The nimble Sentinel is a crucial part of the Astra Militarum motor pool. Fast, powerful, and dependable, the Sentinel strides where tanks would never tread, but back in the days of the Great Crusade it was little more than a civilian plaything compared to its larger, more impressive brother – the Aethon Heavy Sentinel.
Deploying first in the Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Legions Imperialis launch box, we’re digging into the historical records to find out more about this rare and powerful combat walker.
A combination of speed, mobility, and firepower makes the Aethon a popular vehicle for reconnaissance and flanking manoeuvres, allowing squadrons to race through dense terrain and hit slower tanks in their vulnerable sides.
As the Horus Heresy grinds on and the Solar Auxilia wither under the guns of the Legiones Astartes, the Heavy Sentinel also becomes a vital fire support asset for its vanguard companies, putting up a respectable fight against rival recon units like Legion Outriders and Scimitar jet bikes.
Where a regular Sentinel might pack a single flamer, autocannon, or even a plasma cannon, the Aethon carries an entire arsenal into battle without compromising its signature mobility. The one-two punch of a powerful multi-laser and an impressive missile battery let the Sentinel’s pilot duke it out with infantry and lightly armoured targets – though the thick armour of a battle tank would still give them pause for thought.
So great is the prestige of these formidable machines that only veterans of dedicated pioneer companies are selected to pilot them, ensuring that each pilot in a patrol is experienced at tracking enemy forces, assessing local terrain, and thwarting dastardly ambushes.
Unfortunately, the commendable performance and heavy weaponry leaves a powerful thirst for fuel and ammunition – issues that kept the Heavy Sentinel reserved for flanking actions and tactical interdiction.
We’ll be diving further into the microscopic miniatures of Legions Imperialis, so check back with Warhammer Community for more in the near future.