A Grey Knights Dreadnought in battle
The Grey Knights Dreadnought is a variant of the standard Imperial Castraferrum Dreadnought combat walker used by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes.
Dreadnoughts are cybernetic combat walkers that house the mortal remains of a fallen Space Marine hero so that he may continue fighting for the Emperor and his Chapter even after his body has been fatally crippled and is beyond even the ability of bionics to fully repair.
The Grey Knights Dreadnought is one of the rarest and most advanced Dreadnought variants in Imperial service and is used exclusively by the Grey Knights Chapter, the secret Chapter of Space Marine psykers that serves as the Chamber Militant of the Inquisition's Ordo Malleus.
The other reason for the rarity of Grey Knights Dreadnoughts are their use of the Aegis system, a complex network of protective prayers, runes and other wards which are inscribed into the chassis of the Dreadnought and psychically charged to provide better protection from the sorcerous powers of Daemons and the other servants of Chaos.
A Mark V Grey Knights Castraferrum Dreadnought in combat.
While a Dreadnought is a fearsome opponent to face on the battlefield, the Grey Knights Dreadnought can provide more than just fire support to his battle-brothers, he is also able to aid them with enhanced psychic defences.
This is possible as a result of the psyber-circuitry that is incorporated into the Dreadnought's sarcophagus and which can link its own Aegis field to the psychic defences deployed by nearby Grey Knights battle-brothers, thus creating a series of reinforced psychic wards that is much stronger than what individual Grey Knights can project on their own.
Unlike in other Chapters of Space Marines, being interred within a Dreadnought chassis is not seen as a great honour by the Grey Knights. Grey Knights who aspire to such a fate are rare; most simply yearn to while away eternity in the cool shadows of the Dead Fields beneath the Chapter's fortress-monastery on Titan.
However, if a Grey Knight has been gravely wounded but his life can still be saved by the Chapter's Apothecaries, he will often see the necessity of being placed within the metal chassis of a Dreadnought. He will then give the attending Apothecary the needed consent for the transfer.
History[]
A Grey Knights Dreadnought in combat against the forces of Chaos.
A Grey Knights Dreadnought is seen as a living connection to the Grey Knights' many millennia in service to the Emperor of Mankind and are considered ancient relics of the Chapter rather than simply as potent cybernetic war machines. This is because these Dreadnoughts represent the living embodiment of the Chapter's past victories, great deeds, fallen heroes, unquestionable loyalties and proven honour.
In this way, they serve the Chapter as a potent symbol of who they are and what they stand for in their service to the Imperium of Man and the Emperor. These Dreadnoughts provide the Grey Knights with a legendary past which many living battle-brothers strive to emulate.
This makes them precious to the Chapter and worthy of the utmost respect as they are venerated for their wealth of past experience in facing the worst enemies of Mankind as well as the wise counsel that they routinely provide to their brethren.
Each of the Grey Knights' eight brotherhoods (companies) maintain their own Dreadnoughts, and most are past Grey Knights Grand Masters or captains. Yet some amongst these Honoured Ancients were once only low-ranking battle-brothers who demonstrated exceptional courage and heroism in battle, and as only the most worthy are placed within the formidable cybernetic shell of a Dreadnought, it is seen as perhaps the greatest honour that the Chapter can bestow.
It is customary for personal consent to be given before the procedure can begin to place a mortally wounded Grey Knight into a Dreadnought shell. This is because so many battle-brothers, as mentioned above, still prefer to rest in peace as heroes of the Chapter in the Dead Fields below the Chapter's fortress-monastery. There, the name of the Grey Knight is engraved into their crypt alongside other great warriors of the Chapter, which is a fitting end for their lifetime of service to the Imperium.
The Dreadnoughts of the Grey Knights are only awakened from their long cybernetic slumbers at times when victory cannot be achieved through mortal means alone. It is at these points of crisis that the greatest heroes of the Chapter need to be awoken to fight once more in defence of Mankind.
