{{ImperialNavyPortal}}The '''Gothic Class Cruiser''' is a common sight amongst the [[battlefleet]]s of the [[Imperium]], second only to the [[Lunar Class Cruiser]]. Its usage It is similar to that of the [[Apocalypse Class Battleship]] in that it is designed to use its lances to directly damage a ship, rather than to cut through shields. Due to this, it is often paired with a Lunar Class or [[Dominator Class Cruiser]]. The second cruiser blasts down the shields, leaving the hull unguarded against also used by the Gothic's [[lanceBasilikon Astra]] decks. However, if caught alone, without support, the Gothic is more vulnerable than any of the other cruisers in the [[Imperial Navy]]. This is because, whilst lances are devastatingly powerful, they are also slow, and a lone Gothic cannot deal the damage fast enough to force an attacker to withdraw.¹{{Fn|4}}

As a lance ship, the ==Overview==[[Image:Gothic Class Cruiser.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Gothic Class Cruiser.{{Fn|1}}]][[File:GothicCruiserBGA.png|thumbnail|right|A Gothic has lances down the port and starboard sides Cruiser{{Fn|3}}]]Its usage is similar to that of the [[Apocalypse Class Battleship]] in that it is designed to use its [[lances]] to directly damage a ship, rather than to cut through shields. These lances are effective at short Due to medium rangethis, and most captains will use the weapons at stand-off ranges to avoid the possibility of being boardedit is often paired with a ''Lunar'' Class or [[Dominator Class Cruiser]]. The ship has second cruiser blasts down the shields, leaving the distinctive armoured prow of hull unguarded against the Gothic's [[Imperial Navylance]] and decks. However, if caught alone, without support, the ''Gothic'' is more vulnerable than any of the other cruisers in the standard six [[torpedoImperial Navy]] tubes of an Imperial cruiser. The class This is as fast and manoeuvrable as any other Imperial cruiser typebecause, whilst lances are devastatingly powerful, they are also slow, with equally good shield and turret coveragea lone ''Gothic'' cannot deal the damage fast enough to force an attacker to withdraw.^{{Fn|1}}

As a lance ship, the ''Gothic'' has lances down the port and starboard sides of the ship. These lances are effective at short to medium range, and most captains will use the weapons at stand-off ranges to avoid the possibility of being boarded. The ship has the distinctive armoured prow of the [[Imperial Navy]] and the standard six [[torpedo]] tubes of an Imperial cruiser. The class is as fast and manoeuvrable as any other Imperial cruiser type, with equally good shield and turret coverage.{{Fn|1}} ==Notable Gothic Class ships include:Vessels==*''[[InvincibleDreadchild]]''{{Fn|6}}*''[[Emperor's Wrath]]''{{Fn|1}}*''[[Invincible]]''{{Fn|1}}*''[[Pallas Imperious]]''{{Fn|2}}*''[[Righteous Fury]]''{{Fn|1}}*''[[Shield of Jupiter]]''{{Fn|5}}*''[[Sword of Orion]]''{{Fn|1}}*''[[The Gethsemane]]''{{Fn|7}} ==Technical Specifications==*'''Dimensions:''' 5 km long, 0.8 km abeam at fins approx.{{Fn|7}}*'''Mass:''' 28 megatonnes approx.{{Fn|7}}*'''Crew:''' 98,000 crew; approx.{{Fn|7}}*'''Accel:''' 2.5 gravities max sustainable acceleration.{{Fn|7}}

{{Fanatic}}*^{{Endn|1}}: [[Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook]], pg. 111*{{Endn|2}}:[http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCataloggws/content/m1280005_BFG_Ships_of_the_Gothic_Sectorarticle.pdf jsp?catId=cat1290319&categoryId=1100007&section=&aId=4300022 BFG Xenos Fleets], pg. 66 (accessed 2010.11.12)*{{Endn|3}}: [[Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (Video Game)]]*{{Endn|4}}: [[Fanatic Online]] #[[Fanatic Online 090-099|92]] - ''Vessels of Mars: Ships of the Gothic SectorAdeptus Mechanicus'', by [[Nate Montes]], [[Robert Henderson]], and [[Ray Bell]].{{FE}}*{{Endn|5}}: [[White Dwarf 272]], pgs. 42–47 - ''Destroy the Tombship!''*{{Endn|6}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two]], pg. 36*{{Endn|7}}: [[Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus]], pgs. 64-65 {{ImpShips}}{{AdMechFleet}} [[Category:Cruisers]][[Category:Fleet (Adeptus Mechanicus)]][[Category:Imperial Fleet]][[Category:Naval Vessels]] p111