Castraferrum Dreadnought
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This article is about the Space Marine Dreadnoughts. For other uses of Dreadnought, see Dreadnought (disambiguation). |
The Castraferrum Dreadnought or Space Marine Dreadnought is a massive war-machine piloted by an honoured Space Marine hero whose body has been ravaged in battle. Dreadnoughts are also known as the Old Ones in the Space Marines Chapters.[2a]
Contents
Overview
The most commonly used Dreadnought today is the Castraferrum Pattern, specifically the Mk.IV and Mk.V types. The Castraferrum is the most used today because it uses an adaptable thermic reactor instead of the little-understood atomantic arc reactors of the Contemptor Pattern. The Castraferrum is very different from other types, being shorter than the Contemptor Pattern. The Castraferrum was introduced to meet a range of tactical challenges such as direct assault, boarding, tunnel fights, and subterranean combat thanks to its low profile.[2a]
Based on visual observation, it appears the Mk.IV is distinguishable by a slightly flatter top and a partially exposed pilot helmet in front.[11] The Mk.V appears to have a slightly pointed top and a flat sarcophagus styled front[2c]:
Mk.IV Pattern Dreadnought[11]
Mk.V Pattern Mortis Dreadnought[2c]
Description
A Space Marine Dreadnought is a walking tank which carries both powerful guns and lethal close combat weaponry, armoured to withstand all but the most powerful of enemy firepower and often relied on by Space Marine forces to tear an opening in enemy defences. Each Dreadnought contains a living being, permanently interfaced with the machine through a form of Mind Impulse Unit.[2a] Dreadnoughts are surprisingly agile, able to walk and balance with the ease of a living creature. It is said that old proto-Dreadnoughts of the Unification wars could be piloted by non-Adeptus Astartes warriors, but later only Space Marines could be interred in them.
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The pilots within Dreadnoughts are Marines who have suffered mortal wounds in battle, maimed and crippled beyond recovery: instead of being mercifully killed, the greatest heroes are instead given what is considered the honour of continuing to serve the Emperor past their normal lives. Once interred within the Dreadnought, the Marine cannot leave the metal womb and is destined for a life of endless battle until destroyed.[5]
Dreadnoughts are armoured with ceramite and adamantium, their muscles are formed of electro-fibre bundles and magna-coils.[1] They are usually armed with weapons to suit a particular role, such as destroying other heavy armoured vehicles.[1]
All Dreadnoughts contain speakers and the warrior within can communicate with other Space Marines. The synthesized, crackling voice emanates from within the machine, making a conversation with a Dreadnought in eerie experience. Traditionally, every Dreadnought bears a scroll with the inscribed name of the hero on it. When a new warrior is interred as a pilot, the Dreadnought will take a new name.[2a]
Armament
Dreadnoughts can be armed with a wide range of weaponry, both ranged and close combat. These include either one or two Dreadnought Close Combat Weapons, usually in the form of power claws, or twin-linked versions of autocannons, lascannons, heavy bolters or individual multi-meltas, plasma cannons, or assault cannons. Built into the combat weapons is often either a storm bolter or heavy flamer and one entire arm may be replaced with a missile launcher[5]
The variant with a Heavy Bolter and a Missile Launcher is named the "Firewind" configuration.[10]
Variants
- Hellfire Dreadnought[9]
- Ironclad Dreadnought (reinforced front armour)[5]
- Siege Dreadnought
- Venerable Dreadnought[4][5]
- Ferrum Infernus Chaos Dreadnought - Used by Chaos Space Marines.[12]
- Chapter Specific Dreadnoughts
- Furioso Dreadnought — Blood Angels and successors[6]
- Death Company Dreadnought — Blood Angels and successors[7]
- Librarian Dreadnought, Blood Angels, their successors, and occasionally the Deathwatch
- Deathwatch Dreadnoughts
- Grey Knights Dreadnought, the only dreadnought other than the Librarian Dreadnought which routinely houses a psyker
- Wulfen Dreadnought — Space Wolves
- Mortis Dreadnought — Dark Angels and successors[2d]
Technical Information[2b]
| Vehicle Name: | Castraferrum Pattern Dreadnought | Main Armament: | Twin-Linked Autocannons, Lascannons, Heavy Bolters individual Assault Cannon, Multi-melta, Plasma Cannon, Dreadnought Missile Launcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Mars/Incaladion | Secondary Armament: | Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon, Storm Bolter/Heavy Flamer |
| Known Patterns: | I-XXVI (Mars), I-V (Incaladion) | Traverse: | 360° |
| Crew: | Interred Space Marine | Elevation: | From -90° to +90° |
| Powerplant: | Thermic reactor | Main Ammunition: | Variable |
| Weight: | 11-12 tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | Variable |
| Length: | 2.2m | ||
| Width: | 3.4m | Armour | |
| Height: | 3.7m | ||
| Ground Clearance: | 0.45m (Mars) / N/A (Incaladion) | Superstructure: | 75mm |
| Fording Depth: | Hull: | 75mm | |
| Max Speed - on road | 8-10kph | Gun Mantlet | N/A |
| Max Speed - off road: | 5kph | Vehicle Designation: | 8681-756-0115-DR 035 |
| Transport Capacity: | N/A | Firing Ports: | N/A |
| Access Points: | N/A | Turret: | N/A |
Notable Castraferrum Dreadnoughts
- Bjorn the Fell-Handed of the Space Wolves[3]
- Moriar of the Blood Angels
- Daggan of the Blood Swords
- Brother Tankred of the Black Templars[8]
- Brother Agrippan of the Ultramarines
- Brother Severus of Tarentus of the Ultramarines[3]
- Davian Thule of the Blood Ravens, Captain
- Magneric of the Black Templars
- Murderfang of the Space Wolves
- Lhorke of the World Eaters
- Rumann of the Iron Hands
Images
Mk V metal Dreadnought (1995)
Mk V plastic Dreadnought (2001)
Mk IV Dreadnought (2004)
Mk IV Ironclad Dreadnought (2004)
Mk IV Venerable Dreadnought (2004)
Mk IV Siege Dreadnought (2004)
Mk IV Venerable Dreadnought (2004)
Mk V Dreadnought from Assault on Black Reach (2008)
Mk V Ironclad Dreadnought (2009)
Mk IV Venerable Dreadnought (2010)
See also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium (Box Set), Dark Millennium Rulebook, pgs. 32–33
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition:
- 3: Index Astartes I, pg. 53
- 4: Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition), pg. 32
- 5: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 65
- 6: Codex: Blood Angels (4th Edition), pg. 12
- 7: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition), pg. 29
- 8: Damnation Crusade (Graphic Novel)
- 9: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
- 10: Imperial Armour Volume Two - Second Edition: War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes, pg. 174
- 11: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, pg. 112
- 12: Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - War Machines of the Lost and the Damned, pg. 100
