Combat Doctrine: The Huntsmen emphasize a dynamic style of warfare, ideally suited for combat aboard ships. Their tactical doctrine emphasizes self-sufficiency in its squads, so that even if a unit should become separated, they will never be truly outmatched by their opponents. Well-equipped, experienced sergeants lead these units, and an emphasis on tactical flexibility is put on all units, ensuring that they can provide both close in support, or a rapid influx of firepower, rather than depending on specialist troops. The Huntsmen do however labor under tight equipment restrictions. Possessing only limited resources; the chapter emphasizes weapons and equipment that will be most useful in space borne combat. Melta and missile weaponry is of no use in a vacuum, and is thus very rarely utilized. The chapter is also known for a particular fondness toward Stormbolters, which provide a way for boarding forces to employ a disproportionate weight of fire for their numbers. In the vehicle arena, the chapter has an extremely limited number of tanks, especially of the Predator and Land Raider types, as well as light vehicles, as most were lost during the destruction of the vehicle bays within the fortress monastery. A small number of Rhino and Razorback type transports are used for ground operations, most frequently acting as mobile command posts, while Dreadnaughts, captained by officers badly wounded at Parador, are the most common. The Huntsmen emphasize a methodical but unrelenting style typical of Dark Angels-lineage chapters. In an attempt to maintain unit coherence within the typically confusion and chaotic confines of space vessels, Huntsmen squads act in concert, with units consolidating in key choke points, usually anchored by a Dreadnaught serving as a mobile strong point before they advance into the bowels of a vessel. Famous Battles: The greatest, and most devastating, battle the Huntsmen have participated in was the Sundering of Parador, where the entire chapter fought, and several companies were lost. However, that battle is not recorded in the Imperial archives, and outside the chapter, makes very little difference. The two most notable battles Huntsmen marines took place during the Gothic War, and the Third War for Armageddon. Boarding parties launched from the Shield of the Righteous and its escorts proved pivotal in the naval engagements around Port Maw, and several Admirals and other naval officers went on record praising the Chapter for the valiant and heroic battles fought by the First, Fourth and Eight companies in defending the vital Imperial outpost from the Despoiler himself. The second, and less successful, major campaign by the Huntsmen was fought at the opening stages of the Third War for Armageddon. Elements of the Huntsmen fleet, as well as two companies of marines, were caught in the Ork invasion. For several months they performed a holding action against Ork pirates in the Ruis and Minerva systems, allowing several Imperial evacuation convoys to reinforce Armageddon, before being forced to withdraw as the situation on the ground because more dire. |
Chapter Structure: The Huntsmen are lead by Grand Master Amaeon, 6th of His Name, whose flag is aboard Shield of the Righteous. Accompanying him is High Chaplain Renauld, 3rd of His Name, who is responsible for overseeing the interrogation of prisoners, assisting those who seek redemption through confessing their crimes, and seeing to the spiritual needs of his brothers. Two other figures are of chief importance to the Huntsmen. The first is Fleet Master Lamorak, 5th of His Name, overall commander of Huntsmen ships besides Shield or Echoes. He is a brilliant tactician who has worked long and hard to meld the Huntsmen's large fleet of escort vessels into a cohesive force, capable of fighting alone, or alongside their Imperial allies. By far the most enigmatic of the major Huntsman commanders is Lord Librarian Augustus, 4th of His Name, a man blessed with both amazing martial prowess and a carefully honed mind. It is said that he receives visions within his chambers on the Echoes of Parador, which guide him and give the Hunt strength, although what are contained within these vision remains a mystery. The Huntsmen are, on the surface, a Codex chapter, the most public and visible face, especially in the presence of an Inquisitor, is that of a standard Adeptus Astartes group. There are however, several significant Codex deviations: First Company: The Wolfhounds The Huntsmen do not field veteran marines armored with powered armor suits, for it was their Terminators that survived the sundering of Parador, and it is they who embody the Huntsmen tactical doctrine. Favoring a