This Lascannon heavy alternate pattern of the Predator Battle Tank, was designed the Space Wolves and was decried by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Via our good friends at Lexicanum
The Predator is a battle tank employed by the Space Marines. It is a more heavily armed and armored version of the Rhino personnel carrier. There are two major patterns of Predator, the Destructor and the Annihilator, primarily distinguished by their specific weaponry. The Blood Angels and their Successor Chapters employ the assault-oriented Baal Predator. Construction of Predators remains restricted to a Chapter’s Armory or allied Forge World, with most Chapters fielding between twenty to thirty of all types. However, some Chapters are known to contain several hundred battle tanks, though that number includes Land Raiders as well.
The Predator Annihilator is the second and latter of the two major patterns, though its introduction was not without controversy. According to the Liber Armorum the model did not appear until M36 – when it first appeared during the Skarath Crusade. The Adeptus Mechanicus was suitably infuriated at the Space Wolves’ blasphemous alteration to a holy design, however their success could not be denied. While the Space Wolves continued to field Predator Annihilators, the Tech-priests examined the design, debated its sanctity in councils and ran extensive trials. Two hundred years later, it was found that the modified tank was not only acceptable to the Machine God, but that the Predator was intentionally designed to accept such a retrofit. The Predator Annihilator has since found its way into the Armouries of many other Space Marine Chapters and therefore seeing increasing use close to it’s cousin.
Armament
In place of the Syrtis pattern Autocannon, the Predator Annihilator mounts twin-linked ‘Stormbringer’ Lascannons equipped with flash dampeners and focusing rings. Powered by diaquartzoid crystal batteries, each lascannon has a barrel life of 1000 shots before it warps and must be replaced. The weapon sponsons can be easily changed by Techmarines even during an active campaign, so the Predator Annihilator can be equipped with either heavy bolter or lascannon sponsons as the battlefield situation dictates, as long as there are alternative weapons available.
Equipment
Smoke Launchers and a Searchlight are standard options on a Predator Annihilator. It may be further upgraded with Dozer Blades, Extra Armour, a Hunter-killer Missile, and a Pintle-mounted Stormbolter.
