Archadian Imperial Fleets

The Archadian Imperial Fleets in Final Fantasy XII boast perhaps the largest number of airships in the Final Fantasy series. The Archadian Imperial Army relies heavily on the firepower of these fleets during their invasions and campaigns.
The most prominent fleet in the story is the Western Armada, under the command of Vayne Carudas Solidor, Consul of Rabanastre, which commands the skies and seas within Archadia's western territories. The airships are named after various summons in the series.
==Fleets==
Each fleet consists of several Light Cruiser and Cruiser Class ships, and is usually led by a Dreadnought Class ship. While the exact number of fleets is never revealed, there are at least 12 fleets.
===1st Fleet===
Led by the Odin, this fleet was part of the large fleet involved with guarding Archadia from the Resistance fleet.
===2nd Kerwon Expeditionary Force===
The fleet called in to replace the 8th fleet, which has been decimated during their flight above the Jagd Yensa.
===8th Fleet===
The 8th Fleet is a formidable force, and the fleet most featured in Final Fantasy XII. The entire fleet is led by Judge Ghis, onboard his ship the Dreadnought Leviathan.
The following ships are part of the 8th fleet:
*Light Cruiser Class, the Shiva
*Cruiser Class, the Ifrit
*Dreadnought Class, the Leviathan
However, this fleet was sunk when Judge Ghis tried using the Dawn Shard. Every ship sank in the heavy Mist explosion. Later, the fleet is reassembled, and the Shiva is seen taking place in the final airship battle involving the Sky Fortress Bahamut. It is probably the very same ship that is seen with the Leviathan, as the Shiva is seen to fall towards the Sandsea, to detonate with the rest of the 8th Fleet during the Mist explosion induced by the Dawn Shard.
===12th Fleet===
The 12th Fleet is led by Judge Zargabaath onboard the Alexander. This fleet was formed after Vayne killed his father and was to be used if Rozarria would attempt to invade as the bulk of the Archadian force. It is mostly involved with protecting the Bahamut during the Resistance Battle above Rabanastre.
==Ship Classes==
The ships of the Archadian Fleets are usually separated into several classes, each with a specific purpose.
===Fighter Class===
Light ships meant for lesser combat. They usually have small gun turrets, and even engage foot soldiers in combat. Two classes of fighter are the Air Cutter Remora and the Valfarre.
===Light Cruiser Class===
Not meant for heavy battles, they have weaker armor and lighter weaponry than most other ships. As such, they are much better at high-speed maneuvers and attacking in groups. The Shiva is a Light Cruiser Class ship.
===Cruiser Class===
Heavy ships more suited for actual battle. They have much tougher armor than their light counterparts, and a lot of cannons in their arsenal. The Ifrit is a Cruiser Class ship.
===Heavy Carrier Class===
Heavily armored ships, these ships are not meant for battle. Instead, they act as walls and carry troops to their destination. They are the biggest class of ships, and have entire hangars hidden in them. The Alexander is a Heavy Carrier Class ship.
===Dreadnought Class===
An all-round battle ship, the Dreadnought Class is engineered for combat. Its armor is impossible to penetrate, and its firepower is unmatched. This class of ship is usually in charge of an entire fleet. The Leviathan is a Dreadnought Class ship.
===Sky Fortress Class===
The ultimate class, there is only one ship in the Archadian fleet that bears this title, the Bahamut. Gigantic, this class is very slow, and requires an enormous amount of energy to power. However, its firepower is devastating, sporting a Mist cannon that can destroy entire ships in one shot. As well as having this immense power to destroy ships, it carried within itself thousands of small fighters capable of fending off attacks from smaller attack groups.
==Behind the scenes==
There being twelve fleets to the Archadian Imperial Fleets may be an allusion to the number twelve, something that Final Fantasy XII contains numerous instances of. All battleships are also named after some beast or summon used in the past. Because the sky was a strong concept for the game, the developers wanted to create battleships with names that would have a strong impact.
==Other media==
Various Archadian airships appear in the sky of the transformed Rabanastre stage in the arcade version of Dissidia Final Fantasy.
==Gallery==
Airship-concepts-ffxii.jpg|Concept art of Catoblepas.
Carbuncle-artwork.jpg|Concept art of Carbuncle.
FFXII-Ifrit Artwork.jpg|Concept art of Ifrit.
Flying ifrit.jpg|Ifrit in flight.
Ifrit artwork.jpg|Ifrit in flight.
FFXII Amano 3.jpg|Yoshitaka Amano artwork of Ifrit.
Ifrit-FFXII-TZA.png|Ifrit fires at the resistance.
Shiva-ffxii.png|Shiva in flight.
Shiva-destroyed-ffxii.png|Ifrit destroyed.
Ffxii shiva.jpg|Shiva.
FFXII Alexander airship.png|Alexander.
Alexander-FFXII-Concept-art.png|Alexander.
Alexander by Hideo Minaba for FFXII TZA.jpg|Key art of Alexander by Hideo Minaba.
==Citations==
ru:Аркадийский имперский флот
Category:Organizations in Final Fantasy XII
Category:Transportation in Final Fantasy XII
Category:Airships