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So I have a few points I would like to gather some fluff on:

1) Are superheavy tanks common? Are they as common/uncommon as Marines?
2) There is precedent for them to be organized into regiments and companies. These are usually doled out in singles or company sizes to support other forces, yes? Are superheavy regiments ever fielded as a whole, like Infantry Regiments and some Armored Regiments are?
3) Corollary to 2: Do superheavy regiments get support, or are they the regiment that is split up to support someone else?
4) What about regimental Commissars? Do they just take over one of the regimental heavy tanks, regardless of whether or not they have the specialized training a superheavy tank crewman requires?
5) Are there mixed regiments of superheavy types? Not variants (Shadowsword, Baneblade, etc) but actual tank types (Malcador, Baneblade, Macharius)? I understand these may be formed as replacements roll in / regiments are merged, but would a newly-founded regiment have its supply lines complicated by having a bunch of different tank types around?
6) Corollary to 3: Do SHTRs have a dedicated maintenance company to keep them operational, similarly to other Armored Regiments?
7) Corollary to 6 and 3: Does the Munitorum's law forcing Imperial Guard regiments to not include support units extend to SHTRs? As in, they have no organic support elements at all?
8) Corollary to 2 and 3: Would an SHTR be split up and doled out to forces other than the Imperial Guard such as the Adepta Sororitas? And if so, whose officers would be in charge - the company of Superheavies (very valuable and probably influential people) or the Sororitas Convent (very valuable and probably influential people)? Could a Baneblade be under the direct command of a Canoness? A Chapter Master? A Rogue Trader? A Lord Admiral of the Fleet? Conversely, would any of them be under the command of the relevant superheavy officer (Company CO, for example)?


That's all for now, but I am sure to think of others, especially if the answers to these are intriguing!

Superheavy tanks are common enough, but like anything, that's relative. An armored regiment usually has at least one superheavy to call upon. There's definitely more Baneblades than there are Space Marines. But you need to remember that the Imperium consists of over a million worlds. You're looking at several million superheavies there, but spread out over that whole expanse. That is why they are such game changers when they are deployed. One Baneblade might be the only superheavy in an entire subsector, while a Forge World could have dozens or even hundreds to call upon.

Do you think that comparative rarity of Baneblades can garner for them the same or a similar legendary status to the Adeptus Astartes?

I doubt they would be so mythical (i.e. not Angels of Death or anything) but they certainly could be legendary; that is to say, is it conceivable that people could embark on a pilgrimage just to see/touch/whatever a superheavy?

Would a superheavy regiment gain some bizarre pilgrim followers, like groupies?

Nah. Superheavies are just uncommon guard tanks. Your average Guardsman could expect to see one during his service time. Nothing really to inspire awe in people trying to seek religious enlightenment.

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Nah. Superheavies are just uncommon guard tanks. Your average Guardsman could expect to see one during his service time. Nothing really to inspire awe in people trying to seek religious enlightenment.

Didn't think so, actually. But the comparison to Marines got me thinking - one million marines, 12 million superheavies - that would mean that superheavies are 1/12th as legendary as marines, which is still badass amounts of legendary.

Because that's how math works. Or something.

Baneblades wouldn't be all that unusual. Some exotic variants might, but overall they won't be too odd.

Commissars would receive training in tank commanding, they're expected to take command in many situations.

Now, a super heavy company would be unusual. You might see 1-2 in an armored company, but a company made up of only a dozen or so super heavies is the stuff of legend.

Most regiments have a gaggle of civilian support following them around. These companies will receive special support from the Munitorum as the vehicles are extremely valuable as well. They will also usually be spread out across a warzone unless they're needed in one location.

Thanks, Grey Templar.

It's worth noting that 3-5 Superheavy Tanks is considered a company, and that (per the 4th edition apoc rulebook) 3 companies are the minimum size for a regiment. So a superheavy regiment could consist of as few as 10 vehicles (3 companies of 3 plus a command vehicle). That's around 100 men, given that baneblades and their variants have ~10 crewmen.

Do you think such regiments still would receive dedicated AA units and maintenance units? I feel like they would be disproportionately weighted towards the support units on the TO&E - you'd have like 500 men supporting 100 men and 10 tanks.

Good point about the trained Commissars - so they would just hijack a tank then, and leave the commander to do what? Find another tank?

It's best not to think of the scale of logistics which would be required to support operational level (regimental) employment of super heavy tanks in 40k.

