Space Marine Strike Craft
Versatility and Excellence

Thunderhawk Gunship

Length: 26.6 metres (can vary depending on pattern)

Wing span: 26.6 metres (main), 9.6 metres (secondary) (can vary depending on pattern)

Crew: 4 (1 Pilot, 1 Co-Pilot, 1 Gunner and 1 Navigator).

Sub-light engine: 3 RX-92-00 Turbo-fan Combustion Rockets.

Power supply: 1 Mars-pattern Plasma Fusion Generator.

Standard Armament: 1 dorsal mounted Turbo Laser Destructor or Thunderhawk-Class Battlecannon, 2 Mk-24K lascannons on attack wings, 2 Twin-Linked Heavy Bolters on forward fuselage, 2 Twin-Linked Heavy Bolters under wing tips (Can additionally carry up to 6 Hellstrike missiles, 8 plasma or melta bombs or a single torpedo in addition to up to 2 external fuel tanks for the combustion rockets.)

Machine spirit: M33 Signus class

Troop capacity: 30 Tactical or Assault Marines plus their equipment, 20 Space Marine Devastators, 10 Space Marine Terminators or a single Space Marine Dreadnought.

Warp capable: no

Lore: The Thunderhawk gunship is the strike vessel most commonly used, and most iconic, among the Space marines. It is just under 30 metres long and fills the role of a multi-role void craft and interceptor that can fill virtually any role required of a void craft. While it is not as common as it used to be, and was originally designed as a stop gap for wider use in the Imperium (from a design that was originally intended as a medium bomber/attack craft): given the rarity of the excellent Stormbird gunship and the notorious failures of the Wrath Class interceptor; it remains in service even now due to its incredible durability, reliability and versatility.

The Thunderhawk has a permanent crew of four: the pilot, co-pilot, gunner and navigator. The pilot doubles as the targeteer for any bombs or missiles (Originally there was a dedicated targeteer assigned to Thunderhawks, but the abilities of a Space Marine make this unnecessary.)

The Gunship has an armament of either a Turbo Laser Destructor (similar to the kind used as PD on capital ships) or a Thunderhawk-Class Battlecannon (a modified, completely auto-loading, version of the Baneblades main gun), 2 dorsal-wing mounted lascannons, 2 forward-wing mounted Twin-linked Heavy bolter turrets and hardpoints for up to eight bombs or six anti-fighter missiles and a torpedo hardpoint against its belly.

The ship also has the capacity to carry up to 30 space marines or a single dreadnought, also capable of carrying a dedicated land transport like a rhino or Razorback against its belly for further group support in place of a torpedo. The ship is also durable enough, and can be equipped with Melta charges, so that it can perform the Assault Boat role also. Deploying Marines directly onto opposing warships in the heart of battle.

These craft are better armed than Furies for their size and can be modified to specialise into certain roles.
For example, some Thunderhawks have their hulls extended to better suit the transport/heavy attack craft role, these larger transporter Thunderhwaks able to carry several armoured vehicles into battle while still boasting good protection.
The high demand and expensive/complicated construction of Thunderhawks does however mean that only the space marines can regularly deploy them. The handful that exist in Navy service only being deployed in times of dire need.

Caestus Assault Ram

Length: 25 metres

Wing span: 28 metres

Crew: 1

Sub-light engine: 3 RX-98-25 Turbo-fan Combination Rockets.

Power supply: 1 Mars-pattern Plasma Fusion Generator.

Standard Armament: 2 Firefury missile launchers (with 11 cluster warheads in each), 1 Twin-Linked Magna-Melta Cannon

Machine spirit: M31 Signus-Minoris class

Troop capacity: 10 Tactical or Assault Marines plus their equipment, 6 Space Marine Devastators or 4 Space Marine Terminators.

Warp capable: no

Lore: The assault ram is the dedicated assault boat and dropship transport of the Space Marines. It is not much smaller than the Thunderhawk at around 25 metres, but can only carry a maximum of 11 marines including the pilot due to the immensely thick armour and massive engines the assault ram is equipped with.
The design is less about getting large numbers of marines to a battlefield, and more about surgically inserting marine assault teams deep within enemy battle lines and on-board large capital ships. The very nimble and incredibly tough assault ram able to ensure all 11 marines arrive at their destination fully equipped and uninjured.
It is as old as the Thunderhawk, entering widespread space marine service in M31, developed by the Space Marines as a combat insertion vessel into highly dangerous areas.

The ship is armed with no PD, it's defence being its fighter-like speed and mobility as well as immensely thick armour plating, but does carry offensive armament for breaching fighter screens and/or clearing an LZ for the Space Marine Cargo. It is armed with 2 Firefury missile launchers with 11 cluster warheads in each and a centrally mounted twin-linked Magna-Melta Cannon: which serves the dual purpose of creating a breach in a ship's armour (like Melta charges) and can be used to destroy armoured targets or defensive hardpoints in a ground attack.