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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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==Overview==
Sometimes referred to as ''tread heads'' by infantry officers, to become a tank commander an officer requires singularly obsessive focus on mastery of the art of armored armoured warfare. Veterans of dozens of battles and multiple wars, the average Tank Commander is a steel eyed [[Tank Ace]], commanding very best crew the [[armoured regiment]] has to offer. These grizzled guardsmen are virtually one with their machine, possessing an implicit knowledge of armoured warfare in all its forms.{{Fn|4a}}
[[Image:Tank Commander Heirarchy - Cadia A Codex Astra Militarum Supplement pg 66.jpg|thumb|right|200px|In the example of this [[Cadian]] [[Cadian_Battle_GroupCadian Battle Group| battle group]], a Tank Commander may be assigned overall command of the entire battle group, while a different Tank Commander has been placed in charge of three squadrons of [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]]s.{{Fn|6}}]]
The size of the formations a Tank Commander will oversee can vary, as can their actual rank within [[Imperial Guard Hierarchy]]. Examples include:
*'''Tank Squadron Commmander''' - Typically [[Lieutenant (Imperial Guard)| Lieutenants]], they oversee a '''squadron''' consisting of several tanks.{{Fn|2a}}*'''Tank Company Commander''' - Typically [[Captain (Imperial Guard)| Captains]], they oversee an [[Astra_Militarum_CompanyAstra Militarum Company#Armoured_CompanyArmoured Company| armoured company]] consisting of several armoured squadrons.{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|26}}*'''Battle Group Commander''' - Occasionally, a Tank Commander may oversee an entire [[Cadian_Battle_GroupCadian Battle Group| Battle Group]] consisting of several armoured companies.{{Fn|6}}
*'''Regimental Commander''' - Occasionally, a Tank Commander may oversee an entire [[Armoured Regiment]]. One example is [[Lord General]] [[Coron Grizmund]]{{Fn|23}}
Tank Commanders possess an air of authority not only over their own crew but to entire squadrons of tanks, on par with that of an [[Lieutenant (Imperial Guard)| infantry commander]] directing the many squads of an infantry [[Imperial Guard Platoon| platoon]].
Tank Commanders will often be assigned temporary command over infantry and artillery assets{{Fn|4a}} as well as siege assets such as [[Thunderer]]s and [[Hellhounds]].{{Fn|2c}} This may see them leading an armoured spearhead to break through the enemy lines ahead of a mighty infantry offensive, or digging in to defend vulnerable artillery, or outflanking an enemy to reduce and disperse the amount of incoming fire. Though infantry often grumble when assigned to a Tank Commander, feeling that they would not grasp the hardships and limitations of men on foot, such complaints turn to cheers at the sight of the Tank Commander leading his force to smash directly into the foe's ranks, guns blazing and treads churning up the enemy. Blending excellent personal combat experience with good leadership, the soldiers of non-armoured regiments soon learn to trust the Tank Commander's prowess.{{Fn|4a}}
Tank Commanders are given a great degree of freedom when selecting their preferred command vehicle.{{Fn|26}} Granted their pick of the armoured fighting vehicles available to their regiment, they are further entitled to pick their vehicle's crew from the finest veterans.{{Fn|4a}} Most typically, they can be seen commanding from the cupola of mighty [[Leman Russ battle tank]]{{Fn|4a}}. This can be of any [[Leman_Russ_Battle_TankLeman Russ Battle Tank#Known_patternsKnown patterns| pattern]] the regiment is able to provide{{Fn|1}}. Some Tank Commanders, such as [[Colonel]] [[Stranski]], prefer to command their armored armoured forces from the cupola of a [[Chimera]] instead.{{Fn|16a}} Another might prefer to command from a [[Manticore]] artillery vehicle.{{Fn|25}} And still others may choose to command from a heavy [[Rogal Dorn Battle Tank]].{{Fn|26}}
Tank Commanders may sometimes command from within a [[Super Heavy Vehicle]] such as a [[Baneblade]]{{Fn|16a}}{{Fn|16b}}{{Fn|13}}{{Fn|17b}}, where they will be better able to direct the fire of its various weapons and crew. In this position, the Tank Commander is able to accurately direct the fire of all the Baneblade's weapons and their gunners.{{Fn|9}}{{Fn|12}} The Baneblade is able to serve as a mobile Field HQ, and its sight can bolster the morale of nearby troops.{{Fn|16b}}
