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Moved deviations out of the history section and to the bottom of the page, as it was less relevant and not time-related. also added some more info to the section
There is no such thing as a single version of the ''Codex Astartes'', and the original text no longer exists in any form.{{Fn|32a}} The earliest known copy is the [[Apocrypha of Skaros]].{{Fn|33}} Over the millennia, the work has been added to by successive hands so extensively that various competing versions have emerged. In some cases these are so divergent that chapters have gone to war over differing interpretations of the [[Primarch]]'s will. Therefore, although the doctrines presented in all are invaluable, and collectively the existing versions are perhaps the single greatest work on the art of war in the Imperium, attribution of each individual part of the text is nigh impossible, even with the help of its putative author. {{Fn|32a}}
===Recent Reformation===
* 9th Company: Light Blue {{Color sample|size=15|DodgerBlue}}{{Fn|15b}}
* 10th Company: Company colour is not displayed on their armour, because of their need to blend with their surroundings on reconnaissance missions.{{Fn|27a}}
While [[Scouts]] don't have pauldron trims to display company colour, [[Vanguard]] Space Marines do. When not attached to another Company, the trim of the Vanguard marine's pauldron is painted the same colour as the rest of the armour, i.e. an [[Imperial Fists]] [[Infilitrator]] of the [[10th Company, Imperial Fists Chapter|10th Company]] would have yellow pauldron trims.{{Fn|41}}
====Attached Units====
Attached units will typically take the heraldry of the company they are attached to. For example, an [[Intercessor Squad]] pulled from the [[Space Marine Company|7th Company]] to bolster a [[3rd Company]] force would paint their shoulder trims red in the company colour. Similarly, a [[Bladeguard Veteran Squad]] formed of [[Space Marine Veteran|Veterans]] from the [[1st Company]] attached to a [[4th Company]] [[Space Marine Strike Force|Strike Force]] would paint their shoulder trims green, rather than white.{{Fn|20e}}
===Squads===
* [[Command Squad]] - [[Space Marine Company|Company]] command squad accompanying the [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], containing specialists including an [[Apothecary]], a [[Company Ancient]], a [[Chaplain]], and [[Company Veterans]]. [[Space Marine Honour Guard|Honour Guard Squads]] are classified as Command Squads.
* [[Scout Squad]] - Trainee [[Space Marine]] unit. Scout [[Land Speeder]]s and [[Space Marine Bike|Bike]] Squads are still Scout Squads.{{Fn|20d}}
====Combat Squads====
While the standard number of marines in a squad is 10, a squad can be split into two groups of 5 marines known as combat squads for extra strategic versatility, such as having one combat squad acting in an "assault" role with the other providing fire support.{{Fn|38}} In most cases, the second-most senior member of a squad (such as a [[Space Marine Veteran|Veteran]]) would lead one combat squad, while the [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]] would lead the other. Combat squads are usually named after their leader, similarly to full squads.{{Fn|38}}{{Fn|39}}
====Squad Markings====
[[Image:SquadMarkingsv2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Organisational squad markings{{Fn|15c}}]]
Squads in Battle Companies are numbered so that squads 1-6 are Battleline, squads 7-8 are Close Support, and squads 9-10 are Fire Support. However, squads 11-20 from Reserve Companies attached to a Battle Company don't appear to follow any required format, meaning they could all be Close Support squads, for example.{{Fn|20a}} The Vanguard squads in the 10th Company also don't follow the same strict numbering scheme that the battle companies do, so it's possible to have a Battleline 10th squad in a Codex-compliant 10th Company.{{Fn|41}} ====Squad Markings=Vehicles and Dreadnoughts===The left shoulder plate of a Each Codex-compliant Space Marine'Company maintains a permanent number of [[Dreadnought]]s Power Armour almost always shows and transport tanks, and can requisition more from the MarineChapter [[Armoury]].{{Fn|20a}} Vehicles attached to a company will generally bear the company's Chapter Badge. The right pad shows colour and number in a small roundel somewhere on the squad badgehull, as well as an identifier number to distinguish between different attached vehicles, this indicates although the type exact meaning of identifier numbers vary.{{Fn|Note 2}}{{Fn|26c}} Transport vehicles attached to a specific squad also bear that squad's heraldry, including squad the marine belongs to number and the number of his squad within the companybattlefield role insignia. {{Fn|26c}} Aircraft are usually organised into squadrons, which are structured similarly to Space Marine squads, except with [[Veteran SquadTechmarine]]s use piloting (usually 3) aircraft instead of infantry. Squadrons are led by a stylised version wing leader, who combines the function of the a [[Crux TerminatusSpace Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]] similar and a Techmarine. Squadrons are also often attached to a Cross PattéeCompanies, Tactical Squads use an arrowand bear that company's insignia. While there is no official marking scheme for squadrons, Assault Squads use four perpendicular arrows pointing outwards aircraft are usually marked with large blocks of colour on the wings and Devastator Squads use an inverted V known as a chevrontail for easy identification from long distances, with the wing leader's aircraft featuring the most ornate design. Space Marines Numbers applied to aircraft's hulls can also be used to differentiate between aircraft in Terminator Armour wear the [[Crux Terminatus]] on their left padsame squadron, and their Chapter Badge on their right padwith the wing leader usually being numbered 1.{{Fn|27a40}} Squad numbers are typically superimposed on the squad type insignia Battlefield roles can be given to aircraft, but many chapters choose to display them on other parts of with some having the armour, e.g. on kneepadsclose support role.{{Fn|18b40}} Aircraft can form mixed-type units, such as a Storm Wing, which contains a [[Stormraven Gunship]] escorted by two [[Stormtalon Gunship]]s.{{Fn|18c40}}
