View source for Imperial Navy

{{Fleet List Linkbox}}
{{QuoteBox
|quote = '''''And of all [[Emperor|your]] works, greatest are these vessels, for they carry the blessed into righteous battle'''''
|source= - Imperial Navy litany{{Fn|20a}}
|align = center
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{{Faction
|Name         =Navis Imperialis<br>(Imperial Navy)
|Image        =FleetSymbol.jpg
|ImageCaption =''Imperial Navy'' symbol
|Title1       =Parent Agency
|Content1     =[[Imperial Fleet]]
|Title2       =Headquarters
|Content2     =[[Terra#Notable Locations|Naval Headquarters]], [[Terra]]
|Title3       =Leader
|Content3     =[[Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy]]
|Title4       =Established
|Content4     =Post-[[Horus Heresy]], [[M31]] (preceded by the [[Imperialis Armada]])
}}
The '''Imperial Navy''', or '''Navis Imperialis'''{{Fn|15}} in [[High Gothic]], is one of the armed forces employed by the [[Imperium]]. While the [[Astra Militarum]] (or [[Imperial Guard]]) is responsible for the Imperium's ground forces, the Imperial Navy is responsible for the fleets of warships that soar between the stars and planets in the Imperium as well as engaging threats both inside and outside the Imperium's borders. The Imperial Navy is the military arm of the [[Imperial Fleet]]{{Fn|1}} and was, until its separation after the [[Horus Heresy]], a branch of the [[Imperial Army]].

==Origins==
[[Image:BFG Box.jpg|thumb|right|350px|An Imperial Navy warfleet{{Fn|21}}]]
During the early Imperium in the [[Great Crusade]]-era, the Imperial Navy was originally a subbranch of the [[Imperial Army]] known as the [[Imperialis Armada]]. During this time, the Imperialis Armada was primarily used for the defence of Imperial space while planetary invasion was left to the fleets of the [[Legiones Astartes]].{{Fn|19}} However, after the devastating [[Horus Heresy]], which saw widespread rebellion from within the Army, [[Lord Commander of the Imperium]] [[Roboute Guilliman]] felt it prudent to separate the Army and Navy in order to lessen the threat of future insurrections.{{Fn|17}}{{Fn|18}}

==Organisation==
[[Image:SegGalacticPic.jpg|right|230px]]
===Fleet Structure===
The Imperial Navy is organised into five fleets, each assigned to one of the [[Segmentum|Segmentae Majoris]]. Each fleet is named for the Segmentum in which it is based, such as the [[Battlefleet Solar]].

These fleets are then subdivided into smaller fleets patrolling individual [[sector]]s and [[subsector]]s, and are also generally named after the area they safeguard. For example, [[Battlefleet Gothic]] protects the [[Gothic Sector]].

The Imperial Navy's administrative center is the '''Naval Headquarters''' on [[Terra]].{{Fn|9}}

====Fleet Headquarters====
*[[Segmentum Solar]] - [[Mars]] 
*[[Segmentum Pacificus]] - [[Hydraphur]] 
*[[Segmentum Obscurus]] - [[Cypra Mundi]]
*[[Segmentum Tempestus]] - [[Bakka]]
*[[Segmentum Ultima]] - [[Kar Duniash]]

===Fleet Personnel===
[[Image:FleetOfficer.jpg|thumb|130px|right|A '''Navy''' officer]]
{{Main|Imperial Navy Hierarchy}}
The Imperial Navy is headed by the [[Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy]], who is often one of the [[High Lords of Terra]]. He oversees five [[Segmentum]] Lord High Admirals.

