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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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The primary duty of the Chimera is to accompany tanks into battle and provide protection for the [[Guardsmen]] within so that they may support the tanks. Standard doctrine states that after the Chimera reaches its objective it lays down covering fire with its heavy weapons while the [[Imperial Guard Squad|squad]] within disembarks and advances. The Chimera then falls back to a firing position from which it can still support the infantry and await orders to race forward and collect the squad again to reposition them.{{Fn|3b}} When operating as part of an armoured advanced the Chimera often operate ahead of or on the flanks, as well as side-by-side with the [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]]s, providing additional weight to the tanks' massed firepower.{{Fn|1}} Besides the added mobility, firepower and protection, Chimeras allow infantry to take extra gear, including med-kits, [[vox]] equipment and more ammunition, making them far more efficient than their foot-slogging infantry.{{Fn|3b}} The Chimera is less useful though when forced to fight in urban settings or as part of static defenses.{{Fn|1}}
The Chimera can fulfill additional roles and many basic variants of the standard vehicle exist. With their communication equipment and [[scanner]]s Chimeras are suitable command vehicles, while those with [[Dozer Blades]] can clear terrain for heavier vehicles to move through or provide nighttime illumination from their [[Searchlight]]s.{{Fn|2a}} While generally armed with a [[Multi-laser]] and [[Heavy Bolter]], those fitted with a [[Heavy Flamer]] are popular when fighting in dense terrain such as jungles and forests; usually one in three Chimeras will be outfitted as a flame tank if other infantry close support vehicles, such as [[Leman Russ Demolisher|Demolishers]], [[Thunderer]]s and [[Hellhound]]s, are unavailable. Those equipped with [[Autocannon]]s also fulfill the light anti-vehicle role, while [[Gryphonne IV]] makes a unique Chimera variant mounting [[twin-linked]] Heavy Bolters, particularly effective against dense infantry formations such as [[Ork]] mobs and [[Tyranid]] swarms.{{Fn|3b}} The Chimera's chassis has also been employed to serve as a base platform for many specialised variants, including fuel tankers, ambulances, munitions carriers and even battlefield construction vehicles with bulldozers and cranes.{{Fn|1}} Chimeras have also been used by the [[Inquisition]] to transport [[Inquisitor]]s and their [[Inquisitorial Stormtroopers|stormtroopers]],{{Fn|4}} [[Purity Seal]]s affixed to the hulls to protect the vehicles' [[machine spirit]] and its passengers from [[daemon]]ic possession.{{Fn|1}}
==Technical Information==
In addition the Chimera comes standard with a [[Searchlight]] and [[Smoke Launchers]], while other common modifications include [[Camo Netting]], a [[Dozer Blade]], [[Extra Armour]],{{Fn|2b}} 200 blocks of explosive reactive armour,{{Fn|19b}} a [[Hunter-Killer Missile]] and/or a [[pintle-mounted]] [[Heavy Stubber]]/[[Storm Bolter]]{{Fn|2b}} on an anti-aircraft mount.{{Fn|19a}}
The Chimera uses the ultra-reliable A-50 gas turbine originally installed in the [[A-50 Armoured Transport]]. Predating the Chimera by several hundred years the gas turbine is old even by the standards of the [[Imperium]]. It has been declared sacrosanct by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] and its replacement is forbidden.{{Fn|18}} Nevertheless, other Chimeras use Vulcanor Pattern XVI Twin coupled rotary bio-gas power units.{{Fn|19b}} It can even be adapted to use a wide variety of power plants, ranging from sub-nuclear stacks to wood-burning steam turbines.{{Fn|1}} The Chimera's communication unit uses both an open band RF and an encrypted orbital uplink.{{Fn|19a}}
{{Imperial Vehicles
