Lamur Penal Legions

Lamur Penal Legions are used for suicidal operations and the building of defensive positions. Coming from Larmur III a tundra world designated as primary Penal World of the Leman Sector those individuals are a hardy pack of scum fallen from the right path who have the "luck" to redeem themself for the Emperor. Their redepmtion usually is never awarded alive instead like in all Penal Legions mostly given in death.

## History

The idea of Penal Units for the scum dates back to ancient Terra and was an efficient way to purge scum while spare more valuable units. Lamur III system was once the regular side of Dark Eldar raids who deppulated entire planets until Lamur III remained. From this remaining planet were regularly Penal Legions shipped out since the incorporation of the Leman Sector into the Imperium of Man. During the Horus Heresy there were up to 300 Penal Legions made up by prisoners of conquered human empires.

Lamurs system was attacked in 231.M33 by a massive pirate fleet who was able to breakthrough the blocade and set up bases on the surface in regions easily defesnsible against ground attacks and orbital attacks from the remaining imperial ships. Two important reasons why they were able to hold out on the surface of Lamur III was the high percentage of Xeno pirates (Eldar Corsairs and Ork Freeboters) and that the Imperium chose to use them to reduce the number of criminals in the sector by throwing them near the positions of the pirates while enough were on drugs. A criticed policy often giving the pirates more manpower than awaited but helped in fighting crime in the Leman Sector and helping in the long run in its prospherety.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Siege of Hive Pritamis Gamma (112.M31):** 4 Penal Legions of Lamur III were used for an infiltration attack against Chaos Space Marines who had themself barricaded themself in the Hive City. After successfully making several openings they were masacred by the defenders but allowing later infiltration units to use chemical weapons against the enemy main base.
* **Pirate War (231.M33-298.M34):** During this phase of Lamur III were the pirates on Lamur III i hidden in their bases supported by Xeno pirates. The Segmentum Command ordered the forming of an ad-hoc Penal Legions to get so fast as possiple killed by the pirates in this way to reduce the number of criminals in the sectors around Lamur III. A brutal policy giving the pirates more manpower than expected but helped the Leman Sector in getting richer in the long run.
* **Pasa War (400-420.M38):** The Pasa War was a conflict between Imperial forces and Traitor Titan Legions. Records show that 12 Lamur Penal Legions were destroyed but brought down at least a feared Chaos Titan.
* **Plague Riots (890.M40):** A series of revolts by Nurgle Cults on Penal Worlds by a nurgilite cult called Sanctifiers of the Rotten.

## Structure

### Ranks

**Officer Ranks**

* **Major General** - Commander of all Lamur Penal Legions and governeur of Lamur III
* **Colonel** - Legion commander
* **Major** - Commander of a battalion
* **Captain** - lowest rank which can only be filled by not criminals.
* **Penal Seargent** - veteran legionairs can get this rank
* **Penal Corporal** - the lowest rank

**NCO Ranks**

* **Commissar**
* **Techpriest**
* **Priest**
* **Arbitrator Captain**
* **Arbitrator**

### Legion Structure

Each Legion has 150.000 Penal Legionairs and further 15.000 regular soldiers and Arbitrators who control the criminals. For such task they rever to summonary executions by explosive collars, using special drugs for the criminals when not in combat and the hyper-indoctrination of the most feared and influencialst members. Instead of Companies each Legion is organized in battalions who are organized in squads. Squads form if needed task forces lead by a Captain. Each Legion has a Command Battallion, a Logistical Battalion, a Security Battalion, 25 regular battalions and two battalions made up by loyal veterans.

## Wargear

Penal Legionnairs get only the bar minimum of equipment for combat like an Autogun, munition, a explosive collar and some food. Lamur Penal Legions force their "soldiers" to wear orange jumpsuits with a buttoned jacket as a form of torso protection, while low-ranking officers are allowed to use patted leather chests. Green bandanas and head scarfs are more decoration than real protection.