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[[Image:MinotaurAT.jpg|thumb|right|Minotaur Artillery Tank²{{Fn|1}}]]The '''Minotaur Artillery Tank''' is a self-propelled artillery vehicle of the [[Imperial Guard]] that is . Heavily armored and armed with two [[Earthshaker Cannon]]s. All but an unknown sight on , this highly-durable vehicle is intended to operate in the battlefields of the [[M41|41st Millennium]]; an ancient artillery piece that was designed to lay down crushing barrages heart of combat, providing fire from advanced positions support while under threat of from the enemy fire, before 's guns and redeploying under its own power. Obscure references within the fragmentary histories of the [[Great Crusade]], and damaged frescoes within the unutterably ancient Templis Nemesii on Holy [[Terra]] itself are cited by some as indicators of the age of the design, and the similarity that many of its systems bear to the [[Malcador (Heavy Tank){{Fn|Malcador]] design is seen to be the mark of a common [[STC]] ancestor.¹}}

In M41==History==The exact origins of the Minotaur, like so many vehicles, is not entirely known. Some scholars believe it to predate even the [[Great Crusade]], citing certain frescos on the Templis Nemesii on [[Holy Terra]] itself. Others cite the similarities it shares with the [[Malcador (Heavy Tank)|Malcador]], itself an ancient design with a forgotten history, to theorize that it may be a variant of the heavy tank, or at least was constructed with the intention of using the same facilities. Regardless by the time of the [[41st Millennium]] the Minotaur has become a rare vehicle, largely been replaced supplanted by the [[Basilisk]] in Imperial Guard service, though it has remained in use among certain siege artillery regiments and thousands are believed to be held in [[Departmento Munitorum]] strategic reserves.{{Fn|1}} At the [[Siege of Vraks]] the Minotaur made a relatively late appearance, employed by the forces of [[Chaos]] as the Imperial besiegers began assaulting the certain wall and Citadel itself. About a hundred are believed to have been contained within Vraks' deep storage arsenals and were employed to devastating effect in artillery duels. However due to the aggressive manner in which they were used by the traitors, around a dozen were recovered and later re-consecrated by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]].{{Fn|1}} ==Technical Information==While sharing the chassis and engine of the Malcador, the Minotaur has many unusual features not found in other Imperial artillery vehicles. The most notable of these is its deck layout, with engines, drive systems and ammunition evenly distributed across the superstructure, the crew compartment placed in the front of the vehicle and the twin primary weapons placed on a central axis point facing rearwards. The Minotaur is therefore able to "reverse" into prepared firing positions and then rapidly move "forward" through ground it has already cleared, while the centerline mounting not only allows it to carry its massive payload but also provide inherent recoil stabilization when firing. In addition to the thick armor plating more commonly found on heavy tanks, the Minotaur is still found in also equipped with a [[Searchlight]] and [[PDFSmoke Launchers]] formations , and arms stockpilescan be upgraded with [[Extra Armour]], a [[Hunter-Killer Missile]], [[Dozer Blade]]s and was used by a [[pintle-mounted]] [[ChaosStorm Bolter]] forces on or [[VraksHeavy Stubber]].<sup>{{Fn|1}} If the Minotaur has one drawback it is the complexity of its construction. This is especially true for its advanced hyrdaulic and recoil compensation systems and amount of armored protection it requires, factors which have contributed to its steady decline over the years.{{Fn|1}}{{Imperial Vehicles|Vehicle Name=Minotaur{{Fn|1}}|Forge World of Origin=Unknown|Known Patterns=I-IX|Crew=Driver, Commander, 2<x Loaders|Powerplant=HL330 V12 Multi-Fuel|Weight=98 Tonnes|Length=10.7m|Width=4.35m|Height=4.7m|Ground Clearance=.65m|Max Speed - on road=25kph|Max Speed - off road=18kph|Main Armament=Twin-[[Earthshaker Cannon]]s|Secondary Armament=None|Gun Traverse=0&deg;|Gun Elevation=From -0&deg; to 58&deg;|Main Ammunition=40 Shots|Secondary Ammunition=N/A|Turret Armour=N/A|Superstructure Armour=180mm|Hull Armour=160mm|Gun Mantlet Armour=N/A|Vehicle Designation=8577-032-8391-M1038|Transport=N/A|Fire Ports=N/A|Access Points=N/sup>A}}

*^{{Endn|1: [http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/MINOTAUR-ARTILLERY-TANK.html Minotaur Artillery Tank]*²}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]] pg. 115