CODEX CHAPTER SQUAD BADGES

The following pages show the tactical shoulder pad markings for each of the squads within a typical M41 (41st Millennium) Codex Chapter. These markings are displayed on the right shoulder pad of the Marines' armour. In this example the rims of the shoulder pads display the Company colour. The white tactical symbols indicate the designation of the Squad and the numerals simply refer to the Squad number within the Company.

The Codex provides for a number of variations on this basic system and also suggests that each Chapter periodically revise its tactical markings in order to confound the enemy. This has led to many differences between the many Codex Chapters. It also explains why it is that some Chapters have varied their appearance over the course of millennia. In fact some Scholars within the Adeptus Administratum use the changes in the Ultramarines iconography as a means of dating ancient files and monuments. The Ultramarines are particularly useful for this because they are the most documented Chapter in the history of the Imperium. Even so their records are not complete or are vague and this leads to much speculation within scholarly circles about the exact dates for events in the distant past.

ULTRAMARINES
COMPANY
BANNERS

A Chapter's Company standards are possibly the most revered of all of their artefacts. On this and the following pages are displayed the Company banners of the Ultramarines Chapter (M41).

1ST COMPANY
VETERANS

This Company comprises the elite veteran's of the Chapter. They can fight as either Veteran Squads or as Terminator Squads, The Veteran Squad tactical symbol is a graphic representation of the Crux Terminates.

TERMINATORS

The left shoulder pad of Terminator armour carries the large stone tactical badge known as the Crux Terminarus. The Chapter symbol is therefore displayed on the right pad. A number differentiates each of the squads.

The banner of the 1st Company combines a Crux Terminatus design with an Imperial eagle and Ultramarines Chapter symbol.

2ND BATTLE COMPANY

This shows the classic division of the Battle Company into six Tactical, two Assault and two Devastator Squads. Traditionally the Tactical Squads are numbered one to six, the Assault Squads as seven and eight and the Devastators as nine and ten.

This banner is very typical of a Space Marine Company banner. Its design includes the Chapter symbol and a number of very common imperial motifs including the double-headed eagle, laurel wreath, skull and name scroll. These elements occur time and again on Space Marine banners.

3RD BATTLE COMPANY

The Tactical Squad symbol is shown as a large white vertical arrow. This is but one of a number of different symbols noted in the Codex as being suitable to designate a Tactical Squad.

This banner is the newest in the Chapter having been relatively recently awarded to the Company for heroic actions during the First Tyrannic War. The banner incorporates a Tyranid Warrior trophy head to mark the famous victory.

4TH BATTLE COMPANY

The Assault Squad symbol is shown as crossed double-headed arrows. This marking is derived from an ancient crossed swords badge that is still in use by some Chapters.

This banner displays the heraldic iron gauntlet badge of Captain Idaeus the current commander of the 4th Company. It is a great honour for the Chapter Master to sanction the use of personal motifs and this shows Idaeus to be a mighty hero of the Ultramarines.

5TH BATTLE COMPANY

Devastator Squads are designated by the inverted V sign. Again this is but one of a number of different markings described in the Codex Astartes.

The Captain of the 5th Company of the Ultramarines bears the rank of Master of the Marches and this banner displays his badges of office, an Imperial eagle grasping a laurel wreath with skull pendant. The Master of the Marches is one of the many honorific titles for officers within the Chapter's Headquarters staff.

6TH RESERVE COMPANY

The 6th Company may be deployed as Tactical Squads or as Bike Squadrons or some combination of the two. Individual Squads may be attached to the Battle Companies to bolster their fighting strength.

This banner commemorates the role of the Company in the Gerio Sector. The 6th Company has a prominent role in the patrol sweeps of Ultramar and neighbouring sectors. The Company fought for a year and a day to foil the ork incursion into the forge worlds of Cassillus and Protean and has constantly impressed Lord Macragge with its resilience and fortitude.

7TH RESERVE COMPANY

The 7th Company may he deployed as Tactical Squads or as Land Speeder Squadrons or some combination oi she two, These Squads and Squadrons might be required to fight with other companies.

The 7th Company of the Ultramarines are known within as the 'Defenders of Caeserean'. The Company successfully defended the Imperial Capital of Caeserean IV against the heretic army of Korus the Defiler. Legend has it that the Ultramarines were outnumbered by a thousand to one and yet refused to give up one building to the Chaos horde.

8TH RESERVE COMPANY

This is a powerful close combat formation as it comprises ten Assault Squads of trained hand-to-hand fighters. These warriors can also fight as Bike or Land Speeder Squadrons.

This is a newly fabricated banner to mark the reformation of the 8th Company. The Company had suffered hellish losses during the Alutian Wars such that mass recruitment was required to bring the Company back to fighting strength. The replacement squads completed their training on Cava II in record time.

9TH RESERVE COMPANY

This Company contains the largest concentration of heavy weapons in the Chapter. The ten Devastator Squads are most often deployed to secure and reinforce battlefield objectives.

The banner celebrates the 9th Company's status as the Devastator Reserve and carries a traditional Ultramar design of explosion and lightning bolts.

10TH COMPANY
SCOUTS

Space Marine Scouts can be deployed as Scout Squads or as Scout Bike Squadrons. There is no fixed number of Squads in the Scout Company.

CHAPTER BANNERS

The Chapter Banner is the most sacred artefact belonging to the Chapter. The banner itself is likely to be very old and is only ever carried into battle by the appropriately named Chapter's Ancient. The banner is as individual as the Chapter itself and there are few rules to govern its design. The Codex limits comment on the Chapter Banner to simply saying that the standard should carry the colours and icon of the Chapter and should display such honours as the Chapter Master deems worthy.

It is quite likely that a Chapter will in fact own a number of Chapter Banners although one, and only one, will be in use at any given time. This battle standard will have been consecrated by the Chapter's senior Chaplain and dedicated to the heroes of the Chapter past, present and future. In battle the banner will inspire the Marines to superhuman feats of martial prowess and woe betide the enemy that threatens this holiest of relics.

Eventually however a banner will age or be damaged beyond repair and it will then be retired to grace the great hall of the Chapter's Fortress-Monastery. Furthermore new Chapter banners may be fabricated to mark great victories or to honour mighty heroes who have fallen in battle. For a Chapter with a long history like the Ultramarines there will be dozens of these venerable and venerated flags each one carefully preserved and honoured by the Space Marines.

Some examples of Ultramarines Chapter Banners. These are just a few of the many hundreds of honoured banners hanging in the Great Hall of Ultramar on Macragge.

This particular Ultramarines standard is a good example of a Space Marine Chapter Banner. Its lavish design celebrates the Ultramarines legendary campaign and victory over the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Behemoth in the Tirst Tyrannic War.

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