===Ranks===
====Techmarine====
[[Techmarine]]s are Space Marine engineers and mechanics,{{Fn|27h}} and can also function as pilots for some of a Chapter's larger vehicles, such as aircraft. {{Fn|40}} They wear red armour, irrespective of what chapter they belong to, and wear their Chapter Badge as normal.{{Fn|27h}}
====Apothecary====
*''"The Codex Astartes leaves no doubt, you cannot touch the warp and remain unscathed."''<br>- [[Leandros]], voicing his concern over the inexplicable survival of [[Demetrian Titus]] having held [[Project Aurora]]'s [[warp]] infused power source unshielded.{{Fn|30}}
==Deviations==
===Imperial Fists===
While the Imperial Fists are one of the most Codex-compliant Chapters, they are known to exploit a vagueness in the Codex's progression scheme. While it is taken to mean that marines are to progress from the 10th Company to the 1st in reverse numerical order by most other Chapters, this is not explicitly stated in the Codex. The Imperial Fists hence use this to direct their 10th Company initiates into the 8th Company before the 9th, meaning they purge themselves of tendency for close-range physical violence before moving onto the precision-oriented Fire Support role in the 9th, retaining this combat style throughout the higher Companies.{{Fn|41}}
Secretly, Rogal Dorn alsoa formulated his own protocol to possibly circumvent the Codex Astartes known as the [[Last Wall]], a code phrase that would require the Imperial Fists and the Successor Chapters to bind together under one supreme commander.{{Fn|12}}
===Dark Angels===
Similar to the Imperial Fists, the [[Dark Angels]] and their successors, while dividing into chapters, have remained united in their single-minded pursuit of the [[Fallen]].{{Fn|26}}
===Space Wolves===
The [[Space Wolves]] Legion, however, never fully accepted the new doctrine; rather they held sacred the teachings of their Primarch, Leman Russ. For that reason, the Wolves consist of twelve [[Great Company|Great Companies]], rather than the ten mandated by the Codex, and their system of organisation and promotion bears little resemblance to that of hardline Codex chapters, such as the Ultramarines. Although the Space Wolves attempted to create Successor Chapters, the genetic instability of their [[gene-seed]] made a disaster of their first attempt, the ill-fated [[Wolf Brothers]].{{Fn|9}}
===Flesh Tearers===
In the immediate aftermath of the Heresy, [[Nassir Amit]], the founder and first chapter master of the [[Flesh Tearers]], expressed little but scorn for the Codex, finding it amusing that Guilliman, who had been absent from the [[Battle of Terra]], should think himself fit to impose restrictions on the other Legions.{{Fn|13}}
==Notes==
*{{Endn|Note 1}}: [[Uriel Ventris]] was also known to have descended from a flying Thunderhawk via jump pack, though he noted it was very rarely done is incredibly difficult to land accurately on a point on the ground. He would describe this "as dangerous a combat drop as he had ever attempted."{{Fn|31}}
==Conflicting Sources==
*{{Endn|Note 2}}: It is unclear whether vehicle identification numbers count all vehicles in a Company in one list, or whether different vehicle types are numbered differently.
** [[Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition]] contains conflicting evidence, with the meaning of the number differing between vehicles and Chapters.
** [[Black Crusade: Angel's Blade]], pgs. 88-89 describes the [[Blood Angels]] [[2nd Company, Blood Angels Chapter|2nd Company]] as using identification numerals to signify a vehicle's number within its vehicle squadron.
** [[Insignium Astartes]], pg. ~51 states that [[Ultramarines]] [[2nd Company, Ultramarines Chapter|2nd Company]] [[Land Raiders]] are numbered individually, in a separate list from other vehicles, implying that other vehicles (e.g. [[Predators]]) might also be numbered in their own lists.
** Most sources, including [[Black Crusade: Angel's Blade]], [[Blood Angels Painting Guide – Sons of Sanguinius]], and [[Insignium Astartes]], pg. ~48 agree that [[Dreadnought]]s are numbered in their own seperate list as well.
==See also==
**{{Endn|35a}}: pg. 22
*{{Endn|36}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/9viqqmca/500-worlds-titus-who-are-the-wardens-of-ultramar/ 500 Worlds: Titus - Who are the Wardens of Ultramar?] ''(last accessed 18 January 2026)''
*{{Endn|37}}: [[White Dwarf 466]], pg. 26
*{{Endn|38}}: [[Imperial Armour - The Siege of Vraks: Second Edition]], pg. 50
*{{Endn|39}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem]], pg. 110
*{{Endn|40}}: [[Flyers of the Dark Millennium]], pgs. 4-19
*{{Endn|41}}: [[Codex Supplement: Imperial Fists (8th Edition)]], pgs. 10 & 21
===Uncited===