The Master Armourers of the Grey Knights enter into the Chamber of Heroes deep in the bowels of the fortress-monastery in order to begin the awakening process. Dreadnoughts are only ever awoken in times of dire need as the Chapter's Grand Masters feel that extensive reliance on these ancient warriors is to dishonour their gift of service.
Armament[]
The most common weapons load-out for the Grey Knights Dreadnought includes a Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon such as a Dreadnought Nemesis Doomfist with a built-in Storm Bolter and a weapon arm that can mount a twin-linked Lascannon, a twin-linked Heavy Bolter, a twin-linked Autocannon, an Assault Cannon, a Multi-Melta, or a Heavy Plasma Cannon.
The Dreadnought's Storm Bolter can be replaced with a Heavy Flamer, an Incinerator or the entire close-combat weapon arm can be replaced with a Missile Launcher. The vehicle's secondary bolter weaponry can be armed with Psybolts, making them more effective against psykers and Daemons.
Grey Knights Dreadnoughts can also be equipped with Hunter-Killer Missile Launchers, Extra Armour Plating, a Searchlight, and Smoke Launchers. The Dreadnought's Machine Spirit can also be blessed by the Chapter's Techmarines to purify it against daemonic attack.
The Dreadnought's sarcophagus can be transformed into a sacred hull, which is covered in potent icons of the Imperial faith, Imperial Cult scriptures, purity seals, and inscriptions of abjuration, making it extremely difficult for a Daemon or other Warp entities to even approach such a potent symbol of faith.
Unit Composition[]
- 1 Grey Knights Dreadnought
Wargear[]
A standard Grey Knights Dreadnought is armed and equipped with:
A Grey Knights Dreadnought may replace its Assault Cannon with any of these options:
- A second Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon with a built-in Storm Bolter (This is not a standard loadout as it removes the Dreadnought's ability to engage targets at range.)
- Heavy Plasma Cannon
- Multi-Melta
- Twin-linked Autocannons
- Twin-linked Lascannons
- Twin-linked Heavy Bolters
- Twin-linked Heavy Flamers
A Grey Knights Dreadnought may replace its Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon with built-in Storm Bolter with any of these options:
- Dreadnought Missile Launcher
- Twin-linked Autocannons
- Twin-linked Lascannons
- Twin-linked Heavy Bolters
A Grey Knights Dreadnought armed with a Missile Launcher may take the following munitions:
A Grey Knights Dreadnought may replace the built-in Storm Bolter from their Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon(s) with either of these options:
Variants[]
- Grey Knights Hellfire Dreadnought - The Hellfire variant of the Grey Knights Dreadnought makes use of two sets of long-range weapons, one always being a Dreadnought Missile Launcher while the other weapon can be a set of twin-linked Lascannons, twin-linked Autocannons or twin-linked Heavy Bolters. The Hellfire Dreadnought is capable of laying down a tremendous amount of ranged firepower upon a target, and can alternate between weapons based on its target.
- Grey Knights Mortis Dreadnought - The Mortis variant of the Grey Knights Dreadnought makes use of two sets of long-range weapons that are always the same, including twin-linked Lascannons, twin-linked Autocannons, twin-linked Heavy Bolters, or two Dreadnought Missile Launchers. The Mortis Dreadnought is capable of laying down a tremendous amount of firepower upon a target, and since the Dreadnought's body is such a stable firing platform it can continue moving while firing accurately.
- Doomglaive Dreadnought - The Doomglaive Dreadnought is a rare variant of the Grey Knights Dreadnought that replaces the Dreadnought's standard load-out with a potent anti-psyker Heavy Psycannon and a Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon (Nemesis Doomglaive) with a built-in Storm Bolter. These Dreadnoughts use their massive Nemesis Doomglaives to engage enemy Daemons in close combat, their powerful blades cleaving multiple Daemons apart with each mighty swing.
