The Game

The Armies of the 41st Millennium
- Space Marines.
- Dark Eldar.
- Tyranids.
- Sisters of Battle.
- Eldar.
- Chaos.
- Imperial Guard.
- Orks.
- Heroes of the Imperium.

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Drawn from the million inhabited worlds that make up the Imperium, the ranks of the Imperial Guard are truly immeasurable. Not even the Adepts of Earth know where every battalion and regiment have been stationed after nearly ten thousand years of constant conflict. This is the true army of the Imperium unlike the elite strike forces of the superhuman Space Marines or the pious warrior women of the Sisters of Battle. Built upon the sweat, blood and bones of men, the mechanized punch of countless tanks, and an iron will, the Imperial Guard is sent to fight the thousands of wars the Imperium wages each day.

Each Imperial world is expected to raise its own defense forces to protect the planet from alien invasion, insurrection or citizen revolt. As part of its Imperial Tithe each planet is also required to supply troops from its defense forces to be inducted into the Imperial Guard.

The one thing that supplies the fuel to run the massive Imperial Guard war machine is men! Millions upon millions of Imperial citizens are inducted, drafted or forced into service within the ranks of the Imperial Guard.

Imperial Guard infantry troops are often considered the lowest of the low - footsloggers, dogfaces and cannon fodder. However, the swarming units of infantry combined with the oppressive might of the Guard's armored battalions and special troops have allowed them to continue to hold the galaxy in the steely grasp of Humanity to this day.

Imperial Guard Infantry regiments are vast structures comprised of thousands of troops. To keep track of these sprawling forces, the Imperial Guard has a very rigid and inflexible command structure which ensures that plans are followed and orders are carried out. This rigidity extends all the way down to the squad level of deployment. Unlike most other armies of the 41st Millennium which have variable squad sizes, Imperial Guard Infantry Squads are always comprised of ten men.

The problems of arming and equipping an army of millions upon millions of men are solved in the Imperial Guard by issuing each guardsmen a standard kit consisting of the trustworthy and deadly lasgun and protective flak armor. Cheap to manufacture and reliable in combat, the lasgun can lay down a curtain of fire which can chop enemy squads to pieces in seconds.

Promising marksmen in the Imperial Guard Infantry will often be given further training in the use of other more specialized weapons such as the flamer or flesh-melting plasma gun (shown above left). In addition, units may also include Heavy Weapon teams armed with even more powerful ordnance such as the tank-busting lascannon shown right.

While all of the Imperial planets are required to supply warriors to serve in the Imperial Guard there are several worlds whose regiments have become famous for distinguished service in the armies of the Imperium.

Born on a Death World where there are a thousand different ways to die every day, the Jungle Fighters of Catachan serve well in the Imperial Guard as the battlefield is often a kinder place to be than their homeworld.

Stalwart and determined, Cadian Shock Troops hail from a world poised on the edge of the Eye of Terror where the forces of Chaos and invasions from the alien forces of the Eldar are an all too common occurrence.

The baking hot deserts of Tallarn breed men who's endurance and drive is matched on few other worlds in the Imperium. These harsh conditions make the inhabitants of Tallarn ideal subjects for induction into the glorious forces of the Imperial Guard.

The dark world of Mordian is a place of strict military regimes and martial law. The unique conditions of the planet breed civil unrest and outright revolt. However, the Mordian Iron Guard stands as a shining bastion of law and order on a world of crime and corruption.

This is only a sample of the millions of different worlds which supply troops to the Imperial Guard. One could mention the cold-hearted Ice Warriors of Valhalla or even the courageous regiments of the Praetorian Guard, but regardless of where the men of the Imperial Guard are recruited from, they all follow the strict discipline that life in the armies of the Imperium enforces.

Commanding officers form a vital part of the strategic and tactical forces of the Imperial Guard army by coordinating the actions of platoons or companies within the regimental HQ. Imperial Guard armies are commonly led by Captain (A Valhallan Captain is shown right) or Commissar although especially large forces may be lead to battle by a high-ranking Colonel.

