==Overview==

The size of the formations a Tank Commander will oversee can vary, as can their actual rank within [[Imperial Guard Hierarchy]]. Examples include:

*'''Regimental Commander''' - Occasionally, a Tank Commander may oversee an entire [[Armoured Regiment]]. One example is [[Lord General]] [[Coron Grizmund]]{{Fn|23}}

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 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}}

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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}}

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}}

*[[Dymetrin]]

*[[Kabe]]

*[[Maximillian Weisemann]]

*[[Pask]]

*[[Silas Ovik]]

*[[Tulathan]] — [[Vastadt 4th Independent Tank Regiment]]

*[[Hadeya Etsul]]

*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]]

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">

Tank Commander White Dwarf 216 (UK) pg12.png|Tank Commander of the [[Necromundan Guard]]

Captain Suhara Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign pg63.png|[[Captain (Imperial Guard)|Captain]] [[Suhara]] of the [[Tallarn 17th Armoured]]{{fn|28}}

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==Miniatures==

<gallery mode="nolines" widths="200">

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]])

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]])

==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}}

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

{{QuoteBox

|quote = "Drive me closer - I want to hit them with my sword!"

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==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."''

==Sources==

*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (6th Edition)]] (e-version) — ''Tank Commanders''

**{{Endn|2b}}: pg. 41

**{{Endn|2c}}: pg. 268

**{{Endn|2d}}: pg. 262

*{{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|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|9}}: [[The Citadel Journal 7]], pg. 38 {{FE}}

*{{Endn|10}}: [[The Citadel Journal 22]], inner cover {{FE}}

*{{Endn|14}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]], pg. 89

*{{Endn|15}}: [[Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition)]], pg. 46

**{{Endn|16b}}: pg. 91

*17: [[Baneblade (Novel)]] (e-version):

**{{Endn|17a}}: Chapter 2

**{{Endn|17b}}: Epilogue

*{{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|25}}: [[Forge World Catalogue 2006]] - ''FIGURES''

*{{Endn|26}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (10th Edition)]], pg. 99

{{Golden Demon}}

{{WHVisions}}

{{Fanatic}}

{{InquisitorMagazine}}

[[Category:Titles and Ranks]]

[[Category:Troops (Astra Militarum)]]