"Never forget that behind the sights of the gun there lies a man. He must be trained to use his weapon, just as he would a pike, a broadsword or a loom. The tools of war are dangerous and fragile things, and blackpowder makes them more so. The mastery must be taught slowly. Repeat the lessons, and repeat them again. Once on the battlefield, it will be too late for further schooling. If they enter battle not knowing how to kill, all they will learn is how to be killed."
- —Heinz-Karl Fromann, Chief Instructor, Stirland State Gunnery School[4a]
An Empire Handgunner
Empire Handgunners are among the deadliest ranged infantry in the Imperial army. These state troops are armed with fearsome long-barrelled black powder weapons known as handguns, often manufactured by the highly skilled gunsmiths of the city-state of Nuln.
Role[]
The withering volley of high-velocity lead shot from ranks of Handgunners can break the most determined Orc Waaagh! or unhorse even a heavily armoured Chaos Knight.[3a]
Handgunners are primarily equipped with handguns, as their name suggests. These long-barrel weapons fire single lead balls at high velocity via a black powder explosion. A shot from a handgun is more powerful than an equivalent arrow, and can penetrate armour with ease. However, handguns are somewhat temperamental, and more crucially require a lengthy reloading drill compared to that of a bowman or crossbowman. Additionally, Handgunners must carry black powder on their person, making their duty somewhat more hazardous than that of less-advanced troops.
Despite this, Handgunners are powerful and effective soldiers capable of crushing enemy onslaughts; their modernised way of warfare paves the way for more advanced weapons technology.
Notable Regiments[]
- Nuln Ironsides - The Nuln Ironsides are elite regiments of heavily-armoured handgunners, led by Castellan-Engineer Jubal Falk.
- Silver Bullets - A legendary unit of riflemen with infamous accuracy and deadly silver ammunition.
- Gunderman's Surefires
- Bronzeballs - These hangunners fought on the caldera walls of Talabheim and got their name from the metal used in their bullets.
- Fireloques of Ferlangen - This especially tenacious unit of handgunners has fought under Valmir von Raukov in Ostland, at one time clubbing the enemy to death when they ran out of ammunition.
- Reikland XIII - An extremally disciplined regiment of Reikland handgunners that take pride in their highly selective application process.
- Talabheim VI - This veteran unit of Talabheim handgunners was sent to reinforce Heldenhame Keep during the End Times.
- Leopold's Lions - Leopold's Lions was the first unit of Empire Hangunners raised in Nordland. They were tasked with defending Neues Emskrank.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (5th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 62
- 2: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 6
- 3: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition)
- 3a: pg. 37
- 4: The Empire: Iron Company (Novel) by Chris Wraight
- 4a: Ch. 7
Gallery[]
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