Marauder Bomber
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This article is about the Marauder Bomber. For other uses of Marauder, see Marauder (disambiguation). |
The Marauder Bomber (or just Marauder) is the standard Imperial Navy heavy bomber and can be used both in space and within atmospheres.[2] It is used for a number of different missions, but especially excels in the air interdiction role.[1a]
Contents
History
The Marauder was developed during the Scouring, after the shortcomings of the Thunderbolt in combatting heavy tanks and Titans became evident due to its lack of heavy weapons. After unsuccessfully trying to modify the Thunderbolt, the Adeptus Mechanicus used newly discovered knowledge to modify an obsolete STC fuselage, resulting in the Marauder Bomber.[12]
Roles
Marauder Bombers, with their long range and good maximum payload for their size, are the workhorses of the Imperial Navy. They are often based on orbiting spacecraft or, if in a prolonged campaign, on naval airbases established on the ground. Thanks to their capacious fuel tanks and powerful engines, these bases are located far from the frontline, even on another continent.[2]
While capable of fulfilling a variety of roles, they are often used for one of three mission types:
- Strategic bombing: long-range attacks on enemy cities and institutions while operating at high altitudes beyond most anti-aircraft weapons ranges and with Thunderbolt escort. While successful in this role, the Marauder is considered to have too small of a payload to be a truly effective strategic bomber.[1a]
- Free range interdiction: squadrons seek targets of opportunity such as supply dumps and convoys, which have been identified by aerial or orbital reconnaissance,[1a] before ex-filtrating under cover from friendly fighters.[2] While these missions are not performed in concert with ground troops, they are seen as the most effective use of Marauder bombers.[1a]
- Dedicated ground attack and support: Very close assistance of friendly ground forces by engaging specific targets on the front lines. These are seen as the riskiest type of mission, as the bombers must fly at very low altitudes and risk friendly fire. Though adequate, the Marauder is considered to lack the appropriate weaponry for a dedicated ground attack role.[1a]
Close support missions have the added difficulty of identifying targets in a constantly-changing battlefield situation, which Imperial Guard commanders solve in a variety of ways. Some regiments use previously-assigned visual markers, such as weapons fire or coloured smoke, to designate enemy targets. Others incorporate forward air controllers to guide aircraft onto the targets. These Imperial Navy personnel, often experienced pilots themselves, will ride in communications vehicles that allow them to talk directly to the pilots overhead. A third method involves a coordinated withdrawal of ground forces prior to an air strike, decreasing the chance of any friendly fire. This is however a dangerous tactic as it requires disengaging from the enemy.[1a]
Technical Specifications
Within its heavy armoured superstructure the Marauder Bomber carries an internal bomb bay which can carry up to 6,000 pounds of explosives.[2] At maximum capacity it can carry up to twelve Bombs or six Heavy Bombs, while four wing mounted pylons allow it to carry up to twelve additional Bombs. For additional firepower it also carries a pair of twin-linked Lascannons in the nose section, while two sets of twin-linked turret-mounted Heavy Bolters, one in the tail section and the other atop the fuselage, serve as defensive armament.[1c] Instead of regular bombs the internal bomb bay may carry two Hellstorm Bombs, large incendiary devices which convert an area into a destructive inferno.[2] Alternatively, the Marauder may deploy chaff consisting of feathery nickel filaments used to blind enemy sensor equipment,[16a] illumination-mines or fuel-air explosives.[16b] On worlds with extensive oceans, the Marauder may replace its standard bombs with a single torpedo.[8] The Marauder can also serve as a nuclear bomber by carrying a single Atlas bomb.[10] To deal with enemy tanks, the Marauder can also carry missile racks under its wings and a stripped-down version of the battle cannon as main armament, with it occupying most of the forward fuselage area.[12] By reducing its crew to two and removing every weapon system except the nose turret, slaving it to the pilot, a Marauder can also serve as transporter for Drop-Troopers, carrying them in the emptied bomb bay. The Drop-Troopers deploy by side hatch.[16b]
The Marauder is equipped with a terrain-scanning auspex with a range of a hundred kilometres, a vox, able to transmit between individual crew-members, to other aircrafts[14a] and to flight operations,[14c] a bombardier foresight reticule[14a] that uses a viewscreen to project a digitally constructed target image based on data collected from the bomber's forward sensors and cameras,[15] chaff and heat-flare launchers[14d], afterburners,[8], a target-lock alarm warning,[16a] and a modar.[16b] It also has vector-nozzles, allowing the bomber to switch from forward flight to vertical in order to land.[14b]
Marauders can also be equipped with fuel drop tanks to extend range and, when operating over oceans, with a life raft, that has two paddles, life vests, emergency rations for 10 days, water rations for 2 days, 5 flares and an emergency transponder with batteries for 24 hours of operation.[8]
Like other Imperial aircraft, Marauder bombers can also receive further upgrades.
