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Hunter0000

A Hunter of the Ultramarines Chapter firing its Skyspear Missile Launcher.

The Hunter, also known as the Whirlwind Hunter, is a variant of the standard Space Marine Whirlwind Artillery Tank and serves as the Space Marines' primary surface-to-air combat unit. Armed with a potent Skyspear Missile Launcher, the Hunter has proven its worth in countless war zones, scouring the skies of enemy bombers and fighter craft.

The Hunter is the primary surface-to-air combat vehicle of the Adeptus Astartes and is the first known dedicated anti-aircraft platform fielded by the Astartes. Prior to the discovery of the Standard Template Construct (STC) data for the Hunter, many Space Marine Chapters had attempted to retrofit the Whirlwind in various ways, with mostly negative results.

The vehicle's design is based on STC data which is much older than the much more recent Whirlwind Hyperios anti-air tank. Though the Whirlwind Hyperios is a stable pattern of anti-air combat vehicle and is becoming widely adopted by many Chapters, there are still many Chapters that have continued to use the Hunter on the battlefield, including during the recent Third War for Armageddon, where the Hunter was used in great numbers by Astartes Chapters like the Black Templars who participated in that conflict.

WhirlwindHunter00

A Hunter of the Ultramarines Chapter.

The Hunter also features improved front and side armour over the standard Whirlwind, and is outfitted with hydraulic stabilisers that anchor the vehicle to the ground so that when it fires its anti-aircraft artillery it suffers no recoil.

Space Marine battle tanks are not permanently attached to any one company. Instead they form a vehicle pool, and individual tanks are available for deployment to Space Marine commanders as required.

Upon its creation, a Space Marine battle tank is assigned a name that reflects its role as a protector of the Chapter's brethren. From that point onwards, the vehicle is as much a part of the Chapter as the Space Marines themselves, and over the years its many deeds and victories will be celebrated as greatly as the Chapter's flesh and blood heroes.

Armament[]

SkySpearMissileLauncher03

The Skyspear Missile Launcher used by the Whirlwind Hunter.

The Hunter is a variant of the standard Adeptus Astartes Whirlwind Artillery Tank. The Hunter replaces the Whirlwind's Whirlwind Multiple Missile Launcher with a Skyspear Missile Launcher.

The Skyspear Missile Launcher fires pre-blessed savant warheads, each a relic in its own right, housing the entombed remains of a distinguished Chapter Serf.

The Servitor's mummified brain augments the missile's auto-targeters, allowing it to second-guess enemy pilots or home in on the heretical emissions of their debased aircraft's Machine Spirit.

Against the dogged pursuit of a savant warhead and its entombed pilot, there is little chance of escape, while the vehicle's servo-loaders maintain a steady rate of fire.

The Hunter can also be outfitted with a Dozer Blade, Extra Armour Plating, a Hunter-Killer Missile Launcher, improved communications equipment, a Pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, a Searchlight, and Smoke Launchers.

Unit Composition[]

  • 1-3 Hunter Anti-Air Tanks

Wargear[]

A standard Hunter is armed and equipped with:

A Hunter may take one of the following pintle-mounted weapons:

Hunters may also have a variety of vehicle equipment such as:

Formations[]

The following is a list of known formations used by the Hunter:

Anti-AirDefenceForce000

A Hunter and two Stalkers as part of an Anti-Air Defence Force Formation

  • Anti-Air Defence Force - The Anti-Air Defence Force provides an Astartes strike force a formidable amount of anti-air protection. This formation is made up of both Hunter and Stalker anti-air tanks. The formation can include any number Hunters but must include at least two Stalker tanks.

Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications[]

Whirlwind Hunter Anti-Air Tank
Vehicle Name: Whirlwind Hunter Main Armament: Turret-mounted Skyspear Missile Launcher
Forge World of Origin: Unknown Secondary Armament: N/A
Known Patterns: Unknown Traverse: 360 degrees
Crew: 1 Driver, 1 Gunner Elevation: 0 to 55 degrees
Powerplant: Quad MkII Adaptable Thermic Combustor Reactor Main Ammunition: Unknown
Weight: 33 Tonnes (Approx.) Secondary Ammunition: N/A
Length: 6.6 metres (Approx.) Armour:
Width: 4.5 metres (Approx.)
Height: 5.0 metres (Approx.) Superstructure: Unknown
Ground Clearance: 0.44 metres (Approx.) Hull: Unknown
Max Speed On-Road: Unknown Gun Mantlet: N/A
Max Speed Off-Road: Unknown Vehicle Designation: Unknown
Transport Capacity: N/A Firing Ports: N/A
Access Points: N/A Turret: Unknown

Previous Editions[]

Hunter000

An Epic Scale Hunter

The Hunter originally appeared in Warhammer Epic 40,000 and was equipped with a Hunter Missile Launcher instead of the Skyspear Missile Launcher.

The Hunter Missiles fired by the Hunter Missile Launcher were faster and more accurate than those used by Whirlwinds armed with standard anti-air missiles, and made use of unfolding fins to help guide them to the target.

The vehicle itself also had a longer operational range. The Hunter Missiles were guided by a large scanning array that featured an algorithmic precognitive targeter located opposite the vehicle's cylindrical missile feed.

These Hunters featured one large launch tube fed by a single rotary system, but some Techmarines have modified their charges with paired launch units and a central sensor suite for improve efficiency. This version of the Hunter is no longer considered canon or available for use by Space Marine Chapters.

