Land Raider Proteus
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This article is about the the Land Raider variant. For other uses of Proteus, see Proteus (disambiguation). |
The Land Raider Proteus is an old and rare variant of Land Raider.
Contents
History
The Proteus was first forged sometime during the Dark Age of Technology or before, but rediscovered during the Great Crusade in the vaults of Mars. It is thought that originally the Land Raider was used for exploration and scouting hostile worlds. It was only in later more warlike times that it was converted into a potent warmachine.[6]
The Proteus contains extraordinarily powerful augury systems, allowing it to scan battlefield conditions with extreme precision. Due to this improvement, it has been thought that this tank is the origin of all modern Land Raider designs, intended to explore and conquer new worlds. Its sensor systems make it useful as both a command tank and the leader of an armoured spearhead; however, due to the fact that it lacks a forward assault ramp and has a lower troop capacity, as well as being harder to reproduce, makes it a rare sight in the 41st Millennium. Despite this, it is still valued as a rare war relic by the Space Marine Chapters lucky enough to own them. [1]
Chaos Land Raider Proteus
During the Horus Heresy, some Traitor Legions managed to acquire some Proteus variants and take them with them into the Eye of Terror, where the Dark Mechanicus attempts to keep them battleworthy. Much of the time, the Dark Mechanicus replaces any failing components with devices of Chaotic origin.[1]
Proteus Carrier
Since the earliest days of the Great Crusade, formations of Land Raider Proteus Carriers could each ferry entire squads of Legionaries across open ground and into the heart of the battlefield. They were trusted by the Legions due to the near-inviolate protection the Carriers offered[7a], as their thickly armoured hulls were impervious to all but dedicated anti-tank weaponry[7b]. The Carriers were also prodigiously armed[7c] and their mighty tracks provided much valued speed and maneuverability to allow the Carriers to reach their objectives. When the position was reached, the immense armoured prow of each Carrier would open fully into an assault ramp, allowing the Legionaries to emerge unscathed to rapidly disembark with their guns blazing and blades bared.[7a]
The Carriers, however, were vulnerable to close assaults, where power fists could rip open sealed hatches, and melta bombs could be used to blast tracks from their runners. Astute commanders, though, would assign infantry squads to screen vehicle columns from such attack, such as in tight city streets or narrow canyons[7c]. During the Horus Heresy, Land Raider Proteus Carriers proved time and again to be invaluable assets to their Legions, and priority targets for the foes they were sent against.[7a]
Proteus Explorator
A reconnaissance variant closer to the original design of the Land Raider during the Dark Age of Technology. In place of lessened transportation capability, the Proteus Explorator carried sophisticated navigational systems that allowed for scouting and traversing the most harsh terrain. Several of the more mobile Legions such as the Raven Guard and White Scars showed a preference for this design during the Great Crusade.[6]
Weapons and Armament
The Land Raider Proteus is armed with two sponson-mounted twin-linked lascannons, in addition to its auguries and cogitators. They also contain a Machine Spirit (or in the case of Chaos variants, an Infernal Device), and can be upgraded with hull-mounted Heavy Bolters or Heavy Flamers, Ceramite armour to lessen the damage of Melta weapons, a Hunter-Killer missile (or Havoc launcher with Chaotic variants), pintle mounted weapons, Extra Armour, and a Dozer Blade.[1]
Some Land Raider Proteuses were also equipped with an Explorator Augury Web.[2]
Technical Information
| Vehicle Name: | Land Raider Proteus[3b] | Main Armament: | 2x Twin-linked Lascannons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Anvilus IX | Secondary Armament: | 2x Twin-linked Heavy Bolter |
| Known Patterns: | I-X | Traverse: | 180° |
| Crew: | Driver, Commander | Elevation: | From -32° to +42° |
| Powerplant: | Open-core Plasma ioniser | Main Ammunition: | Unlimited cell power feed |
| Weight: | 71 tonnes | Secondary Ammunition: | 800 rounds |
| Length: | 8.5m | ||
| Width: | 5.2m | Armour | |
| Height: | 4.8m | ||
| Ground Clearance: | 0.85m | Superstructure: | 93mm |
| Fording Depth: | Hull: | 95mm | |
| Max Speed - on road | 44kph | Gun Mantlet | N/A |
| Max Speed - off road: | ??? | Vehicle Designation: | 0120-766-0724-PR 142 |
| Transport Capacity: | 10 (5) | Firing Ports: | N/A |
| Access Points: | N/A | Turret: | N/A |
Named Land Raider Proteuses
- Flame of Illyrium - Ultramarines
- Onogura — White Scars[3c]
- Orlandra — Fire Hawks[3c]
- Simurgh Rex — Night Swords[3a]
Images
1st Edition Land Raider[8]
Epic-scale Land Raider Proteus for Legions Imperialis[9]
Trivia
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- The design of the Land Raider Proteus dates back to the very first plastic miniature, released in September 1988.[8]
See also
Sources
- 1: Land Raider Proteus at Forge World
- 2: The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal, pg. 219
- 3: Imperial Armour Volume 2 - Second Edition:
- 4: Warhammer Community: An FAQ from the Age of Darkness (posted 11//11/2019) (last accessed 12/10/2019)
- 5: Warhammer Community: Heresy Thursday – Let the Omnissiah Take the Wheel with the Land Raider Proteus (posted 18/08/2022) (last accessed 18 August 2022)
- 6: Liber Hereticus, pg. 77
- 7: White Dwarf 481 - The Armoured Fist of the Legion:
- 8: White Dwarf 105 (UK), Back cover
- 9: Warhammer Webstore Legions Imperialis: Land Raider Proteus Explorator Squadron (saved archive)
