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I think it would not be controversial of me to say that the Taurox and Taurox Prime have been met with a mixed to *meh* reaction from people. Aside from promoting the superiority of a filthy Xenos race in their name and looking out of place compared to the rest of the IG armoury, they don't really offer anything new; with the Chimera providing all around better value for points compared to the Taurox. Likewise, the Taurox Prime doesn't really offer the needed firepower needed in the MT codex. With that in mind, I began to wonder if mounting a transport onto a Leman Russ chassis could work and this is what I got:

Digging deep into their ancient archives, the Tech Priests of Mars have recently rediscovered the long lost STC for the long lost Leman Russ Transporter - an early variant of the Mars-Solar pattern that was a stripped down version of the tank, replacing its battle cannon, turret and ordnance stores for troop space. Meanwhile, the lighter armour on the machine allows it to move at speeds normally unachievable for the heavier battle tanks. However, the traditionally dense front armour remains; keeping its occupants safe and even allowing the tank to be used like a battering ram to allow troops to be deployed in hot zones where a Chimera would typically not survive.

Leman Russ Transporter

Unit type: Vehicle (Tank, Transport)
Unit composition: 1 Leman Russ Transporter
Unit cost: 75 points

Stats:


Transport capacity: 10 models
Access points: 1 Access Point at the rear
Fire points: 1 Fire Point at the top hatch, 2 Fire Points on each side of the hull (note: not each facing)

Wargear: 1 hull-mounted Heavy bolter, 1 Search light, 1 Smoke launcher

Special rules:


Options:




Leman Russ Tempestus

Unit type: Vehicle (Tank, Fast, Transport)
Unit composition: 1 Leman Russ Transporter
Unit cost: 95 points

Stats:


Transport capacity: 10 models
Access points: 1 Access Point at the rear
Fire points: 2 Fire Points on each side of the hull (note: not each facing)

Wargear: 1 Autocannon turret, 1 hull-mounted Heavy bolter, 1 Search light, 1 Smoke launcher

Special rules: Stable platform, Rapid insertion vehicle

Options:



Weapon Profiles:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/The_Horus_Heresy/Solar_Auxilia/SOLAR_AUXILIA_DRACOSAN_ARMOURED_TRANSPORT.html

Crystal-Maze wrote:
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/The_Horus_Heresy/Solar_Auxilia/SOLAR_AUXILIA_DRACOSAN_ARMOURED_TRANSPORT.html

Not sure what you're getting at since if memory serves, the Dracosan's main features are:

- capacity of 20 models or a Demolisher cannon + 10 models, but can never take Bulky+ models.
- No fire points.
- Side doors but no rear door.

All three of which are neither things my idea feature nor do they help achieve the same end goal.

I like the idea of a Leman Russ transport, kind of the Imperial Guard's answer to the Land Raider.

I think your first option looks better. 75 points for a front AV14 transport seems too cheap though.

I don't think a Leman Russ with transport capacity should have a turret.

It's a neat idea, especially fitting considering that Guard already make use of plenty of stopgap vehicles (such as the Leman Russ Conqueror).

75pts might be a bit too close to the Chimera considering its superior durability and comparable amount of Firepoints (the Chimera's lasguns being fairly negligible).

Not sure about "Rapid Insertion Vehicle" - just doesn't seem fitting for something based on the Leman Russ chassis.

Having a Tempestus variant seems a bit off. Even if you do keep that one, I'd recommend against it being a Fast vehicle, considering it's based on the chassis of a Heavy vehicle.

El Torro wrote:
I think your first option looks better. 75 points for a front AV14 transport seems too cheap though.

 Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer wrote:
75pts might be a bit too close to the Chimera considering its superior durability and comparable amount of Firepoints (the Chimera's lasguns being fairly negligible).

Hmm... relooking at the maths, I think you guys are right. In that case, I'd probably be inclined to maybe drop it to FA 13, with maybe a price hike to the 80-85 range, for the LR Transporter. Would that feel about right? Any more and the Tempestus variant might start getting too expensive.

El Torro wrote:
I don't think a Leman Russ with transport capacity should have a turret.

It would be probably be a mini-sized along the lines of the Chimera and Taurox Prime (the latter being the vehicle this is meant to replace); hence why it's only able to mount infantry-sized heavy weapons rather than an ordnance weapon. I mainly added it out of convention since most IG tanks (particularly the standard ones in the main codex) have turrets. Also, I felt the turret adds much for tactical utility in that it would have a full 360 degree firing arc; compared to the hull-mounted weapon. Though, I suppose it could be somewhat compensated for by making the sponsons mandatory and switching up the weapon options onto the mount and/or sponson weapons instead.

 Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer wrote:
Not sure about "Rapid Insertion Vehicle" - just doesn't seem fitting for something based on the Leman Russ chassis.

The ability stemmed from the mental idea I had of a tank that could be used as a battering ram to tank shock/ram its way through enemy lines in order to unload its passengers.

 Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer wrote:
Having a Tempestus variant seems a bit off. Even if you do keep that one, I'd recommend against it being a Fast vehicle, considering it's based on the chassis of a Heavy vehicle.

My internal logic for the "Fast" Tempestus variant and the "Rapid insertion vehicle" rule stemmed from the notion that the transport variant of the LR is much lighter than the battle tank versions (due to less armour and no high caliber cannons); thus allowing the engine to achieve speeds that the heavier battle tanks wouldn't be able to achieve. As for why the Tempestus is actually "Fast", it probably has a better/souped up engine (pretty much like the Taurox Prime, which it's meant to replace). Incidentally, there is precedent for Leman Russ tanks with a "Fast" vehicle type classification, courtesy of the Solar Auxilia's Strike squadrons with Induction chargers.

I love this idea. The moment I saw the Heresy Leman Russ artillery kits I thought "sweet apc".

Both patterns seem fine to me. I wouldn't have any issue with a small Chimera style turret with an Autocannon or Bolter fitted. That or you could use the pintle mounted Multilaser from FW.

I think it absolutely needs a dozer or mine plough on the front though especially if you fit it with a hull mounted flamer.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I love this idea. The moment I saw the Heresy Leman Russ artillery kits I thought "sweet apc".

Both patterns seem fine to me. I wouldn't have any issue with a small Chimera style turret with an Autocannon or Bolter fitted. That or you could use the pintle mounted Multilaser from FW.

I think it absolutely needs a dozer or mine plough on the front though especially if you fit it with a hull mounted flamer.

It's pretty much a "Kangaroo" from WWII, which was a sherman tank modified to replace the turrent with troop transport ability.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_(armoured_personnel_carrier)