User:Shrumster/Future Projects/Weapons, Equipment, and Vehicles of the Orks (Warhammer 40,000)

Technology

Ork technology appears ramshackle and slapped-together, but is as potent as any weapons used by the Imperium or other races. Ork technology (or "teknologee") is characterised by a constant stream of poorly thought-out experimentation and constantly trying to outdo the competition to build the biggest gun, the largest gargant (a huge land-based walker), or the fastest buggy. Therefore, Ork technology is not uniform, lending Ork warbands a cobbled together and random appearance. Ork mechanics ("Mekboyz") are specialists in the field of producing powerful force fields that can protect against damage, and at battlefield improvisation of repairs. Traditionally, ork meks are masters of teleportation, force field and tractor cannon technology, all technologies used when hitching onto space hulks (large conglomerations of interstellar wreckage used by the orks as improvised transport ships/battleships). They are superior to even the Eldar in these fields, as the Third War for Armageddon shows. They can salvage almost any burnt-out wreck, and many Ork vehicles have been reported destroyed dozens of times, only to be cobbled back together, given a fresh lick of paint (if even that), and sent back into the fray. It can also be done with weapons, producing kombi-skorchas built from looted Imperial heavy flamers, or big shootas made from redesigned heavy bolters. The tough, resilient nature of Orks means they accept crude bionics, transplants, and other medical shenanigans being performed on them with ease.

Orks

The Orks are one the most widespread races in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It is a mystery to the Imperium, and to most other intelligent civilizations, how these primitive, warfaring and bloodthirsty aliens spread to almost every corner of the known Galaxy. Orks are thought to have been genetically engineered for warfare by an extremely old and extinct race, owing to their tendencies for combat.

Their weaponry is crude in build, but very effective, with very little to no standardization. A weapon or vehicle's name is determined by its use, rather than any specific configuration. The Ork Slugga, for example, is any gun an Ork can fire with one hand. Something large enough to be carried in two hands is called a Shoota, and if bigger than that (roughly equivalent to a light machinegun), a Big Shoota. The Orkish philosophy leads to quantity beating quality. For close combat they favour massive cleavers ("choppas") which work because of their weight and Ork strength. In some cases, Ork weapons will only work in the hands of Orks, as they exude a psychic field that causes machines that wouldn't normally ever work, to work well, or for working devices to be far more effective than they should.

In addition, due to the salvaging nature of Orks, they have access to many looted vehicles (notably the Leman Russ) salvaged from battle, given a new coat of paint, and given a fix-up.

Although apparently crude their technology produces vehicles and equipment that can be the equal of other more advanced races (eg Mega-Armour suits, Killa Kan walkers or Dreadnoughts) with ease.

Vehicles

• Wartrak/buggy -- A light vehicle built for high-speed fire support. These range from anything like a dune buggy, to motocycles with a huge engine, caterpillar treads, and a gun bolted onto the back. Typically armed with a pair of Big Shootas, but may also carry Rokkits(missiles) or a Skorcha(flamethrower). Some have launching platforms for a "Grot Bomb," a large missile steered to its target by a Gretchin.
• Wartrukk -- The Ork equivalent to a Technical, Wartrukks are made to get Boyz to the fight faster. They make up for their light armor with speed.
• Guntrukk -- A Wartrukk dedicated to carrying a Big Gun around, usually a Kannon, Lobba, or Zzap Gun.
• Gunwagon -- The Combination of a Wartrukk and a Guntrukk, a Gunwagon is much larger, able to both carry a Big Gun and still bring lots of Boyz to battle.
• Battlewagon -- The only real difference between a Gunwagon and a Battle Wagon is sheer size. Battle Wagons are much larger, and are often used as personal transports by Warbosses. Big Meks will often build further onto a favorite battlewagon, adding balconies, towers, and gun turrets, until it becomes a mighty Battle Fortress.

• Hop Splat gun
• Mekboy Pulsa Rokkit
• Gut Rippa
• Spleen Rippa
• Lungbursta
• Bowel Burna
• Gobsmasha
• Speedsta

• Bone Breaka
• Brain Crusha

• Tinbot

Heavy vehicles

• Skull Hamma
• Giblet Grinda

Gargants

see Titan (Warhammer 40,000) for explanation

• Slasher Gargant
• Mekboy Gargant
• Great Gargant
• Mega Gargant

Ork Gargants

The Ork equivalent of a titan is called a Gargant. Gargants are as much idols of the savage Ork gods, Gork and Mork, as they are engines of destruction. Big Meks receive a divine vision of sorts from Gork (or possibly Mork), and set out to bring that vision to life in the artistic medium of thick armor plates, smoke-belching engines, and lots and lots of very large guns. This quickly spreads amongst other Big Meks in the area, and soon Gargants spring up all over the place. The construction of Gargants is one of the typical signs of an impending WAAAGH! from an Ork-held system.

In an Ork warband, there can exist Gargants and Gargant-like warmachines all the way from single-man Killa Kans to the vast armored behemoths of the Mega-Gargants. From smallest to largest, the most typical machines of these type include:

Stompas

• Stompas are not war engines nor Titans proper but rather large armored fighting vehicles built as roughly Ork-shaped effigies. They are armed with both long- and short-range weaponry and are used in the same manner as heavy tanks.

• Supa-Stompas are significantly more powerful than regular Stompas, and count as war engines. They can mount two of the weapons that are carried on the larger Gargants and can be seen as equivalent to a War Hound titan

Gargants

Gargants and Great Gargants are the archetypal Ork Titans. They are massive constructions broad and squat compared to an Imperial Titan. They are fitted with many batteries of guns and also tend to have a least one mega-weapon. They are roughly equivalent to Reaver and Warlord Titans, respectively.

Mega-Gargant

The Mega-Gargant is a very rare super-large gargant on a par in size with the Imperator and Warmonger Titans though not as powerful. It carries a large number and variety of weapons including the mega-dropper. The Mega Gargant was introduced alongside the Imperator Titan in the Titan legions box set; two plastic models being included to give the Imperator a challenge. Unlike the other Gargants which shuffle on their short legs the Mega Gargant is a tracked vehicle.

Construction

Ork Gargants are an extremely varied lot, no two ever being alike. Thanks to the frenzied imaginations of the Mekboyz building them, Ork weapons tend to be haphazard, unreliable and noisy. When they work, however, they can inflict gruesome damage. Gargants are commonly equipped with at least one close-combat weapon, because charging in and bashing heads is considered to be a very "Orky" thing to do.

For defence, Gargants have power fields which are the equivalent to an Imperial Titan Void shield. However while Gargants tend to have more power fields, they cannot regenerate these during the battle.

Orks do not rely on auto-systems to the same extent as other races, and Gargants carry a large crew of both Orks and Gretchins. The crew is led by a Kaptin, who relays orders through a body of officers. A speaking-tube is the preferred method of communication within a Gargant. Each officer is in charge of one section of the Gargant, be it a weapon, the magazine, the engine room, or any other chambers. Under the officer is a crew of Orks and Gretchins who carry out the orders passed down to them. Repair crews are composed of Gretchins, whose smaller build suits them to crawling through cramped spaces armed with wrenches and oily rags.

Compared to Imperial Titans, Gargants have weaker armour and comparatively shorter-ranged weaponry. However, Gargants are extremely difficult to destroy due to their dense (albeit crude) construction (in games, this is represented by Gargants have more damage points). While Gargants do not suffer from potentially fatal plasma reactor meltdowns, they are particularly vulnerable to fires and magazine explosions.