])
</gallery>

==Similar Roles in Other Imperial Forces==
===Commissar Tank Commander===
Members of the [[Commissariat]] may requisition tanks, typically different patterns of [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]] {{Fn|19}}, a [[Salamander]]{{Fn|19}}{{Fn|21}} or even a [[Baneblade]]{{Fn|20}}, in order to bolster the morale of nearby troops and vehicles from it.{{Fn|16b}}{{Fn|19}} When in command of such a tank, they are able to boost the morale of an Armoured Company despite severe losses in armour and vehicles. This is mostly effective if the Commissar's tank makes itself visible to nearby Imperial armour - it is "un-Commissar like" for the Commissar's Tank to simply hide behind the lines out of sight.{{Fn|19}}
<gallery heights="170px" mode="packed" caption="">
FortressofArrogance.jpg|[[Commissar]] [[Sebastian Yarrick]] in his  [[Fortress of Arrogance]]
Commissar Tank 10th Edition.png| A [[Commissar]] commanding from a [[Leman Russ Executioner]]
Forgeworld Krieg Commissar Tank Commander.png| A [[Death Korps of Krieg]] Commissar Tank Commander
Commissar Tank Commander FW Website.jpg| A Commmissar Tank Commander
</gallery>

{{QuoteBox
|quote = "Drive me closer - I want to hit them with my sword!"
|source= — [[Commissar#Lord Commissar|Lord Commissar]] [[Commissar Lord Bernn|Bernn]]{{Fn|22}}<Sup>[[Astra Militarum Quotes#Note 11|[Note]]]</sup>
|align = center
|width = 60em
}}

===Space Marine Tank Commander===
The [[Adeptus Astartes]] are also known to employ Tank Commanders in charge of [[Space Marine]] armoured forces. Examples include:
*[[Antaro Chronus]] - A Tank Commander of the [[Ultramarines]] who leads the chapter's armoured assaults, having earned the title of ''Spear of [[Macragge]]'', a [[Great Crusade|Pre-Heresy]] [[Legiones Astartes]] award to the pre-eminent tank commander among the Ultramarines.{{Fn|14}} He has a unique status within the Chapter that sees him answer only to the [[Primarch]] [[Roboute Guilliman]] and [[Chapter Master]] [[Marneus Calgar]]{{Fn|15}}
<gallery heights="170px" mode="packed" caption="">
Antaro Chronus.jpg|[[Antaro Chronus]] in the cupola of a [[Predator Tank]]
Chronus2.jpg|[[Antaro Chronus]] miniature, in the cupola of a [[Land Raider]]
</gallery>
*The [[Grey Knights]] have fielded Tank Commanders{{fn|27}}
<gallery heights="170px" mode="packed" caption="">
Grey Knights Tank Commander Forge World 2014-15 Catalogue pg20.png|A Tank Commander of the [[Grey Knights]]{{fn|27}}
</gallery>

==Trivia==
{{Trivia}}
A ''Tank Commander'' within the Imperial military should not be confused with the conventional realworld concept of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank#Crew "Tank Commander"] (i.e. the commanding officer of a single tank and its crew), though they universally arise from and continue to hold such a position among an elite tank crew{{Fn|1}}. Rather, they are functionally closer to the concept of [https://nationalguard.com/19-armor-officer "Armor Officers"]  that: ''"command the armor units and combined Armed Forces during land combat."''

While the distinction is not touched upon within [[Codex: Imperial Guard|Imperial Guard Codices]] or the [[Codex: Space Marines|Space Marine Codices]], it is elaborated more within the [[Imperial Armour]] books. In these books Tank Commanders are typically specified as '''Tank Squadron Commanders''' or '''Tank Company Commanders''', while the conventional term of "Tank Commander" is used in reference to the commanding officer of a single battle tank and its crew.{{Fn|2b}}{{Fn|2a}}

==See also==
*[[Legiones Decurion]]

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (6th Edition)]] (e-version) — ''Tank Commanders''
*2: [[Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy]]:
**{{Endn|2a}}: pgs. 264-265
**{{Endn|2b}}: pg. 41
**{{Endn|2c}}: pg. 268
**{{Endn|2d}}: pg. 262
**{{Endn|2e}}: pgs. 210-214 - ''Tank Aces''
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Warhammer: Visions 23]], pg. 23 {{WHVisionsEnd}}
*4: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (8th Edition)]]:
**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 37 — ''Tank Commanders''
**{{Endn|4b}}: pg. 76
**{{Endn|4c}}: pg. 21 - ''Catachan''
**{{Endn|4d}}: pg. 29 — ''Armoured Regiments''
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Darktide]]: Mourningstar Hub area (idle npc dialogue) - Commissar Dukane, Guardsman Pragg, Guardsman Harket, and Overseer Marsett
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Cadia: A Codex Astra Militarum Supplement]], pgs. 67-68
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition)]], pgs. 44 & 95
*{{Endn|8}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20250926130716/https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/astra-militarum-leman-russ-battle-tank-2023?srsltid=AfmBOorQTwr6Oi2H7XITpbGTQlSGd3jGVvCGB5KGQfN9LozHsbNizTYD Leman Russ Battle Tank (2023 Release)] ''(archived from [https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/astra-militarum-leman-russ-battle-tank-2023?srsltid=AfmBOorQTwr6Oi2H7XITpbGTQlSGd3jGVvCGB5KGQfN9LozHsbNizTYD the original], last accessed 26 March 2025)''
*{{Endn|9}}: [[The Citadel Journal 7]], pg. 38 {{FE}}
*{{Endn|10}}: [[The Citadel Journal 22]], inner cover {{FE}}
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Inquisitor Magazine Issue 14]], pg. 22 {{IME}}
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Inquisitor Magazine Issue 16]], pg. 16 {{IME}}
*{{Endn|13}}: [[White Dwarf 240 (AU)]], pg. 93 {{GDE}}
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]], pg. 89
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition)]], pg. 46
*16: [[Imperial Armour Volume One - Second Edition: Imperial Guard]]:
**{{Endn|16a}}: pgs. 270-275
**{{Endn|16b}}: pg. 91
*17: [[Baneblade (Novel)]] (e-version):
**{{Endn|17a}}: Chapter 2
**{{Endn|17b}}: Epilogue
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Shadowsword (Novel)]], Chapter Seventeen
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Chapter Approved 2001]] pg. 21 - ''Commissar Tank''
*{{Endn|20}}: [[Apocalypse]] pg. 106
*{{Endn|21}}: [[For the Emperor (Novel)]] (e-version), Chapter Eight
*{{Endn|22}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution]]
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Necropolis (Novel)]] (e-version), Chapter Fifteen
*{{Endn|24}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20080701072543/http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/acatalog/IMPERIAL_GUARD_CREW.html Imperial Guard Crew] ''(archived from [http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/acatalog/IMPERIAL_GUARD_CREW.html the original] 01 July 2008, last accessed 21 October 2025)''
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Forge World Catalogue 2006]] - ''FIGURES''
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (10th Edition)]], pg. 99
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Forge World 2014/15 Catalogue]], pg. 20
*{{Endn|28}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign]], pg. 63

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{{WHVisions}}
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[[Category:Titles and Ranks]]
[[Category:Troops (Astra Militarum)]]