Space Marines

Warhammer 40,000 Space Marines News, Reviews, Editorials & Unboxings.

The Space Marines are a faction from UK-Based Games Workshop's Tabletop Wargame Warhammer 40,000. The Adeptus Astartes (commonly known as Space Marines, and colloquially as Angels of Death) are one of the most elite and feared fighting forces in the Imperium of Man. The primary unit of organisation is the Chapter, a self-contained army fully equipped with its own transport, non-combatant support staff, etc. There are around a thousand Chapters, each comprising a thousand Space Marines. There are far too few Space Marines to form the Imperium's main military forces; instead they operate as highly mobile strike forces. They are entrusted with the most dangerous missions, such as lightning raids behind enemy lines, infiltration, and tunnel fighting. Through selection, training, and conditioning, Marines are physically, mentally, and spiritually superior to any other Imperial soldier.

Space Marines were created from the genetic material of the Primarchs. Twenty Legions of Space Marines were created, each from the genetic material of a specific Primarch. The Legions took part in the Great Crusade, which founded the Imperium. The Great Crusade, lasting for two centuries, ended with the treachery of the Horus Heresy, a rebellions which saw fully half the Space Marine legions turn against the Emperor.

The Legions which had remained loyal were eventually reorganised according to the dictates of the Codex Astartes, in the event known as the Second Founding. Each Legion was divided into several autonomous Chapters, which remain the primary unit of the Space Marines to the current day. Successive foundings over the millennia have created new Chapters. There are now around a thousand Chapters in existence.

A Chapter's fighting force numbers a nominal 1000 Marines, divided into ten companies, each of which is commanded by a Captain. Companies are further divided into squads of ten battle-brothers, each commanded by a Sergeant. The Chapter Masters owe their allegiance to the Emperor. Chapters are monastic communities in nature; for most of the Marines, the Chapter is their world, and the only contact they have with outsiders is in battle.

The primary individual weapons of the Space Marines is the boltgun and its pistol variant, the bolt pistol. The distinctive Power Armour is worn by all Marines in battle. Some members of the Chapter's first company may instead be armoured in the heavier Terminator Armour. Carapace armour is worn by Scouts instead of power armour.

Each Space Marines Chapter has its own distinguished color scheme. Space Marines do not typically use camouflage because Adeptus Astartes combat doctrine does not follow the tactics of concealment in battles. Bright and bold color schemes lower enemy morale, announcing the arriving of the noble Chapter to the battlefield.