Sword Frigate

Imperium Portal Imperial Navy

This article is about the escort-class starship; for the primitive weapon, see Sword.

Sword Class Frigate^[1]

The Sword Class Frigate is a classic Escort ship design used by the Imperial Navy^[1], Basilikon Astra^[9], and at least some Space Marine Chapters.^[10][11][13]

Design

A sword Frigate^[8]

This class is a very old design, dating back to the earliest days of the Imperium. All its components have been redesigned, refined to a high level,^[1] tried and tested in innumerable engagements.^[2]

Its laser-based weapons batteries provide equivalent fire power to those of the less reliable plasma-based alternatives, and are able to fire to both sides, or forward with full strength. Its engines are powerful, yet simple enough to be maintained by an artificer with minimal training.^[1] They are regarded as reliable even in extreme conditions.^[2]

Being an escort, the Sword is expected to come under fire, and so is designed with this in mind. Its bulkheads are thicker than would be expected, and the beams and supports that hold the ship together have redundant copies nearby, that will take the load if the primary beam or support fails. Due to this, the Sword can take more punishment than would be expected for a ship of its diminutive size.^[1]

Role and deployment

Escort class ships are meant to support heavier vessels during fights and cruises. It is exceptionally rare to see an Imperial battleship without at least two, if not more, Sword class ships by its side. Sword Class Frigates are often seen fighting alongside Space Marine formations.^[1] Because of their performances, they are also valued by Rogue Traders who usually convert them in order to have their merchant needs suited.^[2] Pirate fleets are known to operate Sword Frigates as well.^[7]

The Sword Class Frigate is known to be utilized by at least three Space Marine Chapters. These are the Mentors^[10], Blood Ravens^[11] and the Fulminators.^[13]

Technical Specifications

• Dimensions: 1.6 km long, 0.3 km abeam at fins approx.^[2]
• Mass: 6 megatonnes approx.^[2]
• Crew: 26,000 crew; approx.^[2]
• Accel: 4.5 gravities max sustainable acceleration.^[2]

Notable Squadrons

• Blue Squadron^[1]
• Errant Squadron^[3b]
• Invincis Squadron^[3b]
• Omega Squadron^[1]
• The Nightstalkers^{[Needs Citation]}
• Red Squadron^[1]
• Scadryn Squadron - (comprised of four Sword Frigates: VCS-6, VCS-7, VCS-8 and VCS-9), took part in The Denab Incident.^[3a]

Notable Sword Frigates

• Achilles and its squadron^[4]
• Gladius^[14]
• Heroic Endeavour^[5]
• In Devout Abjuration - Used by the Mentors Chapter^[10]
• Mariatus^[5]
• Raven's Spear - Used by the Blood Ravens Chapter^[11]
• Scourge of Kalestos - Used by the Fulminators Chapter^[13]
• Triumph of Juno^[12]
• Von Becken^[5]

Miniature

Miniature^[6]

Sources

• 1: Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook, pg. 113
• 2: Rogue Trader Rulebook, pg. 195
• 3: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign
  • 3a: pg. 15
  • 3b: pg. 39
• 4: Execution Hour (Novel), ^{[Needs Citation]}
• 5: Warriors of Ultramar (Novel) — The Ultramarines Omnibus, Chapter Five, pg. 337
• 6: Games Workshop (last accessed October 4, 2012)
• 7: Battlefleet Gothic Magazine Issue 7, pgs. 18–23
• 8: Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (Video Game)
• 9: Vessels of Mars: Ships of the Adeptus Mechanicus, by Nate Montes, Robert Henderson and Ray Bell
• 10: Spear of the Emperor (Novel) - Chapter 1
• 11: White Dwarf July 2019 - Index Astartes: Blood Ravens
• 12: Dark Heresy Second Edition: Enemies Without, pg. 35
• 13: War Zone Charadon - Act II: The Book of Fire, pg. 38
• 14: Dark Millennium (game system), Prophecy's Peril — Gladius, card description