+++BATTLEFLEET GOTHIC+++

A STUDY OF SQUAT FLEETS IN THE GOTHIC SECTOR DURING THE GOTHIC WAR

Researched by Adept Martyn Yllarius

by Erik Setzer

The Squats are a race of short, stout humanoids that are believed to have originally mutated from human miners on heavy gravity worlds.  They are spread throughout a large portion of the galaxy, their main worlds known to them as the Squat Homeworlds.   Pockets of Squat colonies are spread across the galaxy, their ships using an uncanny knowledge of the Warp to move safely and effectively from star system to star system.

The Squats of the Gothic Sector are an isolated group, working in only a few dozen star systems, clustered mainly around Quinrox Sound and Allas Nova.  The close proximity to the Cyclops Cluster has meant that the Squats were in a constant state of warfare with the nearby Orks, each launching invasion fleets into the other's territory.  This led to a number of bloody skirmishes before and after the Gothic War, and a full blown assault into the Allas Nova systems by the Orks, which was only repelled after three years of constant warfare.

During the Gothic Sector the Squats fought proudly and fiercely, but their number was few compared to the vast seemingly endless hordes of Chaos and the Orks.  Many of their colonies were destroyed, their worlds ravaged.  The Squats' age-old grudge against the Orks and resolve to not become slaves to the minions of Chaos eventually won out, and the Squats survived the war.  Bloodied but unbroken, they continued life as normal.

The Squat Warships of the time were like the vehicles of the Squat land armies.   They are often squared, with weapons bristling across their hulls.  Malice gleamed from their hulls like the personal deliverers of Death, ancient weapons batteries and plasma lances placed in strategic locations.  Some of the ships carried mighty cannons of destruction, known as the plasma destructors.  All had powerful energy weapons of some kind or another.  The Squat ships were layered with shield upon shield, with backup generators to keep their shields at full strength.  Powerful engines moved these terrifying behemoths between the stars, and massive reactors powered their weapons and shields.

SQUAT LEADERSHIP

Leadership is rolled as normal for Squat ships.  This means they will always get a result of 6 through 9.

SQUAT SHIP MOVEMENT

Squats move as normal, with the exception of mandatory movement before turning.

SQUAT WEAPONS

Weapons Batteries

Squat weapons batteries are very accurate.  They have very sophisticated targeting systems, and sensors able to pinpoint weak spots on a ship's hull.  To represent this accuracy, Squat weapons batteries gain one column shift to the left of the Gunnery Table when firing, in addition to any other shifts (including shifts to the right).

Torpedoes

Squat torpedoes use highly advanced torpedo guidance systems to aim them when attacking an enemy vessel.  They gain +1 when rolling to hit a ship.

Lances

Squat lances fire as normal.

Plasma Destructor

The plasma destructor is an awesome weapon, a true example of Squat weapons engineering.  It fires an extended beam of plasma into an area of space, creating a ball of energy that continues to grow and engulf any ship nearby until the energy stream runs out.  The plasma destructor uses the nova cannon's template.  Any ship that the template is touching will get one automatic hit on it, regardless of shields or armour.

Attack Craft

Squat attack craft work as normal attack craft.  See the ordnance section of the Battlefleet Gothic rulebook for full rules for attack craft.

Attack Rating

The Squat fleet has an attack rating of 2.

 

THOR CLASS BATTLESHIP

400 pts

Ever since its conception at the Dorin shipyards, the Thor class battleship has been one at the center of most of the fleet actions that the Squat fleet has been involved in.   The Thor class battleship is an awesome ship, covered with lance batteries.   It has two massive launch bays from which it launches wave upon wave of fighters and bombers.  The ship's massive size and hulking squared profile make enemy captains quake in fear at the sight of one of these ships.  Its plasma weapons fill space around it with a deadly amount of energy, its prow torpedoes blasting a path through space before it, its attack craft launching darting attacks on enemy vessels, the Thor class battleship is one of the most devastating ships in the Squat fleet.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Battleship/12 20cm 45 degrees 5 6+ front/5+ 5
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Dorsal Lances 60cm 4 Front/Left/Right
Starboard Lances 60cm 6 Right
Starboard Launch Bays Fighters: 30cm
Bombers: 20 cm
3 squadrons -
Port Lances 60cm 6 Left
Port Launch Bays Fighters: 30cm
Bombers: 20 cm
3 squadrons -
Prow torpedoes 30cm 6 Front
Options:  The Thor may be given assault boats at +5 points.