Also See[]

Sources[]

  • Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Marines (8th Edition), pp. 88-89, 175
  • Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Marines (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), "Battle Tanks", "Hunters"
  • Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition) (Revised Codex), pp. 85, 153
  • Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition), pp. 100-101, 121, 176
  • Codex Adeptus Astartes - Dark Angels (8th Edition), pp. 59, 117
  • White Dwarf (September 2013), "Space Marine Hunter"
  • Games Workshop - Whirlwind Hunter / Stalker
  • Warhammer Epic 40,000 (Rulebook), pg. 81
  • Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition, pg. 58
  • Warhammer 40,000: Munitorum - Stalkers and Hunters (Digital Edition)
  • Engines of War (Novel) by Steve Lyons

Gallery[]

Space Marine Forces
Chapter Command Chapter MasterMaster of the KeepMaster of SanctityChief LibrarianMaster of the ApothecarionMaster of the ForgeMaster of the WatchMaster of the FleetMaster of the ArsenalMaster of the MarchesMaster of the RitesMaster of RelicsChief VictuallerLord ExecutionerMaster of RecruitsMaster of ReconnaissanceMaster of the SignalChapter AncientPrimaris AncientChapter ChampionHonour Guard
Company Command Command SquadReclusiam Command SquadCaptainPrimaris CaptainLieutenantPrimaris LieutenantCompany AncientCompany Champion
Specialists Librarian (EpistolaryCodicierLexicaniumPrimaris LibrarianVanguard Librarian) • Chaplain (ReclusiarchPrimaris ChaplainJudiciar) • Apothecary (Primaris ApothecaryApothecary BiologisHelix Adept) • Techmarine
Veteran Squads Veteran Marines (Sternguard VeteranVanguard VeteranVeteran IntercessorVeteran Assault IntercessorBladeguard Veteran) • Terminator SquadTerminator Assault Squad
Battleline Squads Tactical SquadIntercessor Squad (Heavy Intercessor Squad) • Infiltrator Squad
Close Support Squads Assault SquadAssault Intercessor SquadJump Pack Intercessor SquadInceptor SquadReiver SquadIncursor SquadSuppressor SquadBike SquadOutrider SquadCenturion Assault Squad
Fire Support Squads Aggressor SquadDesolation SquadDevastator SquadHellblaster SquadEradicator SquadEliminator SquadInfernus SquadCenturion Devastator Squad
Neophyte Squads Scout SquadScout Bike Squad
Light Vehicles Assault BikeAttack BikeScout BikeRaider Pattern Combat BikeInvader ATVLand Speeder (Land Speeder StormLand Speeder TempestLand Speeder TornadoLand Speeder TyphoonLand Speeder VengeanceLand Speeder ProteusDarkshroud) • Storm Speeder (Storm Speeder HailstrikeStorm Speeder HammerstrikeStorm Speeder Thunderstrike)
Combat Walkers Dreadnought (Castraferrum DreadnoughtSiege DreadnoughtHellfire DreadnoughtIronclad DreadnoughtVenerable DreadnoughtMortis DreadnoughtChaplain DreadnoughtLibrarian DreadnoughtFurioso DreadnoughtDeath Company DreadnoughtRedemptor Dreadnought (Brutalis DreadnoughtBallistus Dreadnought) • Wulfen DreadnoughtDoomglaive Dreadnought) • Nemesis DreadknightInvictor Tactical Warsuit
Armoured Personnel Carriers RhinoRazorbackDamocles Command RhinoRhino PrimarisRhino AdvancerImpulsor
Main Battle Tanks Predator Destructor (Predator AnnihilatorBaal Predator) • Land Raider (Land Raider PhobosLand Raider CrusaderLand Raider RedeemerLand Raider AchillesLand Raider PrometheusLand Raider Terminus UltraLand Raider AresLand Raider ExcelsiorLand Raider Wrath of MjalnarLand Raider Angel InfernusLand Raider Solemnus AggressorLand Raider Anvilarum) • Deimos Vindicator Laser DestroyerRepulsorRepulsor ExecutionerGladiator (Gladiator ReaperGladiator ValiantGladiator Lancer) • Astraeus
Artillery WhirlwindVindicatorStalkerHunterWhirlwind HyperiosLand Raider HeliosThunderfire CannonFirestrike Servo-turret
Aircraft/Air-Deployed StormtalonThunderhawkThunderhawk TransporterShadowhawkStormravenStorm EagleFire RaptorStormhawk InterceptorCaestus Assault RamDark TalonNephilim JetfighterStormfangStormwolfCorvus BlackstarOverlordDrop PodHammerfall Bunker
Rare, Relic or Retired Vehicles Contemptor Pattern DreadnoughtDeredeo Pattern DreadnoughtCerberus Heavy Tank DestroyerLeviathan DreadnoughtJavelin Attack SpeederJetbikeDeimos PredatorDeimos RhinoSabre Tank HunterLand Raider ProteusKratos Heavy Assault TankMark IIb Land Raider PhobosMalcador Assault Tank (Malcador Annihilator) • Sicaran Battle TankSicaran VenatorSicaran Punisher Assault TankSicaran Arcus Strike TankSicaran Omega Tank DestroyerSpartan Assault TankTyphon Heavy Siege TankFellbladeFalchionMastodonDeimos Whirlwind ScorpiusXiphon Pattern InterceptorStormbirdKharybdis Assault Claw
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