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The IG's MBT is the Leman Russ. I was wondering if he designed it for the guard?

The spacewolves have fought alongside the guard and seem able to respect the common man of the imperium, like when Logan Grimnar objected to the terrible treatment of the population of Amrageddon after the chaos invasion. Plus they even share their special booze with a few worthy humans, likely giving them hangovers that would kill a catachan devil.

I was wondering if at some point leman russ took a good long hard look at the IG and thought "They need a better tank that can be mass produced and is easy to maintain." and using his mighty primarch brain designed the LR rank for them.

I don't see IG running around in Sanguinius fighter bombers, Vulkan incendiary shell mortar tanks, etc. It seems LR is the only primarch to have a prominent name in the IG forces and wondered if he might have designed that tank for them at some point. I haven't found and solid background on whether uncle leman did design the tank or not.

Everything I've ever seen says it's named after Leman Russ.

I, personally, would guess that's because it's a bit of a blunt tool that's good for smashing things. The tank is much the same.

The Leman Russ Executioner dates back to the Dark Age of Technology (Imperial Armour Vol. I, 2nd ed., pg. 20), so at best Russ simply modified an existing vehicle.

From Lexicanum, referencing Horus Heresy Book Seven -

During the Great Crusade the STC of the Leman Russ Battle Tank was discovered on Nova Borilia. The world had been part of the Noman civilization, which had enslaved a portion of humanity for millennia. The Noman were crushed by the Space Wolves, who recovered the STC and named its fruit in the honor of their Primarch.

 Matt Swain wrote:
I don't see IG running around in Sanguinius fighter bombers, Vulkan incendiary shell mortar tanks, etc.

There's the Malcador, Crassus & Macharius, but they seem to be re-named, re-discovered STCs.

Short version: Russ recovered the STC and the tank was subsequently named in his honour.

Ok that answers my question, thanks.

Follows the real world tradition, originating from Britain of naming tanks after Generals, later adopted by American forces.