Salamander Reconnaissance Tank
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"Salamander" redirects here. For the chapter of Space Marines, see Salamanders.
The Salamander Reconnaissance Tank is an Imperial Guard fast light tank based on the Chimera chassis.
Salamander Command Vehicle
Not to be confused with the SCV unit from StarCraft.
The Salamander Command Vehicle is a transport and command-and-control vehicle used by leaders of armored reconnaissance units. They're not meant to get into a fight; though they are armored enough in the front to be invulnerable to most infantry weapons, they are not so well protected from the sides and rear, and they are only armed with a heavy flamer and a heavy bolter, though they can also mount a heavy stubber or storm bolter (which can itself be fitted to an anti-aircraft mount, to chase away any flyers that get too close -- though given how wimpy these weapons are, most flyers won't feel threatened by them) and a hunter-killer missile for a little extra punch.
The primary utility of the Salamander Command Vehicle is not on the front line, but in the middle or rear; its improved communications equipment allow orders to be transmitted further and more clearly and lets the commander guide his or her troops more carefully, while the advanced detection systems help them spot infiltrators. For these reasons, the Salamander Command Vehicle is often requested even by officers who do not lead reconnaissance units, as artillery spotters, mobile command posts, and even Commissars' personal transports (though Ciaphas Cain often regrets riding in a Salamander after Jurgen takes the wheel).
Salamander Scout Vehicle
The Salamander Scout Vehicle is the primary reconnaissance vehicle of the Imperial Guard Armored Battle Group Regiments. It packs an autocannon instead of a heavy flamer, for slightly better anti-armor performance, but is otherwise not any more resilient than the command variant.
Tabletop
Both the Command and Scout variants of the Salamander were produced by Forge World for their first Imperial Armour volume, focusing on the Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy. The Command Vehicle was an HQ choice for the Imperial Guard and a squadron of Scout Vehicles was a Fast Attack option, and they were also options for the Armored Battle Group variant IG list. Said list recently received an update with the release of the (now Guard-only -- the Navy had their fun in Imperial Armour Aeronautica) second edition of that volume.