Changes

==Construction==Construction of Predators remains restricted to a Chapter's [[Armoury]] or allied [[Forge World]], with most Chapters fielding between twenty to thirty of all types.{{Fn|1a}} However, some Chapters are known to contain several hundred battle tanks, though that number includes [[Land Raider]]s as well.{{Fn|4}} Rhinos can be easily refitted to serve as Predators, with the [[Death Spectres]] for example converting twelve Rhinos into Predators after losing almost all Predator Destructors during the [[Vern IV]] offensive.{{Fn|14a}} Every thirteenth vehicle outfitted to be a Predator is blessed and purified to a greater degree than usual and every 666th is melted down, its material returned to the forge and sacrificed to the [[Machine God]].{{Fn|14a}} Predators are named only after the [[Emperor's Tarot]] has been consulted, following a widely held opinion that the tank's personality is influenced by its name. Each vehicle is said by its crew to be as unique as its name, with some being utterly fearless while others being stubborn in defensive situations.{{Fn|14a}} The Predator is crewed by two Space Marines, a commander/gunner and a driver. Crews can be hardwired into their position in case of failure or punishment for transgressions against chapter laws.{{Fn|13}} These Space Marines are not actually [[Techmarine]]s, but are fully versed in the operation and maintenance of their vehicles, with it being a great honour to crew a Predator, just behind commanding a [[Land Raider]].{{Fn|14a}}

The main turret armament on the common [[Mars]]-pattern MarkIV-b Predator Destructor is the [[Syrtis]] pattern [[Autocannon]], which is constructed with an automatic ammunition feed, muzzle flash suppressor and discharge extractor. The weapon is aimed by the vehicle commander/gunner through a multi-spectral remote targeting [[surveyor]] and accuracy talisman.{{Fn|1a}} It fires explosive ammunition, each round larger than a Space Marine's fist, which easily chew through heavily-armoured infantry and light vehicles.{{Fn|2a}} It can also fire amour piercing shells.{{Fn|13}} The autocannon incorporates a discharge extractor, a muzzle flashback suppressor, a Syrtis II pattern reinforced breach lock and an armoured ammunition feed.{{Fn|13}}

The gunner/commander itself is seated in a morphic seat in the turret, surrounded by a periscope, target acquisition displays, weapons status panels and fine motor controls. He is connected to the tank via an auto-sense network cabling.{{Fn|13}} The gunner/commander has also access to a 360 degree traversable command cupola, featuring an auto-sealing hatch, an auxiliary long range communications array, a multi spectrum visual pickup and an auxiliary integration point mounting. The cupola also gives access to the M33 MK VI auxiliary storm bolter, equipped with 200 multi-purpose bolter rounds.{{Fn|13}} The side sponsons can mount a variety of weapon though the most common - either [[Heavy Bolter]]s for close defense or [[Lascannon]]s for additional anti-tank firepower. The sponson weapons are remotely controlled from the turret and aimed through similar surveyors,{{Fn|1a}} these are slaved multi-spectral remote targeting surveyors. The sponsons are situated in a ceramite/titanium bonded armour cowling.{{Fn|13}} The sponson mounted Heavy Bolters are of the 446AV 'Godwyn-Tadcoke' pattern and are situated in an 180 degree traversable mount, elevating up to +18 degree and depressing down to -18 degrees in an 180 degree arc.{{Fn|1a13}}

Protection for the Predator Destructor comes from three layers of armouring. The first, a bonded [[ceramite]]/[[adamantine]] alloy, gives the Predator protection equivalent to five times its width in conventional steel whilst being lighter. This is followed by a reinforcing thermoplas with a mesh of sub-dermal energy dissipation fibre for protection against radiation. The outer layer is a non-metallic acrylic identification sheath. {{Fn|1a}} The armour is 65mm thick on the front hull,{{Fn|13}}, with the frontal glacis plate reinforced with a 10mm secondary thermoplas layer,{{Fn|14b}} 55mm thick on the side hull and 50mm thick on the rear hull.{{Fn|13}} In all, this armour corresponds over the 200mm of 'standard' steel on the front of Predator.{{Fn|1a}}

[[Smoke Launchers]] and a [[Searchlight]] are standard options on a Predator Destructor. It may be further upgraded with [[Dozer Blades]], [[Extra Armour]], a [[Hunter-killer Missile]], and a [[Pintle-mounted]] [[Stormbolter]].{{Fn|1f}} The Hunter-Killer Missile is of the Mk VIII ‘Avenger' pattern, fired from the 'Diacria' pattern hunter-killer launcher and guided via an autonomous target acquisition system. The smoke launcher is a Mk II 'Tenebrus' smoke discharge unit, fitted with [[Smoke Grenade|Stygies 'D' pattern smoke grenades]].{{Fn|13}} The Predator also features a [[Vox|narrow band long-range communication array]], an atmospheric filtration unit, 1.5 megawatt quartz halogen headlights and a frontal view port with integral debris clearance mechanism. The view port can be reinforced with an shield, adjustable by the driver.{{Fn|13}}

In place of the Syrtis pattern Autocannon, the Predator Annihilator mounts [[twin-linked]] 'Stormbringer' [[Lascannon]]s equipped with flash dampeners and focusing rings. Powered by diaquartzoid crystal batteries, each lascannon has a barrel life of 1000 shots before it warps and must be replaced.{{Fn|1b}} The Kz9.76 'Stormbringer' lascannons are situated in a 360 degree arc turreted traverse, traversing at 80 degrees/second and elevating up to +28 degrees and depressing down to -15 degrees.{{Fn|13}}