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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Added Ammunition table
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{{Boltweapons Series}}
The heavy bolter is generally used for anti-infantry or fire support roles, also known as the "Back Breaker" or the "Bruiser" by the crew who have to carry it because of its great weight - but also because of the heavy punishment it can deal out to the enemy.{{Fn|1}} It fires a round considerably larger than that of the standard [[bolter]] shell, with more propellant and longer range and higher stopping power, making it capable of destroying light vehicles.{{Fn|5}}{{Fn|8}} Because of its high rate of fire, jamming is often a problem.{{Fn|5}} Like all [[bolt weapons]], heavy bolters require regular maintenance and ancient litanies to appease their spirits.{{Fn|5}} It is seldom seen outside military organizations.{{Fn|8}}
The most modern version of the heavy bolter in wide spread use is the '''Astartes Mk Ivc'''. The weapon goes through rounds very quickly using either a disintegrating belt or 40-round high capacity box magazine.{{Fn|4}} It can be fitted with [[Hellfire Rounds]] that launch thousands of needles composed of mutagenic acid on impact, which are especially effective against [[Tyranid]]s.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}
==Imperial Bolter designs==
Due to the fact that in most cases specific heavy bolter images are not labelled, unnamed designs are collected [[Gallery (Heavy bolters)|here]], grouped by outward similarity.
==TriviaAmmunition=={|align=center border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width=650px|-|style="background:#4040ff; color: white" colspan=3 align=center|'''Heavy Bolter Ammunition'''|-|style=background:#4040ff align=center|'''Name'''|style=background:#4040ff align=center|'''Notes/Effects'''|-|'''Standard Bolts'''|Standard bolts use the same outer casing, propellant base, main charge, mass reactive detonator cap, depleted deuterium core, and diamantine tip as [[Boltgun]] rounds, but with a larger calibre.{{Fn|6}}|-|'''Hellfire Rounds'''|Replaces the core and tip of the standard bolt round with a vial of mutagenic acid, and thousands of needles that fire into the target's flesh on impact, pumping the acid into the target. Developed specially to combat [[Tyranids]], Hellfire Rounds have equally devastating results on other organic targets.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}|-|'''Shrapnel Bolts'''|Bolts designed to form a blast of shrapnel. Used by the [[Iron Warriors]] during the [[Great Crusade]].{trivia{Fn|18}}|-|'''Assassin Bolts'''|Hypersonic rounds used by the [[Minotaurs]] that replace the standard propellant with short-burn magna-fusion charges and the mass-reactive warhead (which would not endure the fusion discharge) with solid slugs. Due to their extreme speed and density, they are both highly destructive and extremely accurate.{{incompletefn|19}}|}
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Wargear (2nd Edition)]], {{Cite This}}
*{{Endn|16}}: [[Codex: Deathwatch (7th Edition)]] - ''Armoury of the Deathwatch''
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Two - Second Edition: War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes]], pg. 32
*{{Endn|18}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Three - Extermination]], pg. 251
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Twelve - The Fall of Orpheus]], pg. 149
{{SMWeapons}}
