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As in title.

I'm drafting notes for a seminole war chess inspired narrative campaign and i'm wondering if there is a precedent (or at minimum, a valid reason) for a tactical squad to forgo any special/heavy weaponry.

So as a draft background to my setting, I have the 1st Tactical Squad, Fifth Battle Company being deployed to some mudball jungle shithole to assist the Imperial Lieutenant Commander raise the Imperial Banner over a feral ork infested forested valley. And this understrength squad, is going in barebones. No special or heavy weaponry. Would a tactical squad ever willingly deploy to a low-intensity combat zone sans special/heavy weaponry?

How about running out of ammo for special/heavies?

The good thing about being a Space Marine, is that you can fight pretty effectively with whatever is to hand.

Yes, there are the traditional weapons (Bolters of varying size, Chainswords etc), and Codex Recommended equipment. But there’s still reality to contend with.

For historical context? In Rogue Trader they might be armed with Autoguns, Shuriken Catapults etc. And in-game history, the Blackshields of the Heresy era likewise used pretty much whatever they could get their hands on.

Whilst I don’t think many Chapters would opt to go without support weapons in a squad regularly? They can be a funny lot, Space Marines.

Perhaps they have a non-standard process for blooding recruits. So once you’re out of the Scout Company and are a full battle brother, you join a basic Tactical Squad. One armed only with Bolters. Or perhaps it’s a mark of Veterancy within a Battle Compant. A sign the Brothers in the squad are so competent, they don’t need the support, or are sent on rapid strikes to clear out buildings where, outside of a flamer, the other weapons are just an encumbrance. Or as a way to honour the Crusade Legions, where the Tactical Squad was just Bolters.

Perhaps your Chapter is down on its luck, and has had to prioritise its supply chain to keep the basics flowing.

Various and sundry other possibilities exist