Tank Commander

Astra Militarum Portal

A tank Commander riding in the cupola of his tank^[1]

Tank Commanders are veteran Imperial Guard armour officers who have been given leadership over entire formations of Battle Tanks. They are often promoted from Tank Aces.^[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.^[4a]

In the example of this 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 Tanks.^[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 Lieutenants, they oversee a squadron consisting of several tanks.^[2a]
• Tank Company Commander - Typically Captains, they oversee an armoured company consisting of several armoured squadrons.^[2a][26]
• Battle Group Commander - Occasionally, a Tank Commander may oversee an entire Battle Group consisting of several armoured companies.^[6]
• Regimental Commander - Occasionally, a Tank Commander may oversee an entire Armoured Regiment. One example is Lord General Coron Grizmund^[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 infantry commander directing the many squads of an infantry platoon.

Tank Commanders will often be assigned temporary command over infantry and artillery assets^[4a] as well as siege assets such as Thunderers and Hellhounds.^[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.^[4a]

Tank Commanders are given a great degree of freedom when selecting their preferred command vehicle.^[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.^[4a] Most typically, they can be seen commanding from the cupola of mighty Leman Russ battle tank^[4a]. This can be of any pattern the regiment is able to provide^[1]. Some Tank Commanders, such as Colonel Stranski, prefer to command their armoured forces from the cupola of a Chimera instead.^[16a] Another might prefer to command from a Manticore artillery vehicle.^[25] And still others may choose to command from a heavy Rogal Dorn Battle Tank.^[26]

Tank Commanders may sometimes command from within a Super Heavy Vehicle such as a Baneblade^{[16a][16b][13][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.^[9][12] The Baneblade is able to serve as a mobile Field HQ, and its sight can bolster the morale of nearby troops.^[16b]

• 

  Tank Ace and Tank Commander Maximillian Weisemann, in the cupola of his Baneblade, Arethusa^[16a]

• 

  A Tank Commander in the cupola of a Baneblade^[13]

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.^[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.^[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.^[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.^[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.^[4d]

Leman Russ tanks firing indirect bombardments, as would be coordinated by a Tank Commander (and about to have an unfortunate encounter with Ork Kommandos)^[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 cogitators, 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 cannons, Earthshakers, Heavy Mortars or Demolisher cannons, 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.^[10b]

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.^[10a]

Notable Imperial Guard Tank Commanders

• Astrov Yemenev — Vostroyan 24th ‘Iron Bloods’ Armoured Regiment.^[4a]
• Raximillian Dragor - Moebian 53rd officer fighting on the frontlines in Hive Tertium.^[5]
• Dymetrin
• Kabe
• Kastock — Commands the Leman Russ Battle Tank Kasr's Vengeance, defending the Imperium world Calder's Reach.^[3]
• Maximillian Weisemann
• Pask
• Pysell Roderrik — Currently leading his Cadian armoured battle group in battle against Necrons.^[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^[17a], and then the Baneblade Cortein's Honour.^[17b] Also had temporary command of the Shadowsword Lux Imperator.^[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

• 

  Tank Commander of the Necromundan Guard^[31]

• 

  Tank Commander of the Catachan DXIX Savage Jaguars Armoured Regiment^[4c]

• 

  Tank Commander of the Mordian 4th Armoured Regiment^[4d]

• 

  Captain Suhara of the Tallarn 17th Armoured^[28]

Miniatures

• 

  "I say sir! I think those Orks over there are looking for a fight!"
  

  Tank Commander from the Baal System in his Command Cupola (2nd edition)

  ^[10a]
• 

  A Tank Commander of the Turan XXI in a Leman Russ Demolisher
  

  (2nd edition)
• 

  Death Korps of Krieg Tank Commander,
  

  (Forge World miniature)
• 

  Tallarn Desert Raiders Tank Commander
  

  (Forge World miniature)
• 

  Tank Commander Pask
  

  (5th edition)
• 

  A Tank Commander
  

  (10th edition)

  ^[8]
• 

  Lord General Coron Grizmund
  

  (Forge World miniature)
• 

  Captain Marneus Sarbine 26th Antilles Dragoons

• 

  Tank Commanders, including a Manticore Tank Commander (center)
  

  (Forge World miniatures)
• 

  Armoured Division Officer
  

  (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 ^[19], a Salamander^[19][21], a Centaur RSV^[29]or even a Baneblade^[20], in order to bolster the morale of nearby troops and vehicles from it.^[16b][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.^[19]

• 

  Commissar Sebastian Yarrick in his Fortress of Arrogance

• 

  A Commissar commanding from a Leman Russ Executioner

• 

  Commissar Viktor Kessler riding in Venger, his Leman Russ Exterminator

• 

  Commissar Thenia Graves leads a mechanised spearhead atop the Vigilance^[29]

• 

  Commissar command tank

• 

  Ciaphas Cain atop a Salamander Command^[30]

