The Joy of Command Squads - Exploring the Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader Years (Part 2)
A legacy of the historic wargaming that many of the early creatives at Games Workshop enjoyed, Command Squads were a fun aspect of the Rogue Trader era that endures today. Part 2 of 2.
Welcome to part 2 of a 2 part look at Command Squads in Warhammer 40,000. Part 1 took a look at the historical roots of the unit. This one will take a look at examples from the Rogue Trader years. Let’s go!
Space Elves Command Group
So yes, from a time when Eldar were sometimes called ‘Space Elves’ as the audience got used to the faction. I love that the musician has a harp - very Elven!
(Image - An advert from White Dwarf showing a range of Eldar Command Group miniatures. Source Stuff of Legends)
Here is another picture showing what a fantastically designed bunch of miniatures they were!
(Some unpainted Eldar miniatures, including some of the Command Group. Source Rufus the Wizzard. More here.)
No. 4010 Imperial Guard - WD109 (Jan 1989)
The Imperial Guard had a take on them that was very Napoleonic, which you can see expressed perfectly in John Blanche’s terrific art for the 1989 plastic boxed set. So it flows quite well to have them also have a Command Squad option.
(The 1989 Imperial Guard Command Squad (and others!) - notable is the Commander, Sergeant, Captain and Orderly. Source - Stuff of Legends. You can still get such units in the current game including these great ones of Cadian and Catachan units.)
No. RT202 Space Ork Command Group - WD97 (Jan 88)
Orks may be raucous and chaotic but it does not mean they can’t get in on the organisation via Command Squad! Of course the musicians here are drummers.
(Image - An Ork command Squad set of miniatures including standard bearers, musicians and commanders. Source Stuff of Legends)
Space Dwarf Command Group
Also given their more fantasy-centric name back then, this Squat unit is named ‘Space Dwarf’. It featured a cool keyboard-playing musician with a speaker on his shoulder and a very Roman-inspired standard-bearer.
(Image - A range of models that is the Space Dwarf Command Group. Source - Book of the Astronomican)
No. 1103 Space Marine Command Squad
Found in the 1999 Citadel Catalog, this box contained 5 metal miniatures. So while technically outside the Rogue Trader era, I put them here because I like the models.
(Image - Source, Dakka Dakka, this unit type still exists, see here)
Happily, the legacy of Command Squads did not end with the Rogue Trader era and you can still get current 40K command squads such as the Krieg Command Squad, the Catachan Command Squad and the Space Marine MKIII Legion Command Squad.
Thanks for reading!
Links of Note
Amazing Titus Command Squad (Reddit)
The John Blanche miniatures that shaped wargaming (Wargames Illustrated video)
Aeldari showcase – Corsairs join the followers of the Whispering God
Note! There is more about this project here. The direct chat for this project is here. You can comment here or find me on BlueSky.
Also note! This book project is a personal one and not affiliated with any company that, in my day job, I work with or partner with.