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The Land Raider has its origins in the [[Dark Age of Technology]], when humankind expanded out of its home system. Its construction method was incorporated into the great [[STC]] system, allowing it to be built locally by colonists even if they lacked any great technical knowledge. With the widespread breakdown of human civilization civilisation during the [[Age of Strife]], production of the vehicle was ceased.{{Fn|4a}}

During the [[Great Crusade]] the Land Raider STC design was rediscovered, allowing their manufacture once more. The discoverer is commonly believed to be the Techno-archaeologist [[Magos]] [[Arkhan Land]] who, at the very birth of the Imperium, is said to have rediscovered the STC designs hidden beneath the surface of [[Mars]]. These vehicles were incorporated into the arsenals of the Imperium's forces, used by both the [[Space Marine Legion]]s and the [[Imperial Army]]. Such was the demand for the Land Raider that an entire [[Forge World]], [[Anvilus 9]], was devoted entirely to Land Raider production, supplying thousands upon thousands of Land Raiders to the [[Emperor]]'s holy forces.{{Fn|4a}}

It is not known, when the first Land Raider was deployed. Some Imperial archaeologists claim that it was first used during the [[Siege of Delebrion]], while others maintain that it was first deployed during the massed tank battles of [[Calysto Platinum]] at the start of the [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|15b}}

However, at the outset of the [[Horus Heresy]], Anvilus 9 along with other Forge Worlds were was seized by the [[Dark Mechanicum]] aligned with [[Horus]], while others chose to secede from the [[Imperium]] and remain neutral. This would prove to be a terrible blow to the Loyalists as their supply of Land Raiders began to dry up, especially since, in sufficient numbers, Land Raiders can take on and destroy even [[Titan]]s.{{Fn|4a}} With the dark clouds of the rebellion drawing closer to [[Terra]], the Emperor ordered that all Land Raiders still in loyalist service were to be transferred and used exclusively by the Legiones Astartes, who were at the forefront of the fighting. The Emperor was never able to annul the order, and consequently, even after the Heresy, the use of the Land Raider remained exclusive to the Space Marines.{{Fn|2}}

===The Land Raider in the 41st millenniumMillennium===

Since its rediscovery over ten thousand years ago, newly discovered STC information and modifications to the original design have produced different marks and variants. Most of these variants have been recognised by the Priesthood of Mars. Some of these are the [[Land Raider Crusader]], [[Land Raider Helios]], [[Land Raider Prometheus]], [[Land Raider Ares]], [[Land Raider Redeemer]]{{Cite This}} and [[Land Raider Terminus Ultra]].{{Fn|11b}}

According to the organizational organisational guidelines laid down by the [[Codex Astartes]], the Land Raider is only used by the [[1st Company]] of a Space Marine chapter. However, some less orthodox or non-codex compliant chapters are known to use it more widely. The [[Salamanders]] chapter uses an altered version of the Codex Astartes with 12 squads in the 1st company instead of 10, increasing the maximum number of Land Raiders available to 12.{{Cite This}}