High Elf Navy
The High Elf Navy is the mightiest naval power of the Warhammer world.[3a][4a][8a]
Its main task is to protect the island of Ulthuan, its colonies, outposts, and the sea trade routes of the High Elves. Its most dangerous foes are Dark Elf Corsairss and Norse pirates.[8a]
Despite the power of their fleets and individual vessels, captains are growing increasingly wary about engaging other ships as ever vessel lost is increasingly hard to replace with the Starwood forests dwindling on Ulthuan.[8a]
Contents
Air Power
The sleek ocean going vessels of a Elf Fleet are not only protected from ariel attacks by powerful Dragon riders and War Eagles but these mighty creatures can also make deadly attacks on enemy ships or fortifications. Dragons operate from both overseas strongholds and from Ulthuan itself and their mere presence can cause an enemy fleet to retreat before any shots are fired. [1a] Large Bolt Throwers provide additional defence using well-aimed shots to disable enemies. [1b]
The Lothern navy employs Skycutters pulled by Swiftfeather Rocs to act as the eyes and ears of the fleet. [8a]
Command Structure
The highborn sea lords command the greatest fleets, answering only to the Phoenix King, with Admirals as the next tier of command, although they may also be vassals of other highborn.[8a]
- Aislinn: The most renowned of the Sea Lords, he commands several fleets and the Lothern Sea Guard, delighting in making expert use of sea mists (natural and magical) to sow confusion amongst his enemies.[8a]
- Yrellian: Prince and firstborn son of Finubar and as such he only heeds the orders of Aislinn or his father.[8a]
Crews
High Elf vessels are manned by highly disciplined sailors who may have spent numerous Human lifetimes at sea. Some become known as Sea Elves who, having become intimate with the mood and mysteries of the ocean barely set foot on dry land, having more allegiance to the fleet and the god of the sea, Mathlann. [8a]
The vessels of the fleet are defended by the Sea Guard whilst larger ships may have a contingent of Sea Rangers who are able survey potential landing spots. Some of the more athletic marines use an acrobatic fighting style similar to the Wardancers of Athel Loren. In a boarding actions, Elven ships will fire harpoons with ropes, allowing the lithe figures of the marines to swiftly engage the enemy crew. [8a]
Magic
Mages and Storm Weavers are able to use their arcane abilities to protect and hide their ships, even regrowing damaged hulls. They help navigate, especially the Shifting Isles and even summon sea monsters to battle on their behalf.[8a]
Ship types
High Elf ships are works of art in their own right, meticulously crafted with billowing silk sails, pristine paintwork sleek lines, pristine paintwork. Each vessel is crafted from a single starwood tree from the groves that grow in the foothills of the Annulii Mountains with the shipwright weaving intricate magics into the wood which allows it to remain alive. A priestess decorates it with the Eye of Mother Goddess, Isha hoping that she will reason with the God of the Sea and safeguard it from his anger. [8a]
The High Elf fleets are composed of agile vessels, who instead of cannons are equipped with magically enhanced mighty repeater bolt throwers. [8a]
Warships
- Dragonship: Large and swift twin-hulled catamarans, they are the most powerful vessels of the High Elf fleet.[2a][3b][4b]
- Eagleships: The most common vessels of the High Elf fleet.[2a] Armed with broadside Eagle Claw batteries, these craft are huge, sleek and streamlined, making them both fast and deadly. They are able to out-race even Bretonnian Corsairs and are far more manoeuvrable than any ship of the old world. [2a]
- Hawkships: Smaller and agile vessels.[2b][5][6][7] Mainly created to counter Norse raiders and for patrol duty on the rocky coastlines of Ulthuan against any invasion raider, the Hawkships are swift and highly manoeuvrable. They are designed to perform hit-and-run attacks against larger craft and then escape to bring warning back to the Elf ports.[2b]
- Bloodhawk: Similar in size to the Hawkships, they are catamarans built for for speed over resilience with a hydrofoil which gives the impression of them flying on the surface of the water. [8a]
- Falcon: Mainly used to patrol the Inner Sea, they are smallest class of warship in the High Elf fleets. [8a]
Merchant vessels
- Albatross: The largest class of merchant ship used by the Asur, a swift and capacious trimaran, built to carry large cargos or armies across oceans. [8b]
- Golden Eagle: Single-hulled merchant clippers which are also called ‘trading eagles’ as they resemble the more elegant Eagleship. [8b]
- Razorbill: Nimble ketches, they are the smallest class and are constructed to carry passengers across the Inner Sea or travel between coastal islands. [8b]
Gallery
Clippers
High Elf Ship
High Elf Ship
Lothern Sea Guard
Miniatures
Sources
- 1: Sea of Blood Rulebook
- 2: Man O War Rulebook
- 3: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (5th Edition)
- 4: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (7th Edition)
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (4th Edition), pg. 62
- 6: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (6th Edition), pg. 49
- 7: Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves (7th Edition), pg. 68
- 8: High Elf Players Guide:
