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==Overview==
The Stormbird was developed to replace the older [[Skylance]] gunships of the [[Unification Wars]].{{Fn|7}} Capable of both void and atmospheric flight, the Stormbird was first manufactured on [[Terra]], by the Yndonesic Bloc for use against the Panpacific tribes, during the end stages of the [[Unification Wars]]. The Stormbird could carry at least 50 fully armored armoured marines into battles.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|4}} Alternatively it could carry up to 5 [[Space Marine Dreadnought|Dreadnoughts]], including the mighty [[Leviathan Dreadnought|Leviathan]]; [[Jump-pack]] equipped infantry; [[Rapier]] batteries; bikes; [[jetbike]]s; a [[Rhino]] armoured transport; or a mixed force. The Stormbird’s standard armament was four turret-mounted twin linked [[lascannon]]s, three twin-linked [[heavy bolter]]s, and a complement of six [[dreadstrike missile]]s. It was also equipped with particularly dense composite armour plating, and is further protected by a series of [[void shield]] generators which it can extend to protect disembarking troops and war machines. Its shields allowed it to be impervious to all ground fire save [[Defense Laser]]s.{{Fn|8}} The Stormbird could forego all of its missile armaments for a single [[Macro-bomb Cluster Payload|macro-bomb cluster payload]]. It can also mount additional targeting equipment to relay precise [[Orbital Bombardment|orbital strikes]].{{Fn|17}}
They were in use throughout the Great Crusade, although by the time of the [[Horus Heresy]], most of the Legions had switched to the smaller, more agile Thunderhawk. The [[Luna Wolves]] were one of the few Legions that deliberately kept Stormbirds in service, since these ships had carried them into battle since the beginning{{Fn|1}}. A Stormbird was piloted by two Marines sitting back-to-back, along with two hard-wired servitors{{Fn|1}}. During the Heresy, [[Nathaniel Garro]], former Captain of the [[Death Guard]] Legion, used a Stormbird to travel to various planets, on the orders of [[Malcador the Sigillite]]. Like Garro's [[Power Armour]], the ship bore no Legion insignia or colours, and was a uniform grey{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}.
