The Baneblade is the primary super-heavy tank used by the Imperial Guard. It comes in several variants based on the needs of the campaign.
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The STC data necessary to create an original Baneblade, including the many advanced systems unique to its construction, is a closely-guarded secret limited to Mars – from which most true Baneblades originate – and a few other favoured Forge Worlds. Baneblades constructed on these worlds will be logged and registered with Mars, with their own identity number and name, and all information pertaining to their whereabouts and crew are regularly reported to their place of origination. As well, due to the nature of such a prime asset, the Adeptus Mechanicus shares responsibility with the Imperial Guard for selecting the crew members of a Baneblade. The main Forge Worlds that produce Baneblades are – Mars, Lucius, and Estaban VII. A number of different super-heavy tanks are based on the Baneblade’s chassis.
The Shadowsword is an Imperial Guardsuper-heavy vehicle based on the Baneblade chassis. While based on the same STC data as the Baneblade, the Shadowsword is specifically armed and equipped to hunt and destroy enemy Titans. For this reason they are only constructed on Forge Worlds which raise Titan Legions and deployed to support forces expecting to face these war engines. The Shadowsword is primarily distinguished from its sister design by its main weapon, the Volcano Cannon. This long-ranged weapon is capable of slicing off the arm or leg of a Titan or killing an enemy war engine with a single shot, though even a Warhound Scout Titan with intact Void Shields can survive a direct hit. The crystals needed for the weapon to fire, are taken from a mineral vein on the Mining World Cinderus XI. Created when Heretic Psykers were slaughtered and buried beneath the lava rivers on the planet, after a failed plot to kill the Planetary Governor, the crystals cause a loud crackling noise to be emitted by the Volcano Cannon when fired. It is assisted by advanced logis-engines and targeting equipment for accurate long-range fire. The power needed to produce this devastating blow is drawn from the Shadowsword’s capacitors, which themselves draw power from the tank’s engine, however just one shot will completely drain them. In order to recharge the capacitors the engine’s main drive must be disconnected and the generator connected in its place, rendering the tank stationary.
This process is overseen by a dedicated Enginseer, whether an actual member of the Adeptus Mechanicus or a highly-trained Imperial Guard specialist, who monitors the power flow from engine to generator and otherwise helps maintain the vehicle. On average it can take a Shadowsword two minutes to fully charge its four-terawatt capacitors, assuming its systems are functioning normally. Because of its slow rate of fire the Shadowsword often operates with lighter vehicles who protect it against enemy assaults and help initiate an attack on an enemy Titan. While the Shadowsword lies in ambush the smaller vehicles attempt to strip the enemy’s Void Shields at which point the Shadowsword may deliver the killing blow. For defense, the Shadowsword has two remote-controlled side sponsons fitted with Twin-linked Heavy Bolters or Heavy Flamers. Some Shadowswords will instead replace these sponsons for extra armoring or add a second set of sponsons, each fitted with the same weapons as the originals. In addition to this, many crews will install a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter or Heavy Stubber, and/or a Hunter-Killer Missile on their tanks. Finally, all Shadowswords are equipped with Smoke Launchers to increase survivability and a Searchlight for night-fighting.
Like the Baneblade a “true” Shadowsword will have its own number and name and be registered on Mars, where all of its deeds shall be recorded regularly. So-called “counterfeit” Shadowswords are produced by Forge Worlds which don’t have access to the same STC data and are consequently less advanced than those which have been properly constructed and consecrated: their logic engines and targeters will be more primitive, their capacitors or engine less efficient, their remote-controlled sponson weapons replaced with crewed versions, and the Volcano Cannon may be replaced with a large Plasma Cannon, a huge Battle Cannon or a Turbo Laser.
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