The Baneblade and its variants are amongst the oldest Imperial tank designs still in use in the 41st Millennium. Created using Standard Template Construct technology, they utilise many systems that are now unique to their construction, and the reverence given to this ancient STC data by the Adeptus Mechanicus means it is limited to a select number of Forge Worlds, most of the original Baneblades having come from Mars itself.?

毒刃及其改型是在第41個千年仍被使用的最古老坦克型號之一。毒刃是用標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化模板建造技術(shù)創(chuàng)造而出的，它們使用的很多系統(tǒng)現(xiàn)在都是其獨一無二的構(gòu)造；機械神教對這些古老的STC數(shù)據(jù)的崇敬意味著毒刃僅限于幾個被選定的鑄造世界進(jìn)行生產(chǎn)，最初的毒刃大部分都來自于火星。

It is claimed that in the past there were whole divisions of Baneblades in the Emperor's service, but today an army is fortunate to have a company of three, and more usually only a single Baneblade will be available for battle. This is because there is immense demand for the Baneblade, both for its highly destructive abilities and survivability, and also for the morale boost seeing such a behemoth gives the troops. For these reasons, the millennia have seen a slow but steady increase in the number of 'counterfeit' Baneblades seeing service in the armies of the Imperium.?

據(jù)說在往昔的歲月中，曾有完整的毒刃超重型坦克師為帝皇服役，但對如今的帝國軍隊而言，能有三輛毒刃組成的超重型坦克團(tuán)助陣已屬幸運，更常見的情況是在戰(zhàn)斗中只有一輛毒刃中可供使用。這是因為帝國對毒刃有著巨大的需求——即是因為其強悍的破壞力和生存能力，也是因為看到這樣一臺鋼鐵巨獸對部隊所能產(chǎn)生的士氣鼓舞。因此，在千年的歲月中，我們看到在帝國軍隊中服役的“仿造”毒刃的數(shù)量在緩慢而穩(wěn)定地增長。

These Baneblades, produced by Forge Worlds eager to secure large military contracts and trade concessions, do not incorporate all of the available STC data that is on those from Mars. For example, while a true Baneblade uses much more powerful rocket-propelled shells in its main cannon, a second generation Baneblade (as the Adepts of Mars refer to these tanks) uses only standard battle cannon ammunition. Similarly, the reinforced mount of the Demolisher cannon in a true Baneblade allows it to lay down a devastating bombardment as it advances, while second-generation Baneblades normally mount a second battle cannon in the hull. These are not the only differences however, for the original Baneblade design has improved internal armour bracing, greater engine performance and transmission, superior comms and tactical logis engines, and all manner of other secondary systems far superior to those of the second generation.?

由那些熱衷于獲取大額軍事合同與貿(mào)易優(yōu)惠的鑄造世界所生產(chǎn)毒刃并未包含所有來自于火星的可用數(shù)據(jù)。例如，真正的毒刃超重型坦克主炮使用的強悍得多的火箭推進(jìn)炮彈，二代毒刃（火星的專家們?nèi)缡欠Q呼這些坦克）只是使用標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的戰(zhàn)斗火炮彈藥。類似的，真正的毒刃超重型坦克上安裝的加固型粉碎者加農(nóng)炮允許其在前進(jìn)過程中進(jìn)行毀滅性的轟炸，而二代毒刃車體上只能安裝一門次級戰(zhàn)斗炮。但二者間的差別也并非只有這些，原初的毒刃還擁有改進(jìn)版的內(nèi)部裝甲支撐、更優(yōu)秀的引擎性能和傳動系統(tǒng)已經(jīng)更高級的通訊和戰(zhàn)術(shù)邏輯引擎，其他所有次級系統(tǒng)也都比二代毒刃更卓越。

Superficially the vehicles look similar but there is one sure way for a commander to know if he is in charge of a true Baneblade. Each vehicle constructed and consecrated on those Forge Worlds that have the original STC is logged and registered with Mars, and given its own identity number and name. Its whereabouts, the war zones it has fought in, its crew rosters and all its other history are reported regularly to the originating Forge World so that the fate of each might be known — if one knows where to look and has been sanctioned to do so...?

從表面上來看，這些載具是類似的，但指揮官們確實有某種方法來獲知自己指揮的是否是一輛真正的毒刃。那些擁有原初STC的鑄造世界所建造和祝福過的所有毒刃都要在火星登記，之后被給予它自身的身份編號和名稱。它們的下落、戰(zhàn)斗過的戰(zhàn)區(qū)、乘員名單和其他所有的歷史都會定期報告給其起源的鑄造世界，這樣每輛坦克的命運都可能被知道——如果還有人知道去哪里查找，并且已經(jīng)被批準(zhǔn)這么做的話……