• 

  A Death Korps of Krieg Commissar Tank Commander
  

  (Forge World miniature)
• 

  A Commmissar Tank Commander
  

  (Forge World miniature)

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

— Lord Commissar Bernn^[22][Note]

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 Pre-Heresy Legiones Astartes award to the pre-eminent tank commander among the Ultramarines.^[14] He has a unique status within the Chapter that sees him answer only to the Primarch Roboute Guilliman and Chapter Master Marneus Calgar^[15]

• 

  Antaro Chronus in the cupola of a Predator Tank

• 

  Antaro Chronus miniature, in the cupola of a Land Raider

• The Grey Knights have fielded Tank Commanders^[27]

• 

  A Tank Commander of the Grey Knights
  

  (Forge World miniature)

  ^[27]

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

A Tank Commander within the Imperial military should not be confused with the conventional realworld concept of a "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^[1]. Rather, they are functionally closer to the concept of "Armor Officers" that: "command the armor units and combined Armed Forces during land combat."

While the distinction is not touched upon within Imperial Guard Codices or the 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.^[2b][2a]

See also

• Legiones Decurion

Sources

• 1: Codex: Astra Militarum (6th Edition) (e-version) — Tank Commanders
• 2: Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy:
  • 2a: pgs. 264-265
  • 2b: pg. 41
  • 2c: pg. 268
  • 2d: pg. 262
  • 2e: pgs. 210-214 - Tank Aces
• 3: Warhammer: Visions 23, pg. 23 ^{Warhammer: Visions}
• 4: Codex: Astra Militarum (8th Edition):
  • 4a: pg. 37 — Tank Commanders
  • 4b: pg. 76
  • 4c: pg. 21 - Catachan
  • 4d: pg. 29 — Armoured Regiments
• 5: Warhammer 40,000: Darktide: Mourningstar Hub area (idle npc dialogue) - Commissar Dukane, Guardsman Pragg, Guardsman Harket, and Overseer Marsett
• 6: Cadia: A Codex Astra Militarum Supplement, pgs. 67-68
• 7: Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition), pgs. 44 & 95
• 8: Leman Russ Battle Tank (2023 Release) (archived from the original, last accessed 26 March 2025)
• 9: The Citadel Journal 7, pg. 38 ^{Fanatic Press}
• 10: The Citadel Journal 22 ^{Fanatic Press}

10a inner cover 10b pg.5

• 11: Inquisitor Magazine Issue 14, pg. 26 ^{Inquisitor Magazine}
• 12: Inquisitor Magazine Issue 16, pg. 16 ^{Inquisitor Magazine}
• 13: White Dwarf 240 (AU), pg. 93 ^{Golden Demon}
• 14: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 89
• 15: Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition), pg. 46
• 16: Imperial Armour Volume One - Second Edition: Imperial Guard:
  • 16a: pgs. 270-275
  • 16b: pg. 91
• 17: Baneblade (Novel) (e-version):
  • 17a: Chapter 2
  • 17b: Epilogue
• 18: Shadowsword (Novel), Chapter Seventeen
• 19: Chapter Approved 2001 pg. 31 - Commissar Tank
• 20: Apocalypse pg. 106
• 21: For the Emperor (Novel) (e-version), Chapter Eight
• 22: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution
• 23: Necropolis (Novel) (e-version), Chapter Fifteen
• 24: Imperial Guard Crew (archived from the original 01 July 2008, last accessed 21 October 2025)
• 25: Forge World Catalogue 2006 - FIGURES
• 26: Codex: Astra Militarum (10th Edition), pg. 99
• 27: Forge World 2014/15 Catalogue, pg. 20
• 28: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pg. 63
• 29: Warhammer Community - Astra Militarum rules revealed – Commissar Graves and new vehicles (Archived)
• 30: The Traitor's Hand (Novel) (e-version) - Chapter 3
• 31: White Dwarf 216 (UK) pg.12

This article or article section is based on entries to the Golden Demon competition such as those featured on White Dwarf, or similar public events showcases (e.g. exhibits at Warhammer World and local GW stores, Armies on Parade, Warhammer Championships, etc.) published by Games Workshop. These showcases regularly feature miniatures and content submitted by hobbyists, and as such, their content may or may not be in contradiction to established background lore.

This article or article section is based on information included with miniatures showcased in Warhammer: Visions. These showcases regularly featured miniatures submitted with written content by the hobbyist that made them and, as such, their content may or may not be in contradiction to established background lore.

This article or article section is based on information from a Fanatic Press publication such as Fanatic Magazine or one of its predecessors (e.g. The Citadel Journal, Necromunda Magazine, etc.). These publications regularly featured articles submitted by hobbyists, and as such, their content may or may not be in contradiction to established background lore.

This article or article section is based on information from Inquisitor Magazine, a fan forum magazine not published by Games Workshop to which Games Workshop submitted rules and clarifications, which appeared alongside material submitted by hobbyists, and as such, their content may or may not be in contradiction to established rules, information, or background lore.