{{TyranidsPortal}}[[Image:HiveFleetsMap.jpg|align="right" style="background-color:#666666"thumb|align="right"|{{IntWik350px|Destination=Schwarmflotte}}Hive Fleet incursions on the [[Galaxy]] ]]|'''Hive Fleets''' are massive locust-like [[Tyranid]] swarms, comprising billions of creatures including the actual [[bio-ships]], living spacecraft used to cross interstellar space and the voids between [[galaxy|{{NidPortal}}|}galaxies]]. Each creature of the Hive Fleet is an inseparable part of the [[Hive Mind]].

'''Hive Fleets''' are massive locust-like == Overview ==[[File:HiveFleetSpacefleet.png|thumb|right|200px|TyranidSpacefleet{{Fn|6}}]] swarms, comprising billions of creatures including An entire Hive Fleet is directed by the actual single coordinating will which is its [[bio-shipsHive Mind]], formed from untold billions of individual consciousnesses, each of which is a living spacecraft used to cross interstellar space creature in the fleet. Mankind still searches vainly for the higher beings they suppose control the Hive Fleets, and though such mighty creatures exist, they no more control the voids between the [[galaxy|galaxies]]Hive Mind than single brain cells control a man's body. Each creature of It is the hive fleet is inseparably part sum of the hive mindHive Mind which motivates it, not its constituent parts.

An entire hive fleet is directed by Three major Hive Fleets have invaded the galaxy, each coming into conflict with the single coordinating will which is its [[Imperium]]. Of the three major Hive MindFleet invasions, two entered the galaxy through the [[Eastern Fringe]], formed but one is moving up from untold billions of individual consciousnesses, each of which is a living creature in below the fleetgalactic plane. Mankind still searches vainly for the higher beings they suppose control the hive fleets, and though such mighty creatures exist they no more control The Hive Fleets encountered thus far are just a splinter of the hive mind than single brain cells control a man's body. It main Tyranid invasion force that is traveling through the sum of the hive mind which motivates it, not its constituent partsvoid between galaxies.{{Fn|1}}

Three major Hive Fleets have invaded The bio-ships contain everything required to sustain the galaxyfleet; some ships being purely for crushing resistance, each coming into conflict with the larger ships contain birthing pools to create the huge land armies of the Tyranids and even more ships when the need arises. The nutrients used as food and raw material are replenished by scouring conquered planets of every cell of biological matter, including all the Tyranids it seeded onto the planet. Because the Tyranid forces are recycled in this way, the "design" of the Tyranid warriors can be altered by genetic engineering, allowing the Tyranid forces to rapidly adapt to overcome any enemy. Further, the Tyranids absorb the DNA of defeated enemies, allowing for further genetic diversity.{{Fn|2a}} It is believed the [[ImperiumGenestealer]]. Of the three major Hive Fleet invasionsand [[Broodlord]] are derived from [[Human]] DNA, two entered the galaxy through [[Zoanthrope]] from [[Eldar]] and the [[Eastern FringeBiovore]], but one is moving up from below the galactic plane[[Ork]] DNA.{{Fn|2b}}

The bio-ships contain everything required to sustain [[File:HiveFleetMoloch.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Hive Fleet [[Moloch]]{{Fn|7}}]]By the adaptive nature of the Hive Fleets, fierce resistance on a planet will only make the fleetstronger in the end; some ships being purely for crushing resistancethis reason only a few tactics have been found to work. The first is to draw the Tyranids into a large ground battle, forcing the larger ships contain birthing pools fleet to create deploy as large a ground force as possible. Once this is achieved, the huge land armies of planet is evacuated, following with [[Exterminatus]] as the Tyranids and even more ships when strip the life of the need arisesplanet. The nutrients used This tactic is effective as food and raw material Hive Fleets are replenished by scouring dependent on the impetus gained from absorbing each conquered planets of every cell of planet; the Hive Fleet will also have lost the biological matter"energy" expended to conquer it, including all of the Tyranids it seeded onto bio-material of the planet. Because the Tyranid ground forces are recycled in this way and by the "design" nature of the Tyranid warriors can Exterminatus will not be altered by genetic engineering, allowing the Tyranid forces able to rapidly adapt to overcome recover any enemyfrom the planet. Further, the Tyranids absorb This tactic is extreme and also damaging to the DNA of defeated enemiesImperium, allowing for further genetic diversityas it destroys a valuable and habitable planet every time. It is believed has been projected that there may not even be enough habitable planets in the galaxy to stop the [[Genestealer]] and [[Broodlord]] are derived from [[human]] DNATyranid threat, the [[Zoanthrope]] especially if more Tyranid fleets arrive from [[Eldar]] and outside the [[Biovore]] from [[Ork]] DNAgalaxy.

By ===Splinter Fleets===One of the adaptive nature most insidious aspects of the hive fleets, fierce resistance on a planet will only make Tyranids is the fleet stronger difficulty in the end; for this reason only eradicating a few tactics have been found to workHive Fleet. The first is to draw the Tyranids into Should a large ground battle, forcing the fleet to deploy as large a ground force as possible. Once this is achieved, the planet is evacuatedbecome decisively defeated, following with [[Exterminatus]] as the Tyranids strip the life some portion of the planet. This tactic is effective as Hive Fleets are dependent on the impetus gained from absorbing each conquered planet; the Hive Fleet its strength will also have lost the biological "energy" expended to conquer it, including all of the bio-material of the ground forces invariably escape and slowly build up its strength by the nature of Exterminatus will not be able to recover any from the planet. This tactic is extreme and also damaging to the Imperium, as it destroys a valuable and habitable planet every timequietly consuming more biomass. It has been projected that there may not take years or even be enough habitable planets in the galaxy centuries, but these '''Splinter Fleets'''' will rise again to stop the Tyranid pose a threat. Moreover, especially if more Tyranid fleets arrive from outside such Splinter Fleets will have learned the galaxylesson of their primogenitors defeat and have adapted accordingly.{{Fn|3}}

==See Also==*While [[Hive Fleet Leviathan]] is currently the largest and most ascendent known Tyranid Hive Fleet, Splinter Fleets of [[Hive Fleet Behemoth|Behemoth]]*and [[Hive Fleet Kraken|Kraken]] continue to plague the [[galaxy]].{{Fn|3}} <gallery mode="packed" heights="150">*File:Kadaku Orbit.jpg|Day 4 of a [[Leviathan]] splinter fleet's invasion of [[Kadaku]] in the [[Recidious System]].{{Fn|5}}File:Hive Fleet Leviathanfleet (The Tithes ep 2).jpg|Oncoming Tyranid fleet heading towards [[Ystrad]].{{Fn|4}}</gallery> ==See also==

*[[WD145|White Dwarf 145]] (1992), Tyranid army list

[[Category:Hive Fleets| ]]