| Type | Tactical Bomber[1b] | Operational Ceiling | 41,000m, with jet engines[1b] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Name | Marauder[1b] | Max Speed | 1800kph[1b] at 5,000 feet[11] |
| Forge World of Origin | Cypra-Mundi[1b] | Range | 15000km in atmosphere[1b] |
| Known Patterns | I-XVI[1b] | Main Armament | 2 x nose turret mounted Lascannons[1b] 2 x rear turret mounted Heavy Bolters[1b] 2 x Dorsal turret mounted Heavy Bolters[1b] |
| Crew | Pilot, Navigator, Bombardier, Nose Gunner, Tail Gunner, Turret Gunner[1b] | Secondary Armament | 6000lbs internal payload[1b] 6000lbs external payload[1b] |
| Powerplant | 4x J79-CS Afterburning Ramjet[1b] | Main Ammunition | 40 shots from battery packs[1b] |
| Weight | 41 tonnes empty[1b] | Secondary Ammunition | 4000 rounds[1b] |
| Length | 19.2m[1b] | Armour | |
| Wingspan | 24.6m[1b] | Superstructure | 45mm[1b] |
| Height | 4.8m with landing gear down[1b] | Hull | 30mm[1b] |
Variants
Though principally a bomber, Marauders can also be modified to fulfill other roles.
Marauder Colossus
The Marauder Colossus is a variant of the standard Marauder Bomber designed to deliver a single gigantic 10,000kg Colossus Bomb. The Colossus has been modified to save weight and space, with its dorsal turret removed.[6]
The Colossus Bomb is guided by the bombardier onboard the Marauder Colossus via sophisticated guidance systems. The Marauder Colossus finds its usage most often for strategic strikes against ground targets resistant to conventional firepower.[13b]
Marauder Destroyer
One particular Marauder variant is the Marauder Destroyer, a dedicated ground-attack craft which is better suited to close support missions.[1d]
Marauder Pathfinder
The Marauder Pathfinder is a electronic warfare and squadron support variant of the Marauder. Equipped with an array of sensory probes, the Pathfinder is used to scout ahead of a squadron and keep an eye on enemy activity.[7]
Replacing the bomb bay and dorsal turret, the Pathfinder features an array of advanced augurs and tracking systems, supplemented by auspex banks, multi-spectrum surveyors and high-powered vox-arrays. It functions as a high-altitude, long-range reconnaissance aircraft, operating both before and after an attack has taken place. An experienced augur operator is able to relay the data stream to an entire squadron in rapid fashion, allowing for quick tactical changes to counter enemy movements.[13a]
Marauder Vigilant
The Marauder Vigilant is a variant of the standard Marauder Bomber designed to conduct reconnaissance operations and also perform as a command and control aircraft. Modifications include replacing its Lascannons with Heavy Bolters and removing the dorsal turret. The bomb bay is also converted to carry heavy surveillance equipment.[3][4]
The Vigilant's main mission is to fly high-altitude, long range reconnaissance and surveillance missions. This happens both before an attack to identify enemy targets and after, to conduct battle damage assessment. Most bomber squadron include at least one Vigilant.[6]
It features an advanced augur system incorporating banks of scanners, multi-spectrum surveyors and high-powered communications equipment. The Vigilant can also track enemy targets and relay the information to other nearby aircrafts.[6]
Marauder Nightstalker
The Marauder Nightstalker is a variant of the Marauder Vigilant, not yet fully adopted into regular service by the time of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Operating as a dedicated nightfighter, the Marauder Nighstalker is stripped of nearly everything, boasting only light armour and a nose equipped with whisker antennae. It is unpressured and is operated by a two-personnel crew in full flight-armour, one pilot and one auspex operator who is responsible for the high-gain auspex equipment.[18]
