The Stormsword is a super-heavy tank of the Astra Militarum, built for grinding urban warfare. It swaps the Shadowsword’s anti-titan Volcano cannon for a short-range siege cannon that collapses buildings on top of whoever’s inside.
What the stormsword is
It’s an Imperial Guard super-heavy vehicle based on the Shadowsword chassis, but repurposed for sieges and street fighting. Its job is close-quarter support: cracking open fortified positions and burying defenders under rubble.
Most Stormswords aren’t factory-built. They started as field conversions of salvaged Shadowsword hulls during the siege of Coldarkh Hive, and the Adeptus Mechanicus still frowns on that kind of improvisation. Pragmatic Guard commanders don’t care.
The siege cannon and its limits
The main gun is a Stormsword Siege Cannon firing rocket-propelled shells that weigh over 180kg each. One shot can level a building, usually by blasting out the ground floor so the whole structure comes down.
Crews are trained to aim low on purpose, burying the target under collapsing masonry or dropping them into a fresh crater. The trade-off is real: the cannon has short range and barely any elevation, so it’s nearly useless in open battle.
- Main armament: Stormsword Siege Cannon, 20 rounds
- Secondary: coaxial Heavy Bolter, two sponson twin-linked Heavy Bolters, turret Heavy Flamers
- Optional: Hunter-Killer Missile, pintle Heavy Stubber or Storm Bolter
- Some crews trade the sponsons for extra armour instead
Crew, size and known use
It’s a six-person machine: commander, driver, main gunner, remote gunner, comms operator and loader. At 302 tonnes and 13.5m long, it’s not sneaking anywhere, with a top road speed of just 25kph.
Stormswords are rare, but they’ve earned their place leading assaults in the worst city fights. The 21st Teutonian Heavy Tank Company is one known operator, and the 61st Tank Regiment fielded Arkurian-pattern Stormswords during the Vraks campaign.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 302 tonnes |
| Length | 13.5m |
| Crew | 6 |
| Main ammo | 20 rounds |
| Traverse / elevation | 2° / -2° to +12° |
| Top speed (road) | 25kph |
Where it fits in the lore
The Stormsword sits in the same super-heavy family as the Shadowsword, Baneblade and Stormblade, sharing their chassis lineage and their role as regiment-level assets rather than line tanks.
Rumour has it some Forge Worlds have started building them in limited numbers, which would make them less of a workshop curiosity and more of a standing part of the Guard’s siege arsenal.
Key facts
- Super-heavy Astra Militarum tank built on the Shadowsword chassis
- Main gun is a Stormsword Siege Cannon with 20 rocket-propelled shells
- Originally a field conversion from the siege of Coldarkh Hive
- Weighs 302 tonnes and carries a crew of six
- Short range and 2° traverse make it poor in open battle
- Known users include the 21st Teutonian Heavy Tank Company and the 61st Tank Regiment
FAQ
What’s the stormsword’s main weapon?
A Stormsword Siege Cannon firing rocket-propelled shells over 180kg each. It’s built to collapse buildings rather than duel other tanks.
How is it different from a Shadowsword?
Same chassis, different gun. The Shadowsword carries a Volcano cannon for killing titans at range, while the Stormsword trades that for a short-range siege cannon suited to city fighting.
Is the stormsword good in open battles?
Not really. Its cannon has limited range and only 2° of traverse, so it’s meant for close urban work where buildings and cover do the heavy lifting.