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I've always taken for granted the awesome backpacks of the Space Marines. But as I was building a squad, I noticed all the little vents and little extras. What is the actual purpose of their backpacks? It doesnt seem like they could open them up and store rations or supplies in there either. Knowing Space Marines, theres gotta be some tactical purpose. Does anyone know?

Thanks, Max

It's basically a battery that they carry on their back to power their armor, nothing special.

chainsword135 wrote:I've always taken for granted the awesome backpacks of the Space Marines. But as I was building a squad, I noticed all the little vents and little extras. What is the actual purpose of their backpacks? It doesnt seem like they could open them up and store rations or supplies in there either. Knowing Space Marines, theres gotta be some tactical purpose. Does anyone know?

Thanks, Max

From Lexicanum: "The backpack contains the main power plant, environmental system and additional stabilizers."

So basically what was mentioned in the last comment, a battery for Space Marine power armor.

Here's a pic of the armour which might explain a bit.

It's an oldie from Rogue Trader, but I don't think the basics have changed very much

Space Marine backpack has a sub-atomic core which can operate almost infinitly.

It along with the black carapace allow the marine to move as if he didn't actually have the armor on by powering the armor.

And has a lot of gimmicks that help the Marine to operate idependently for vast periods of time like fluids recyclers, temperature regulators, and heat dispersers.

Besides, Marines without backpacks don't look manly enough.

Edit: Ups, I haven't seen the pic. It is self explanatory...

As was said, it's the powerplant for their armor. That Rogue Trader pic is a little dated though. They're definitely described as being some kind of mini nuclear reactor, powering the armor for years I would assume. As in the Rogue Trader pic, the backpack does also contain life support systems, like air and water recyclers.

So when they show marines walking around without their backpacks, those guys are getting quite a workout.

Then, what about the two jet exhausts thingies on each side of the backpack? I've always wondered what their purpose was. Are they really jet exhausts? Does it mean that a SM can perform combat drops from an aircraft like an IG drop-trooper?

Um, no - only when wearing jump packs.

Given the description in the cross-section, I would say they assist with stabilizing the wearer. The heavy backpack probably creates a bit of an overweight there that may otherwise unbalance a Marine (or a Sister) in the midst of combat and would make him/her fall over. The exhausts, whilst not being powerful enough to replace a jump pack, could serve to assist in retaining balance. They're even called "stabilising jets" on the pic.

They would also be useful for movement in the void or on low gravity zones, though. We had such a situation in our Dark Heresy RPG a few weeks ago - one character basically spiraling out of control whilst trying to "float" over to another spaceship, but then able to use the backpack to slow down and finally stop the spinning motion.

[edit] Or did you mean the exhaust pipes on the lower section? I would say they're merely there to vent heat.

I always assumed all backpacks in 40K were for carrying delicious deli sammiches across the war torn hell of 40K.

I have very little evidence to back this up however and I see a myriad of fluff problems ranging from helmets to lighting claws that would make this difficult.

BeefCakeSoup wrote:I always assumed all backpacks in 40K were for carrying delicious deli sammiches across the war torn hell of 40K.

I have very little evidence to back this up however and I see a myriad of fluff problems ranging from helmets to lighting claws that would make this difficult.

But aren't lighting claws retractable? but I like this idea. The uber-cool backpack of Deli-deliciousness! (spelling error only partially intentional )

The backpacks can also be handy in battle. It can be used to launch the wearer a couple of meters forward, in effect, allowing a space marine to dash incredibly quick from cover to cover or to launch a 2 ton Angel of Death right into the face of one unfortunate enough to be in front of him.

And hopefully that isn't an accurate drawing of power armour, cause the part where the legs attach to the groin looks incredibly uncomfortable unless you have really odd shaped legs

LumenPraebeo wrote:And hopefully that isn't an accurate drawing of power armour, cause the part where the legs attach to the groin looks incredibly uncomfortable unless you have really odd shaped legs

That's what surgery is for.

As for "launching the wearer" - has that actually been mentioned in studio material or is it just novel stuff? It sounds feasible, I just had not thought that the jets would be this strong but rather limited to a supporting role.

I always assumed the side vents would be used in space or other low gravity areas to help the marine move and not have to try to "swim" through space

Pilau Rice wrote:Here's a pic of the armour which might explain a bit.

It's an oldie from Rogue Trader, but I don't think the basics have changed very much

Ah that's classic!

Actually, I think I remember seeing a picture of two guardsmen descending onto two orks while the guardsmen were wearing marine backpacks.

It's a nuclear power core, and also contains other technical wizardry.

It's a tank for when they have to...you know...go.

I always assumed the vents on the sides were just vents, for whatever sort of exhaust the power source generates. Never figured the IoM would worry about being eco-friendly.

LumenPraebeo wrote:...
And hopefully that isn't an accurate drawing of power armour, cause the part where the legs attach to the groin looks incredibly uncomfortable unless you have really odd shaped legs

I agree

I believe if a Marine loses the backpack, he retains power for two hours.

One of the BL books (I can't remember which) has backpacks being plugged into some sort of charging point on the wall of a Thunderhawk, implying that the power armour can operate for a time without it's primary power source.

While I suppose that the armour could have some sort of back-up battery on board I find this unlikely, as the backpack is such an intrinsic and important part of the power armour.

As a side issue, just how is power armour split to enable the wearer to get in it? Surely the torso must be in two pieces with the join vertically along the sides?

The diagram above answers that question.

farmersboy wrote:One of the BL books (I can't remember which) has backpacks being plugged into some sort of charging point on the wall of a Thunderhawk, implying that the power armour can operate for a time without it's primary power source.

I've actually adopted a similar path of thought. The graphic novel Daemonifuge has some Sisters walking around without the backpack, though that was only for a meeting where the armour just serves ceremonial purpose. Now, of course all BL books including graphic novels are not to be considered canon, but this is one of the ideas that I have adopted for my personal perception of the setting - basically the armour having an internal battery for a few hours of independent operation, this duration being inspired by how long "civilian" power armour without such a backpack can work in FFG's RPG.
For factions that have access to the reactor pack, such internal batteries would likely make sense as a fallback solution in case the backpack gets damaged and has to be discarded, or for the aforementioned ceremonial purpose where one simply does not expect combat.
Of course, anyone is free to make up his own mind on this, though.

the vents are probably just that, Vents.

they probably are a cooling mechanisim for the reactor the pack has inside.

Found it.

That actually doesn't seem too far off - something that can be used to stabilize the movement of a ~.5+ tons Space Marine in full power armour could easily fling 80 kilos of human into the air.

What about scouts?They don't have a backpack.Terminators have all of this inbuilt so they are fine.

Scouts don't need a Backpack. Carapace armour isn't powered.