balance of hand-to-hand combat ability, and ferocious levels of close-range firepower, these elite marines are the dominant force in shipboard combat, and the very soul of the Chapter. Each has been told the full extend of their betrayal, that their elusive prey are no mere renegade traitors, but their brothers in blood, a terrible secret passed down from their parent chapter. As vehicles are unusable in shipboard combat, the Wolfhounds rely heavily on boarding torpedoes and teleportation to deliver them to the battlefield. Some of their number eventually leave the Terminator corps to rejoin on of the battle companies, teaching their less experienced brethren the Way of the Hunt, showing them that, to survive and succeed, they must never falter in their resolve, must never fall backfor they have nowhere to retreat to. Second Company: On the ancient vessel "Echoes of Parador", the Librarians of the Huntsmen spend their days maintaining the great chapter archives. Their staggering volume of records, from debts, oaths and honors given between their brethren and hundreds, if not thousands, of members of the Imperial armed forces, as well as their records of the Fallen, and the traitors who participated in the sundering of Parador in particular, drives a demand for an high number of Librarians. Unlike most other chapters, these Librarians are collected into a single company, their numbers bolstered by a number of psychic "washouts" that, while not powerful enough to manifest the powers of a Librarian, nevertheless exhibit significant abilities. These marines, in addition to maintaining the Chapter's records and detaining captured quarry within the confines of their great ship, also keep the Chapter's original mission. While their brothers are off on the hunt, the Second Company remains stationed on their ship at the edge of Segmentum Solar, hidden in the dust of a dying star, ready to put themselves between Terra and her enemies. The demands placed on the Second Company are such that each man is a finely honed warrior, but also have an optimistic air apart from the vengeful nature of their comrades. It is said that each of them receives a vision of the future, and the path to glory, and the cleansing of their chapter's honor lies clear to them. Tenth Company: The Huntsmen refuse to field lightly armed scouts, feeling that such soldiers have no place in a boarding action, and under significant pressure due to the low capacity of their geneseed implantation facilities aboard the Shield, to arm their soldiers with less than the best is wasteful. As such, new recruits to the Huntsmen are deployed in what are considered lower risk operations, and only after such time as they have progressed far enough to be equipped with full powered armor. Tenth Company marines make up the bulk of the Chapter's heavy weapons squads, replacing the traditional Devastators. Arriving on an enemy craft only after their more experienced brethren have secured a "beach head" they are called in to bring weight of fire down on entrenched opponents or obstacles under the protective guard of veterans. Tenth Company marines also crew and operate the Chapter's limited supply of vehicles, |
LEGIO INFITIALES VENIA |
THE HUNTSMEN By Eric Lofgren |
This article has been published with the kind permission of Eric Lofgren. Planetary image created by Shadow Guard |
mostly Rhino transports and their Razorback variants, under the watchful eye of the few surviving tech marines. These too are deployed only after teleporting Terminators and drop troops have secured a foothold, but when reinforcements and officers need armed transport to the front. Color Scheme: The bulk of Huntsman marines wear duel-shaded armor. The marine's left is white, representing both purity and mourning for their lost world, while the right is a deep, rich green of Parador-That-Was. The shoulder armor is black with the chapter heraldry in white, and the rim color indicating rank. Rank and file troopers have brass-rimmed plates, while officers have silver, and commanders and other high-ranking officials have gold rimmed pads. No significant company or squad markings exist, as these groups are commonly split up during boarding, and the Huntsmen believe that quick recognition of chapter and rank are more helpful for avoiding friendly fire incidents with allied Imperial troops than esoteric unit designations. Deviating significantly from this is the Second Company. These marines maintain the older, gloss-black armor, in recognition of their continuation of their old mission. Royal blue shoulder pads complement this; the traditional color of Librarians, and a similar metallic-colorbased rank identification system. |
