1st Company, Howling Griffons

The 1st Company of the Howling Griffons comprises the Chapter's most veteran warriors.

Notable Battles

220.M38: Arios Point Ambush — The Howling Griffons were ambushed by then-Chaos Lord Periclitor on their return to Mancora. the ambush led to the death of Chapter Master Orlando Furioso (see Orlando Furioso, below) as well as most of their 1st and 8th Companies. This has sparked a long standing feud between the Word Bearers and the Howling Griffons.^[4]

905-906.M41: Shortly before the Badab War the Howling Griffons Fourth along with parts of their Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, and First Companies carried out a lengthy search and destroy campaign within the Caradryad Sector. It can be safely assumed that a large number of planetary assaults were carried out during this action as they were severely lacking in Thunderhawks and drop pods when answering the call for aid in the Badab War as they had not had the chance to return to Mancora.^[4]

906-909.M41: Badab War — The Howling Griffons, along with the Novamarines, responded to calls for aid. Having just finished a campaign in the Caradryad Sector, the Howling Griffons' task force was no more than 250 Space Marines and had insufficient planetary assault resources to aid in front line assaults. As a result, their initial engagements were to carry out garrison duties or convoy protection. Their largest deployment was to garrison the airless moons in the Khymara system, rebuilding old listening posts as staging areas for later in the war. Unfortunately this posting put them in the path of the Executioners in 907.M41^[12] who were coming to aid the Secessionists as part of their blood oath to Huron. The Howling Griffons were annihilated; after the Executioners' withdrawal, the casualty rate was more than 70%, including the catastrophic loss of their strike cruiser, Augeias, and Chaplain Dreadnought Titus. Despite these losses, the remaining force continued to fight wherever they could until officially relieved in 909.M41^[4]

???.M41: The Howling Griffons under Captain Xerxes took part in the Crusade of Fire.^[5]

998.M41: 13th Black Crusade — the Howling Griffons sent 8 Companies to participate in The Eye of Terror Campaign.^[1] The 1st Company of the Howling Griffons including Chapter Master Alvaro, were based on the battle-barge Force of Destiny and engaged upon a mission to track down and persecute a company of Night Lords under the command of the infamous Daemon Prince Periclitor.^[3]

Liberation of Vanqualis — Vanqualis was under attack by Orks. The Howling Griffons along with the 901st Penal Legion fought against the Orks.^[2a] Shortly after landing they turned on the Soul Drinkers chapter, believing them to be the bearers of a Chaos artifact, the Black Chalice.^[2]

Coriolanus^[3]
Cossos^[3]
Crassus^[3]
Elanius^[3]
Flavian^[3]
Rodrigo — Ancient in Mercaeno's command squad carrying the First Company's battle standard.^[2]
Sicarius^[3]
Titus — Veteran Sergeant^[3]
Xaran^[4]