The scale of aerospace defence a ground commander would require to ensure freedom of movement and use of the firepower which the super heavies bring to the fight could not be dedicated (organic) due to the nature and capabilities of the potential threats - space based capital ships, monitor type orbital weapon platforms, atmospheric 'gunships', tactical fighter's and surface to surface missiles.

Just like it best not to think how a non enhanced human could provide any type of combat value with the lethality of weapons which are known to exist on the 40k battlefield.

40k is the romance of war in a cool scfi universe - not the staff work required to concentrate men and material at a point of your choosing on the enemy's 'line'. Not the descion making of who dies in place, of how many men a leader must sacrifice to allow other men the chance of survival.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
Thanks, Grey Templar.

It's worth noting that 3-5 Superheavy Tanks is considered a company, and that (per the 4th edition apoc rulebook) 3 companies are the minimum size for a regiment. So a superheavy regiment could consist of as few as 10 vehicles (3 companies of 3 plus a command vehicle). That's around 100 men, given that baneblades and their variants have ~10 crewmen.

Do you think such regiments still would receive dedicated AA units and maintenance units? I feel like they would be disproportionately weighted towards the support units on the TO&E - you'd have like 500 men supporting 100 men and 10 tanks.

Good point about the trained Commissars - so they would just hijack a tank then, and leave the commander to do what? Find another tank?

I'd imagine that each Baneblade would have at least several tows ready to pull it out and a huge maintenance team. Maybe like 50-100 men per Baneblade type tank. Baneblades are a lot more valuable and complex than your Leman Russ or Chimera.

Okay, so no real organic Air Defense - High Command probably ensures (or seeks to ensure) that Baneblades are used in areas where plenty of air defense assets have been allocated already, rather than assigning them directly to the regimental commander of the big tanks.

And yes, that's true - a big maintenance team really isn't so unbelievable. Would it be equipped with Atlas recovery tanks (which canonically can pull baneblades) or some sort of bizarre, larger, recovery vehicle?

I do not think a Superheavy Company would be given a significant amount of Air Defense assets as the Imperial Guard likes to keep it's regiments broken up dependent on role. So... maybe a Hydra or two but a whole battery would have to be assigned to it by High Command from another regiment.

If it's good enough I don't see why the Departmento Munitorum would assign a different kind of recovery vehicle to the superheavy regiments. That would just make maintaining the recovery vehicles a lot harder.

 TheCustomLime wrote:
I do not think a Superheavy Company would be given a significant amount of Air Defense assets as the Imperial Guard likes to keep it's regiments broken up dependent on role. So... maybe a Hydra or two but a whole battery would have to be assigned to it by High Command from another regiment.

If it's good enough I don't see why the Departmento Munitorum would assign a different kind of recovery vehicle to the superheavy regiments. That would just make maintaining the recovery vehicles a lot harder.

Well... a recovery vehicle based on the LRBT chassis might have trouble with anything much bigger than a LRBT.

 EmpNortonII wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
I do not think a Superheavy Company would be given a significant amount of Air Defense assets as the Imperial Guard likes to keep it's regiments broken up dependent on role. So... maybe a Hydra or two but a whole battery would have to be assigned to it by High Command from another regiment.

If it's good enough I don't see why the Departmento Munitorum would assign a different kind of recovery vehicle to the superheavy regiments. That would just make maintaining the recovery vehicles a lot harder.

Well... a recovery vehicle based on the LRBT chassis might have trouble with anything much bigger than a LRBT.

Well, according to Lexicanum;

The Atlas is a stripped-down Leman Russ with no turret, weakened armour and a supercharged engine to enable it to move weights in excess of 60 tonnes, with three or more needed to tow a Super Heavy Tank. When performing battlefield recovery an attached crane hooks up the immobilised vehicle while a rear spade is lowered to prevent the Atlas from being dragged backwards as it winces up the vehicle. The damaged vehicle will then be towed back to the safety of friendly lines where it will be placed on large flatbed trailers towed by Trojans and deliver to the regimental field workshop.

 Furyou Miko wrote:

 EmpNortonII wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
I do not think a Superheavy Company would be given a significant amount of Air Defense assets as the Imperial Guard likes to keep it's regiments broken up dependent on role. So... maybe a Hydra or two but a whole battery would have to be assigned to it by High Command from another regiment.

If it's good enough I don't see why the Departmento Munitorum would assign a different kind of recovery vehicle to the superheavy regiments. That would just make maintaining the recovery vehicles a lot harder.

Well... a recovery vehicle based on the LRBT chassis might have trouble with anything much bigger than a LRBT.

