This is our encyclopedia of Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) vehicles in Warhammer 40,000. The Imperial Guard fields the largest vehicle fleet in the Imperium, from humble Chimera transports to colossal super-heavy Baneblades. It covers the main Citadel and Forge World vehicles, organised by role, with a short list at the end of other patterns that appear in the lore and older ranges. It focuses on what each vehicle is and what it’s for; for current datasheets, points and which models are still in matched play rather than Legends, check the latest Astra Militarum codex and the Munitorum Field Manual.
Main Battle Tanks
Leman Russ Battle Tank
The Leman Russ is the backbone of the Imperial Guard’s armoured forces and one of the most iconic vehicles in Warhammer 40k. Armed with a Battle Cannon and a hull-mounted Heavy Bolter (plus optional sponson weapons), it provides reliable fire against infantry and medium armour. The Leman Russ is slow, tough and produced in staggering numbers across the Imperium.
Leman Russ Tank Commander
A Leman Russ carrying a veteran armour officer rather than a standard crew. It has its own datasheet, is built from the same kit as the other Leman Russ variants and can take any of their main guns. Its role is to lead from the front of a tank company and make the tanks around it more effective. The most famous Tank Commander is Knight Commander Pask of the Cadian armoured regiments.
Leman Russ Demolisher
The Demolisher mounts a short-ranged Demolisher Cannon that fires massive siege shells capable of destroying fortifications and heavy armour. Its shorter range is offset by its sheer hitting power. The Demolisher is the go-to choice for close-range armoured engagements and urban warfare.
Leman Russ Vanquisher
The Vanquisher is a specialised anti-tank variant armed with a Vanquisher Battle Cannon, a high-velocity weapon designed to pierce the heaviest armour. It fires fewer, harder-hitting shells than the standard Battle Cannon and excels at long-range tank-hunting duels.
Leman Russ Executioner
The Executioner mounts a Plasma Destroyer, a massive vehicle-mounted plasma weapon aimed at heavy infantry and vehicles. Like other plasma weapons it trades reliability for power, and plasma’s risk of overheating is a running theme in the lore.
Leman Russ Punisher
The Punisher is armed with a Punisher Gatling Cannon, a rotary cannon that shreds infantry through sheer volume of fire. Add heavy bolter sponsons and it becomes the anti-horde Leman Russ variant.
Leman Russ Eradicator
The Eradicator mounts a Nova Cannon designed to clear infantry out of cover, with shells that burst into super-heated gas. It is a specialist variant built for urban fighting against entrenched infantry.
Leman Russ Exterminator
The Exterminator is armed with a twin-barrelled Exterminator Autocannon, making it a multi-purpose weapons platform. It is less specialised than other variants but performs consistently against both infantry and light vehicles.
Leman Russ Annihilator (Forge World)
The Annihilator mounts twin Lascannons in its turret, making it a dedicated long-range anti-tank platform. It gives up the versatility of other Leman Russ variants for focused vehicle-killing capability.
Leman Russ Conqueror (Forge World)
The Conqueror is armed with a lighter Conqueror Cannon and a co-axial Storm Bolter that helps the gunner find the range. It is designed to fire accurately on the move and is associated with fast-moving armoured assaults.
Transports
Chimera
The Chimera is the standard armoured personnel carrier of the Astra Militarum. Armed with a turret weapon and a hull-mounted Heavy Bolter, it gives fire support while carrying an infantry squad to the front line. It is one of the most common vehicles in the Imperium, and its chassis is the basis for many other Guard vehicles.
Taurox
The Taurox is a fast transport that runs on four independent track units. It carries an infantry squad, mounts autocannons and is quicker but more lightly armoured than the Chimera.
Taurox Prime
The Taurox Prime is the upgunned version used by the Militarum Tempestus Scions, with a choice of heavier turret weapons such as the Taurox Gatling Cannon or Taurox Battle Cannon. It is the dedicated transport for the Guard’s elite storm troopers.
Hades Breaching Drill (Forge World)
The Hades Breaching Drill is a tunnelling machine that burrows beneath the battlefield to deliver troops behind enemy lines, most famously used by the Death Korps of Krieg. It is a thematic transport option for siege-themed Guard armies.
Artillery
Basilisk
The Basilisk is the Guard’s primary self-propelled artillery piece, armed with the Earthshaker Cannon. It can hit targets far beyond its own line of sight, and massed Basilisk batteries pounding the enemy before they reach Guard lines are a cornerstone of Imperial Guard doctrine.
Manticore
The Manticore is a rocket launcher that fires Storm Eagle Rockets in heavy salvoes. It carries a limited supply of rockets, but each volley is powerful enough to threaten both infantry and vehicles.
Wyvern
The Wyvern is a light artillery vehicle on the Chimera chassis, armed with twin Stormshard Mortars that fire shells designed to burst over infantry. It is a dedicated anti-infantry platform for clearing enemies out of cover.
