The Samaritan is a variant of the Chimera armoured personnel carrier (APC) used by the Astra Militarum to transport wounded guardsmen. The Samaritan is a non-combat vehicle and is completely unarmed, lacking even a simple Pintle-mounted weapon for self-defence. Instead the Samaritan is used by the Imperial Guard's medical companies as an ambulance.
The Samaritan is crewed by two medical company orderlies, and usually a surgeon accompanies them. The crew of the Samaritan collect the wounded and transports them to either a medical company aid station or to a field-hospice near the very rear of the line. These field-hospices are staffed with the merciful sisters of the Adepta Sororitas' Orders Hospitaller.
Each medical company of the Astra Militarum maintains at least one Samaritan, although it may be possible for them to have more. The inside of a Samaritan is similar to many other ambulance vehicles used across the Imperium, and the vehicle features all the necessary equipment required to stabilise and treat wounded personnel until proper medical attention can be applied. It is unknown exactly what types of medical instruments the vehicle carries, or if it carries any specialised medicae equipment on-board such as medical servitors.
Astra Militarum Medical Companies[]
The medical companies of the Astra Militarum fall under the command of the Surgeon Captain of their respective company, and all medical companies are required to supply Imperial Guard Medics to the infantry companies they support.
The medical companies usually comprise the fifth section of an Astra Militarum regiment's headquarters staff. The fifth section of the regiment's staff operations deals in personnel matters, tables of organisation and equipment (TO&E), troop strength reports, and the requisitioning of replacement troops.
This section is usually under the command of the Prefect Secundus Militant, who is an official attached to the regiment from the Adeptus Administratum, and the section is staffed by Administratum ordinates and scribes. This section's only field support forces are the medical company itself.
Variants[]
- Galenus - The Galenus was a variant of the Samaritan that was once used by the Imperial Army during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. The Galenus was equipped with a full surgical suite with bio-readouts for patients, and included twenty casualty berths. The vehicle's main use was to provide for the stabilisation and transportation of wounded infantry out of the combat zone so they could recover and return to active duty. It is unknown if the Galenus is still in use by the Astra Militarum in the 41st Millennium.
Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications[]
The technical specifications of this vehicle have yet to be released for public consumption by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Also See[]
Sources[]
- Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pp. 257-258
- Vengeful Spirit (Novel) by Graham McNeill