During combat operations, the Marauder Nightstalker drops behind an enemy bomber swarm, approaching until it achieves hard target-lock. Its only armament, a modified Volcano Cannon mounted on the nose between the antennae array, has enough power for six shots and can down a Tormentor, Harbinger or Apocalyptor in a single hit.[18]
Other variants
Voidborne variant
The Marauder Bomber has a variant that is used in void-combat, being stationed on Navy vessels. This variant is far bigger than its terrestrial counterpart, being 260 feet long, with a wingspan of 360 feet and weighing 190 tons unladen. In planetary operations mode, it has a maximum range of 4000 ikm, extended to 6500 ikm with auxiliary fuel supply, and a maximum atmospheric thrust of 286.752. During space-borne operations, the Marauder variant has a maximum interstellar thrust of 502.73 and a flight time of 9.3 hours, extended to 14 hours with auxiliary air tanks.[17]
It is armed with nose-mounted Vulcan pattern lascannons, two dorsal-mounted twin autocannons and tail-mounted heavy bolters. It carries a payload of six wing-slung Flail missiles and 14,500 ilbs of explosives or incendiaries. Its crew consists of six persons, a flight commander, a bombardier, a Mechanicus tech-adept and three gunners, one first class and two second class.[17]
The Marauder variant operates in squadrons of five crafts, with another one as back up. The squadron consists of thirty crew members, with ten additionally as standby reserves, and is serviced by a ground crew of fifty, including tech-priests and servitors.[17]
- 23rd Imperial Navy Bomber Wing — Sabre squadron
- 133rd Imperial Navy Bomber Wing — Merlin squadron — Belatis IV campaign
- 1167th Imperial Navy Bomber Wing — Osprey squadron
- 2424th Imperial Navy Bomber Wing — Blackwing squadron — Armageddon Prime
Images
Epic Scale Marauder
Epic Scale Marauders and Thunderbolts for Aeronautica Imperialis[9]
Marauder Bomber leader desperately trying to break away from Ork aircraft in the sky of Varestus Prime
Marauder Bomber of the 2424th, 'Blackwing' squadron.
Marauder Bomber of the 1167th, 'Osprey' squadron.
Marauder Bomber of the 133rd, 'Merlin' squadron in arctic camouflage.
Marauder Bomber of the 23rd, 'Sabre' squadron in woodland camouflage.
See also
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy:
- 2: Apocalypse, pg. 127
- 3: http://web.archive.org/web/20130509004309/http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Epic-40000/Epic_40,000_Imperial_Navy/AERONAUTICA-IMPERIALIS-MARAUDER-COLOSSUS.html (Saved archive page, dated May 2013, last accessed 30 July 2015)
- 4: Tactica Aeronautica, pg. 6
- 5: http://web.archive.org/web/20130509005211/http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Epic-40000/Epic_40,000_Imperial_Navy/AERONAUTICA-IMPERIALIS-MARAUDER-VIGILANT.html (Saved archive page, dated May 2013, last accessed 30 July 2015)
- 6: Tactica Aeronautica, pg. 6
- 7: Forgeworld Marauder Pathfinder (last accessed 6/4/2021)
- 8: Last Flight (Short Story)
- 9: New Reveals at Gen Con! (Last Accessed August 2nd 2019)
- 10: Wings of Bone (Short Story) — On Wings of Blood (Anthology)
- 11: Aeronautica Imperialis Game Rulebook, pg. 62
- 12: White Dwarf 187 (UK), pg. 32 — Imperial Airpower
- 13: Aeronautica Imperialis: Companion:
- 14: Double Eagle (Novel):
- 15: The Emperor's Grace (Short Story) — On Wings of Blood (Anthology)
- 16: Guns of Tanith (Novel) — The Saint (Omnibus):
- 17: Inferno! 9, pgs. 52-53 — Raptor Squadron
- 18: Interceptor City (Novel), Day 87 — Control, Hymnal 41, 02:05
