Space Marine rules questions (Auspex and Chronus)

[Haighus]

Ok, so I have a couple of things I want to clarify with the Space Marine Codex. I appreciate this may be invalidated in the very near future, but hey.

First up, Antaro Chronus' rules state that he can be taken for any Ultramarines tank. This doesn't specify any specific tank types. Does that mean that he could also be taken on the FW vehicles found in IA2 Second Edition, so long as they are also tanks (such as Sicarians, FW Land Raider variants etc)?

Secondly, can auspexes be used from within a transport vehicle? The rules for them merely states that they are used instead of shooting, but doesn't say that they are a form of shooting attack. For me, this could go one of 3 ways:
They can be used from within a vehicle no problem, in the same way Blessings of the Omnissiah can be used (also something that replaces the models shooting).
They require a firing point and are used in the same way as a shooting attack.
They cannot be used inside a transport vehicle.

The rules for auspexes (auspices?):
A model with an auspex can use it in place of making a shooting attack. If he does so, target an enemy unit within 12" (this does not count as choosing a target for his unit to shoot at). A unit that is targeted by one or more auspexes has its cover saves reduced by 1 until the end of the phase .

So what do people think?

[Denzark]

I thought Chronus specified those in the codex. If not, does the comment 'ultramarine tank' have some implication of 'ultramarine faction' which can only be found in the codex?

As to the auspex I reckon it uses 1 fire point but await a more proficient rules lawyer to say why not...

[Haighus]

"Sergeant Chronus may be taken as an upgrade for one Ultramarines Tank in the army."
That is the wording of his profile. Hmm. Tanks don't have Chapter tactics, so I can't see how the FW ones are any different to the Codex ones, they are the same faction.

I would play the auspex the way you say at the moment, but I am also awaiting rules lawyers for a ruling

[Denzark]

I know Pask says codex - I wonder if the new SM codex will limit Chronus? I like to concept of him, just never found a SM tank worth it yet. Mebbe a Pred Annihilator in a fluffy list, but preds do not get out much in competitive lists...

[Houghten]

We've had this argument over Pask / Generic AM Tank Commander before, I think. Sure, it says "choose from those on page 102" but the Annihilator and Conqueror's rules both say they can be taken as part of a Leman Russ squadron; it doesn't explicitly say "staple this page to page 102 and count it as part of it" but the effect is the same.

[Haighus]

It is much more vague than the wording for Pask/Leman Russ commander though- literally just says what I posted above- may be taken by any Ultramarines tank.

As for his worth in being taken, he could well be worth it in a Sicarian, as BS5 Accelerator autocannons and BS5 lascannon sponsons would be brutal. Could even give the vehicle Tank Hunters and resistance to Haywire with one of the Legacies of Glory in IA2. Was thinking about it for a Land Raider Achilles too, as the Achilles is already very tough. Giving it IWND would make it even harder to kill. Except for Eldar probably.