DEPLOYMENT OF THE DEATHWING The entire long term strategy of the Dark Angels chapter revolves around two major aims. One is absolute dedication to the preservation of the emperor's Imperium. The second but sinister aim is the capture and redemption by confession or death of each one of the fallen. These stretch the extra-ordinary resources of even the dark Angels chapter leading to the deployment of Deathwing units in small detachments. It is rare for the entire company to be deployed in battle, although it has not been unknown for large detachments of up to a half company sized force to be deployed for various purposes. A most renowned deployment occurred when thirty terminators returned to their home world of the Plains World for their routine 100 year recruitment drive, unwittingly discovering a genestealer cult infestation. Wiping out the to the last alien, the five surviving terminators led their people to the old way, thus saving their way of life and the history and colour of the Deathwing company forever. The last known mass deployment of the Deathwing units took place during the Lion's assault on the Eternity Wall spaceport. Since then the entire company has rarely gathered together except for the ritual appointment of the new Grandmaster of Deathwing. In the current year, the entire company, at full strength is present at the Tower of Angels as they near the Eye of Terror. In these rare occasions when the entire strength of the Deathwing company is deployed, it is lead by the Grandmaster of Deathwing with the standard deployment pattern is as described below. Master of the Deathwing Company Grandmaster Gabriel Command Title: Master of the Deathwing Company Honorific Title: Grandmaster of Deathwing Deathwing Terminator Squads Deathwing terminator squads maintain a nominal strength of five veterans trained to fight exclusively in TDA. They are well versed in the use of standard armament of storm bolters and power fists and are capable of deploying any two heavy weapons or selection of close combat weapons based on the tactical necessity. The squads are formed together with veterans who have fought together and remain and fight together until their ultimate demise. The standard structure consists of a veteran sergeant who wields a power sword as the badge of office for his position. Others are armed with the standard armament of power fists and storm bolters. Two members are honoured by the addition of heavy weapons, usually cyclone missiles launchers or assault cannons. It is customary for each squad to deploy the same type of heavy weapon to maintain unit efficiency and fire discipline. There are a few exceptions to this composition as detailed below. Deathwing Terminator Squad I "Caliban" Unlike the composition of standard DW squads, where the battle brothers remain together as one unit the first Deathwing Squad is made up of the most experienced veterans. To be assigned to Deathwing Squad Caliban is of immense honour to the veterans involved and is one of the truly hallmark events in their exceptional careers. Honoured with the name of their original home world the squad consists of four veterans. This includes the company apothecary, techmarine and standard bearer all equipped with their specific wargear modified to interact with their TDA suits. The squad also differs from standard squads in that it is led not by a veteran sergeant but by an officer of the rank of Master. The most capable veteran sergeant within the company is promoted to the rank of Master on being assigned to this squad. Battlefield deployment of this squad is also unique. Only in dire needs or during large scale deployments do these highly experienced veterans go to battle. When that opportunity occurs, the Master detaches himself from the squad and is reassigned to Deathwing Squad II "Eternity Wall" The remaining members of the squad then take on their honoured task of being the retinue of the Master of Deathwing. They are usually assigned the single Land Raider Prometheus command tank from the DW arsenal. Deathwing Terminator Squad II "Aeternitas" The second squad within the Deathwing Company is next in rank in experience, honour and combat and command capability. Appropriately named after the site of the largest Deathwing teleportation assault, namely the Eternity Wall spaceport during the siege of terra, membership in this squad is honoured second only to the DW Squad "Caliban". It is led by the most highly experienced veteran sergeant within the company and also contains an apothecary, techmarine and standard bearer. These three specialists usually fight in standard TDA suits without the specialized wargear of their specialist trade. However they are the second command squad, building redundancy within the company structure. Depending on the tactical requirements, they would often accompany the company's Interrogator-Chaplain, and when required don their specialized wargear. In the rare event of the entire company being mobilized, the commander of DW Squad "Caliban" would join this squad along with the company's Interrogator-Chaplain and occasionally a Librarian. Highly effective in the assault role, this potent force is assigned the single Land Raider Crusader and usually would be seen at the forefront of any mobile assault. In this situation they could also act as a secondary HQ unit, particularly to take command of one wing of the company's deployment. Deathwing Terminator Squads III - XX Each and every Deathwing terminator squad from number III onwards are equipped to the same high standards. They all nominally consist of one veteran sergeant armed with his badge of office, the power sword and a storm bolter. The squad members are usually armed with two heavy weapons, again commonly of the same type. Specific actions may require a more complex mix of armament, particularly the highly dangerous boarding actions against space hulks and enemy spaceships and bastions. In these situations the high volume firepower of the assault cannon mixed with the purifying flames of the heavy flamer has been proven time and again to be utterly devastating. Despite the standard deployment of five man squads may be amalgamated to form larger formations of up to ten men. Usually this option is used to amalgamate survivors from other squads while casualties recover or are replaced. In other cases, they may be so joined specifically for the purposes of large assaults. Deathwing Dreadnoughts It requires exceptional courage combined with commitment to the cause beyond the call of duty, for an individual to be |
This entire section is one attempt to describe the long history of the Dark Angels in a linear form. Every known piece of history and event based on GW publications has been written in my own words and linked together in a reasonably plausible manner by additional fiction. This is in no way the official GW version nor is it in anyway an attempt to infringe on their IP. There are many versions of imperial history buried within the sands of time and this is but just one of them. Read on if you dare! |
FIRST COMPANY "DEATHWING" Dark Angels Chapter Chronicled By ( Shadow Guard ) |
CODEX ASTARTES ANGELUS MORTIS |
considered as an incumbent of one of the sarcophagi in the Deathwing Company. A total of eight honoured battle brothers are interned within such dreadnoughts and serve alongside their brethren, continuing their service to the Lion and the emperor long after their physical bodies had worn out. Despite their devastating effect on the battle field, they are as valued for their knowledge and wisdom in everything from battlefield tactics to chapter history. So valued are these behemoths that in the rare occasions that they are deployed one of the Deathwing squads is assigned as their guardians. Eight venerable battle brothers form the battle line of dreadnoughts for the first company. Land Raiders The sole space marine tank capable of transporting Deathwing squads is the ubiquitous Land Raider. The Deathwing Company is unique amongst the Adeptus Astartes in having the ability to field the entire company not only in tactical dreadnought armour but also mount their entire strength in Land Raiders. Each land raider is numbered and assigned to their respective squad and are maintained by specialist Deathwing techmarines. Their armoured complement includes: Land Raider Prometheus - 1; Land Raider MkIII - 17 Land Raider Crusader - 2; Land Raider Helios - 2 |
