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The '''Deathstrike Missile Launcher''' is an [[Imperial Guard]] artillery vehicle based on the [[Chimera]] chassis. Its ability to fire a massive payload over extreme ranges is the Deathstrike's main advantage over other artillery systems. Only ever seeing deployment during the most vicious battles, each Deathstrike missile launcher is a force multiplier whose payload causes fear in even the most experienced enemies of the [[Imperium]].{{Fn|1}} The Deathstrike is designated an ''Ordnance Extremis'' by the [[Departmento Munitorum]] and requires special authorization to deploy.{{Fn|5}}

The Deathstrike launcher represents the largest threat offered by any mobile Imperial Guard missile system. Mounted on the Chimera chassis is a single '''Deathstrike Missile''', an inter-continental solid fuel rocket with a range measured in thousands of kilometers. This missile can carry a variety of payloads, though by far the most common is a [[plasma]] warhead: upon detonation these missiles can annihilate entire armies in a raging fireball that vaporises flesh in an instant. Others can carry deadly biological pathogens or specialised [[Titan]]-killer warheads, while the rarest of all are the deadly [[Vortex Missile]]s. These doomsday weapons of apocalyptic capability use [[Dark Age of Technology]] knowledge to tear holes within the fabric of reality upon their explosion, creating a [[warp rift]] which destroys everything it touches.{{Fn|1}}

The Deathstrike missile launcher finds itself an uncommon sight on the modern battlefield, as over the years the Imperium has slowly moved on to more mobile forms of artillery that are smaller and require less logistical support. Due to their size and damage potential, Deathstrike batteries are mostly used for the total obliteration of key targets or those beyond the range of conventional artillery.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}

During the [[Ork]] raid on [[Baric Six]] in 994.[[M40]], a band of [[Loota]]s somehow managed to infiltrate and steal one of three Deathstrike missile launchers from the Army 52 artillery park. They would use it shortly after, resulting in the loss of two entire armoured companies of the [[Mordian 278th Armoured]] and the [[Baneblade]] ''"Steel Might"'', not to mention over a hundred surprised Orks. A dozen Imperial generals would be executed for dereliction of duty following a two-year investigation into how the launcher was stolen.{{Fn|1}}

The Death Strike Missile Launcher, besides its main payload, is armed with a hull mounted weapon - either a [[Heavy Bolter]] or [[Heavy Flamer]] - — and includes a [[Searchlight]] and [[Smoke Launchers]]. It may also be upgraded with [[Camo Netting]], [[Dozer Blades]], [[Extra Armour]], a [[Hunter-Killer Missile]] and a [[pintle-mounted]] [[Storm Bolter]] or [[Heavy Stubber]].{{Fn|1}}<br clear="all">{{Clear}}

:{| border="0" cellpadding="3" align="center" style<gallery mode="border-collapse:collapsepacked" valignheights="top200">!colspan=9 ||----|[[Image:EpicDeathstrike1st.jpg|thumb|center|220px|1st Edition [[Epic]] Scale Deathstrike]]|[[Image:EpicDeathstrike.jpg|thumb|center|220px|3rd Edition [[Epic]] Scale Deathstrike]]|}</gallery>

*{{Endn|5}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (6th Edition)]] - — ''Deathstrikes''