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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→The Bloody 13th
As the Great Crusade progressed, the XIIth Legion was split into a number of independent commands, each many thousands of Space Marines strong. These detachments were notionally used as reserve elements for other Crusade forces, but are in fact recorded as being used as front-line assault troops in many successful campaigns, fighting alongside brother legions such as the [[First Legion]], the [[Iron Warriors]] and the [[Space Wolves]]. Additionally, War Hounds reserves would be sent in to provide a killing edge to various Imperial Army formations in troublesome war-zones. These deployments created the reputation of the War Hounds; they became known Crusade-wide as vicious shock-troops, whose actions were not without cost. It was said that a War Hounds deployment had only two outcomes; glorious, victorious slaughter...or just slaughter. Additionally, rumours began to circulate that the War Hounds were intemperate with all those who stood in their path, friend and foe alike. Stories of the legion culling [[human]] [[regiments]] whose performance they found wanting began to spread. The truth of these rumours could not easily be determined; the War Hounds deliberately kept their distance from other [[Legiones Astartes]] elements where possible. The only definite fact noted about the legion during this time was that they possessed an unusually harsh code of internal discipline, necessitated apparently by their own fractious nature.{{Fn|15b}}
The principal concentration of War Hounds [[astartes]] (around 8,000 Legionaries) had been grouped into the [[13th Expeditionary Fleet]], alongside dedicated support and naval elements. As the Crusade wore on and the various Legions grew in size to the point where they no longer needed a standing reserve reinforcement force, the scattered units of War Hounds were consolidated into the 13th Fleet, upon the legion muster-world of [[Bodt]]. Added to the 13th were many other Imperial forces, especially those who had similarly dark or questionable reputations for violence, particularly [[Feral World]] and [[Abhuman]] troops. Notable additions to the 13th were the [[Titans]] of [[Legio Audax]] and the warriors of the [[Numen Gun Clans]], both powerful elements whose conduct had fallen under a pall of suspicion and distrust. It is believed this particular grouping was a deliberate choice by the [[War Council]] to corral into one force all the Imperial elements which had shown a tendency to cause massive destruction and loss of enemy life during their campaigns, so that the Imperium had a formation at hand that could be deployed where the total annihilation of the enemy and their works was desired. The war record of all of these various forces led to the 13th Expeditionary Fleet becoming known as '''"The Bloody 13th"''' in various Imperial circles.{{Fn|15c}}
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