I'm seeing conflicting information between the game website and the wiki. Is a Devastator Squad made up of several Devastators? Or is it any Tactical Squad with at least one Devastator in it?
Devastator squads are composed of a sergeant equipped with targeting auspexes and other such equipment, 4 marines equipped with heavy weapons and 5 rookies fresh from scout duties serving as spotters and bodyguards. Tactical squads can take a few heavy weapons like their name suggests, they can be equipped for any possible situation. Furthermore, Tacticals are the proper marines of a chapter, having mastered all the various non-specialist roles (including driving) so that is why they have so many options to choose from.
But wait, there's more! Quick rundown, -Every SM tac/dev squad is at least 5 pers, 1 sergeant and 4 regular marines -Up to 5 additional regular marines may be added -The marine sergeant can choose from a selection of melee and ranged gear. Tactical Squad -Can take either a special or heavy weapon at 5 pers, and both at 10 pers Devastator Squad -At any strength up to 4 marines may be equipped with heavy weapons Some funny things come of this, like running a devastator squad with only boltguns. What's really happening in EC in terms of squads is Command Squad, which has things like -taking an apothecary -melta bombs all round -choice of melee (including stormshield), ranged, and special weapons And it kind of creeps into Sternguard and Vanguard Veterans, which are almost "do what you want" ranged/melee squads. The Codex Astartes does not support the deployments seen in Eternal Crusade, and 3/5 of space marine subfactions are ok with this (and the 4th is secretly gleeful about it).
As codex dictate a squad is formed by ten Space Marines with each compagny numbering ten squad and each chapter ten compagny. Each squad can split as the holy codex indicate in two half squad of five marines with the Sgt. leading one and most of the time the elder vet the other part. In detail as the codex say, a tactical squad has a Sgt. one specialist weapon, one heavy weapon and seven bolter user. A devastator squad has a Sgt. tree heavy weapon and six bolter user. An assault squad has one Sgt. and nine battle brother with close combat weapons. Some chapter, emperor bless them too use other naming but tend to organised the squad more or less the same way. Thank to the Roman Empire and republic who first formed his army with : legion (from 3000 to 6000 soldiers) with century lead by a centurion (100 soldiers) divided in cohorts (10 soldiers) lead by a decurion each could be split in two maniples.
I've heard it slightly different; devastator sergeant do have auspex and things like that, but the marines wielding the devastator weapons are generally actually the trainees, not the more experienced marines, depending on the mission. The trainees are being taught to use their strength and their armor, which up to this point they haven't had, as well as being taught the necessity of NOT getting close. Of how important covering fire is.
4 heavy weapons in a devastator squad, not three. And you can take your codex and put it with your primarch (this is salty subfaction talk, it's not personal).
Because of our Codex SM had been authorised to lived after the heresy. And you are right for the numbers.
Just to be sure, you want me to put the Codex on holy ground, on Macragge inside a stasis field? I think it is already done.
