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'''Heavy Quad-Launchers''', also known as '''Thudd Guns''', are four-barreled barrelled light field artillery pieces originally produced by the [[Squat]]s.{{Fn|1}}

Invented by the [[Engineers Guild]]s on the Squat Homeworlds, the design was later shared with the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], who copied and produced their own version for use by the [[Imperial Guard]]. The weapon received its nickname from the distinctive and rhythmic "thud" sound produced as each barrel fires in rapid succession.{{Fn|1}} More commonly used by the Imperial Guard in the past, the heavy quad-launcher has been largely relegated to [[Siege Regiment]]s and garrison forces.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}} The weapon was employed by [[Space Marines]] during the [[Horus Heresy]] in [[Battle of Terra|defense defence of the Imperial Palace]] and has seen recent use in the [[Badab War]] as well as the [[Tyrannic Wars]].{{Fn|4}}

Essentially four [[Mortar]]s mounted on a single weapons carriage, the Heavy Quad-Launcher boasts a high rate of fire that makes it an excellent suppression weapon and in a direct-fire role against enemy infantry.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}} One of its primary drawbacks however is the long reload time after all four barrels have been fired, requiring the loader to hand-crank the breech close in order to feed in a new round for each barrel. The launcher also lacks the range of heavier Imperial Guard artillery, limiting its viability in the counter-battery role.{{Fn|2}}

The original thudd guns were mounted on a special motorized tractor, which could be controlled by the gun crew with a radio control box.{{Fn|1}} However, later models used by the Imperial Guard, such as the Lucius Pattern, must be towed into place, either by a [[Trojan]] or [[Centaur]] vehicle.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}

*{{Endn|1}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Wargear (2nd Edition)]], pg. 54*{{Endn|2}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Five - The Siege of Vraks - Part One]], pg. 112*{{Endn|3}}: [[Imperial Armour - Apocalypse II]], pg. 20*{{Endn|4}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Compendium]], pg. 92