Origins
The Dogs of War chapter was part of the 19th Founding, and are a normal Ultramarine successor chapter. Mostly based on the Southern part of the Imperium, their chief opponents are Dark Eldar and Orks.
This is reflected in their armory, which is mostly based on high fire-rate weapons over heavy weapons.

Home world
The Dogs of War chapter is based on the 3rd Planet of the Iolon system, along with two of the moons around the planet.
Viewing the surface of the planet, one is confronted with several striking contrasts. Parts of the planet are covered in lush forests, yet other parts consist of nothing but heavy industrial zones.
The two moons are completely filled with industrial areas, one of the moons being strip-mined to provide minerals for the large forges on the other moon.
Another contrast is that the majority of the population on Iolon III is still living in the Dark Ages, and the centers of command, where the Space Marines and staff live, are considered `Cities of the Gods'.
Recruitment is mostly from other worlds, though sometimes brave natives travel to one of the bases to plead to the Gods to accept him into their ranks.

Combat Doctrine
As mentioned elsewhere, the Dogs of War favor weapons with a high rate of fire or a large area of effect over high-powered weapons like lascannons.
Whenever weapons like Lascannons are used, it is mainly in Devastator Squads, to provide long-ranged anti-tank support.
Other locations of heavy firepower weapons are melta-guns in some Assault Squads (again, to deal with enemy tanks), and as special weapons in Tactical Squads.
This leaves Plasma guns as special weapons and Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers and Plasma cannons as heavy weapons.

Battle Cry
Varies from Company to Company and from time to time, but generally something like "Let the flames of battle consume us!"

Chapter Organization
Originally, the Dogs of War adhered closely to the Codex Astartes, but it soon became clear that because of the many isolated battles sustaining this was impractical. Despite protests from several other Chapters (mainly the Ultramarines), the Dogs of War created their own version of this holy text.
The chapter still consists of 10 companies, with the first made up of veterans and the tenth of scouts. Furthermore, each company contains ten squads of ten marines.

Yet the largest difference in the organization is considered the fact that the Dogs of War only possess battle companies. Each company, except for the first and tenth, is equal to the other, with the same number of squads, the same types of squads and the same vehicles. Only individual weaponry will differ.
A battle company consists of 5 tactical squads, 2 assault squads, 2 devastator squads and one bike squadron split into two (one with 5 bikes and one with 3 bikes and an attack bike, though they still share a single sergeant).
Besides this infantry, each company has its own pool of vehicles, normally consisting of (though possible less than due to combat losses) four rhinos, two razorbacks, three landspeeders (any type), one whirlwind and one predator (any type). Auxiliary vehicles can be found in one of two sub-companies, more about these later in this document.
The only vehicles not found within these companies are landraiders and dreadnaughts.

Officers are likewise found scattered trough the companies, and like vehicles each company has a set number of each. Each company possesses five techmarines, three chaplains, one standard bearer, one captain, three librarians and five apothecaries.

The first company is made up of veterans in terminator armor, also with ten squads in total. Instead of the razorbacks, they possess three landraiders. The other difference is the presence of 3 apothecaries instead of five.
The tenth company, like all the others, is made up of scout squads. Since heavy weaponry has little place in a scouting force, they lack the heavy tanks, which are replaced by more razorbacks and landspeeders.

On the battlefield, different companies can be recognized by the color of their weapons, and the black areas on their armor.
The icon on their right shoulderplate is the gene-seed icon, and shows from what gene-seed branch that particular space marine is from. This has no influence on their role or status whatsoever, and space marines are just as loyal to marines of other branches as to those of their own.

One final thing to be noted is the difference in color schemes when dealing with tech-marines and vehicles. Instead of the red/white/black armor of the common marine, tech-marines and their creations have armor painted with only black and white. The exact reason for this is unknown, and still awaiting Inquisitorial examination.

Honor badges
While the Dogs of War are as reluctant to discuss the details of their religion and customs as any other space marine chapter, field logs tell us they possess several types of honor badges.
Again, the possession of one or more of these badges is no indication of rank or specialization of a particular marine. It appears the Dogs of War are rather reluctant to show their enemies (and allies) the exact identity of their key personnel.
First and most common of the badges is the purity seal, standard throughout the Imperial forces. It is provided after exceptional bravery and prowess in battle. For example, during the battle for Armageddon, the Dogs of War were in combat with an army of orcs, who were aided by a squad of Dark Eldar jetbikes. During the course of the battle, one squad held position in one of the corners of the battlefield, providing covering fire over the town square further north. Unfortunately, the Eldar jetbikes managed to outflank the marine army, and after a bloody fight only the heavy weapon marine remained standing. Enraged by the deaths of his brothers, he smashed his missile launcher against one of the jetbikes, destroying its controls and sending it smashing against a nearby building. The remaining Eldar fled, only barely managing to evade the missile fired at them by the marine.
He continued to provide cover fire, until he was assaulted by half a dozen orcs and cut down. After the battle, an apothecary discovered the wounded marine and he was carried back to a thunderhawk gunship, where his wounds were healed, and he received a purity seal for his bravery.

