This selection illustrates some of the hundreds of variant systems for squad markings recommended for use by Space Marine Chapters in the Codex Astartes. These include markings for use on older designs of power armour. At the time the Codex was compiled by Roboute Guilliman many Space MArines would still have been equipped with armour that predated the Horus Heresy. Many of these suits lacked reinforcing rims on the shoulder pads or space to display a Chapter icon on the Marine's left pad.

In all cases the examples shown illustrate the markings for the 2nd Tactical Squad, 7th Asssault Squad, 9th Devastator Squad and a Command Squad of the 2nd Company and for the 3rd Veterans Squad of the 1st Company of the Ultramarines. The 2nd Company colour is yellow and the 1st Company colour is white. Command Squads are temporary units formed on an ad hoc basis and are not therefore numbered.

Space Marines hold their Chapter's history and traditions in very high regard. This tends to make them very conservative and unwont to change. This is particularly true of the way they approach their badges and markings. However the Codex instructs the Chapter Master to frequently review such matters and to periodically revise the system employed. This means that most, if not all, of the variant systems shown here will have been employed at some point in the long history of the Ultramarines Chapter.

Although these images show designs for the Ultramarines Chapter these selfsame systems are, or have been, used by all of the Codex Chapters. It is relatively easy to extrapolate the details of the markings for unitsa in the other Companies and those for other Codex Chapters. Furthermore these markings are the basis on which nearly all Space Marine Chapters have devised their own badging and identification systems.

i	ii	iii	iv	v
vi	vii	viii	ix	x
xi	xii	xiii	xiv	xv

The basic Chapter icon can be displayed in a number of different ways. Here are some examples of some of the different designs used by the Ultramarines. Some of these are archaic forms that date back to the time of the Horus Heresy when the Ultramarines were a Legion numbering thousands of warriors. It may be that these variants had a specific use at that time to differentiate the component sections of the older larger organisation. When the Space Marine Legions were split into Chapters of a thousand warriors there was no need for variant icons. However the variant icons retain use and value as honour marks within the Chapter. Shoulder pads i to iii are all very common forms that frequently appear as variation within the Ultramarines to this day. The variants i, iv, v, vi and viii appear within individual squads and may be a form of minor honour badge. Variant iii is the classic squad sergeant's rank badge for the Ultramarines. Variant ix is the original form of the Chapter icon only appearing when Marines on performing ceremonial duties. Variant xiv is a solid silver variant restricted to officers. The other variants all appear as honorific badges on the shoulder pads of decorated veterans and other Marines of high status within the Chapter.

xvi	xvii	xviii	xix	xx
xxi	xxii	xxiii	xxiv	xxv
xxvi	xxvii	xxviii	xxix	xxx

Space Marine Chapter badges or icons of very mixed origin. Many are iterations of common Imperial icons, such as the eagle, eagle wings, skulls and armoured fists. At a Chapter's Founding the newly assigned Chapter Master must name his regiment and choose its heraldry. There are strict rules to govern this process. The Codex Astartes provides the Chapter Master with a roll of approved nameing elements and also forbids the use of certain names. New leaders are careful to try to avoid duplicating the name, icon and livery of an existing Chapter. However this is more difficult than may be imagined. There are approximately a thousand Chapters spread across the galaxy and only the priests of the Adeptus Terra on Earth have anything approaching a complete catalogue of these units and their heraldry. Many new Chapter Masters therefore create new heraldries to avoid any possible duplication. Over the millenia this has led to a vast proliferation of icons and liveries.