The Land Raider has its origins in the Dark Age of Technology, when humankind expanded out of its home system. Its construction method was incorporated into the great STC system, allowing it to be built locally by colonists even if they lacked any great technical knowledge. With the widespread breakdown of human civilization during the Age of Strife, production of the vehicle ceased
During the Great Crusade the Land Raider STC design was rediscovered, allowing their manufacture. The discoverer is commonly believed to be the Techno-archaeologist MagosArkhan Land who, at the very birth of the Imperium, is said to have rediscovered the STC designs hidden beneath the surface of Mars. These vehicles were incorporated into the arsenals of the Imperium’s forces, used by both the Space Marine Legions and the Imperial Army. Such was the demand for the Land Raider that an entire Forge World, Anvilus 9, was devoted entirely to Land Raider production, supplying thousands upon thousands of Land Raiders to the Emperor‘s holy forces.
However, at the outset of the Horus Heresy, Anvilus 9 along with other Forge Worlds were seized by the Dark Mechanicum aligned with Horus, while others chose to secede from the Imperium and remain neutral. This would prove to be a terrible blow to the Loyalists as their supply of Land Raiders began to dry up, especially since, in sufficient numbers, Land Raiders can take on and destroy even Titans. With the dark clouds of the rebellion drawing closer to Terra, the Emperor ordered that all Land Raiders still in loyalist service were to be transferred and used exclusively by the Legiones Astartes, who were at the forefront of the fighting. The Emperor was never able to annul the order, and consequently, even after the Heresy, the use of the Land Raider remained exclusive to the Space Marines.
Land Raiders are used by Space Marines as well as by their counterparts in the Traitor Legions, who have continued to employ the vehicle after their defeat and exile.
According to the organizational guidelines laid down by the Codex Astartes, the Land Raider is only used by the 1st Company of a Space Marine chapter. However, some less orthodox chapters are known to use it more widely. The Salamanders chapter uses an altered version of the Codex Astartes with 12 squads in the 1st company instead of 10, increasing the maximum number of Land Raiders available to 12.
Land Raiders may also be formed into Armoured Spearheads, designed to punch holes through enemy lines and allow penetration into their rear areas.
Design
Armament
The Land Raider is armed with a hull-mounted twin-linkedheavy bolter and two side sponsons each with twin-linked lascannons. It may also be fitted with a pintle mountedstorm bolter. Sponson weapons are controlled through a slaved remote targeting system, and aimed through multi-spectral optic periscopes located around the turret rings. The lascannons are of the Godhammer Kz9.76 design, requiring replacement barrels after 2000 shots.
Armour
The Land Raider uses a composite armour created by bonding layers in huge, high-pressure cookers, giving it a level of protection incomparable to most other Imperial vehicles. The first armour layer, in addition to structural supports, is constructed of adamantine. The second is a titanium/plasteel composite used to reinforce strategic locations, such as the assault ramp, front glacis and hatch doors. The next is a thermo-plas fibre mesh to absorb and dissipate high-energy laser weapons, followed by the first of two ceramite layers, designed to ablate against extreme heat and melta weapons. When combined, this armouring makes the Land Raider virtually immune to heavy artillery like Battle Cannons.
Engine
Power for the Land Raider is provided for by a Mars pattern adaptable thermic combustor reaction engine, situated in the rear of the vehicle. It is kept cool by a nitro-ammonium cooling system, and protected from malfunction and Daemonic possession by Adeptus Mechanicus manufacturing sigils and purity seals. The engine provides power for all of the Land Raider’s systems and can propel it up to an on-road speed of 55km/h.
Equipment
Every Land Raider is equipped with automatic control systems known as a Machine Spirit. The Machine Spirit assists the crew in operating the tank and, in extreme circumstances, can operate the vehicle on its own. Perhaps the most famous example of this was Rynn’s Might which, despite lacking any crew, proceeded to kill an OrkWarboss and his followers before eventually being destroyed.
The Land Raider is hermetically sealed, allowing it to operate in outer space or at the bottom of an ocean. It also includes atmospheric sampling equipment, an air filtration and purification unit, and rad-counters for operation in hazardous environments. Each Land Raider also contains significant command and control equipment. The commander is able to monitor his unit’s bio-status and other information through Individual squad status screens, using information transmitted by their power armour through the vehicle’s communications dish. The commander also has access to a holographic tactical display and can directly interface with the Machine Spirit.
The Land Raider has an impressive carrying capacity, either 10 Space Marines in Power Armour or 5 in Terminator Armour. Since it is hermetically sealed, the Land Raider has no fire ports for the embarked troops to use. The Space Marines can exit from three access points, two hatches located on both sides of the vehicle or a special front assault ramp for disembarking troops straight into combat.
No matter what your tastes are model wise, there is a Land Raider for you!
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of LostSouls.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