Hydra
The Hydra is the Guard’s dedicated anti-aircraft platform, mounting quad Hydra Autocannons on a Chimera chassis. It is built to shoot down enemy aircraft and is less effective against ground targets.
Deathstrike
The Deathstrike is a ballistic missile launcher carrying a single, enormously powerful missile. It is effectively a one-shot weapon, and its threat can shape how an opponent spreads out even before it fires.
Medusa (Forge World)
The Medusa is a siege gun platform firing heavy shells at short to medium range. It hits fortifications and heavy armour hard but has much less range than the Basilisk.
Bombard (Forge World)
The Bombard is a huge siege mortar on a heavy chassis. It fires colossal shells that devastate everything around the point of impact, and it is usually seen in the largest games.
Colossus (Forge World)
The Colossus is a heavy siege mortar that drops shells onto fortifications from above, making it a specialist weapon against dug-in infantry. Like the Bombard, it is mostly seen in big siege battles.
Sentinel Walkers
Armoured Sentinel
The Armoured Sentinel is a light, enclosed walker used for fire support and reconnaissance. It can carry a range of weapons, including lascannons, autocannons, missile launchers and plasma cannons. Its enclosed cockpit makes it tougher than the Scout Sentinel.
Scout Sentinel
The Scout Sentinel is an open-topped reconnaissance walker that trades armour for speed. It is designed to move ahead of the main force, grab ground early and screen the army. Scout Sentinels are cheap, expendable and surprisingly useful.
Super-Heavy Tanks
Baneblade
The Baneblade is the most iconic super-heavy tank in the Imperium, armed with a Baneblade Cannon, a hull-mounted Demolisher Cannon and many secondary weapons. It carries enough firepower to level a city block and enough armour to survive sustained enemy fire. It is the standard by which other super-heavies are measured.
Banehammer
The Banehammer is a Baneblade variant armed with a Tremor Cannon, which fires shells that shake the ground and slow the enemy’s advance. It trades raw damage for battlefield control.
Banesword
The Banesword mounts a Quake Cannon, a huge siege gun built to smash fortifications. It is a siege-warfare super-heavy that gives up the Baneblade’s versatility for raw destructive power.
Doomhammer
The Doomhammer is armed with a Magma Cannon, a short-ranged weapon of terrifying power. It can also carry infantry, combining transport capacity with heavy close-range firepower.
Hellhammer
The Hellhammer mounts a Hellhammer Cannon, a massive short-ranged gun designed for urban warfare. It is the preferred super-heavy for city fighting and clearing infantry out of buildings.
Shadowsword
The Shadowsword is the Titan-killer of the family, armed with a colossal Volcano Cannon that can destroy even the largest war engines. It is the most focused super-heavy, built to kill the biggest targets on the battlefield.
Stormlord
The Stormlord is a super-heavy transport armed with a Vulcan Mega-Bolter. Its open fighting deck carries a large body of infantry who can fire out as it advances, making it a mobile gun platform.
Stormsword
The Stormsword mounts a short-ranged Stormsword Siege Cannon built to level fortifications. It is the siege-breaking member of the Baneblade family, designed to crack open defensive positions.
Forge World Specialist Vehicles
Macharius Heavy Tank
The Macharius is a heavy tank that fills the gap between the Leman Russ and the Baneblade. Its standard version carries a twin Battle Cannon, and variants mount a Vulcan Mega-Bolter, a Vanquisher cannon or an Omega-pattern plasma blastgun, giving near super-heavy firepower in a smaller hull.
Malcador Heavy Tank
The Malcador is an old heavy tank design that was widely used during the Horus Heresy and is rare by the 41st millennium. It is a slow, heavily built tank that can mount a range of turret weapons. Variants include the Malcador Infernus, which carries a huge Inferno Gun for area denial.
Thunderer Siege Tank (Forge World)
The Thunderer is a turretless assault gun on a Leman Russ-type chassis, mounting a Demolisher Cannon in a fixed casemate. It gives up a traversing turret for a lower profile and heavier frontal armour, and is used for siege and urban warfare.
Destroyer Tank Hunter (Forge World)
The Destroyer uses a Leman Russ-type chassis with a fixed Laser Destroyer, a weapon capable of piercing very heavy armour. Like the Thunderer, it gives up turret traverse for focused firepower, in this case against tanks.
Crassus Armoured Assault Transport (Forge World)
The Crassus is a super-heavy transport designed to carry a large infantry formation through heavy enemy fire. It is heavily armoured and reasonably well armed, but its main job is to deliver troops.
Praetor Armoured Assault Launcher (Forge World)
The Praetor is a super-heavy rocket launcher that fires salvoes of massive missiles at long range. It is the biggest rocket artillery platform available to the Guard.
Valdor Tank Hunter (Forge World)
The Valdor mounts a Neutron Laser, one of the most powerful anti-tank weapons available to the Astra Militarum. It is an ultra-specialist tank destroyer that is deadly against its intended targets but vulnerable to infantry assault.