Well, according to Lexicanum;

The Atlas is a stripped-down Leman Russ with no turret, weakened armour and a supercharged engine to enable it to move weights in excess of 60 tonnes, with three or more needed to tow a Super Heavy Tank. When performing battlefield recovery an attached crane hooks up the immobilised vehicle while a rear spade is lowered to prevent the Atlas from being dragged backwards as it winces up the vehicle. The damaged vehicle will then be towed back to the safety of friendly lines where it will be placed on large flatbed trailers towed by Trojans and deliver to the regimental field workshop.

I have a feeling that 3 Atlas ARV's dragging a Baneblade would be far more difficult than simply having a baneblade sized ARV doing it alone. What if one of them gets stuck or hit? Poof, and the recovery operation is gone.

Besides, we got a good parallel with the German PzKpw VI Tiger. They (Supposedly) had a variant named the Bergetiger, meant to be an ARV for Tigers. A Baneblade variant made in the same way? Not impossible.

So one Altas could not pull an Abrams? What gak technology they have in the 41st.

Hmm.. I would have thought that the pulling capacity of the Atlas would be more based on what it was pulling rather than just how heavy it was. If the tracks and/or wheels are working in any way and you can disengage the drivetrain from them then friction is going to reduce subtantially.

There's also the logistical aspect, during WW2 at least the British Army made ARV conversions of almost every tank they used specifically so that units wouldn't have to worry about acquiring a separate set of spare parts just to keep their ARV running (IE: Sherman company gets a Sherman ARV, Cromwell company gets a Cromwell ARV).

 Grey Templar wrote:
Baneblades wouldn't be all that unusual. Some exotic variants might, but overall they won't be too odd.

But just as in real life I'd imagine a Baneblade commanded by the legendary Commander Blowshituppus would be considered a legendary vehicle in itself. Not as legendary as a heroic Space Marine Chapter Master (or his personal Land Raider), but still something the regiment would be very anxious to recover if it was immobilized or knocked out in battle.

Spetulhu wrote:
but still something the regiment would be very anxious to recover if it was immobilized or knocked out in battle.

This reminds me of the Fortress of Arrogance.

It was a just a front for something much bigger.

 Gashrog wrote:
There's also the logistical aspect, during WW2 at least the British Army made ARV conversions of almost every tank they used specifically so that units wouldn't have to worry about acquiring a separate set of spare parts just to keep their ARV running (IE: Sherman company gets a Sherman ARV, Cromwell company gets a Cromwell ARV).

And to pull some of the German tanks took up to 5 towing vehicles.

The Elephant and the Konnigstiger needed 5 tanks to tow them out of battle. It was possible for a tiger to tow another tiger, but there was a good chance of blowing the engine out.

 Bobthehero wrote:
It was a just a front for something much bigger.

I am aware, but it was still not seen as out of place.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
1) Are superheavy tanks common? Are they as common/uncommon as Marines?

I'd say they are more common.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
2) There is precedent for them to be organized into regiments and companies. These are usually doled out in singles or company sizes to support other forces, yes? Are superheavy regiments ever fielded as a whole, like Infantry Regiments and some Armored Regiments are?

They are split up to support armoured assaults across the warzone.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
3) Corollary to 2: Do superheavy regiments get support, or are they the regiment that is split up to support someone else?

Same as number 2.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
4) What about regimental Commissars? Do they just take over one of the regimental heavy tanks, regardless of whether or not they have the specialized training a superheavy tank crewman requires?

As Grey Templar mentioned, Commissars are expected to be able to overtake the command if he sees fit. Also, a Commissar attached to tank regiment would receive training in tank operations.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
5) Are there mixed regiments of superheavy types? Not variants (Shadowsword, Baneblade, etc) but actual tank types (Malcador, Baneblade, Macharius)? I understand these may be formed as replacements roll in / regiments are merged, but would a newly-founded regiment have its supply lines complicated by having a bunch of different tank types around?

Malcador and Macharius are heavy tanks. They are operated in normal Tank regiments.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
6) Corollary to 3: Do SHTRs have a dedicated maintenance company to keep them operational, similarly to other Armored Regiments?

No regiment of any type have their own support units, due to the structuring of the IG/AM.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
7) Corollary to 6 and 3: Does the Munitorum's law forcing Imperial Guard regiments to not include support units extend to SHTRs? As in, they have no organic support elements at all?