 

BEHEMOTH CLASS BATTLESHIP

475 pts

The Behemoth class battleship came into existence only two millennia before the Gothic War.  Being a relatively new design, it had not been used much in combat, so its combat record was still somewhat shaky.  During the Gothic War, the design was shown to be a perfect complement to the rest of the Squat war fleet, its long ranged lance batteries giving it a deadly punch.  The Behemoth class battleship was one of the deciding factors in many of the later fleet engagements in the war, and two of them almost single-handedly wiped out the Ork fleets that had been assaulting the Squat worlds in the Gothic Sector.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Battleship/12 15cm 45 degrees 6 6+/5+ rear 5
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Dorsal Lances 60cm 5 Front/Left/Right
Starboard Lances 60cm 4 Right
Starboard Weapons Batteries 60cm 8 Right
Port Lances 60cm 4 Left
Port Weapons Batteries 60cm 8 Left
Prow Lances 60cm 6 Front

 

ODIN CLASS HEAVY CRUISER

270 pts

The Odin class heavy cruiser was designed with one purpose in mind: to carry the mighty plasma destructor cannon into battle.  The firepower of the plasma destructor had been key in destroying a number of Chaos capital ships assaulting the Squats during the Gothic War.  A squadron of Odin class heavy cruisers was responsible for the destruction of the Repulsive class grand cruiser Sarabda.  At the Battle of Mori's Hammer, an Odin class cruiser fired the deciding shot that finished off the Imperial Retribution battleship Imperious Furor.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Cruiser/8 20cm 45 degrees 3 6+ front/5+ 3
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Dorsal Lances 60cm 2 Front/Left/Right
Starboard Lances 60cm 4 Right
Port Lances 60cm 4 Left
Prow Plasma Destructor 90cm 1 Front

 

ANVIL CLASS CRUISER

240 pts

The Anvil class cruiser was deigned as an attack craft carrier as well as a gunship.   Its many lances and weapons batteries give it good long ranged firepower, and its attack craft are excellent at defending the ship and launching attacks on enemy vessels.   The Anvil class cruiser Grudge of Olafsson was responsible for the destruction of an Ork raiding fleet in the Stelin system.  When Lord Admiral Ravensburg first witnessed one in battle at Almegon, he was rumoured to have made the statement, "If I had one of those ships in my fleet, I'd have had this whole blasted war done with by now!"  The comment, however, was later denied.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Cruiser/6 20cm 60 degrees 2 5+ 2
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Starboard Weapons Batteries 45cm 4 Right
Port Weapons Batteries 45cm 4 Left
Starboard Launch Bays Fighters: 30cm
Bombers: 20 cm
2 squadrons -
Port Launch Bays Fighters: 30cm
Bombers: 20 cm
2 squadrons -
Prow Lances 60cm 4 Front

 

LONGBEARD CLASS CRUISER

235 pts

The Longbeard class cruiser is a moderately armed cruiser, with lances dotting its hull and torpedo launchers lining its prow.  Its capability in battle is, to say the least, impressive.  Longbeard cruiser squadrons have been the mainstay of the Squat fleets in the Gothic Sector since their creation in M34.  Their stability in fighting was aptly demonstrated in the Battle of Phenishon when the Ghemri's Pride fired multiple shots with its lances into the heart of an Ork Kill Kroozer, slicing through its plasma reactor and creating a terrible explosion that wiped out many of the remaining Ork vessels.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Cruiser/6 20cm 60 degrees 2 5+ 2
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Starboard Lances 60cm 6 Right
Port Lances 60cm 6 Left
Dorsal Lances 60cm 2 Front/Left/Right
Prow Torpedoes 30cm 6 Front

 

THUNDER CLASS CRUISER

205 pts

The Thunder class cruiser was designed as a pure gunship.  Plasma batteries of all kinds line its impressive hull, their firepower rivaling that of any other cruiser.   Thunder class cruisers have been assigned to every major Squat fleet in the Gothic Sector, and they are often used as supporting vessels to protect the larger, slower battleships and the undergunned carriers.  The Thunder class cruisers Gomli's Axe and Shield of Ericsson protected the Anvil class cruiser Might of Drong as it launched its attack craft.  The Shield of Ericsson was destroyed in the battle when it sacrificed itself to stop a massive salvo of torpedoes aimed at the Might of Drong, but before it exploded it managed to launch a final salvo of torpedoes at the Chaos fleet opposing the Squats, taking out two enemy cruisers with it.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Cruiser/6 20cm 60 degrees 2 5+ 2
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Starboard Weapons Batteries 45cm 8 Right
Port Weapons Batteries 45cm 8 Left
Dorsal Lances 60cm 2 Front/Left/Right
Prow Torpedoes 30cm 6 Front

