These vehicles actually exist outside of Warhammer 40k, and it’s fun to see the inspiration for all these awesome Games Workshop tank designs!
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the real-life vehicles that could have inspired those iconic Warhammer 40k tank designs. From Soviet and Russian tanks to British Mark IV and V, we’ll explore how Games Workshop may have drawn from various sources to create the models and imagery we know and love today.
Where Games Workshop Got Their Inspiration For Tank Designs
We’re going to say this right off the bat: there are hundreds if not thousands of tanks, books, and source material for GW to pull from for inspiration. We just found a few “low-hanging” examples of very similar-looking real-life vehicles. So we know the Games Workshop tank designs could have been inspired by way more than this, but these particular ones look pretty close!
Space Marines Rhino: M113 APC
The M113 APC is a tank used since the 60s, so it wouldn’t have been that hard for the minds at GW to have seen and taken inspiration for the Rhino from this.
Image Credit: GW
As a matter of fact, the Rhino parked outside their Nottingham HQ is a repainted version of the Blood Raven’s one used to promote Dawn of War II, which is an actual modified M113!
Space Marines Land Raider: British Mark V
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Some of the first battle tanks ever, the Mark IV and V from Britain were created in World War I and serve as the basis for at least two vehicles that still exist in the Warhammer 40k tabletop game today.
Image Credit: Forge World
While they basically added all the guns to a Land Raider, the chassis and tread layout is very similar to the British Mark V tank. It’s also a very close design for the Leman Russ.
Image Credit: Sabretooth Games
There’s a turret on top, and now you have the start of a Leman Russ tank as well! Well, obviously, the Land Raider has a lot more guns/ a front access ramp, and the Russ has a turret!
Imperial Guard Chimera: BMP-3
Image Credit: Wikipedia
The BMP-3 is a Soviet and Russian tank that has been in use from 1987 to the present. It is the successor of the BMP-1 and 2. Which were in use for a really long time before this. If you ask us, this looks an awful lot like a specific GW tank…
Image Credit: Games Workshop
Minus the lasgun ports, this looks pretty identical. The low profile, single turret, the guy hanging out of the top of it. You may say all tanks look pretty similar, though, and you would not be wrong. While that is true, this particular design could easily have been inspired by the BMP-3.
Games Workshop’s First Warhammer 40k Tank
It’s fascinating to see how real-life vehicles can inspire fictional designs, and it highlights the importance of creativity and innovation in the design process. That being said, would you believe the very first tank ‘miniature’ by Games Workshop was a converted toy from Gi Joe?
Image Credit: Wikipedia
These are just a few of the many inspirations GW has used for its vehicles throughout the years. Can you think of any other others (like the Taurox being birthed from the Cougar MRAP) that we didn’t mention?
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What other real-world vehicles or tank designs have you seen on the tabletop from Games Workshop?
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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!
