Tactical Squad

A tactical squad displaying a surprising amount of CQC ability against Orks

"Initiate tactical advance."

– Tarkus

A Tactical Squad is a squad of Space Marines who are used as the flexible backbone of Space Marine chapters. Having previously served in both Assault and Devastator squads, Tactical Marines have experience in both heavy weapons and close quarters combat, and are thus ideal for any type of combat situation. Tactical Marines are armed with bolters for ranged combat and a bolt pistol and combat blade (most humans would consider it a short sword, but in Astartes hands it is a knife) for close combat. Some members will be armed with specialist weapons like a Flamer, Grav-Gun, Heavy Bolter, or Missile Launcher. The squad's Brother-Sergeant will usually be armed with a chainsword, power weapon, or combi-weapon.

They are also completely pointless and have no reason to exist as they essentially fight like power armored Imperial Guardsmen as highly skilled riflemen. Whereas if chapters split into half Assault and half Devastator and left their serfs to use their warmachines, Astartes physical superiority would let the Assault Marines slaughter everything in rapid succession while the Devastator Marines slaughter everything that could be a threat to the Assault Marines while vehicles defend both from unusual or flanking maneuvers and provide rapid response.

To be fair, the lore use of Tactical Marines is that they've mastered every form of Astartes warfare, weapons, other wargear, and vehicles. So, you can have any number of any combination of any type of Marine, specialty, vehicles, wargear, etc. at the drop of a hat. The problem is that the lore then doesn't actually have them being used this way and they can't be used that way on the tabletop at all. Anyway, this is why the Ultramarines are the "standard" Space Marines. Super-soldiers rather than super-warriors who possess infinite tactical and strategic flexibility and can change completely at any time as needed on the battlefield. They're not used that way, which makes their successes and trumpet-blowing turn them into Mary Sues instead of likeable masters of versatility players would actually approve of as the poster child of Warhammer 40,000.

Under a Codex-compliant Chapter, the composition of four battle companies (2nd through 5th) will include six tactical squads, while two of the reserve companies (6th and 7th) will be composed entirely of Tactical Marines who train using bikes and land speeders. Among the Space Wolves, the role of Tactical Marine is filled by the Grey Hunters, Wolves who have been promoted out of the Blood Claws and show a degree of skill at controlling the inner wolf. Among the Black Templars, the role of Tactical Marines are held by Initiates; those who have received their Black Carapace and have been assigned to oversee the training of a Neophyte.

Equipment

All Tactical Marines wear the standard Space Marine power armour and carry a bolt pistol, a boltgun, and frag and krak grenades. They may also be armed with a variety of Flamers, Meltaguns, Grav-Guns, Plasma Guns, Heavy Bolters, Lascannons, Missile Launchers, Multi-meltas, and Plasma Cannons.

The Space Marine Sergeant may also have melta bombs and teleport homer, and can exchange his boltgun and/or bolt pistol for a Chainsword, Combi-melta, Combi-flamer, Combi-plasma, Storm Bolter, Grav-pistol, Plasma pistol, Power weapon, or Power fist.

Gallery

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  Ultramarines
• 
  Blood Angels
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  Iron Hands
• 
  Ultramarines(Heresy-era, Mark III, note that they all have chainswords)
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  Ultramarines(Heresy-era, Mark IV)

See Also

• Primaris Intercessor
• Grey Knight Strike Squad
• Adepta Sororitas Battle Sister Squad