Retro Armour

[SM1981]

Was wondering if there is any doctrine / guideline as to where retro armour (ie Mark 2 - Mark 5) would sit in a current day space marine chapter? Asumeing that a chapter still has a couple of examples of each knocking around in the armoury would they be worn by the veterans of the 1st company? Or would they be bestowed upon worthy marines of any given company as a sign of honour? Or would they just be dragged out for ceremonial purpose but never actually see real action?

 

[SM1981]

Oh yeah - and I'm assuming that if any chapters did still have Mark 1 armour it probably wouldn't be in meaningful deployment largely because it's not a sealed unit with a respiratory system (and thus worse than useless in non earth like environments). Well at least if the marine in question likes being able to breath...

[Charlo]

Mark 1 would be nonexistent as it was only used by the Terran Thunder Warriors of old (and a little bit by the legions on terra) but was entirely replaced by mk2 once the Emperor left earth with his 20 Legions.

 

Vut many first founding chapters will have marks 2 through 6 in a small supply and such, usually decorated and saved for veterans and command :)

[SM1981]

In which case can we assume they would feature in the retinue of our first company...

 

And how would that impact the distribution of marines across the different types of armour in the first company...

 

Assuming (and I'm doing a lot of this here), the chapter has enough examples of each to field one combat squad of each style, you would have 20 marines utilising Mark 2, 3, 4, and 5 power armour (in total).

 

Then say 2 full squad of Sternguard Vets and 3 full squads of Vangaurd Vets (because Blood Angels apparently prefer Vangaurd over Sternguard) load out).

 

That makes 50 marines, which would leave a further 50 marines to field terminator armour (or 10 squads of 5).

 

Does that sound about right?

[Canadian_F_H]

Except that I think the blood angels have enough tda to deploy their entire first company in tda. Sternguard are tactical terminators and vanguard are assault terminators respectively...

 

As for antiquated marks, I had seen blurbs about company standard bearers wearing them and it being an honor etc... (This was not a BA specific blurb tho).

 

Also most chapters pepper mark six everywhere...

[Xenith]

There was a thread on old armour marks that started on the 3rd November :) You might find some more info there.

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/315618-mark-iv-and-all-things-hh/

[Karhedron]

Going all the way back to WD 129, the use of armour marks among loyalists is roughly as follows.

 

Mk1: A few suits still exist but obsolete. Occasionally used for ceremonial purposes.

Mk2 and 3: Older chapters may have a few suits. Occasionally deployed on the battlefield.

Mk4: Regarded as the most advanced power armour. Fairly widespread (if not common) among older Chapters. Can be used as you wish. You could easily make up fluff about it being for officers/veterans if you wish. A few Chapters like the Red Scorpions apparently still have the skill and facilities to manufacture new suits of Mk4 armour so it is not purely historical.

Mk5: Most suits were broken up for parts or destroyed after the Heresy. Rare among imperial forces.

Mk6: Commonly used. Some Chapters even favour it over the Mk7.

Mk7: Your most common suit in the 41st millenium.

Mk8: More like a refinement of the Mk7. Extra protection for areas like the neck and abdomen. Some chapters give it to veterans/officers (this piece of fluff was largely due to the sergeant in the 3rd Ed tactical squad box having Mk8).