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Would there ever be a Imperial Guard regiment, or unit of any real size stationed on a Astartes homeworld as a sort of auxiliary force to aid in its defence? I ask because as of late i have noticed alot of IG armys taking on the colors and symbols/ iconography of various SM chapters. Usualy i see it as Ultramarines or Imperial Fists. Is there a story behind this?

Brother Xorus

Short answer:
No.
Astartes homeworlds are usually primitive worlds that in the grand scheme of the Imperium aren't really worth defending.

I don't know of any non-fan created IG armies taking on the colors/symbols/iconography of various SM Chapters.
It might just be people trying to tie their armies together.

Ah, well i did mean fan created, im not a huge buff on IG storylines but thought that it might have some matter of background to it I never read before.

This has only just finished being discussed on the 40k background forum:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/358896.page

As to the examples you gave:

IF - doesn't make much sence fluff wise as the chapter does not have an actual homeworld, they live on a space station, recruiting from multiple worlds with their own seperate IG force, such as Necromunda.

Ultra - They are an exception to the norm, they rule over an exeptionally advanced (by IoM standards) mini-empire, they have the capabilities to field PDFs and enlist IG regiments.

However the majority of space marine worlds are maintained in a lower level of technology, usually pre-blackpowder, with alot of populations having little idea of what the IoM is, let alone starships and aliens. The main point of this is that it means populations are very low, so to raise just one regiment of IG would remove alot of valuable population. Space marine homeworlds are also owned by the chapter and the protection of the world is down to them, so off world IG troops would not be sent to garrison a chapter world.

However, chapter serfs do often serve combat roles of gunners, pilots, and ships crew and i think mention has been made of them also contributing to home fortress gunnery crews and what not. It'd be easy to see a SM chapter maintain at least a small number of regular human forces who can hold down the fort should the majority -or even all- of the chapters Astartes and Scouts actually be called out on duty. Storm trooper equivalents, perhaps.

Brother Xorus wrote:Would there ever be a Imperial Guard regiment, or unit of any real size stationed on a Astartes homeworld as a sort of auxiliary force to aid in its defence? I ask because as of late i have noticed alot of IG armys taking on the colors and symbols/ iconography of various SM chapters. Usualy i see it as Ultramarines or Imperial Fists. Is there a story behind this?

Brother Xorus

Ultramarines does raise their own IG regiments. And a couple of their successor chapters follow their example. I think the chapter of the White Consuls is one of them.

Imperial fists are a fleet-based chapter, and thus have no official homeworld, so it is impossible to see any IG regiment or even PDF unit wearing their colors.

I do agree with much of the other thread's comments. Many SM chapter's would simply be unable to produce their own IG Regiments, but i suppose it would be possible to have a seperate Regiment present on a Homeworld, if for nothing else, logistical reasons. Such as a Regiment being stationed on Baal or any other planet (even though temporary) for resupply, or waiting for reinforcements after a engagement. But then we get into the technicality they would not be doning the colors or heraldry of said SM chaper as they are only "temporary guests" on that planet.

I've often wondered about this, even for fleet based chapters. I've always wondered what might happen if a large portion of the chapter is away from the fortress-monastery, what if it's attacked then? Don't they have some sort of defence force for their fleet?

My thoughts exactly. Especially in the case of Blood Angels (whos lore i love) because the population is so low they would not even be able to raise a rag tag militia with enough number to mouny a serious defence.

The Crimson Fists had ig based with them on rynns world. I dont know what the relationship between the 2 was but they helped out during the invasion.

taylor048 wrote:The Crimson Fists had ig based with them on rynns world. I dont know what the relationship between the 2 was but they helped out during the invasion.

That was PDF.
Most of the time, unless the planet s a fortress world, they won't have Ig based on their world because it kinda flies in the face of their independence.
A chapter might have PDF forces or human serfs to fight for them.

tantan628 wrote:I've often wondered about this, even for fleet based chapters. I've always wondered what might happen if a large portion of the chapter is away from the fortress-monastery, what if it's attacked then? Don't they have some sort of defence force for their fleet?

That's the point of fleet based chapters. Their fortress monastery is usually a battle-barge (like the lamenters, the blood ravens, etc) or a mobile space station like the Ramilies-class Starfort. Which means that their fortress monastery is always very well defended with dozens of naval batteries, defense turrets and the like.

Even in the unlikely event of a boarding assault, there will always be a few companies staying in the fortress-monastery.

And here is what the Armada rulebook says about the serfs guarding SM space-ships:

These serfs are fanatically devoted to their masters, and have usually been inducted into a few rites of the chapter's cult. Unlike their lords, they are still humans. But they are gifted with weapons and trainings far superior to anything normally found on a space ship, thus making any boarding action dangerous, even in the absence of their astartes masters.

These serfs are actually novices that failed an initiation rite, but are still battle-worthy and fanatically loyal to their chapter.

Yeah, my chapter has an entire regiment to defend its possessions. Of course this is the Crusaders who take from the guard as potentials for their chapter.
But thats just my chapter, who are in the ghoul stars next to hundreds of ork held worlds and constant threat so they need men to protect the borders and such.

Brother Xorus wrote:My thoughts exactly. Especially in the case of Blood Angels (whos lore i love) because the population is so low they would not even be able to raise a rag tag militia with enough number to mouny a serious defence.

Space marine chapters have their own serfs, that as well as being good at mopping and cooking are trained to the same level or above as IG andnd in the direst moments the techmarines would awaken the chapters dreadnaughts from their slumber. You have to remember that Chapter monestries are heavily defended and can defend minor attacks but for a major attack the chapter would return in full force to defend it.

For the discussion you must remember the PDF and IG are completely seperate, a PDF force can be completely under the control of the chapter and have no link with the Departmento Munitorum. While by the laws of the IoM a space marine chapter cannot have IG regments under their direct command.