Organization and Fighting Style of the Wolves

[FenrisWolf]

The only reason why I chose barbarian is from the ancient greek ideology of; if your not greek then your just a barbarian. In 40K terms, if your not codex astartes, mister prim and proper, then your just a savage... when in truth, we Space Wolves are just as dedicated and diciplined. Just as indicated in Prospero Burns, we play our roles and play our part as the savage, feral warriors we are, but we all know better. Intimidation is the name, killing is our game. :) Viking you say? no FENRIS BORN!!!!!!!!!

Spot on!!!!!

[Valerian]

Regarding Chapter and Great Company organizations:

 

"The Space Wolves are organised in a very different way from most other Space Marine Chapters. The Chapter dates from the First Founding and its structure owes more to the personality of Leman Russ than it does to the Codex Astartes. It also reflects the preferred fighting style and social organisation of the native Fenrisians.

 

There are a dozen Great Companies, all of whom owe allegiance to the Chapter's commander, the Great Wolf. Each company is led by a Wolf Lord and his circle of advisors. Each company has its own Lair within the Fang and its own allocation of starships and weapons. A Great Company takes as its totem and insignia one of the legendary wolves of Fenris tamed by Leman Russ in ancient times. One company is named after the Blackmane wolf, the Howler in the Night. Another company takes as its insignia the Thunderwolf who it is said still flees in terror from Russ around the world, the sound of its paws being the thunder, the glint of its teeth the lightning. Still another takes the two-headed wolf as its emblem, this being the symbol of both the monster that guards death's gate and the sign of Russ's two wolves, Freki and Geri.

 

Tales are told of a thirteenth Great Company that took as its sign the pelt of the Wulfen, the legendary spirit of evil whose curse can still turn Space Wolves into the monsters of that name. This was a bad choice for a banner; the Great Company vanished into the Eye of Terror during the Horus Heresy, and none know its fate. Since then the Space Wolves have traditionally considered the number thirteen unlucky.

 

In addition to the Great Companies there is the household of the Great Wolf himself, within whose walls dwell the Wolf Priests and the Chapter's dreadnoughts. The emblem of the Great Wolf s company is the wolf rampant, the wolf that stalks between stars - the emblem of Russ himself. The current Great Wolf, Logan Grimnar, is one of the Imperium's longest serving warriors. This cunning and fierce old man has led the Space Wolves for over five centuries.

 

Each Great Company is made up of various elements. The company is led by its Wolf Lord, who has a personal retinue of picked warriors, the Wolf Guard. It is from the Chapter's Wolf Lords that a new Great Wolf is selected on the passing of the old one. The majority of troops in the company are Grey Hunters, proven warriors of ability. Also present are packs of youthful and glory-hungry Blood Claws as well as the wiser, older Long Fangs.

 

Warriors of the Great Companies fight in squads known as packs. In battle Space Wolves risk their lives for their pack-brothers without a second's thought. This creates debts of honour and friendship that may take centuries to repay. Even after pack-brothers have moved on through promotion or being assigned to other duties, these bonds remain. Thus Great Companies are bound together by chains of honour and loyalty stronger than tempered steel.

 

It is easy to tell a Space Wolf s role in his company by his appearance, for age plays a great part in the the assignment of tasks. Space Wolves grow progressively more grey-haired as they become older: their fangs become longer and their skins become ever more tanned and leathery. The veterans, called Long Fangs, are the company's long range support troops. The mature warriors are Grey Hunters, who are used in a variety of roles. The least experienced troops are the Blood Claws, whose role is to act as assault troops.

 

The Wolf Lord is the company's finest leader, chosen by acclamation of the company from the ranks of the Wolf Guard. He is a man who has proven himself time and again in battle, who has performed many exceptional feats of heroism and who has also shown wisdom and cunning in battle. The warriors who follow him have total faith in his honour and courage."

 

 

"During a campaign the structure of a Great Company is less formalised than many other Chapters' units. Forces are organised on a temporary basis with whatever troops seem necessary for the job assigned to the task. If any man has the specialised skill needed to do the job he will be listened to regardless of his rank. The Space Wolves are a band of brothers and their leaders are first among equals; they hold their position because they have the respect and trust of their comrades. It is true that many of the Wolf Lords are held in awe by their men but the forces of this Chapter resemble a warrior band more than a formalised army. On a battlefield leadership falls to whichever senior warrior is present. Thus, depending on circumstance, Space Wolves can be led Wolf Priests, Wolf Guard. Rune Priests, squad sergeants or simply the most respected warrior in the band.

 

The Space Wolves are sometimes seen by outsiders as being less disciplined than other warriors of the Imperium but this is not true. Every man knows his task and knows that the honour of his unit depends on him performing it well. They do have a flexibility that suits them well for lightning attacks and warfare deep behind enemy lines. They are commandos and raiders without peer. The self-reliance of the troops suits them well to operating independently in small units far from their commanding officers.

 

When war blazes across the Imperium. the Space Wolves are always found in the forefront of the battle, keen to get to grips with the foe, chainswords at the ready, mighty howling war-cries drowning out the screams of their foes. In battle they always follow Russ's maxim: conquer or die."

 

Both sections excerpted from White Dwarf 156 Wolves of Fenris article.