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===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>
→Miniatures: removing speculation
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]] [[Cadian Astra Militarum Battle Group|battle groupBattle 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 [[Cadian Astra Militarum Battle Group|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}}
<gallery heights="250px" widths="250px" mode="nolines" caption="">
MaximillianWeisemann2.png|<sup>[[Tank Ace]] and '''Tank Commander''' [[Maximillian Weisemann]], in the cupola of his [[Baneblade]] , ''The [[Arethusa]]''{{Fn|16a}}</sup>Baneblade Tank Commander - White Dwarf 240 (AU) pg 93.jpg|<sup>A '''Tank Commander''' in the cupola of a Baneblade{{Fn|13}}</sup>
</gallery>
[[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 battle cannon|Battle Cannons]]s, [[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}}
*[[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}}, he now commands from Also had temporary command of the [[Shadowsword]] ''[[Lux Imperator]]''.{{Fn|18b18}}
*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]]
==Miniatures==
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="200">
Tank_Commander_in_Command_Cupola.png|<sup>A Tank Commander in his '''Command Cupola'''. Evidently from 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]])
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]]
Ork vs Leman Russ Paul Capon Golden Demon 2004.jpg|[[Captain (Imperial Guard)|Captain]] [[Marneus Sarbine]] [[26th Antilles Dragoons]]
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]]
Commissar Tank White Dwarf 296 (UK) pg88.jpg|[[Commissar]] [[Viktor Kessler]] riding in '''Venger,''' his [[Leman Russ Exterminator]]
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!"
|source= — [[Commissar#Lord Commissar|Lord Commissar]] [[Commissar Lord Bernn|Bernn]]{{Fn|22}}<Sup>[[Astra_Militarum_QuotesAstra Militarum Quotes#Note_11Note 11|[Note]]]</sup>
|align = center
|width = 60em
}}
==See =Space Marine Tank Commander===The [[Adeptus Astartes]] are alsoknown 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 [[Legiones DecurionGrey 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==
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}}: pgpgs. 264-265
**{{Endn|2b}}: pg. 41
**{{Endn|2c}}: pg. 268
**{{Endn|2d}}: pg. 262
**{{Endn|2e}}: pgpgs. 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]] pg, pgs. 67-68*{{Endn|7}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition)]] pg, 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)] '' ''(saved archive page, last accessed 26 March 2025, original link: archived from [https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/astra-militarum-leman-russ-battle-tank-2023?srsltid=AfmBOorQTwr6Oi2H7XITpbGTQlSGd3jGVvCGB5KGQfN9LozHsbNizTYDthe 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|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}}: pgpgs. 270-275
**{{Endn|16b}}: pg. 91
*17: [[Baneblade (Novel)]] (e-version):
**{{Endn|17a}}: Chapter 2
**{{Endn|17b}}: Epilogue
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Shadowsword (Novel)]] (e-version): Chapters 16-17, 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] ''(saved archive page, dated 1 July 2008, last accessed 21 October 2025, original link: archived from [http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/acatalog/IMPERIAL_GUARD_CREW.htmlthe 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
{{Golden Demon}}
{{WHVisions}}
{{Fanatic}}
{{InquisitorMagazine}}
[[Category:Titles and Ranks]]
[[Category:Troops (Astra Militarum)]]