Hobbyists have been up in arms over the look of Space Marine Desolators weapons, and here is the secret behind those provocative weapons!
These have been some of the most controversial models GW has released in a while, well, controversial in terms of their reception!
Hobbyists have had a lot of questions about the design and sometimes why they were even made. However, we might have found some inspiration for the new Space Marines Desloators weapons and why GW went not only with the design but also maybe the rules!
While GW would never really confirm the design choice, it makes sense when you see it (at least to us). So, let’s see if the secret has actually been solved!
The Secret Behind Space Marines Desolators Provocative Weapons Solved
According to Warhammer Community, these weapons have an exciting underslung mode of fire.
The belt-fed castellan launcher saturates the sky with guided bomblets that rain down on the enemy wherever they hide.
So, really, the weapons have a mode of fire that is basically a belt-fed grenade launcher that can explode in the sky. They can also fire rockets as the main weapon, but we all know that part is not belt-fed.
Interestingly enough, in real life, there is something very similar.
General Dynamics MK-19 Grenade Launcher
The MK-19 grenade launcher has been around for a little while, and guess what? It’s also belt-fed grenade launcher!
Even the ammo box the Space Marine is carrying looks a lot like this one. Not only that, the MK-19 even has airbursting grenades now as well. Obviously, tsoldiers today aren’t giant humans in power armor, so this weapon is either fired on a tripod or mounted on a vehicle.
According to Wikipedia, the MK-19 sounds an awful lot like the GW description:
General Dynamics entered into an agreement with Advanced Material Engineering Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Kinetics, to manufacture 40 mm high-velocity airburst ammunition for the U.S. military. The 40 mm airburst grenade uses a programmable, time-based fuse that computes and programs the detonation time into it, which counts down once fired to zero to detonate at the intended target point. The airburst ammunition is compatible with the Mk 19, which would give it greater effectiveness and lethality, particularly against concealed and defilade targets.
Hmmmmm, that sounds a lot like the GW description, and we know they love to take inspiration from existing weapons and vehicles. While the barrel on the MK-19 isn’t nearly as ridiculous as the Space Marines Desolators, the ammo feeds and the description sound very similar.
Or, there’s always another possibility, for where Games Workshop grabbed their inspiration as well.
Space Marines, It’s NERF or Nothing!
From Sepulchre of Heroes’ Comments Page
GW might just be trying to get into NERF mods, and this is their first step in their next licensing deal!
So, either way, we may have just cracked the code! GW is taking inspiration from current-era weaponry, or they are just taking a first timid step into the NERF waters!
All the Latest Warhammer Rules & Model Rumors
What do you think about the new weapons and rules for the Desolator Squad? What inspiration seems more likely?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
