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Deathwing

Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Dark Angels/ Unforgiven Chapters Terminators. For other uses of Deathwing, see Deathwing (disambiguation).
The Deathwing
Deathwing symbol.jpg

Deathwing Symbol
Affiliation 1st Company of the Dark Angels
Grand Master Belial
Specialty Terminator veterans and hunting the Fallen, Special Operations[11c], Lifeguard duties.[11c]
Colours Bone
, Red
& Green
Deathwing banner.jpg

Deathwing Company Banner

The Deathwing is the First Company of the Dark Angels Space Marines Chapter. The Deathwing (and the chapter's second company, the Ravenwing) are not part of the standard Codex Astartes structure system, although the remaining companies of the chapter do adhere to the Codex. The Dark Angels' successor Chapters (collectively known as the Unforgiven) also have similar formations, although they are not referred to by the same title. The Deathwing is an honoured position within all Unforgiven Chapters, and only upon ascension to the Deathwing can one eventually be admitted to the Inner Circle.[4] The Current Master of the Deathwing is Belial.

Overview

Origins

 
Heresy-era Deathwing Symbol[11c]

First formed around 830.M30, in the years of the early Great Crusade, the Deathwing was coalesced out of the shattered remains of the Host of Crowns, a formation once famed for its line breaker squadrons and marksmen. Those of the Hosts’ inner circle who survived to join the Deathwing swore mighty oaths that no member of the Wing would ever leave the field of battle in the hands of the enemy, accepting death over dishonour or retreat. The Deathwing excelled in special operations alongside other units of the Legion, especially as a counterpart to the more numerous Stormwing, with a multitude of sub-disciplines within its ranks. Most renowned among its specialists were those dedicated to the role of line breakers, elite veteran infantry that served to shatter the enemy's formations and create openings for other units or Wings, and the lifeguard cadre deployed to protect officers during battle.[11c]

These lifeguard cadre were especially prominent, with few high ranking officers in the Legion lacking a small force of Deathwing veterans sworn to give their lives to ensure their safety. Indeed, it was a detachment of the Deathwing that provided a garrison force for the inner citadels on both Caliban and Gramarye, charged with the safety of the Primarch himself. Given the stringent requirements for entry into even the outer circles of this Wing, its membership remained small but garnered much respect within the Legion, often acting as force commanders in situations where the authority of other factions within the Legion was unclear.[11c]

During the Horus Heresy, casualties would take a toll on the Dark Angels' officer corps, and the veterans of the Deathwing came to assume a greater responsibility over their brethren. Slowly taking a dominant position within the Legion and on the Council of Masters.[11c]

The Deathwing is one of the two current incarnations of the original Hexagrammaton formations of the Dark Angels Legion that continues into the 41st Millennium.[6a]

Chapter Secrets

The Deathwing is not solely a tactical formation - promotion to the Deathwing also means that an individual is bestowed many of the darkest secrets of the Chapter. The most closely guarded of these secrets is that of the betrayal of Luther and the Fallen, and the subsequent fate of their Primarch, Lion El'Jonson.[1]

Attitude

 
a Deathwing Terminator

More so even than the regular Dark Angels, the Deathwing are notoriously stubborn and resistant, refusing to buckle under extreme pressure from enemy advances, even when it would be more advantageous to retreat.[4]

The events on Thranx, where a squad of Terminators freed a recruitment world of Genestealers (later known as "The Tale of Two Heads Talking") became one of a main legends that were told to young members of the Chapter. Other famous tales include the "Scouring of the Space Hulk Place of Fears", "Fall of the House of Pervigilium", the "Whisper in the Gloom" and "Vengeance of Beleaguerest" amongst a lot of others. These stories tell about self-sacrifice and overwhelming odds so instil in every Dark Angel a zealous drive to right ancient wrongs and seek out the enemy no matter where he might hide. As they progress through the Chapter's ranks such preparing helps a Dark Angels to know the ultimate true about the dark past of their Chapter.[3]

Disposition

The Deathwing itself contains multiple specialized sub-formations, such as Deathwing Command Squads and the dreaded Deathwing Knights, who comprise the elite of this already veteran Company.[4] As of the Era Indomitus, it has also come to include Primaris Bladeguard Veterans.[10]

It rumoured that the Deathwing are oversized in violation of the Codex Astartes[16]

Promotion

When a battle-brother is being considered for a place in the Deathwing, it is standard procedure for them to be judged by the Grand Master of the Librarius, who determines if they are worthy of ascension.[7]

Equipment

While it has been stated that the entire Deathwing company fights exclusively in Terminator armour,[20a][20b] Dark Angels wearing the bone colour of the 1st Company have also been seen in non-Terminator armour.[10][17][18][21] During the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, they were known to wear modified versions of MKIV war-plate, including their own design of Artificer wrought helms.[11a][24]

Heraldry

Heresy Era

 
Heresy-era Deathwing armourial. The field of bone-white marked a warrior that had survived a mortal wound.[11b]

During the Horus Heresy, and prior to the events on Thranx, the Deathwing coloured their armour in the black of the legion. Having some of their armour plating painted bone white signified a warrior of the Deathwing that has taken a mortal wound meant for another and survived.[2][11a][15] Votive ceramite plugs were placed to mark the breach’s taken to a Knight’s armour as a badge of honour with few equals among the pragmatic Dark Angels. The members of the Deathwing bore a number of elements of the unique heraldry used by the Dark Angels, and were often considered indecipherable by their brethren in the other Legions. Symbols of crossed keys were worn on the left greave and the Deathwing’s initiation icons worn on right pauldron, both of which marked the Dark Angel as a warrior who is master in the arts of the Deathwing, as a champion and linebreaker, on the field of battle should he be needed.[11a]

Post-Heresy

 
a Deathwing Terminator

The unique all bone white colour scheme was later adopted as a mark of remembrance for a lone squad of Dark Angel Terminators who freed a recruitment world from a Genestealer infestation and slew a Broodlord that had terrorized the Galaxy.[4][20a][20b] As they did not expect to survive such a confrontation, they painted their armour white in preparation for their deaths. In the end the Deathwing triumphed and a vital part of the Dark Angels' heritage was saved.[2]

The company's armour is a bone white colour, rather than the dark green of the majority of the Chapter, or the black of the original Legion. Originally their armour were black but after a single squad of Terminators freed one of the Chapter's recruitment worlds - and the squad's original homeworld - from a Genestealer infestation it was forever decreed that the company's armour would be white to honour their valour. This alteration of the colour scheme applies only to the Dark Angels, not to their successor Chapters.[20a][20b]

According to another version, the armour was painted white when the Dark Angels needed to reconquer a lost recruiting world, and the colour change was due to the warriors of the 1st Company being distinguished from the Heretic Astartes.[16]

Insignia

The Deathwing's insignia is a variation of winged sword worn by the rest of the Chapter - the blade of the sword is depicted as being broken in Deathwing iconography.[26]

Forces

Notable Elements

Main article: Known Elements of the Dark Angels Deathwing

Notable Heresy-Era Members

Notable Post-Heresy Members

Command

 
Deathwing organisation[4]

Line Commanders

Battle Brothers

Dreadnoughts

Images

  • 2nd Edition Deathwing Squad [23]

See also

Sources

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