Welcome to the next thrilling installment in our multi-part series, where we delve into the bowels of Warhammer 40,000 lore – this time, we’re bringing you up close and personal with the hulking, intimidating war machines of the Imperium: the second-generation tanks.
Picture the scene: a Forge World, bristling with activity as tech-priests and servitors work tirelessly to perfect the art of tank creation. Forge Worlds across the galaxy dared to veer off the beaten path, creating their own, simplified versions of the Baneblade, the standard of Imperial might. These new iterations, dubbed ‘second generation’, were born of necessity and ingenuity, and their birth was not without challenges.
Unlike their forebears, these second generation tanks, came with manual operation of guns and targeting systems, a departure from the automated ctors of the older models. The tank commander, perched atop the turret, was often forced to rely on their own eyesight, as the external view cameras were notorious for providing less than optimal visuals.
The Martian tanks, for example, boasted a unique feature: a hatch that could only be opened by recognising the crew members’ fingerprints. An interesting concept, but factor in the reality of tank operation – hands perpetually smeared in dust and grease – and this feature proved more hindrance than help.
The weaponry accompanying these second generation tanks varied as much as the tanks themselves. Some of them, rare as they may be, even come equipped with a turbo laser.
Let’s turn our attention to one of the most ancient and respected models birthed from the Baneblade: the Shadowsword. This beast of a machine is armed with an awe-inspiring Volcano Cannon, a relic of the Age of Technology. This weapon, with its immense firing range, strikes fear even into the hearts of Titans.
The Forge World of Ryza, known for its production of mighty Titans, also churns out the finest Shadowsword tanks. This is the birthplace of the current, most advanced model of the Volcano Cannon, the MK4. Earlier models, while powerful, were plagued with reliability issues but the MK4 has proven itself a worthy successor.
The secrets of the Volcano Cannon, coupled with the complex requirements of its construction, have resulted in the Shadowsword being produced only on a select few Forge Worlds. Mars, Estaban 3, Faton, and Griffon 4 are among the privileged few.
Inside, the Shadowsword is a marvel of compact efficiency. Despite being more cramped than a Baneblade, it houses a crew of six in its two tiny decks, all built around the monstrous Volcano Cannon. The crew posts include a tank commander, tactical officer and a tertiary gunner, whose job involves managing both the sponson and front gun single-handedly.
In the heart of the Shadowsword beats a powerful generator, tended by a tech-priest whose main duty is to switch between the engine drive mechanisms and the generator for charging the weapon. When the capacitors are fully charged, the Shadowsword has to make a tactical choice: fire or move, but never both at once.
In the end, the second-generation tanks, with their unique quirks and idiosyncrasies, continue to serve the Imperium faithfully. These tanks, rare and formidable, stand testament to the unyielding spirit of humanity in the face of a hostile galaxy.
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