Below the Lord Admirals are various Sector and Battlefleet commanders, then individual ship [[Imperial Navy Captain|Captain]]s and junior officers, and finally a myriad array of Non-Commissioned Officers. The Imperial Navy has a corps of [[Commissar]]s that oversee the morale and discipline of Naval personnel, known as the [[Fleet Commissariat]].{{Fn|6}}

The Imperial Navy also operates '''[[Naval Security]] Battalions''', also known as '''Naval [[Voidsmen|Armsmen]]'''{{Fn|6}}. These consist of units of armed soldiers intended to put down mutinies, board enemy ships, and protect Imperial Navy installations. Typically, Naval Security troopers are equipped with black body armour and [[shotgun]]s.{{Fn|4}} 

Imperial Navy vessels require personnel from other Imperial elements to function. These include [[Navigator]]s from the [[Navis Nobilite]] for navigation{{Fn|13}}, [[Astropath]]s for interstellar communication{{Fn|14}}, and [[Tech-Priest]]s from the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] for higher maintenance{{Fn|14}}. One of the foremost duties of the Navy is to transport the [[Imperial Guard]] to warzones, and as such, every Navy vessel, no matter how small, will sport some means of training deck to accommodate them.{{Fn|11b}}

The lowest level of personnel in the Navy hierarchy are bondsmen, who are little more than [[slave]]s. Alongside [[Servitor]]s, these poor souls, organised into '''Press Gangs'''{{Fn|25}} undertake the most thankless and dangerous tasks on a vessel. Bondsmen are acquired by various means, such as rounding up criminals or unsavory elements of Imperial society or simply being born into their status aboard a vessel. Other times, if a ship is low on such menials they may round up the nearest bystanders at random on the nearest world.{{Fn|25}} Bondsmen's duties include cleaning, hauling ammunition into weapons chambers, shoveling fuel, and manual labor. Working long hours and only fed meager rations, Bondsmen are met with brutal discipline should they protest their status.{{Fn|11a}}

==Vessels==
{{Main|Imperial Navy Vessels (List)}}
[[Image:NavyImage3.jpg|thumb|right|Imperial Navy workers load a [[Torpedo]] into its firing tube{{Fn|12}}]]
The Imperial Navy consists of millions of heavily armoured and armed spaceships, both warp-capable and system-bound. While the interstellar vessels are the most famous, the Navy also operates sublight [[System Defence Boat|system defence boats]], [[Orbital Defence Platform|orbital defence stations]], [[Star Fort|star forts]] and even planetary-based [[Defence Laser|defence lasers]] and missile silos.{{Fn|26}} The Imperial Navy deploys a vast diversity of vessel types, from one-man attack fighters to kilometers-long Battleships.
[[Image:Imperial-Navy.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Imperial Navy vessels{{Fn|27}}]]
Construction of Imperial Navy warships is complicated, obscenely expensive, and often takes place over decades or even centuries. The vast majority of construction is done in orbital shipyards by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], but the Navy itself sends specialist technicians to oversee certain critical elements. Other such specialist are sent by the [[Departmento Munitorum]] and [[Administratum]] to give ritual attention to specialized areas. However the [[Tech-Priest]]s do not take part in the construction of two highly classified of the warship: the [[Astropathic Choir]] (which is built by the [[Adeptus Astra Telepathica]]) and the chamber for the ship's [[Navigator]]s (which is built by the [[Navis Nobilite]]).{{Fn|20b}} While most new Imperial Navy vessels are constructed in the Navy's own shipyards, a number are build by planetary shipyards of [[Hive World|hive]], [[Factory World|factory]] or other worlds as part of the [[tithe]].{{Fn|26}}

Another source of new [[voidship]]s are the [[Forge World|forge worlds]] of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]]. While most of the newly constructed vessels are destined for their [[Basilikon Astra|own fleet]], a number of them are supplied to the Imperial Navy. These Mechanicus-build hulls are marvels of engineering, oftentimes incorporating rare technologies.{{Fn|26}} Though the construction of a single new cruiser may take more than a decade even for a well-supplied shipyard, a forge world can commission multiple new cruisers per years, thanks to economies of scale,{{Fn|24a}} having at any given time a dozen or more hulls in varying stages of construction.{{Fn|24b}}