- Grey Knights Venerable Dreadnought - A variant of the Grey Knights Dreadnought, Venerable Dreadnoughts are the oldest of the Grey Knights Chapter. These "Ancients" having earned many millennia worth of combat experience, with a master-crafted and highly ornate chassis and weapons along with centuries or millennia of combat and leadership experience, these Dreadnoughts are even harder to destroy than their younger counterparts.
Formations[]
A Grey Knights Brotherhood battle formation
Grey Knights Brotherhood[]
A Grey Knights brotherhood formation consists of a Grey Knights Grand Master, a Brother-Captain, one Brotherhood Champion, three Grey Knights Strike Squads, three Grey Knights Terminator Squads, two Grey Knights Interceptor Squads, two Grey Knights Purgation Squads, a single Grey Knights Dreadnought and a single Nemesis Dreadknight.
A Grey Knights brotherhood is one of the most formidable fighting formations in the galaxy. Under the command of its Grand Master and brother-captain it comprises over a hundred elite warriors of the Emperor, each armed and armoured with the finest wargear available to the Imperium. Even more impressive than the firepower an assembled Brotherhood can muster is its prodigious psychic might, each and every Grey Knight a powerful psyker able to merge his will with that of his brothers to crush anything that stands in their way.
It is rare that the Grey Knights will assemble an entire brotherhood, and only in times of direst need does the Grand Master call upon the combined strength of all his warriors. However, when the brotherhood gathers it is a fearsome and glorious sight to behold. The air practically hums with barely contained energy as the combined wills of a hundred Grey Knights gather in one place, the very Warp responding to their presence.
Just as a squad of Grey Knights battle-brothers have a strength of will greater than the sum of its psykers, so too does a brotherhood outstrip a squad by a magnitude of mental power. The results are nothing less than catastrophic for their foes, the blistering energies conjured by the collective Grey Knights able to banish Daemons in the blink of an eye and push back the tides of the Warp by force of will alone.
For this reason brotherhoods are gathered when a single squad or strike force would not suffice, such as when a world has been enveloped by the Immaterium or a vast and terrible Greater Daemon has torn its way into reality.
Grey Knights brotherhoods also excel at conventional warfare, carrying all the weapons they require to deal with a myriad of foes. Terminator Squads form the mailed fist of the brotherhood, their Nemesis Force Weapons and Storm Bolters more than capable of shredding most foes.
Strike and Interceptor Squads provide a rapid response force for the brotherhood, appearing swiftly to exploit their enemies' weak points or prepare the way for the Grey Knights assault. Purgators provide heavy fire support in the form of Incinerator, Psilencer and Psycannon barrages.
Deployed in the right place, a Purgation Squad can clear the battlefield of foes. To deal with larger enemies, brotherhoods can call upon Dreadnoughts and Nemesis Dreadknights, their servo-assisted fists and blades the equal of any Warp-birthed monster. Finally, the brotherhood has the peerless leadership of a Grand Master to guide it in battle.
Known Grey Knights Dreadnoughts[]
- Venerable Orias - Venerable Orias is a Venerable Grey Knights Dreadnought and former Grey Knights Grand Master who was interred within a Dreadnought in the 39th Millennium after duelling with the Daemon Prince Herperitus, the Plague Lord of the Death Guard Traitor Legion.
- Brother Fidelis - Brother Fidelis is a Mark V Grey Knights Hellfire Dreadnought and former Grey Knights' 5th Brotherhood Captain. Fidelis was mortally wounded in combat with Vexcarnel the Blue, "the Beast of Barac."
- Brother Uphur - Brother Uphur is a Mark IV Grey Knights Dreadnought and former Grey Knights Justicar. Uphur was the sole survivor of the Kasdeya Incursion, although heavily wounded himself.
