Iron Hands' Triumphs: The Greatest Victories in the Grimdark Universe - A Comprehensive Overview
Introduction
1.1 The Iron Hands: Unyielding Defenders
1.2 A Legacy of Triumphs
The Liberation of Tallarn: A World Reclaimed
The Cleansing of Shardenus: Dark Mechanicum Defeated
The Defense of Mezoa: Holding the Line
The Vengeance of Medusa: Retribution Against the Iron Warriors
Conclusion: The Unbroken Iron Hands
1. Introduction
1.1 The Iron Hands: Unyielding Defenders
In the grim and war-torn universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Iron Hands Chapter of Space Marines stands as a symbol of unyielding resolve, relentless pursuit of perfection, and unwavering determination. Their history is marred by tragic losses and bitter rivalries, but it is also punctuated by glorious victories that have left an indelible mark on the Imperium of Man.
When you look into the lore the Iron Hands have particularly been successful in the first half of the Horus Heresy and have been building up as a strong part of the Adeptus Astartes. Ultimately they have become a stepping stone for the Warhammer storytelling to show how strong chaos is and went to the wayside after Ferrus Manus was killed by Fulgrim at Istvaan 5. This is still a running joke in the Warhammer community and the headless horseman will probably never recover from that.
1.2 A Legacy of Triumphs
This comprehensive overview delves into the greatest victories of the Iron Hands, from the liberation of embattled worlds to the retribution against their foes. These triumphs showcase the chapter's prowess in battle, unwavering dedication to the Imperium, and the enduring legacy they leave behind.
Tallarn is the home to
2. The Liberation of Tallarn: A World Reclaimed
2.1 Tallarn: A Crucible of Betrayal
The world of Tallarn became a battleground during the Horus Heresy when it was overrun by the traitor forces. The Iron Hands would face overwhelming odds in their quest to reclaim the planet and its strategic resources.
When Tallarn was first discovered it was classified as an Agri world in the Segmentum Tempestus. It is most known for the Tallarn Desert Raiders of the Astara Militarum. These units are a special brand of the Guard that have a Lawrence of Arabia feel about them. Their battle tactics of hit and run using fewer tanks and more guerrilla tactics are a direct result of how one of the major battles of Tallarn reshaped its landscape.
Shortly after Fulgrim had ascended to demon hood during the Horus Heresy Perturabo gained knowledge of the Cursus of Alganaar being buried on Tallarn. The Curus of Alganaar is one of three gateways that enables direct communication with demons. As Perturabo wanted to gain an advantage over the other traitor Primarchs aligned with Horus he kept this information secret. Tallarn was virus-bombed and turned from an Agri world into a barren desert. In the following years, the surface of the planet was so polluted that only mechanized warfare was feasible without risking losing your entire force to radiation or poisoning.
Combined forces of the Imperial Fists and Iron Hands engaged in one of the largest tank battles in human history to repel the Iron Warriors for the first time. While the records of the respective Adeptus Astartes will hold the information that the defeat of the Iron Warriors was the main reason for them to withdraw it is also true that the Alpah Legion had a hand to play in this as well. Through the intervention of the Alpha Legion Horus was informed that Perturabo was acting without direct orders and withholding information of his real aspirations for the world. Once informed the Warmaster ordered Horus directly to retreat.
Tallarn became the place of more battles between the Eldar, Astra Militarum, Indomitus fleet, and Chaos for the millennia to come as the important artifact was not removed from the world. Without the Iron Hands’ massive contribution of armored vehicles during the first conflict the world would have been overrun by Perturabo and he would have seized his price before Horus could have intervened.
3. The Cleansing of Shardenus: Dark Mechanicum Defeated
The heretek forces of the Dark Mechanicum on Shardenus posed a grave threat to the Imperium. The Iron Hands were tasked with eradicating this technological heresy. Arven Rauth and Clan Raukaan would not pass up this opportunity to strike back at the former Emperor’s children captain who had now succumbed to Slaanesh. Deamon Prince Julius Kaesoron was ultimately defeated, but at a high cost of live driven by the demands of the Iron Hands to assault head-on in multiple locations to gain victory.
