Gloriana-class Battleship

The ***Gloriana*-class Battleship** is a massive class of Imperial battleship constructed during the height of the Great Crusade. It is believed that at least 20 of these formidable battleships were intended to be constructed by the ancient Imperium, and each of these mighty vessels was unique in both form and armament.

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 exception of the mobile star-fortress known as the *Phalanx* used by the Imperial Wardens Legion and the Emperor's own colossal flagship, the *Imperator Somnium.*

The largest of these vessels, the *Vhahako,* or "*Thunderer"* in gothic, of the Void Watchers, is twenty-six kilometres in length, while the *Merciless* of the Iron Lords Legion was twenty four and a half kilometres in length. As expected of such monumental warships, the armour of the *Gloriana*-class is incredibly thick and protected by overlapping Void Shields which allow 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 Great Secession, where many of these vessesls would clash and ultimatly meet their end.

## History

The origins of the *Gloriana*-class Battleship lies in the Sol System, although whether these mighty vessels were constructed in the great orbital shipyards of Mars' Ring of Iron or in the equally highly reputed docks of Saturn and Jupiter is still a matter of debate.

What is known is that the *Glorianas* were intended to become the flagships of the Space Marine Legions 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.

These warships were far larger than any other known class of Imperial vessel, with two notable exceptions: firstly the mobile star-fortress known as the *Phalanx* used by the Imperial Wardens Legion and secondly, the *Imperator Somnium* used as the later Flagship of the Emperor of Mankind himself*.* Each Legion was in turn gifted with one of these incredible warships, and these vessels inevitably became their Legion's flagship, utilised by their respective Primarchs.

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.

## Notable *Gloriana*-class Battleships

* *Guillotine* - Titans of Vayrd'un
* *Hammer of Mankind* - Imperial Wardens/Palatine Lions
* *Tenebrae* - Umbral Blades
* *Castigator* - Umbral Blades
* *The Unkindness* - Sons of Godwyn
* *Howling Wind* - Hunters Eternal
* *Way of Peace* - Storm Riders
* *Premonition* - Harbingers
* *Endless Endeavour* - Keepers of the Flame
* *Death’s Corona* - Astron Lords
* ................ - Paragon Order
* *Vhahako "Thunderer"* - Void Watchers
* *Baptisimal Flame* - Apostles of Lazari
* *Platinum Helix* - Immaculate Sons
* *Besiger of Iron* - Theta Warriors
* *Oya's Roar* - Palatine Lions
* *Ziggurat* - Omnimarines
* *Whisperwind* - Wind Reavers
* *Sol Invictus* - Supernal Seraphs
* *Merciless* - Iron Lords

## Other known *Gloriana*-class Battleships

* ***Amphion*** - The *Amphion* was the flagship of the Segmentum Solar defence fleet, one of the lynchpins of the defences of the homeworld.