Gloriana-class Battleship

The ***Gloriana*-class Battleship**, also known as the ***Gloriana*-class Battle Barge**, is a massive class of Imperial Battleship constructed during the height of the Great Crusade that was operational from the late 30th into the early 31st Millennium. Though they were all known as Gloriana's, each of these mighty vessels were unique in both form and armament, some being purpose created vessels, while others were retrofitted and given the designation after their initial construction.

During the Great Crusade each individual Space Marine Legion acquired at least one such vessel which inevitably became the Legion's flagship, utilised by their respective Primarchs. This role was due to these warships' incredible array of firepower, which allowed them to single-handedly batter entire fleets or recalcitrant planets into submission. These warships were far larger than any other known class of Imperial vessel, with the two exceptions of the mobile star-fortress known as the *Triumph* constructed and used by the Star Guardians Legion during the Frontier Wars, the *Abyss*-class Battleships unleashed by the Silver Basilisks Traitor Legion during the Almire Apostasy, and the *Imperator Somnium*, the flagship of the Emperor of Mankind himself.

The largest of these vessels, the *Furiar Imperator*, is twenty-six kilometres in length, while another, the *Herald of Destruction* is twenty five kilometres in length. As expected of such monumental warships, the armour of the *Gloriana*-class was incredibly thick and protected by overlapping Void Shields which allowed them to absorb stupendous amounts of damage. During the Great Crusade, these warships helped the *Legiones Astartes* swiftly conquer and bring newly-discovered worlds into Imperial Compliance, which helped to establish the nascent Imperium of Man and its domination of the known galaxy. These vessels were effective at sundering numerous xenos fleets and were put to similar use during the Apostasy.

During that conflict several of these ships were destroyed in combat, the *Purest Intent* and the *Bastion* chief amongst them. As excpected for such powerful vessels, their loss was keenly felt by their legion, and the Imperium as a whole.

## History

The origins of the *Gloriana*-class Battleship lies in the Hydra system, although many vessels that would later bear the designation would instead be constructed in the great shipyard’s of Mars, the equally highly reputed docks of Saturn and Jupiter, or even in places veiled from history itself. The *Herald of Destruction* however was the first of the purpose built Gloriana-class vessels, constructed at the Ring to the exacting specifications of Shaaa Hydrades himself, and later approved by the Emperor for construction for all of his lost sons. This brought about some level of uniformity to the mighty class, though at their heart each of these vessels was still unique, a reflection of the Primarch they flew under. In time, every legion would possess at least one of these mighty vessels, each one serving as the flagship that would prosecute the Emperor’s Great Crusade amongst the stars. This role was due to these warships' incredible array of firepower, which allowed them to single-handedly batter entire fleets or recalcitrant planets into submission, as these warships were far larger than any other known class of Imperial vessel, with the three notable exceptions: the mobile star-fortress known as the *Triumph* constructed and used by the Star Guardians Legion during the Frontier Wars, the *Abyss*-class Battleships unleashed by the Silver Basilisks Traitor Legion during the Almire Apostasy, and the *Imperator Somnium*, the flagship of the Emperor of Mankind himself.

As expected of such monumental warships, the armour of the *Gloriana*-class was incredibly thick and protected by overlapping Void Shields which allowed them to absorb stupendous amounts of damage. During the Great Crusade, these warships helped the *Legiones Astartes* swiftly conquer and bring newly-discovered worlds into Imperial Compliance, which helped to establish the nascent Imperium of Man and its domination of the known galaxy. These vessels were effective at sundering numerous xenos fleets and were put to similar use during the Almire Apostasy. During this conflict several of these ships were destroyed in combat. Due to the ailing state of the Imperium following the galaxy-wide rebellion, which cost the galaxy dearly in both blood and treasure, the Mechanicum's shipyards were unable to continue producing such powerful and advanced vessels. The largest of the *Gloriana*-class vessels was to be the *Furiar Imperator*, a retrofitted vessel later assigned the Gloriana specification measuring twenty-six kilometres in length, followed by the *Herald of Destruction*, the first and largest of the purpose built Gloriana's with a length of twenty kilometres from prow to stern.

## Legion *Gloriana*-class Flagships

* ***Wisdom of Techu*** (Watchers of Akhet)
* ***Zi zhi Baoqi*** ***"The Son's Wrath"*** (Blight Wardens)
* ***The Spirit of Duality*** (Claws of Xipac)
* ***Herald of Destruction*** (Star Guardians)
* ***Eternal Retribution*** (Sirens of Kastar)
* ***TBD*** (Seekers of Unity)
* ***Mordu*** ***"The Demon Bear"*** (War Bears)
* ........ (Gilded Vanguard)
* ***Red Tear*** (Blood Angels)
* ***Monad*** (Light Bringers)
* ***Kiln of Humanity*** (Ashen Crows)
* ***God of War*** (Brothers Encarmine)
* ***Goddess of Love*** (Brothers Encarmine)
* ***Pythonis Mertricius*** (Consuls Exemplar)
* ***Purest Intent*** (Palatine Wings)
* ***Caer Sidi*** (Silver Basilisks)
* ***Wrath of Judgement*** (Imperial Justicars/Warmasters Justicars)
* ***Fidelitas Lex*** (Word Bearers)
* ***Crossing*** (Wisps of Acheron)
* ***Furiar Imperator*** (Dragon Lords)
* ***Sielun Murskaaja*** ***"Soul Crusher"*** (Hounds of Surmah)

## See also

* Imperialis Armada
* Imperial Army
* *Legiones Astartes*