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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Battlefield Role
[[File:IG5EChimeraArmouredTransport.jpg|200px|right|thumb|300px|A '''Chimera''' moving across the battlefield{{Fn|2a}}]]
The primary duty of the Chimera is to accompany tanks into battle and provide protection for the [[Guardsmen]] within so that they may support the tanks. Standard doctrine states that after the Chimera reaches its objective it lays down covering fire with its heavy weapons while the [[Imperial Guard Squad|squad]] within disembarks and advances. The Chimera then falls back to a firing position from which it can still support the infantry and await orders to race forward and collect the squad again to reposition them.{{Fn|3b}} When operating as part of an armoured advanced the Chimera often operate ahead of or on the flanks, as well as side-by-side with the [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]]s, providing additional weight to the tanks' massed firepower.{{Fn|1}} Besides the added mobility, firepower and protection, Chimeras allow infantry to take extra gear, including med-kits, [[vox]] equipment and more ammunition, making them far more efficient than their foot-slogging infantry.{{Fn|3b}} The Chimera is less useful though when forced to fight in urban settings or as part of static defences.{{Fn|1}}
[[Image:StormtrooperChimera.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Chimera in the service of [[Inquisitorial Stormtrooper]]s.{{Fn|4}}]]
The Chimera can fulfil additional roles and many basic variants of the standard vehicle exist. With their communication equipment and [[scanner]]s Chimeras are suitable command vehicles, while those with [[Dozer Blades]] can clear terrain for heavier vehicles to move through or provide night-time illumination from their [[Searchlight]]s.{{Fn|2a}} While generally armed with a [[Multi-laser]] and [[Heavy Bolter]], those fitted with a [[Heavy Flamer]] are popular when fighting in dense terrain such as jungles and forests; usually one in three Chimeras will be outfitted as a flame tank if other infantry close support vehicles, such as [[Leman Russ Demolisher|Demolishers]], [[Thunderer]]s and [[Hellhound]]s, are unavailable. Those equipped with [[Autocannon]]s also fulfil the light anti-vehicle role, while [[Gryphonne IV]] makes a unique Chimera variant mounting [[twin-linked]] Heavy Bolters, particularly effective against dense infantry formations such as [[Ork]] mobs and [[Tyranid]] swarms.{{Fn|3b}} The Chimera's chassis has also been employed to serve as a base platform for many specialised variants, including fuel tankers, ambulances, munitions carriers and even battlefield construction vehicles with bulldozers and cranes.{{Fn|1}}
Chimeras have also been used by the [[Inquisition]] to transport [[Inquisitor]]s and their [[Inquisitorial Stormtroopers|stormtroopers]],{{Fn|4}} [[Purity Seal]]s affixed to the hulls to protect the vehicles' [[machine spirit]] and its passengers from [[daemonic possession]].{{Fn|1}}
==Technical Information==
