XV-9 HAZARD CLOSE SUPPORT ARMOUR

POINTS: 75

A new weapon in the armoury of the Tau Empire, the XV-9

Hazard Close Support Armour is a sophisticated and powerful
battlesuit that has remained something of a controversy both
among the more traditionalist Aun and elements of the Earth
Caste. Though undoubtedly powerful, its armament is short
ranged and the armour is more complex than any before it,
requiring a veterans skills to master in combat. The XV-9 itself
requires a huge expenditure in resources to produce in useful
numbers, - resources some argue are better expended elsewhere
on building numerous examples of more tested designs. The
results gained in service by the XV-9 have converted many Fire
Caste war leaders to its cause. In particular the Fire Caste of
KeIshan have mastered the use of XV-9s both in counter attacks
and in holding up enemy advances, so allowing the bulk of a Tau
mobile cadre to repeatedly redeploy into superior firing positions.
This can prove a dangerous tactic for the XV-9s to execute, but
for the solemn and determined Fire Warriors of KeIshan a
worthwhile risk in the service of the Greater Good.

COMPOSITION: A XV-9 team consists of 1-3 Shasvre in XV-9 armour.

WS

BS

LD

SV

3+

RANGE

STR

AP

SPECIAL

18
18
12
24

5
4
6
5

5
4
1
6

Assault 3
Assault 4, rending
Assault D3, melta
Assault 1, 5 blast,
no cover saves

TYPE: Jump Infantry (Jet Pack).

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT:
WEAPON
-

Vectored Retro-thrusters.
Multi-tracker and one other additional system which
must be chosen from the options list below.
Two twin-linked burst cannon.

Burst Cannon
Phased Ion Gun
Fusion Cascade
Pulse Submunitions Rifle

OPTIONS
The XV-9 may exchange one or both of its twin-linked burst
cannon for one of the advance options listed here:
Phased Ion Gun..10 pts each
Fusion Cascade...15 pts each
Pulse Submunitions Rifle20 pts each
The XV-9 must choose one of the following systems:
Blacksun Filter5 pts
Drone Controller*10 pts (plus the cost of Drones)
Target Lock.5 pts
Shield Generator.25 pts

SPECIAL RULES
XV-9 Armour: The XV-9 series is a considerably larger battlesuit
armour than its more commonplace counterparts, and built to the
highest specifications the Tau Empire can produce on a substantial
scale. As well as greatly augmenting the warrior within, the
armours built-in systems feature a powerful compact energy source
that enables it to mount weapons of an unprecedented strength for its
size based on experimental technology. XV-9 armour has the Acute
Senses universal special rule, may deploy via Deep Strike, and their
inbuilt photon casters mean that they count as having Defensive
Grenades.

*Drone Controller: XV-9 suits may have drones and still use their
Vectored Retro-Thrusters to escape from close combat as per the
Tau Empire Codex. If they choose to do so but also have drones,
they abandon the drones which are destroyed but during the turn
this occurs the XV-9 automatically passes its initiative test to
disengage.

Survivors to the Last: The Shasvre assigned to pilot the XV-9

armour are all crisis battlesuit combat veterans and survivors of
deadly battles against the most savage enemies of the Greater Good.
They may always attempt to regroup regardless of casualties.
1-3 XV-9 Hazards are a single Fast Attack choice for a Tau Empire army.