From Lexicanum

Battle Cruisers are more heavily armed and armoured than Cruisers but less so than Grand Cruisers and Battleships. They are fairly common but pack a strong amount of armament and are also heavily armoured.

Obsolete versions of the ship were called "Heavy Cruisers".

Contents 1 Armageddon Class 2 Mars Class 3 Overlord Class 4 Obsolete Classes 5 Other Notable Battle Cruisers 6 Sources

Armageddon Class

The Armageddon Class Battle Cruiser was designed to rapidly increase the number of battle cruisers available to the Imperial Navy during the Third War for Armageddon. Built exclusively from recovered shells of Lunar Class Cruisers, the Armageddon class upgraded the Lunar to an operational battle cruiser.¹

The ship has a similar weapons layout to the Lunar, with medium sized weapons batteries and two lance positions on each flank of the ship, as well as torpedoes. However, due to the increased power availability the Armageddon class possesses, these weapons now have a far greater range than their counterparts on a Lunar Class, and there is still enough power to feed two further lance positions, each with battleship range, on the dorsal section of the ship. A drawback to these increased abilities was apparent when the first crew manifest was drawn up, an extra three and a half thousand crewmen were needed to enable the ship to operate at peak efficiency.¹

Famous Armageddon Class ships include:

Thunderchild

Seen at the Third War for Armageddon¹

Hammer of Light

Seen at the Third War for Armageddon¹

Ex Cathedra

Seen at the Third War for Armageddon¹

Mars Class

De	Mars-Klasse

The Mars Class Battle Cruiser was designed to replace the Exorcist Class Grand Cruiser as a small fleet carrier and long range patrol ship. It serves in both roles adequately well, but excels at neither. The Mars class features the classic armoured prow, allowing it to close with the enemy in relative safety. Its main armament consists of medium sized, long ranged weapons batteries, two lances on the dorsal section, and has the fearsome Nova Cannon. It can also support a good number of attack craft. These allow the Mars Class to engage the enemy whilst out of range of their main weapon systems, or go closer to the enemy and use its attack craft to protect itself or make lightning raids against enemy ships.²

The Mars Class is thought to be undergunned by many Imperial Captains, and the shipyards of Mars stopped laying down Mars Class keels some 1,900 years ago. Those that remain, however, are on active front line duty, for as many captains who do not like them, there are those who adore their ability to operate at stand-off range.²

Notable Mars Class ships include:

Pax Imperium

Flag ship of Lord Commander Solar Macharius during the Macharian Crusade until the Battle of Charaxdis where it was heavily damaged.³ It was also seen during the Gothic War.¹

Imperious

Seen during the Gothic War and retrofitted with an enhanced targeting array salvaged after the Battle of Orar, giving its weapons batteries improved accuracy.²

Overlord Class

The Overlord Class is a popular ship, both with Captains and Admirals. Captains favour its long range weaponry, good armour, and reasonable speed, whilst the Admirals like the fact it can dish out punishment at the range of a battleship, whilst being able to manoeuver like a cruiser. It is based on the archaic Acheron Class Heavy Cruiser. Due to difficulties reproducing the power relays of the Acheron, the Overlord's torpedo tubes replace prow facing weapons batterys. This change created a surplus of power which was used to boost the range of the Overlords dorsal lance array to a level usually only seen on battleships.

Many see the Overlord as the poor man's Retribution Class Battleship, however it is much more than that. It is a formidable ship in its own right, capable of taking on almost any comparable ship, and emerge victorious, due to its longer range and good armour. The Overlord also incorporates respectable shield and turret cover, which allow it to survive incoming fire, and attack craft respectively.²

Notable Overlord Class ships include:

Cypra Probatii

Seen during the Gothic War. Underwent a refit to increase the number of point defence turrets available.²

Flame of Purity

Seen during the Gothic War.²

Niobe

Participated in the Damocles Crusade⁵

Sword of Retribution

Seen during the Gothic War.²

Obsolete Classes

The older version of the "Battle Cruiser" was given the title of "Heavy Cruiser".

• Acheron Class Heavy Cruiser
• Hades Class Heavy Cruiser
• Styx Class Heavy Cruiser
• Repulsive Class Grand Cruiser

Other Notable Battle Cruisers

Radiant Way

Destroyed in 986.M41 by Ork pirates led by Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka.⁴

Defiance

Served during the Macharian Crusade and deployed Catachan 12th Jungle Fighters Regiment during the Invasion of Jucha.³

Sources

• ¹ To Clense the Stars
• ² Ships of the Gothic Sector
• ³ Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 1st Codex)
• ⁴ History of the Third War for Armageddon
• ⁵ Star of Damocles (Novel) p.218 and following.

Vessels of the Imperial Navy
Type	Design	Class	Obsolete Classes
Capital Ships	Battleships	Apocalypse • Emperor • Oberon • Retribution	Despoiler • Desolator
	Grand Cruisers	Avenger • Exorcist • Governor • Vengeance	Executor • Repulsive • Retaliator
	Battle Cruisers	Armageddon • Mars • Overlord	Acheron • Hades • Styx
	Cruisers	Dictator • Dominator • Gothic • Lunar • Tyrant	Carnage • Devastation • Murder • Slaughter
	Light Cruisers	Dauntless • Defiant • Endeavor • Endurance
Escorts	Frigates	Sword • Firestorm
	Destroyers	Cobra - Destroyer • Falchion - Escort
	Freighters	Armed Freighter • Defense Monitor • Escort Carriers • Fuel Transport • Q-Ship • Troop Transport
Small Craft	Space	Fury interceptor • Starhawk
	Planetary	Lightning • Marauder Bomber • Marauder Destroyer • Thunderbolt • Vulture Gunship
	Transport	Aquila Lander • Arvus Lighter • Valkyrie