Support/Logistics units are separate from standard battle regiments.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
8) Corollary to 2 and 3: Would an SHTR be split up and doled out to forces other than the Imperial Guard such as the Adepta Sororitas? And if so, whose officers would be in charge - the company of Superheavies (very valuable and probably influential people) or the Sororitas Convent (very valuable and probably influential people)? Could a Baneblade be under the direct command of a Canoness? A Chapter Master? A Rogue Trader? A Lord Admiral of the Fleet? Conversely, would any of them be under the command of the relevant superheavy officer (Company CO, for example)?+

Direct command? Propably not. At their disposal? Propably. Although I'd say that it depends on sector/segmentum command.

 Finlandiaperkele wrote:

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
8) Corollary to 2 and 3: Would an SHTR be split up and doled out to forces other than the Imperial Guard such as the Adepta Sororitas? And if so, whose officers would be in charge - the company of Superheavies (very valuable and probably influential people) or the Sororitas Convent (very valuable and probably influential people)? Could a Baneblade be under the direct command of a Canoness? A Chapter Master? A Rogue Trader? A Lord Admiral of the Fleet? Conversely, would any of them be under the command of the relevant superheavy officer (Company CO, for example)?+

Direct command? Propably not. At their disposal? Propably. Although I'd say that it depends on sector/segmentum command.

I'll agree on that one. Imperial forces aren't usually even allowed to command other Imperial forces. If several organisations respond to a threat or gather for a (counter)attack they'll usually hold a conference where they select one senior commander to take overall command, but it doesn't mean that person will directly command other forces. It's more like an advisory or coordinator position - he'll draw up the broad strategy and ask the others where they can fit in. "This needs doing, which of you feels confident his force can handle it?" A Superheavy unit attached to a Sororitas force would be under it's own Commander after the Canoness in charge has told him where the SoB needs them to break through, for example. He'd be expected to handle his mission as he sees fit to do it and respond to SoB officers in the vicinity if the situation changes but what he does is up to his own judgement.

IIRC many Astartes Chapters outright refuse taking part in such, just telling other Imperial forces what they're going to do (if even that) and then going off to do their own thing.

Thanks for all the responses guys. It is giving me some great army building ideas, as well as ideas for bringing in other players to my games as allied buddies.

I have another question about the Commissar tanks - would they remain part of their company or be split off to form some independent type? For example, if the Regimental Commander says "third company, go left" and there's a Commissar commanding the second tank in the company, would he conform to the left movement or would he be able to say "feth it" and do his own thing?

Or would commissars fit smoothly into the command structure?

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
Or would commissars fit smoothly into the command structure?

Comissars are morale officers. They might have to take command if all officers are dead, but they're not going to go off on their own. Their job is to make sure everyone is doing their duty, not telling them what their objective is. As long as the guy in charge is attacking (or explaining his temporary retreat very well) a Comissar won't do anything to the contrary.

Spetulhu wrote:

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
Or would commissars fit smoothly into the command structure?

Comissars are morale officers. They might have to take command if all officers are dead, but they're not going to go off on their own. Their job is to make sure everyone is doing their duty, not telling them what their objective is. As long as the guy in charge is attacking (or explaining his temporary retreat very well) a Comissar won't do anything to the contrary.

But then where do they fit in if they take over a superheavy tank? With only 10 tanks in the entire regiment, it would be a bigger deal than usual just to "give" him a tank. Does my question make sense?

 Unit1126PLL wrote:

But then where do they fit in if they take over a superheavy tank? With only 10 tanks in the entire regiment, it would be a bigger deal than usual just to "give" him a tank. Does my question make sense?

Ah, yes. The Comissar is probably not commanding the tank itself, he's riding it and providing motivation for the crew and the other tanks nearby. Ofc, some Comissars like Yarrick or Gaunt are actually given military command but they are rare cases - it's seen as a conflict of interests to let them both command and oversee the moral purity of the forces.

In some regiments they are more common than others. I remember something about the Iron Guard that they had a baneblade per tank battalion or something like that, whereas others don't use them. It really depends on how mechanized they would be, IE don't expect the Catachans to have a few of them, but I would assume that the Steel Legion would have a good amount of them to use because of how mechanized they are.

The Commissar won't be commanding it most of the time, but he would have the authority to do so. Their authority is greater than any member of the Imperial Guard. A commissar can execute or arrest a lord general if he deemed he was negligent in his duties, he might take flak for it but he could do it.

In a tank company, he might take over the tank if he needs to execute the tank commander or needs to use the tank to remove another tank. Maybe one crew loses their nerve and flees, he would then order his tank to take out the fleeing tank.