Stormbird

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World Eaters Sokar Pattern Stormbird

The Stormbird dropship was an assault and transport aircraft used by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade (and in some cases - even before it begins), before the introduction of the smaller Thunderhawk pattern.^[1]

Overview

The Stormbird was developed to replace the older Skylance gunships of the Unification Wars.^[7] Capable of both void and atmospheric flight, the Stormbird was first manufactured on Terra, by the Yndonesic Bloc for use against the Panpacific tribes, during the end stages of the Unification Wars. The Stormbird could carry at least 50 fully armored marines into battles.^[1][4] Alternatively it could carry up to 5 Dreadnoughts, including the mighty Leviathan; Jump-pack equipped infantry; Rapier batteries; bikes; jetbikes; a Rhino armoured transport; or a mixed force. The Stormbird’s standard armament was four turret-mounted twin linked lascannons, three twin-linked heavy bolters, and a complement of six dreadstrike missiles. It was also equipped with particularly dense composite armour plating, and is further protected by a series of void shield generators which it can extend to protect disembarking troops and war machines. Its shields allowed it to be impervious to all ground fire save Defense Lasers.^[8]

They were in use throughout the Great Crusade, although by the time of the Horus Heresy, most of the Legions had switched to the smaller, more agile Thunderhawk. The Luna Wolves were one of the few Legions that deliberately kept Stormbirds in service, since these ships had carried them into battle since the beginning^[1]. A Stormbird was piloted by two Marines sitting back-to-back, along with two hard-wired servitors^[1]. During the Heresy, Nathaniel Garro, former Captain of the Death Guard Legion, used a Stormbird to travel to various planets, on the orders of Malcador the Sigillite. Like Garro's Power Armour, the ship bore no Legion insignia or colours, and was a uniform grey^[2][3].

All but a legend by the final years of the 41st Millennium, no new examples of the Stormbird have been constructed in almost a millennia, for much of the technology that allows such a behemoth to function is no longer understood.^[8] However some aging Stormbirds are still utilized by some Chaos Space Marine forces such as the Word Bearers^[5] and the Iron Warriors.^[15]

Sokar Pattern Stormbird

The Sokar Pattern Stormbird, known as the Death Bird to the Imperial Army was a dedicated landing craft variant of the Stormbird, developed from Warhawk and Nephoros class assault craft. It was used by the Yndonesic Bloc during the Unification Wars and later adopted by the Imperium. The design was one of the larger craft used by the Imperium and was the direct precursor to the Thunderhawk.^[6]

Other Known Patterns

• Apophis pattern - One of the largest known patterns of stormbirds, it was widely known for their vast wingspan and ominious appearance, which earned it the title of "Sunkiller". The Space Wolves Legion used 30 of these transports during the Battle of Prospero.^[14]
• Sykri pattern - The Chaos Lord Thagus Daravek was known to use a stormbird of this pattern during the Legion Wars.^[13]
• Warhawk VI pattern - used by Yndonesic Bloc during the Unification Wars (against the Panpacific tribes) and by the Luna Wolves during the Great Crusade.^[1]

Notable Stormbirds

• Firebird - Personal transport of Fulgrim.^[9]
• Heilmark - Space Wolves Legion.^[11]
• Hugin - Personal transport of Leman Russ.^[10]
• Bloodstrike - Personal transport of Huron Blackheart.^[12]

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

• The novel Horus Rising states that "They sat in two rows of three, wings extended" ; therefore it is possible that their wings can be folded or collapsed in some manner.^[1]

Images

Imperial Fists Stormbird

Sources

• 1: Horus Rising, Part One, Chapter 7
• 2: Garro: Oath of Moment (Audio Book), Track 2 : War Rages
• 3: Garro: Legion of One (Audio Book), Track 2: Garro's Arrival
• 4: False Gods (Novel) , Chapter 5
• 5: Dark Disciple (Novel), Chapter 3
• 6: The Horus Heresy Book Five, pg. 217
• 7: I Am Slaughter (Novel), Chapter 15
• 8: Forge World
• 9: Fulgrim (Novel), Chapter Five
• 10: Wolfsbane (Novel), Chapter 16
• 11: Leman Russ: The Great Wolf (Novel), Chapter III
• 12: Huron Blackheart: Master of the Maelstrom (Novel), Chapter 6
• 13: Black Legion (Novel), chapter 9
• 14: The Horus Heresy Book Seven - Inferno, pg. 98
• 15: The Heraclitus Effect (Short Story) — Iron Warriors: The Omnibus (Omnibus)