Tank Commanders may adorn the hull of their vehicles with battle trophies. Those of the [[Armageddon Ork Hunters]] are most famous for this, mounting the skull of a slain [[Warboss]] on the prow of their tank. Pious commanders may convert their tanks into mobile shrines, full of ornate reliquaries, burning braziers, and vox speakers to broadcast an unceasing stream of hymns and prayers onto the battlefield.{{Fn|4a}} A notable example includes Captain "Crazy" [[Obadiah Schfeer]], who has attached a large speaker to his [[Leman Russ Vanquisher]] to blast military music during an advance.{{Fn|2e}} Others will attempt to inspire their men by adopting a visible trademark look, such as swagger stick, a colorful billowing cape, a chest full of shiny medals, or a big cigar, making them easy to distinguish on the battlefield.{{Fn|4d}} For example, Lord General [[Grizmund]] would often carry the [[Regimental Standard]] of the [[Narmenian Armoured]] himself, holding it while standing from his tank's cupola. His sub-commanders could easily identify his command Leman Russ ''[[The Grace of the Throne]]'' despite the confusion of battle.{{Fn|2e}} However, should such a commander be wounded or slain, it could have a disastrous effect on the morale of their troops who are able to easily see their commander fall.{{Fn|4d}}
[[Image:Russ_Indirect_FireRuss Indirect Fire.png|thumb|right|200px| Leman Russ tanks firing indirect bombardments, as would be coordinated by a Tank Commander (and about to have an unfortunate encounter with Ork [[Kommandos]]){{Fn|11}}]]Customarily, the HQ tank in a Tank Company will be fitted with a '''Command Cupola''' for the Tank Commander, installed with specialist equipment such as comm-link scramblers, tactical [[cogitator]]s, and uplink modules to connect with other officers in the field. These HQ tanks serve as the nerve center for an entire company, and allowing the Tank Commander to coordinate its actions even when the company is widely dispersed. While in a Command Cupola, he is able to direct the fire of up to nine other vehicles that are equipped with either [[Battle_cannonBattle cannon| Battle Cannons]], [[Earthshaker (Cannon)| Earthshakers]], [[Heavy Mortar]]s or [[Demolisher cannon]]s, calling in the coordinates over comm-link and allowing them to elevate their guns to fire indirect bombardments over intervening terrain at any target the Tank Commander himself can see.{{Fn|11}}
In the event of an emergency, a Tank Commander is prepared to take over the position of a driver or a gunner in a vehicle in case they are slain, though they will be unable to coordinate the actions of company vehicles while doing so.{{Fn|10}}
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Tank Commander White Dwarf 216 (UK) pg12.png|Tank Commander of the [[Necromundan Guard]]
Catachan Savage Jaguars Tank Commander - Codex Astra Militarum 8th Edition pg 21.jpg|Tank Commander of the [[Catachan_Jungle_FightersCatachan Jungle Fighters#Notable_RegimentsNotable Regiments| Catachan DXIX ''Savage Jaguars'']] [[Imperial_Guard_RegimentImperial Guard Regiment#Armoured_RegimentArmoured Regiment| Armoured Regiment]]{{Fn|4c}}Mordian 4th Cobalt Lions Commander - Codex Astra Militarum 8th Edition pg 29.jpg|Tank Commander of the [[Mordian 4th Armoured| Mordian 4th]] [[Armoured Regiment]]{{Fn|4d}}
Captain Suhara Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign pg63.png|[[Captain (Imperial Guard)|Captain]] [[Suhara]] of the [[Tallarn 17th Armoured]]{{fn|28}}
</gallery>
===Space Marine Tank Commander===
The [[Adeptus Astartes]] are also known to employ Tank Commanders in charge of [[Space Marine]] armoured forces. Examples include:
*[[Antaro Chronus]] - A Tank Commander of the [[Ultramarines]] who leads the chapter's armoured assaults, having earned the title of ''Spear of [[Macragge]]'', a [[Great Crusade| Pre-Heresy]] [[Legiones Astartes]] award to the pre-eminent tank commander among the Ultramarines.{{Fn|14}} He has a unique status within the Chapter that sees him answer only to the [[Primarch]] [[Roboute Guilliman]] and [[Chapter Master]] [[Marneus Calgar]]{{Fn|15}}
<gallery heights="170px" mode="packed" caption="">
Antaro Chronus.jpg|[[Antaro Chronus]] in the cupola of a [[Predator Tank]]
{{QuoteBox
|quote = "Drive me closer - I want to hit them with my sword!"
|source= — [[Commissar#Lord_CommissarLord Commissar| Lord Commissar]] [[Commissar Lord Bernn| Bernn]]{{Fn|22}}<Sup>[[Astra_Militarum_Quotes#Note_11|[Note]]]</sup>
|align = center
|width = 60em
A ''Tank Commander'' within the Imperial military should not be confused with the conventional realworld concept of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank#Crew "Tank Commander"] (i.e. the commanding officer of a single tank and its crew), though they universally arise from and continue to hold such a position among an elite tank crew{{Fn|1}}. Rather, they are functionally closer to the concept of [https://nationalguard.com/19-armor-officer "Armor Officers"] that: ''"command the armor units and combined Armed Forces during land combat."''
While the distinction is not touched upon within [[Codex: Imperial Guard| Imperial Guard Codices]] or the [[Codex: Space Marines| Space Marine Codices]], it is elaborated more within the [[Imperial Armour]] books. In these books Tank Commanders are typically specified as '''Tank Squadron Commanders''' or '''Tank Company Commanders''', while the conventional term of "Tank Commander" is used in reference to the commanding officer of a single battle tank and its crew.{{Fn|2b}}{{Fn|2a}}
==Sources==