Second in importance is the blue skull, found mainly on the forehead of the helmet.

The older design helmet, commonly called the "Beaky", is also considered a sign of courage, and only rarely seen. Sometimes entire squads can be seen wearing these helmets, and you can rest assure that these are the Dogs of War's finest.

Finally, there's the lauerwreath. This honor badge is only rarely given, and mainly to high-ranking officers, banner bearers and veteran sergeants.

Beliefs
When someone dies, their soul is sent to the Emperor, who judges it and decides its further fate. The Dogs of War are one of the few organizations in the Imperium (and certainly one of even less who get away with it!) who believe this happens not to humans alone but to all living beings. Any soul is sent to the Emperor for judgement upon release from its mortal shell.
Off course, its obvious that any foul alien or heretic who oppose the Dogs of War and are killed on the field of battle will be found lacking when its soul is judged, but it is possible for an alien that accepts its inferiority to mankind and humbly remains where it was born will be able to pass the Emperor's Judgement.
And most importantly, only the Emperor is allowed to judge souls. The Dogs of War, or for that matter any human, are merely His instruments. For a mortal man to judge a soul is blasphemy to the Holy Emperor himself!
Some heretics might claim that killing a man is judging that man, but these misguided fools do not realize that killing the man merely frees his foul soul for judgement. For letting those who are obviously lacking walk free amongst the pious citizens is a crime against the Emperor himself.
This creates a paradox for the Dogs of War, since they are bound to fight for the Emperor and serve his will, yet they must ever be cautious not to judge souls themselves. A Dogs of War space marine kills because it is necessary for the good of all Mankind, while those of lesser piety kill merely for the pleasure of it.
The Dogs of War Space Marines use several custom vehicles besides the standard variety. Currently known are the Landraider Inferno and the Hellfire Launcher.

These rules are for the 3rd edition of Warhammer 40K, and they require your opponents consent before using.

Landraider Inferno 0-1
The Landraider Inferno is the Chapter Masters own tank, a modified version of the Phobos Landraider designed to deliver maximum firepower to the enemy infantry. Like the Crusader, its main goal is not anti-tank, but anti-infantry. Instead of the normal lascannons and heavy bolters, the Inferno is armed with plasma cannons and heavy flamers.

LAND RAIDER INFERNO
Points Front Armour Side Armour Rear Armour BS
Inferno 321 14 14 14 4

Type: Tank Crew: Space Marines

Weapons: The Land Raider Inferno is armed with two twin-linked plasma cannons and a twin-linked heavy flamer.

Options: The Inferno may have the following vehicle upgrades: hunter-killer missile at +15 points, pintle-mounted storm bolter at +10 points, search-light at +1 point, smoke launchers at +3 points.

Transport: Despite the smaller size of the weaponry, the plasma generators used to power the cannons take up more space than those of the normally used lascannons. This is slightly offset by the room created by replacing the heavy bolter ammo feed with the fuel tank for the heavy flamers, but still the transport capabilities of the Inferno suffer.
The Inferno can carry a maximum of 8 models in power armour. It cannot carry models in terminator armour at all.

Availability: The Landraider Inferno is unique to the Dogs of War chapter, and only they may use one.

The Land Raider Inferno counts as a Heavy Support choice.
Hellfire Launcher
In situations where Whirlwinds cannot be used, the Dogs of War employ a weapon of their own design, the Hellfire Launcher.
While immobile, the Hellfire Launcher can be set up or disassembled withing minutes, and provides the marines with a long-ranged barrage weapon to weaken and confuse their foe during battle.

HELLFIRE LAUNCHER
Points Front Armour Side Armour Rear Armour BS
Inferno 78 10 10 10 4

Type: Immobile weapon platform, Open-topped Crew: Techmarine and Servitor

Weapons: The Hellfire Launcher is armed with four larger versions of the normal missile launcher. These are fired almost simultaneous, creating a huge wave of destruction.
In the game, these count as a single long-barreled gatling missile launcher.

Options: The Hellfire Launcher comes equipped with a searchlight as standard. It may not have other upgrades.

Availability: Several chapters have expressed their interest in the Hellfire Launcher, and a hand-full have been delivered to them. Any Space Marine army may use Hellfire Launchers.

The Hellfire Launcher counts as a Heavy Support choice. Note that despite the power armour worn by the techmarine, the Launcher still counts as open-topped, due to its fragile nature.
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Last revision: February 2nd, 2002