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[[File:Caestus Ram4.png|thumb|280px|right|A Caestus Assault Ram]]
The '''Caestus Assault Ram''' is one of several assault rams found throughout the [[Imperium of Man]] and the most common one used by [[Space Marine]] [[Chapters]]. Smaller in size compared to a [[Thunderhawk]] or [[Boarding Torpedo]], the Caestus and other assault rams are designed to participate in close range boarding actions in space. This [[Attack Craft]]'s compact and heavily-armoured frame can not only survive but is intended to directly collide with another space craft in order to deliver its cargo.{{Fn|1}}
==History==
Caestus has been in Imperium service as ship-to-ship boarding vessel since the [[Great Crusade]]. Going through the time of [[Horus Heresy]] and all of the wars that followed this dim and ancient period, it is still used in the [[Space Marines]] armies in [[41st Millenium]].{{Fn|3a}}
==Technical Information==
==Deployment Strategy==
In its typical role of assault ram the Caestus uses its Mega-Melta to weaken an enemy spacecraft's hull armour, allowing for the armoured prows to more easily penetrate and disgorge their passengers, who exit through the forward assault ramps. However since the addition of grav coils the craft can also participate in orbital insertions and provide ground support; acting as a heavy battle skimmer its' massive melta weapon can be devastating against enemy tanks and bunkers. However most Chapters still maintain Thunderhawks and [[Drop Pods]] for these missions, reserving their assault rams for space operations or only the most dangerous drop zones. Fleet-bound chapters in particular make heavy use of the Caestus for combating the likes of asteroid bases and [[Space Hulk]]s.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}
Despite the damage that Caestus Assault Rams sustains in the run of operations, the reverence that Space Marines hold to this holy devices is such that Caestus' always recovered from the battle lines, even if it is a guts of an enemy vessel or fortress.{{Fn|3a}}
==Technical Information==
{{Imperial Aircraft
|Type=Assault Ram
|Vehicle Name=Caestus{{Fn|3b}}
|Forge World of Origin=[[Mars]]
|Known Patterns=I-XI
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two]], pg. 143
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Imperial Armour - Apocalypse Second Edition]], pg. 31
*3: [[Imperial Armour Volume Two (Second Edition)]]
**{{Endn|3a}}: pgs. 142-143
**{{Endn|3b}}: pg. 146
{{SpaceMarineShips}}
[[Category: Vehicles (Space Marines)]]
[[Category: Fleet (Space Marines)]]
[[fr:Bélier d'assaut Caestus]]
