Armor

Warhammer 40k
Current Edition
10th
Imperial Guard
Armor · Mechanized · Infantry Catachan Jungle Fighters
Space Marines
Star Knights · Salamanders · Lamenters Dark Angels · Grey Knights · Custodes
Other Imperial
Inquisition · Sisters of Battle
Forces of Chaos
Chaos Space Marines
Xenos
Orks · Tau

During the Great Crusade the STC of the Leman Russ Battle Tank was discovered on Nova Borilia. The world had been part of the Noman civilization, which had enslaved a portion of humanity for millennia. The Noman were crushed by the Space Wolves, who recovered the STC and named its fruit in the honor of their Primarch.

Ever since, it has been the main battle tank of the Imperial Army (and later the Imperial Guard) and the mainstay of armoured regiments across the Imperium, the Leman Russ is produced in the millions on Forge Worlds and in Hive factories across the Imperium. While slow in comparison to other Guard vehicles and lacking in advanced technology, its ruggedness and reliability are the tank's defining attribute.[3a] Emphasizing heavy firepower and armour over mobility, it is rare for any Imperial Guard force to engage an enemy army without the support of Leman Russ tanks. The Leman Russ has been in service for millennia, a testament to its simple but efficient and easily producible design, making it arguably the most successful tank in the galaxy.

Origins

The 73rd Cindros Armored Legion, known as the "Ember Wyrms," hails from the volcanic forge-world of Cindros Prime, a world of ash plains and lava rivers in the Segmentum Tempestus. Raised in the post-Heresy era to defend the sector’s industrial lifelines, the regiment’s black-and-red tanks—black for the ash, red for the magma—reflect the wyrm-like drakes that stalk their homeworld, beasts of fire and fury. Forged in Cindros’ foundries, the Ember Wyrms are a relentless armored force, their Leman Russes and Baneblade grinding foes into dust.

History

Founding: Born during the Second Founding, the Ember Wyrms were tasked with holding the line alongside the Star Knights, a Salamanders-descended Chapter. The Wyrms’ tanks provided the steel backbone to the Knights’ orbital strikes, forging a bond of mutual respect—black-and-red war machines complementing silver-blue Astartes.

The Barghests: In the Pyre Wars (M37), facing Chaos Titans on Vyrak, the regiment needed fast, agile support for their lumbering Russes. Cindros tech-priests modified two Chimera chassis with autocannons scavenged from wrecked aircraft, dubbing them "Barghests" after the swift, ash-dwelling hounds of Cindros mythology. These light tanks became the Wyrms’ vanguard—darting ahead, their autocannons spitting fire to pin foes for the heavy guns behind.

Notable Campaigns:

The Ashen Purge (M34): The Baneblade Wyrm’s Breath shattered an Ork Stompa amid molten flows, its legend born.

The Void Siege of Karthax (M39): With the Star Knights, the Wyrms deployed Barghests via orbital landers, their autocannons cutting paths through Chaos lines for Russes to follow.

Current Era: In M41, the 73rd roams as a mobile juggernaut — Barghests scout and harass, Leman Russes and Wyrm’s Breath deliver the killing blow.

Culture and Beliefs

Forge-Bound: Vehicles are sacred—blessed with ash and incense, the Baneblade Wyrm’s Breath revered as Cindros’ avatar.

Fire and Steel: Plasma, demolishers, and now autocannons reflect their love of raw power—Barghests add speed and volume to the regiment’s fiery arsenal.

The Barghests’ Legacy: Named Ashclaw and Cinderfang, these black-and-red light tanks are crewed by daring tankers—seen as wyrm-hunters who harry the foe, their autocannons roaring like Cindros’ storms.

HQ

Tank Commander

• Leman Russ Executioner (Hand of Steel)
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Sponson Plasma Cannons

Troops

Squadron Alpha

• Leman Russ MBT (Titan)
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Sponson Heavy Bolters
  • Track Guards
  • Pintle Storm Bolter
• Leman Russ MBT
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Co-ax Heavy Stubber
  • Track Guards
• Leman Russ MBT
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Dozer Blade

Squadron Beta

• Leman Russ Demolisher (Thumper)
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Sponson Plasma Cannons
• Leman Russ Exterminator (Metal Storm)
  • Hull Heavy Bolter
  • Sponson Heavy Bolters
  • Hunter Killer Missile
• Leman Russ Exterminator (Slugger)
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Sponson Heavy Bolters
  • Co-ax Heavy Stubber

Squadron Theta

• Leman Russ Vanquisher (Archer)
  • Hull Lascannon
• Leman Russ MBT
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Co-ax Heavy Stubber
• Leman Russ MBT
  • Hull Lascannon
  • Co-ax Heavy Stubber

Fast Attack

Salamander Scout Tank

• 95 pts
• Hunter-Killer Missile
• Heavy Stubber

Hydra Flak Tank

• Hunter-Killer Missile
• Hull Heavy Bolter

Heavy Support

Artillery

• Basilisk x3

Deathstrike

• NUCLEAR LAUNCH DETECTED

Lord of War

Baneblade

Total Army Points: 2,083