Battle of Tallarn, A couple of questions

I've recently been discussing the battle of Tallarn with people and I've been wondering a couple of things.

Firstly I have a feeling that the Iron Warriors were involved in this conflict but I'm not entirely sure so any help on this subject would be great.

Secondly as it is the biggest tank battle in Imperial history and the battle that turned Tallarn into a desert should it be covered by Black Library either as a short story or book in its own right?

The battle for Tallarn was first referenced in Adeptus Titanicus, where the Ultramarines, Space Wolves and Iron Hands were fighting an unknown Treacherlegion force.

Later sources have the Iron Warriors virus-bombing the world, and being opposed by the Imperial Fists alongside the few remaining inhabitants. Since the virus bombs made even power-armoured warfare impossible, the battle was fought in tanks.

I'd hope so. The idea of a war escalating to become the biggest armoured conflict in Imperial history... over a dead rock has all the gloomy grotesquerie I love about the setting. Couple that with a showcase novel for the Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors, both of whom refuse to back down from their enemies; and some foreshadowing of the Cursus of Alganar (perhaps the artefact the Iron Warriors are after?), and you've got the set up for an epic novel.

It'd also be a great place to showcase Perturabo, as 'our bitter brother' has caught my interest in the few cameos he's had; and also to show quite how deadly a virus bombing should be – my main objection to Galaxy in Flames was that so many survived and were able to fight :s The whole point of Isstvan used to be that it was an atrocity: everyone – the marines, the civilisation, the planet died. I think Exterminatus gets tossed around a little too lightly in the background

*Harumph* Any way – hope that answers your question!

I've been looking at this recently too...

Yes, the Iron Warriors virus-bombed the caliphate world of Tallarn and reduced it to a dusty desert hellhole. There then followed a years-long tank battle which featured over one million war machines, with the traitors facing off against the Imperial Army.

Warsmith Ferrous Ironclaw was present, as per the 3rd edition CSM codex quotes.

+++SPOILER ALERT+++

Perturabo features as a main character in Graham McNeill's novel 'Angel Exterminatus', due out later this year. The artwork was unveiled at BL Live, and he is front-and-centre.

The battle of Phall is going to be covered in John French's novella 'The Crimson Fist', part of 'Shadows of Treachery', also due out later this year. An extract can be found in the back of 'The Primarchs' anthology which was also on sale last weekend. This story is known to feature a HUGE Iron Warriors fleet attacking the Imperial Fists and explaining where the hell they all were/weren't during the Heresy...

Regarding Perturabo and the Iron Warriors (sounds like an Indie band), will there be anything in the books about the destruction of Olympus and why he sided with Horus, possessed Forgebreaker etc. (maybe in flashbacks) or has that ship sailed?