Changes

While many regiments will have a mix of other artillery, including [[Manticore (Tank)|Manticore]]s, [[Griffon]]s and [[Bombard]]s, and each one will have its own role to fill, it is the Basilisk which is the most common and most often to be called upon to bombard the enemy. These self-propelled artillery pieces are most effective when used in massive batteries of hundreds of guns to deliver devastating barrages on the enemy's position, while their mobility allows them to keep pace with infantry advances.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2a}} This indirect fire will be directed by their parent [[Astra Militarum Company|company's]] forward observers or other [[officer]]s trained to direct artillery,{{Fn|3}} and while not particularly accurate it allows the Basilisk to remain out of harms way as it blasts concealed enemy positions or fortifications from long range.{{Fn|2a}} Besides these sustained bombardments the power and range of the Earthshaker Cannon allows for other type of artillery missions: counter-battery fire to suppress enemy guns, box barrages to isolate enemy units and prevent their reinforcement, harassing fire, and destructive fire of selected targets.{{Fn|5}} Most missions use high explosive rounds, but to Basilisks are often issued other more specialized rounds, such as smoke shells, incendary shells and illumination shells for lighting up a battlefield at night.{{Fn|3}}

However the Basilisk has also proven its worth as an assault gun, using cannon's low angle of elevation to engage targets at short range in direct support of troops. The high explosive shells fired by the Basilisk are as devastating to infantry and tanks as they are to fortifications, however it is no replacement for a true [[Battle Tank]].{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|3}} The lack of ablative armouring and exposed fighting position leaves the Basilisk highly exposed to enemy fire and hostile environments, although many patterns go some way towards correcting this by incorporating an [[Enclosed Crew Compartment]].{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|4}} Basilisks tasked for direct fire support will be detached from their parent company and placed under the temporary command of the tank or infantry company it is intended to support.{{Fn|3}} Basilisk's have been observed in a variety of roles, such as anti-aircraft.{{Fn|10}}

During the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Horus Heresy]], the Basilisk was also used by siege units of the [[Space Marine Legion]]s.{{Fn|7}} The Iron Warriors, in particular, were noted to have fielded many in their role as expert siegebreakers.{{Fn|8}} The [[Ultramarines]] are also known to have fielded Basilisks.{{Fn|9}}

*The design of the [[Armageddon]] 'Hades'-pattern Basilisk bears similarities with several [[M2]]-era artillery vehicles, namely the [[Wikipedia:Ferdinand (Tank hunter)|Ferdinand/Elefant]], the [[Wikipedia:M109 howitzer|M109 howitzer]], the [[Wikipedia:AS-90|AS-90]] or the [[Wikipedia:PzH 2000|PzH 2000]].

[[Category:Artillery TankTanks]]