Sometimes, the Imperial Navy expands its numbers by salvaging old wrecks. This practice uses up less resources than the construction of a new ship, but is considered far more dangerous because  these wrecks are often home to predatory [[alien]]s. Even less likely is the discovery of a spaceworthy wreck which is part of a [[Space Hulk]]. Securing such a hulk is considered worth the risk, even if they are very high. Sometimes, these wrecks are of an older pattern or mark the Imperium no longer has the ability to reproduce or feature [[archaeotech]] or other assorted riches.{{Fn|26}}

In the [[Era Indomitus]], the return of [[Roboute Guilliman]] has heralded a renaissance in Imperial shipbuilding, forwarded by the multitalented [[Belisarius Cawl]]. This has led to new, novel patterns of voidship to be created which are blessed with the finest technologies.{{Fn|28}}

===Battleships===
[[Image:EmperorBattleshipIllustration.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Emperor Class Battleship]]

[[Battleships]] are colossal vessels with significant weaponry and shields. They usually serve as the flagship for the Admiral of the Fleet, though this is not always the case. Although very powerful, battleships are slow to manoeuvre and cannot react quickly to enemies that rapidly change course. Imperial battleships can have crews of between 25,000 to 3,000,000 or more depending on sources, including large numbers of Imperial Navy armsmen to defend against enemy boarding assaults. Battleships can be up to 8 kilometres from prow to stern and displace billions of tons. Because they represent such a vast expenditure of resources and require a fairly advanced technical base, these are typically constructed only in the largest shipyards above the major [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] [[Forge World]]s. These vessels are precious assets and are carefully husbanded, usually employed in only larger fleet formations.{{Fn|2}}

There are various classes of Imperial Battleship, but the ''Emperor'' and ''Retribution'' are by far the most common in the Imperial Navy.
*[[Apocalypse Class Battleship]]
*[[Emperor Class Battleship]]
*[[Invincible Class Fast Battleship]]
*[[Nemesis Class Fleet Carrier]]
*[[Oberon Class Battleship]]
*[[Retribution Class Battleship]]
*[[Vanquisher Class Battleship]]
*[[Victory Class Battleship]]
*[[Graia Class Battleship]]{{Fn|8}}
*[[Adjudicator Class Battleship]]

===Cruisers===
Smaller than Battleships, [[Cruiser]]s are the '''ships of the line''' in Imperial Fleets. There are several different sub-categories of Cruiser.

====Grand Cruisers====
[[Image:VenganceClassGrandCruiser.JPG|right|thumb|180px|Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser]]

[[Grand Cruiser]]s are significantly smaller than battleships yet distinctly larger than regular cruisers. These vessels are usually very old in design, do not incorporate many features typical in current Imperial Navy vessels, like armoured prow, and are not entirely compatible with current Navy tactical doctrine. Due to this, many are retired from active duty but are still used by reserve fleets. There are also some modernised versions of grand cruisers in service, but since they are much larger and more heavily-armed than their predecessors, they are often classed as battleships. These kinds of vessels are usually purpose-built or modified from battlecruiser hulls and are not commonly encountered in the Imperial Navy.{{Fn|2}}

*[[Avenger Class Grand Cruiser]]
*[[Exorcist Class Grand Cruiser]]
*[[Furious Class Grand Cruiser]]
*[[Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser]]


====Battle Cruisers====
[[Image:ArmageddonClassBattleCruiser.JPG|right|thumb|170px|Armageddon Battle Cruiser]]
[[Battlecruiser]]s are based on a hull design that is similar to the regular Cruisers, though Battle Cruisers are generally somewhat larger and more heavily armed, incorporating more advanced power distribution systems capable of supporting battleship-grade weaponry in a cruiser hull.{{Fn|2}}

*[[Armageddon Class Battle Cruiser]]
*[[Chalice Class Battle Cruiser]]{{Fn|3a}}
*[[Dominion Class Battle Cruiser]]
*[[Long Serpent Class Battlecruiser]]
*[[Mars Class Battle Cruiser]]
*[[Mercury Class Battle Cruiser]]
*[[Overlord Class Battle Cruiser]]