Like the rest of the Imperial Guard army, Command Squads follow a very inflexible organizational structure. From the highest to the lowest it is the imposition of order within the Imperial Guard which allows this sprawling force to function coherently. Imperial Guard Command Squads always consist of an officer and four Imperial Guardsmen equipped to the highest available standards to protect their commander's life should it be threatened by enemy troops or insurrection within the ranks themselves.

Commissars are zealous and ruthless officers who live for nothing but utter devotion to the Emperor as a member of the Imperial armed forces. Always seen leading squads of Guardsmen across the battlefield, Commissars fight at the forefront of the battle where their inspirational presence and tremendous bravery serves to drive the men under their command forward.

Commissars also ensure that the Imperial doctrine is being followed and that other Imperial Guard officers are serving the best interests of the Imperium. Commissars will not tolerate cowardice within the ranks from either officers or enlisted men. Those who turn tail and run in the face of combat are subject to the Commissar's wrath and the justice of an immediate battlefield execution.

The Imperial Guard utilizes a wide variety of forces to handle the various types of tactical situations and terrain that it must fight on. In addition, the Imperial army recruits several elite units which are small in size but pack an impressive wallop on the battlefield.

Imperial Guard Rough Riders are Guardsmen who are recruited from worlds where the use of horses on the battlefield is still a dominant practice. The most famous of these cavalry units are the fearsome Rough Riders of Attila (shown right). In battle their powerful assaults and rapid movement around the battlefield can surprise opponents who expect the Imperial Guard to just stay back and shoot.

Planets whose gravity or radiation has mutated the once pure genetic material of their human inhabitants have not been overlooked by the Imperial Guard when it comes to obtaining prospective recruits. Ogryns (shown left) have evolved on barren, high gravity worlds into huge hulking beasts.

Devoted to Emperor and willing to lay down their lives without a second thought (or a first thought for that matter), they act as monstrous shock troops on the battlefield, ripping enemy troops limb from limb and decimating entire units with their ripper guns.

In contrast the diminutive Ratlings, serve as excellent snipers in the Imperial Guard army. Their excellent marksmanship and ability to work themselves behind enemy lines tends to make up for the fact that most humans find them repellent and unhygenic.

Sentinel squadrons consist of one to three lightly-armored mechanized walkers crewed by a single Guardsman. Armed with a powerful multi-laser, Sentinels are ideal as reconnaissance platforms or as mobile heavy weapon support for infantry and tanks.

Shown to the right, Sentinels are often used for scouting missions where stealth, speed and firepower are needed at a premium.

The forces of the Imperial Guard utilize the greater variety of mobile artillery and vehicles than any other army in the 41st Millennium. Imperial Guard armies contain legions of troop transports, artillery platforms and tanks of all shapes and sizes supported by swarms of infantry, support staff and artillery. When the full force of the Guard is brought to bear against the enemy, it strikes like a mailed fist, punching through opposing battle lines and scattering troops as if they were children's blocks!

The Chimera is the Imperial Guard's most common armored troop carrier and infantry support vehicle. Able to carry an entire ten man squad and one other passenger, the Chimera is perfect for deploying infantry quickly.

As well as being a reliable and well-armored transport, once its passengers have disembarked, the Chimera's turret-mounted multi-laser is capable of laying down a field of suppressive cover fire which will keep enemy heads down while they get into position.

There are several other variations on the versatile Chimera chassis which are used by the Imperial Guard to fulfill various missions including the enormously powerful Basilisk mobile artillery platform and the explosive might of the Griffon heavy mortar.

The rugged Leman Russ is the main battle tank of the Imperial Guard and makes up the bulk of the army's mobile attack force. Whether deployed in an acidic swamp or airdropped into the freezing temperatures of a sub-zero ice planet, the Leman Russ functions equally well no matter what the terrain or conditions.

The Leman Russ's armament can vary tremendously but the inclusion of a turret-mounted battle cannon is the standard configuration. The side sponson mounts may also be modified to accept a variety of heavy weapons to lay down cover support for infantry troops and to stave off attacks from enemy assault units bent on the tank's destruction.