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I'm just kind of curious. I know some chapters specialize in certain actions, like the White Scars specialize in fast attack, Imperial Fists in siege warfare, etc. But are there any loyalist chapters that specialize in boarding actions and CQC? The only chapter I can think of that had that sort of specialization off the top of my head is the Blood Gorgons, but they're traitors.

The Alfa Legion's 9th Company.

Engir Krakendoom's Great Company of the Space Wolves, not a chapter, but his great company is supposed to specialize in ship-to-ship and boarding actions.

The soul drinkers, when they were loyal, specialized in boarding iirc.

The Deathwing's association with Space Hulk has made them specialize in boarding ops in canon imo.

Minotaurs and Charcaradons IIRC (although obviously they both specialise in close combat in general too), and the Space Wolves specialise in general close quarters.

Soul Drinkers are excomuniatus but behave in a loyal way thinking that the emperor blessed them with their mutations. I would personally like to see them escape in a book and come back.

Black Templars are great for boarding.

Following the Horus Heresy the Astartes had their fleet assets restricted, altho some chapters like to probe the limits with the Nova class Frigate (something the Imperial Navy objects to strongly) the majority of Astartes vessels comply with restrictions on ship-to-ship weaponry that leave them undergunned for their size - boarding actions are the Astartes standard MO for dealing with enemy vessels of equal or greater size, its why they are called Space Marines. Asking if any Space Marines specialise in boarding actions is a bit like asking if any Brain Surgeons specialise in Brain Surgery.

IIRC the Lamentors were supposed to be rather good at it.

SerQuintus wrote:
Following the Horus Heresy the Astartes had their fleet assets restricted, altho some chapters like to probe the limits with the Nova class Frigate (something the Imperial Navy objects to strongly) the majority of Astartes vessels comply with restrictions on ship-to-ship weaponry that leave them undergunned for their size - boarding actions are the Astartes standard MO for dealing with enemy vessels of equal or greater size, its why they are called Space Marines. Asking if any Space Marines specialise in boarding actions is a bit like asking if any Brain Surgeons specialise in Brain Surgery.

Can we have any sources on this?

 megabambam wrote:

SerQuintus wrote:
Following the Horus Heresy the Astartes had their fleet assets restricted, altho some chapters like to probe the limits with the Nova class Frigate (something the Imperial Navy objects to strongly) the majority of Astartes vessels comply with restrictions on ship-to-ship weaponry that leave them undergunned for their size - boarding actions are the Astartes standard MO for dealing with enemy vessels of equal or greater size, its why they are called Space Marines. Asking if any Space Marines specialise in boarding actions is a bit like asking if any Brain Surgeons specialise in Brain Surgery.

Can we have any sources on this?

Shouldn't be that hard to find. Sources are scattered all over for the break up of the space marine Legions. The BFG sourcebook on space marine fleets would be a good start I'd imagine for the source on the Nova Class frigates

Its under the 'Imperial Fleets' PDF for the Battlefleet gothic resources.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat480005a&categoryId=6700003a§ion=&aId=21500018a

Pretty sure I remember a Space Wolf firing himself out of a torpedo bay.. that or an Angry Marine, so either of those two I guess

World Eaters.

They alone had specialized magnetic harpoons (forget the name of them now) that they used to snare enemy ships, pull them close, and launch boarding pods. They weren't overly fond of void warfare.

 Just Dave wrote:
Minotaurs and Charcaradons IIRC (although obviously they both specialise in close combat in general too), and the Space Wolves specialise in general close quarters.

I run Minotaurs, they are siege specialists.

 Omegus wrote:
World Eaters.

They alone had specialized magnetic harpoons (forget the name of them now) that they used to snare enemy ships, pull them close, and launch boarding pods. They weren't overly fond of void warfare.

Ursus claws, and even the Titan Legio attached to them had miniature versions of them on their Titans, which doesn't make nearly as much sense.

The Black Templars should be pretty boss at it considering they're an entirely space-bound CC specialist Chapter.

 Oakenshield wrote:

 Omegus wrote:
World Eaters.

They alone had specialized magnetic harpoons (forget the name of them now) that they used to snare enemy ships, pull them close, and launch boarding pods. They weren't overly fond of void warfare.

Ursus claws, and even the Titan Legio attached to them had miniature versions of them on their Titans, which doesn't make nearly as much sense.

Well, they did come in handy that one time where they managed to drag an Imperator's arms downward, so it couldn't fire without nuking its friends or incinerating its own legs. But yeah, harpoons on titans, silly-ass Angron.

krazynadechukr wrote:

 Just Dave wrote:
Minotaurs and Charcaradons IIRC (although obviously they both specialise in close combat in general too), and the Space Wolves specialise in general close quarters.

I run Minotaurs, they are siege specialists.

Minotaurs are actually anti-other-marines specialists. Siege specialists are the imperial fists and iron warriors.

Charcaradons/space sharks are noted for CQB/boarding type things IIRC, but again as said SPHEEEEEES marines means that they're all trained for elite boarding actions in CQB.

Well... being marines, they should all have a pretty good handle on it. So you can pretty much pick and choose any that you like.

 Spyral wrote:

krazynadechukr wrote:

 Just Dave wrote:
Minotaurs and Charcaradons IIRC (although obviously they both specialise in close combat in general too), and the Space Wolves specialise in general close quarters.

I run Minotaurs, they are siege specialists.

Minotaurs are actually anti-other-marines specialists. Siege specialists are the imperial fists and iron warriors.

Charcaradons/space sharks are noted for CQB/boarding type things IIRC, but again as said SPHEEEEEES marines means that they're all trained for elite boarding actions in CQB.

Dave is correct as linky http://web.archive.org/web/20080410234840/http://uk.games-workshop.com/spacemarines/cursed/3/

The Minotaurs' most famous action, and the only one for which they have been officially recognised, was their assault on the Lamenters' fleet during the Badab Uprising. The Lamenters, thought also to be a 21st Founding Chapter, had sided with the rebel Astral Claws in the uprising, and the Minotaurs vented their full fury on their wayward kin in a series of savage boarding actions that severely depleted the Lamenters' numbers and forced their eventual surrender.

I can't remember if it is the case in the Imperial Armour book so will have to look.

Charcaradons are brutal CC specialists. Im sure ive heard some references to them and boarding actions somewhere.