Imperial Navy
The Imperial Navy protects the shores and sea trade routes of the Empire.[1a]
Most of its ships constantly patrol the Sea of Claws protecting the coastline of Nordland and Ostland from the incursions of Norse pirates. Some ships patrol the rivers. [1a]
Contents
Air Power
Imperial fleets are protected from air attacks by the Griffon Riders, a Knightly Order who brought back six eggs from the Southlands centuries ago. [2a] Helblaster mulit-barrelled cannons are also mounted on modern warships to deal with attacks by enemy flyers. [2b]
History
The first Imperial Navy was created by Emperor Hasso after Marienburg was sacked by the Norse in 632 IC. It proved highly effectve and forced the Bjornlings, Sarl and Skaelings to sign a treaty to cease raiding in 765 IC. [1a]
However over the next few centuries, it was neglected and by 1300 IC, the Norse were raiding in force, even settling in some cases. As civil war in the Empire raged on, each province had to manage as best it could. [1a]
Influenced by Tilean traders, the Wasteland Navy became increasingly powerful and by the time Magnus the Pious sought to unite the Empire once more, it had the only true power on the sea that the Empire could field. The riverine Reikland Navy was designated as the First Fleet and the far superior Marienburg Navy became the Second Fleet. [1a]
Sigismund the Mad developed the concept of the Hellhammer warship which took a massive siege cannon and put it atop a strudy Imperial War Galley. Although trials did destroy several ships due to its brutal recoil, Emperor Karl Franz was impressed enough to commission a dozen squadrons for the fleet. [4a]
Locations
- Andel Tower: Seafort a mile north-east of Dietershafen. [1a]
- Altdorf: Home of the First Fleet. [1a]
- Dietershafen: Home port of the Second Fleet in the early 2500s IC. [1a]
- Fort Odner: Sentinel over the sea lanes west of Dietershafen on a barren island in Eigar Bay. [1a]
- Nordenwatch: Northernmost holding of the Empire, a fortified island . [1a]
Notable
- Helmut Van Dorf: Admiral who has fought the notorious Bretonnian Admiral Le Fevre on many occasions. [2c]
Organisation
The Navy is divided into two fleets, the First and Second Fleets, each with its own Sea Lord, a position first created by Magnus the Pious. [1a]
Before 2512 IC, the ships that made up the new Second Fleet were the private navies of several prominent Nordland families. [1a]
First Fleet
The Admiralty - a board of twelve Admirals command the fleet from Altdorf under the Sea Lord. [1a]
- Lord Adalmann von Hopfberg is the Sea Lord in the early 2500s IC. [1a]
Second Fleet
The Nordland Naval Chamber commands the fleet from the Admiral's Palace in Dietershafen under the Sea Lord. [1a]
- Lord Ludolf Köhler is the Sea Lord in the early 2500s IC. [1a]
Ship Types
- Imperial Great Ships Usually commanded by an Admiral and the flagship of any flotilla. [1a]
- Imperial Hell-hammer: An experimental class with a huge cannon. [1a]
- Imperial Ironfists: An experimental class with a huge mortar.[1a]
- Imperial War Galleys Ship-of-the-line. [1a]
- Imperial Wolf Ships: Ship-of-the-line. [1a]
Gallery
Greatship
Wolfship
Miniatures
Greatship
Wolf Ship
Hell-hammer squadron
Ironfist Squadron
War Galley Squadrons
Quotes
| There are nobles and seaman in the Reikland fleet; but, the seamen are not very noble, and the nobles are certainly no seamen.
~ Lord Tyrkel von Hargelfels, Admiral of the Nordland fleet.[3] |
Sources
- 1: Sea of Claws (book)
- 1a: The Nordland Coast, pg. 19-20
- 2: Sea of Blood Rulebook
- 3: Total War Warhammer III
- 4: White Dwarf 165 (UK)
- 4a: Hellhammer & Ironfist, pg. 17