====Cruisers====
[[Image:Dominator Class Cruiser.jpg|right|thumb|160px|Dominator Class Cruiser]]
[[Cruiser]]s make up the majority of a fleet. Though not as powerful as a Battleship, cruisers are much faster and can still deliver a deadly blow. There are multiple classes of cruisers, most based on the same general hull design but incorporating different combinations of broadside batteries, lance turrets and starfighter hangars. Cruisers can carry a crew complement of 1,000-100,000{{Fn|3}}, depending on sources. While cruisers are still particularly complex, it is not uncommon for them to be constructed on smaller Forge Worlds or any [[Civilised World]] with a shipyard suitable for constructing vessels of their size. 

*[[Dictator Class Cruiser]]
*[[Dominator Class Cruiser]]
*[[Gothic Class Cruiser]]
*[[Lunar Class Cruiser]]
*[[Tyrant Class Cruiser]]

====Light Cruiser====
[[Image:EndeavourClassLightCruiser.JPG|right|thumb|160px|Endeavour Light Cruiser]]
A subset of the cruiser category are the [[Light Cruiser]]s. These ships fall in size between cruisers and escorts, mixing the firepower and durability of the former with the speed and manoeuvrability of the latter. Light cruisers are a fairly common ship class, for they are relatively simple to construct for being a capital ship, and they are uniquely suited for reconnaissance patrols and for making a presence where their speed and manoeuvrability are an advantage and where having a larger number of smaller hulls allows the Navy to monitor a wider area of space.{{Fn|2}}

*[[Dauntless Class Light Cruiser]]
*[[Defiant Class Light Cruiser]]
*[[Defender Class Light Cruiser]]
*[[Endeavor Class Light Cruiser]]
*[[Endurance Class Light Cruiser]]
*[[Enforcer Class Light Cruiser]]
*[[Siluria Class Light Cruiser]]
*[[Styges Class Light Cruiser]]

===Escorts===
[[Image:RapidStrikeVessels.JPG|right|thumb|180px|Escort Vessels]]
[[Escort]] ships are the smallest type of ship in the Imperial Navy fleets, found in two distinct sub-classes. 

The larger of the two are [[Frigate]]s, better armed and more heavily armoured. 
[[Destroyer]]s are generally smaller, but they are by far the fastest and most manoeuvrable interstellar warships employed by the Imperial Navy. They are usually organised in squadrons of 2 to 6 vessels and will always operate as a group. The main task of the escort ships is to serve as a screen for capital ships against enemy torpedoes and attack crafts so that they can get into position more quickly and safely. They are also employed behind the gun line to finish off enemy cruisers that have been damaged so that the larger vessels can concentrate on the most important threats in an enemy formation. Most escort classes specialise in a certain role, such as the '''''Cobra''''' class torpedo boat destroyers or the '''''Firestorm''''' class frigate with its armour-piercing prow-mounted Lance. Escort ships are normally not more than 1.5 kilometres in length, with destroyers generally being only 750 metres to 2 kilometres from prow to stern.{{Fn|2}}

*[[Turbulent Class Heavy Frigate]]{{Fn|3b}}
*[[Invictor Class Heavy Frigate]]
*[[Tempest Class Frigate]]{{Fn|1}}
*[[Firestorm Class Frigate]]
*[[Havoc Class Frigate]]
*[[Sword Class Frigate]]
*[[Falchion Class Escort]]
*[[Cobra Class Destroyer]]
*[[Viper Class Destroyer]]
*[[Claymore Class Corvette]]{{Fn|3b}}
*[[Defence Monitor]]

===Older and obsolete classes===
There are many older classes of Imperial ship that are no longer in production:

*'''[[Ironclad Battleship]]s''' - also known as '''Adamanticlads''' much like their contemporary counterparts, are vast 8-kilometre vessels which lack the [[void shield]]ing of their counterparts in favour of metres of [[adamantium]] plate armour. These ships, built before the advent of void-screen technology, have since been phased out of production, for the main part, to be replaced by more modern designs.{{Fn|7}}

*'''Obsolete Classes''' - There are many classes of vessel which were once utilised by the Imperial Navy. Many of these older vessels are still in service with the [[Traitor Fleet]]s.