Other Vehicles
Hellhound
The Hellhound is a flame tank on the Chimera chassis, mounting an Inferno Cannon that projects a huge jet of burning promethium. It is devastating against infantry and good at clearing terrain. The Devil Dog (melta variant) and Bane Wolf (chem cannon variant) are built from the same kit.
Devil Dog
The Devil Dog is a Hellhound variant armed with a Melta Cannon, a vehicle-mounted melta weapon for close-range anti-armour work. It is a fast, aggressive tank-hunter that drives up to enemy vehicles and melts through their armour.
Bane Wolf
The Bane Wolf mounts a Chem Cannon that sprays a toxic cloud designed to kill living targets, whatever armour they wear. It is a specialist anti-infantry vehicle with a suitably grim look.
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank
The Rogal Dorn is a newer addition to the Guard tank range, released in 2022. It is a heavy tank that sits between the Leman Russ and the Baneblade in size and firepower, armed with an Oppressor Cannon or Twin Battle Cannon turret plus a Castigator Gatling Cannon. It was one of the most celebrated Guard releases in years.
Valkyrie
The Valkyrie is the Guard’s main troop-carrying aircraft, able to land its squad or drop it by grav-chute. Armed with a Multi-laser and Hellstrike Missiles (or Multiple Rocket Pods), it gives close air support while delivering troops to critical locations. It is the iconic Guard flyer.
Vendetta (Forge World)
The Vendetta is a Valkyrie variant armed with lascannons, built as a flying tank-hunter. It gives the Guard fast, long-range anti-vehicle support to complement their ground armour.
Vulture Gunship (Forge World)
The Vulture is a dedicated ground-attack gunship based on the Valkyrie airframe. Its weapon options include twin Punisher Gatling Cannons that saturate an area with fire. It is one of the most heavily armed Guard aircraft.
Avenger Strike Fighter (Forge World)
The Avenger is an Imperial Navy ground-attack aircraft armed with an Avenger Bolt Cannon and a lascannon, designed for strafing runs against ground targets. It flies close air support for Guard operations.
Lightning Strike Fighter (Forge World)
The Lightning is an Imperial Navy interceptor and strike fighter. Armed with lascannons and underwing ordnance, it fights for air superiority and makes precision strikes. It is fast, manoeuvrable and effective against both air and ground targets.
Other Patterns in the Lore and Older Ranges
The Guard’s vehicle pool is far larger than any one range. These patterns appear in the lore, in older Forge World releases or in Imperial Armour books, and are not covered in detail above:
- Trojan — a Chimera-based support vehicle that tows artillery and carries supplies.
- Centaur — a small, light tracked carrier used to tow guns and move crews.
- Atlas — an armoured recovery vehicle for hauling damaged tanks off the field.
- Salamander — a light, fast Chimera-based scout and command vehicle.
- Griffon — a Chimera-based heavy mortar carrier.
- Gorgon — a huge armoured assault transport for carrying infantry into the teeth of enemy defences.
- Cyclops — a small remote-controlled demolition vehicle.
- Tauros — a light, fast assault vehicle used by airborne and drop troops.
Many Forge World vehicles have moved in and out of matched play over the editions, and several are now Legends. If you want to field one, check the current Astra Militarum codex, the Munitorum Field Manual and the Legends datasheets for its present status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Leman Russ tank named after a Primarch?
The Leman Russ shares its name with Leman Russ, the Primarch of the Space Wolves. In most accounts the pattern is credited to or named in honour of the Primarch, and the tank kept his name for ten thousand years. It’s now the most common battle tank in the Imperium and comes in many variants, from the Demolisher to the Vanquisher.
What is the biggest Imperial Guard tank?
The Baneblade family are the biggest Astra Militarum tanks covered here. These super-heavies include the Baneblade, Shadowsword, Stormlord and Stormsword. The Stormlord carries a large body of infantry on its open fighting deck, and the Shadowsword’s Volcano Cannon can kill Titans. Rogal Dorn and Macharius heavy tanks sit between a Leman Russ and a Baneblade.
What is the difference between a Leman Russ and a Rogal Dorn?
The Rogal Dorn is bigger and more heavily armed. The Leman Russ is the standard battle tank, built in huge numbers with a single main gun such as a Battle Cannon. The Rogal Dorn is a newer heavy tank that sits between the Leman Russ and the Baneblade, with an Oppressor Cannon or Twin Battle Cannon turret plus a Castigator Gatling Cannon.
Which Imperial Guard vehicles are best at killing tanks?
For dedicated anti-tank work, the Guard rely on the Leman Russ Vanquisher, the Devil Dog’s melta cannon and the Vendetta’s lascannons. Forge World adds the Destroyer Tank Hunter, the Valdor and the Leman Russ Annihilator. Against Titans and super-heavies, nothing beats the Shadowsword’s Volcano Cannon. Exact effectiveness depends on current datasheets, so check the latest codex.