172
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
Sourced information, added page number.
[[Image:Necromunda_8th.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Necromunda 8th soldier]]
The '''Necromunda 8th''' are a famous [[Imperial Guard]] regiment from the [[Necromunda (planet)|Necromunda]] hive world. They are called the "Spiders" due to the fact that the regiment's soldiers are drawn from Necromunda's Spider Clan. The Spider Clan is a powerful Necromundan [[gang]] famed throughout the Necromunda subsector for its ferocity.<sup>1</sup>
The Spider Clan is the dominant gang of the lower levels of Hive Palantine. For centuries they have received arms from the [[Imperial Governor]] of Necromunda in exchange for keeping rebellious gangs and other anarchic forces under control. Consequently the Spiders are officially regarded as Necromunda's own army or [[Planetary Defense Force]]. <sup>1</sup> The PDF in turn forms a base for Imperial Guard regimental [[founding]]s.
When the Spiders enter the ranks of the Guard, they are organized into platoons formed by a whole gang; officers are prominent individuals within Spider Clan, respected and feared by the gangers.
The most famous battle honors won by the 8th were earned by their participation in the Battle of Deucalion. The First Army of [[Warmaster]] [[Solon]] was forced to retreat from the planet Deucalion and he had to order the evacuation of its troops. The entire army consisted of at least thirty regiments in three huge divisions. Troop ships were landing to evacuate the army. While troops embarked into the ships, the enemy managed to pass through the defenses of Solon, putting the landing field within range of its mobile artillery, so that when the last of the transport crafts landed, the bombs started to fall. Then, the first troop-laden transport craft suffered damage from enemy anti-aircraft weapons, the ship crashing to the ground, crushed an entire regiment under it.
The landing field was in complete chaos. In a matter of minutes, nearly half of the ships were destroyed and the Guard was suffering catastrophic casualties. Something had to be done to save the army and it was Colonel [[Raevan Mortz]] of the Necromunda 8th that placed his regiment into history thanks to the decisions taken on that day.<sup>1</sup>
Seeing that Warmaster Solon and his own troops still had to be evacuated, Colonel Mortz ordered the 8th to move against the enemy. Renouncing any hope of escape, the Spiders charged through the smoke and dust fogged fields, disappearing from view. Soon the intensity of the bombing declined and remaining transports could land in relative safety. The last transport to leave Deucalion was that of Solon's. Although waiting until the last moment Solon had no choice but to order the launch of the last transport and abandon the Spiders.<sup>1</sup>
==Related articles==
* http://es.games-workshop.com/warhammer40k/razas/guardia/codicium/index.asp
* http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/imperialguard/gaming/doctrines/unorthodox.htm
* <sup>1</sup>[[Codex Imperialis]]p.28
[[Category:Imperial Guard Regiments]]
[[de:8. Necromunda]]