===Note on variations in Classes===
While naval warships can be defined along a fairly limited number of classes based on weapon configurations approved by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], the form these vessels takes varies widely throughout the Imperium. For example, a ''Lunar'' class constructed above [[Cypra Mundi]] in [[Segmentum Obscurus]] may bear little resemblance to a ''Lunar'' class constructed above [[Kar Duniash]] in [[Ultima Segmentum]] and even less so to a ''Lunar'' class, constructed among the vast shipyards of [[Mars]]. Nonetheless, they will all have roughly the same operating characteristics and weapon configuration, and thus can be easily serviced by any orbital facility throughout Imperial space.{{Fn|22a}}

For example, ships build by [[Voss Prime|Voss]] all feature so-called [[Aquila]] prows upon their fronts, to show devotion to the [[Imperial Cult|Imperial creed]], something not typical to other [[STC]] ship designs. Even existing vessels based on these STC designs, who are only repaired or refitted at the forge world, will be reconfigured to henceforth bear the Aquila prow.{{Fn|22b}}

Furthermore, some ship types build at Voss, like the ''Endeavour'', ''Endurance'' and ''Defiant'' classes, feature a prominent mid-ship corridor, dividing the forward hull from the rear section, due to the fact that Voss, in difference to the rest of the Mechanicus, lacks knowledge of the science of magnetic containment fields. In case of a magnetic field failure the containment of the vast energies produced by a ship's [[plasma reactor]] can not be guaranteed. To prevent such a failure from threatening the main magazine or causing a reactor meltdown, the plasma reactor and engine rooms have to be separated from the rest of the ship by the mid-ship corridor. In case of a containment field failure, the mid-ship corridor will break, physically disconnecting the rear from the rest of the ship.{{Fn|22a}}

Unsurprisingly, the mid-ship corridor is vulnerable to enemy weapons fire, forcing it to be additionally protected by huge, thick plates made from solid [[adamantine]], giving these ships constructed at Voss their distinct appearance. On the other hand, the mid-ship corridor helps against boarding actions, forcing an enemy that has captured one part of the ship to advance through a choke-point to capture the other.{{Fn|22a}}

===Attack Craft===
[[Image:Fleet LandingCrew.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An '''Imperial Navy''' landng party]]
Many Imperial vessels carry onboard various smaller craft for both offense and defense.
*[[Fury Interceptor]]
*[[Faustus Interceptor]]
*[[Shark Assault Boat]]
*[[Starhawk Bomber]]
*[[Praetorian Bomber]]{{Fn|23}}
*[[Control Craft]]{{Fn|23}}

===Aircraft===
{{Main|Imperial Aircraft}}
{{Main|Aeronautica Imperialis}}
The branch of the Imperial Navy known as the [[Aeronautica Imperialis]] is responsible for the majority of Imperial Aircraft. These aircraft are used both for space-combat and providing air support to Imperial ground forces.

===Aquatic Vessels===
The Imperial Navy also fields [[aquatic vessels]] such as [[Naval Battleship]]s.{{Fn|10}}

==Imperial Navy Equipment==
{{Main|Imperial Fleet Equipment}}
{{Main|Imperial Navy Weaponry}}
*[[Weapons Batteries]]
*[[Torpedo]]
*[[Lance]]
*[[Macrocannon]]
*[[Nova Cannon]]
*[[Disruption Bomb]]
*[[Atlas (Warhead)]]