- Brother Valafar - Brother Valafar was a Mark IV Grey Knights Dreadnought and former captain of the Grey Knights' 7th Brotherhood. His original Dreadnought chassis was destroyed fighting against the forces of Chaos during the 13th Black Crusade of Abaddon the Despoiler. Fortunately, Valafar's sarcophagus survived to be re-interred into another Dreadnought soon after.
- Ancient Aeneas - Ancient Aeneas is a Mark IV Grey Knights Dreadnought and former Grey Knights Grand Master who led the Chapter for 55 standard years during the 37th Millennium. Aeneas was interred within his Dreadnought body after being mortally wounded in combat with Ahriman the Arch-Sorcerer.
- Brother Mordechai - Brother Mordechai is a Mark IV Grey Knights Dreadnought of the Grey Knights Chapter. Mordechai served as part of Captain Arvann Stern's strike force during the Siege of Vraks.
Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications[]
| Vehicle Name: | Grey Knights Dreadnought Mark V | Main Armament: | 1 Arm-mounted Dreadnought Close-Combat Weapon with in-built Storm Bolter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Deimos | Secondary Armament: | 1 Arm-mounted Psycannon |
| Known Patterns: | Unknown | Traverse: | 360 degrees |
| Crew: | 1 Implanted Operator | Elevation: | -90 to 90 degrees |
| Powerplant: | Thermic Reactor | Main Ammunition: | Unknown (varies) |
| Weight: | 12 Tonnes (approx) | Secondary Ammunition: | Unknown (varies) |
| Length: | 2.2 metres | Armour: | |
| Width: | 3.4 metres | ||
| Height: | 3.7 metres | Superstructure: | 75 millimetres |
| Ground Clearance: | N/A | Hull: | 75 millimetres |
| Max Speed On-Road: | 8 kilometres per hour (approx) | Gun Mantlet: | N/A |
| Max Speed Off-Road: | 5 kilometres per hour (approx) | Vehicle Designation: | Unknown |
| Transport Capacity: | N/A | Firing Ports: | N/A |
| Access Points: | N/A | Turret: | N/A |
| Vehicle Name: | Grey Knights Dreadnought Mark IV | Main Armament: | 1 Arm-mounted Dreadnought Close-Combat Weapon with in-built Storm Bolter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forge World of Origin: | Deimos | Secondary Armament: | 1 Arm-mounted Psycannon |
| Known Patterns: | Unknown | Traverse: | 360 degrees |
| Crew: | 1 Implanted Operator | Elevation: | -90 to 90 degrees |
| Powerplant: | Thermic Reactor | Main Ammunition: | Unknown (varies) |
| Weight: | 11 Tonnes (approx.) | Secondary Ammunition: | Unknown (varies) |
| Length: | 2.2 metres | Armour: | |
| Width: | 3.4 metres | ||
| Height: | 3.7 metres | Superstructure: | 75 millimetres |
| Ground Clearance: | N/A | Hull: | 75 millimetres |
| Max Speed On-Road: | 8 kilometres per hour (approx.) | Gun Mantlet: | N/A |
| Max Speed Off-Road: | 5 kilometres per hour (approx.) | Vehicle Designation: | Unknown |
| Transport Capacity: | N/A | Firing Ports: | N/A |
| Access Points: | N/A | Turret: | N/A |
See Also[]
Sources[]
- Codex Adeptus Astartes - Grey Knights (8th Edition), pp. 47, 80-81
- Codex: Daemon Hunters (3rd Edition), pp. 19, 32, 42
- Codex: Grey Knights (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), "Dreadnought (Datasheet)", "Grey Knights Brotherhood (Formation)"
- Codex: Grey Knights (5th Edition), pp. 35, 54, 71, 88, 94
- Imperial Armour Index: Forces of the Adeptus Astartes (8th Edition), pg. 50
- Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition, pp. 191, 215-218
- Imperial Armour Volume Two, Second Edition - Warmachines of the Adeptus Astates, pp. 213-216
- Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three, pp. 52, 97
Gallery[]