The Shardenus campaign is a very good example of the Iron Hands’ disregard for civilian and allied life in their campaigns. While the goal set for them by the Imperium was obtained swiftly it came at the cost of millions of members of the Astra Militarum. Arven Rauth decided to prioritize the swift extermination of the foe over everything else. The commanders of the supporting forces pleaded to first soften the main target of the assault by cutting supply lines which was refused. After the victory was claimed there was an order to execute every third citizen in the sector as it had fallen to Chaos before the Iron Hands force departed.
This particular campaign shows the logical pursuit of the goal of stopping chaos from spreading. At the same time, it also demonstrates that to achieve this goal the Iron Hands completely disregard the impact of the environment they are operating in.
4. The defence of Mezoa
Mezoa is a large Forgeworld governed by the Archmagi sisters. As many Forgeworld its main purpose is to supply the Imperium with technology and resources while being able to self-govern as part of the Adeptus Mechanicus. This particular Forgeworld is very volcanic and does not allow for Titan class reinforcements to be landed. The planet has been so interlinked with technology that volcanic and tectonic activities can be used as directed weapons against any invading force. Talk about a huge-scale game of the Floor is lava.
Mezoa was a thorn in the side of Horus when marching on Terra. While too big of a supply center to be ignored it was also evident that taking the world was a suicide mission with little strategic influence or glory in it. While Horus bothered to put out a direct order to destroy the world, none of his senior commanders was willing to pick up the mission as the cost far outweighed the gains for the prize of this campaign. It therefore fell to Narik Dreygur to lead a force that was put together of survivors of the Alpha Legion and Iron Warriors which reported back to Port Maw after being unsuccessful on other campaigns themselves.
His opponent would become Cassian Dracos of the Salamanders who managed to unite several Loyalist forces in the Sector of Mezoa. Ultimately, with the help of Iron Hands and Raven Guard forces, they managed to defend Mezoa successfully and turn Narik back into one of their own. Mezoa functioned as an operational base for scattered members of the shattered legions to gather and plan to undermine the assault on Terra by Horus. Narik became a personal advisor and bodyguard to Cassian Dracos after the Mezoa campaign had been concluded.
5. The Vengeance of Medusa: Retribution Against the Iron Warriors
Medusa is the Chapter homeworld of the Iron Hands Chapter of Space Marines and of their primarch, Ferrus Manus. The Feral World of Medusa is a harsh planet precariously close to the Eye of Terror in the Segmentum Obscurus. Medusa is the fourth world to orbit the star of its system and was therefore also known as Medusa IV. During the Age of Strife Medusa was one of the most impressive worlds to send valuable resources to the Imperium and was high on the priority list to be rediscovered at the beginning of the timeline of the Horus Heresy. Its main value was that it inhibited one of the lost Primarchs, Ferrus Manus.
During the 10th Black Crusade, the Iron Warriors attempted to eradicate the homeworld of the Iron Hands and came very close. With the help of imperial reinforcements the Iron Hands were able to repel the invasion fleet and stand as a bastion of the Adeptus Astartes close to the Eye of Terror.
6. Conclusion: The Unbroken Iron Hands
The Iron Hands were a force to be reckoned with up until Ferrus Manus was beheaded by Fulgrim during the Horus Heresy. Since then they had to defend themselves against an onslaught of Chaos forces. Their chapter home world is one of the closest to the Eye of Terror and together with the Raven Guard and Salamanders their ranks were decimated the most at the Massacre of Istvaan 5. Since the victory against the Iron Warriors to keep their home world they have become bitter and logical, determined to eradicate their enemies at minimum cost and fully focused on the main object. They are a product of the grim dark universe who face reality and stay unbowed against the Odds.