==Notable Members of the Imperial Navy==
*[[Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy|Lord High Admiral]] [[Merelda Pereth]]
*[[Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy|Lord High Admiral]] [[Lansung]]
*[[Lord Admiral]] [[Zaccarius Rath]]
*[[Lord Admiral]] [[Anastasia Arkelius]]
*[[High Admiral]] [[Vortigern Hanroth]]
*[[Admiral]] [[Cornelius von Ravensburg]]
*[[Admiral]] [[Parol]]
*[[Admiral]] [[Quarren]]
*[[Admiral]] [[Usurs]]
*[[Vice Admiral]] [[Alber Vander Trake]]
*[[Imperial Navy Captain|Captain]] [[Abridal]]
*[[Imperial Navy Captain|Captain]] [[Horatio Bugler]]
*[[Imperial Navy Captain|Captain]] [[Virator Hax]]
*[[Imperial Navy Captain|Captain]] [[Cassandra Elza]]
*[[Commander]] [[Brunt]]

==Images==
<gallery heights="160px" widths="220px" mode="packed" caption=""> 
Port Maw Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook pg46.jpg|'''Imperial Navy''' ships at [[Port Maw]]
NavyArt.jpg|'''Imperial Navy''' ships
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Imperial Fleet]]
*[[Adeptus Terra]]
*[[Imperial Navy Hierarchy]]
*[[Battlefleet]]
*[[List of Imperial Battlefleets]]
*[[Navy Intelligence]]

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[White Dwarf 140 (UK)]]{{CME}}
*{{Endn|2}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat480005a&categoryId=1100007&section=&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic Resources]{{CME}}
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Battlefleet Koronus]], pg. 24
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Dark Heresy Core Rulebook]], pg. 261
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]], {{CME}}
*{{Endn|6}}: [[White Dwarf 352]], pg. 32
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Space Fleet (game)]]
*{{Endn|8}}: [[White Dwarf February 2020]], pg. 59
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Watchers of the Throne: The Regent's Shadow (Novel)]], Chapter 21
*{{Endn|10}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/06/30/warhammer-in-world-of-warships/ Warhammer Community: Warhammer in World of Warships (posted 30/06/2020)] ''(last accessed 30 June 2020)''
*11: [[Priests of Mars (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|11a}}: Microcontent 1-3
**{{Endn|11b}}: Microcontent 6
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Inquis Exterminatus]], pg. 18
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Rogue Trader Rulebook]], pgs. 176-177
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Shadow Point (Novel)]], Part 1, Chapter 1
*{{Endn|15}}: [[White Dwarf November 2019]], pg. 51
*{{Endn|16}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/08/24/join-the-imperial-navy-discover-ancient-xenos-cultures-and-destroy-them/ Warhammer Community: Join the Imperial Navy, Discover Ancient Xenos Cultures… and Destroy Them (posted 24/8/2022)] ''(last accessed 25 August 2022)''
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 6
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)]], pg. 6
*{{Endn|19}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Four - Conquest]], pg. 19
*20: [[Sea of Souls (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|20a}}: Chapter 2
**{{Endn|20b}}: Chapter 3
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook]], cover interior
*22: [[The Battle for Armageddon (Background Book)]]:
**{{Endn|22a}}: pg. 74
**{{Endn|22b}}: pg. 77
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Soul Drinker (Novel)]], Chapter 6
*24: [[Battlefleet Gothic 2010 Compendium]]:
**{{Endn|24a}}: pg. 39
**{{Endn|24b}}: pg. 83
*{{Endn|25}}: [[The Silent King (Novel)]], Chapter 18
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Kill Team: Into the Dark]] Book, pg. 11
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus]], pg. 111
*{{Endn|28}}: [[Archmagos (Novel)]], Chapter 1

===Uncited===
{{Uncited}}
*[[Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook]]
*[[Battlefleet Gothic Armada]]
*[[White Dwarf 139 (UK)]]

{{ImperiumOrg}}

[[Category:Adeptus Terra]]
[[Category:Imperial Navy| ]]
[[Category:Imperial Armed Forces]]

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[[fr:Flotte Impériale]]