The Baal Predator is a specialised variant of the venerable Predator battle tank, developed by the Techmarines of the Blood Angels and named in honour of their arid homeworld of Baal. Where the standard Predator is a patient gun platform, the Baal pattern is conceived for speed and volume of fire, a fast and agile machine tailored to the headlong, aggressive doctrine that defines the Chapter's every campaign.
Its turret carries either a set of twin assault cannons, able to disgorge a withering hail of shells that shreds infantry and light vehicles, or a fearsome flamestorm cannon, a vehicle-scale flamer that drowns entrenched foes in burning promethium. Uniquely among Predators it may also mount heavy flamers or multi-meltas upon its sponsons, further concentrating its ferocious short-ranged output. Faster and more nimble than the tanks of other Chapters, it races ahead of the advance to clear a path with fire.
The design was never sanctioned by the Adeptus Mechanicus, and so the Blood Angels guard the secret of its construction jealously, sharing it only with their own successor Chapters and trusting them to keep the knowledge from spreading further. For the sons of Sanguinius the Baal Predator is both a practical weapon and a point of pride, a machine that carries their homeworld's name into battle and lays down the roaring curtain of fire behind which their assault companies close upon the enemy.
Order of battle