 

FEUD CLASS FRIGATE

50 pts

Feud class frigates are light gunships.  They can bring an awesome amount of firepower to bear on any ship in their forward firing arc, annihilating escort ships and damaging capital ships with sustained salvoes of fire.  Feud class frigates aided in the destruction of the Mars class battlecruiser Amariel at the Battle of Yori's Gate, allowing the Thor class cruiser Smith's Hammer to bring its lance batteries to bear on the Gothic class cruiser Emperor's Wrath.  In the following skirmish the Feud class frigates darted in and out, braving the heavy lance batteries of both vessels to make slashing attacks at the Emperor's Wrath.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Escort/1 25cm 90 degrees 1 4+ 2
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Prow Weapons Batteries 45cm 6 Front

 

IRON CLASS DESTROYER

40 pts

The Iron class destroyer is a simple ship, designed to fill a supporting role in the Squat fleets.  Its long-ranged lances and maneuverability give it an advantage in combat over enemy vessels.  A squadron of Iron class destroyers surrounding a small Ork raiding party and darted in and out of its formations, making slashing attacks with their lances.  Within the course of an hour, most of the Ork ships were either destroyed or crippled, and the raiding fleet retreated back to the Cyclops Cluster.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Escort/1 25cm 90 degrees 1 4+ 1
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Prow Lances 45cm 2 Front

 

GRUDGE CLASS DESTROYER

35 pts

The Grudge class destroyers were devastating vessels, even though they had hardly any weapons.  Their advanced sensor packages allowed them to coordinate attacks on enemy vessels, aiding in the destruction of many capital ships without firing a single shot.   Grudge class destroyers are capable of fending off attacks from other destroyers for a limited amount of time, but even then their light armaments cannot protect them for long.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Escort/1 25cm 90 degrees 1 4+ 1
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Prow Lances 45cm 1 Front
Special: The Grudge class destroyers have an advanced sensor package that allows them to aid the targeting of other vessels.  A Grudge class destroyer (or squadron) may scan any ship with 90cm and track it.  Assign a Squat ship or squadron to the enemy vessel they are scanning and tracking.  Any shots at the target from the assigned ship/squadron take an extra column shift to the right or add +1 to their to hit rolls.

 

HAMMER CLASS DESTROYER

40 pts

The Hammer class destroyer is an excellent offensive ship, even with its small size and light armour.  Its prow torpedoes, when combined with other Hammer class destroyers in a salvo, can be quite devastating to even the largest of vessels.  When reloading its torpedoes, the prow weapons batteries on the ship provide an excellent defensive measure against other enemy ships, especially enemy destroyers, which the Hammer class destroyers are extremely vulnerable against.

TYPE/HITS SPEED TURNS SHIELDS ARMOUR TURRETS
Escort/1 25cm 90 degrees 1 4+ 1
ARMAMENT RANGE/SPEED FIREPOWER/STR FIRE ARC
Prow Torpedoes 30cm 2 Front
Prow Weapons Batteries 45cm 2 Front

 

GOTHIC SECTOR SQUAT FLEET LIST

FLEET COMMANDER

0-1 Lord

You may include 1 Lord in your fleet, who must be assigned to a ship and improves it Leadership to the value shop.  If the fleet is worth over 750 points a Warlord must be included to lead it.

Lord (Ld 8).......................50 pts
Warlord (Ld 9)...............100 pts
House Lord (Ld 10)......150 pts

Lords get one free re-roll included in their points cost.  If you want more you'll have to pay for them.

One extra re-roll...................25 pts
Two extra re-rolls................75 pts
Three extra re-rolls............150 pts

CAPITAL SHIPS

Battleships
You may include up to one battleship in your fleet for every three cruisers or heavy cruisers.

Squat Thor class battleship...............400 pts
Squat Behemoth class battleship......475 pts

Heavy Cruisers
You may include up to one heavy cruiser in your fleet for every two cruisers.

Squat Odin class heavy cruiser...270 pts

0-12 Cruisers

Squat Anvil class cruiser................240 pts
Squat Longbeard class cruiser.......235 pts
Squat Thunder class cruiser...........205 pts

ESCORTS

You may include any number of escorts in your fleet.

Squat Feud class frigate...................50 pts
Squat Iron class destroyer...............40 pts
Squat Grudge class destroyer..........35 pts
Squat Hammer class destroyer.........40 pts

ORDNANCE

Any ship with launch bays may choose to have them launch any mix of fighters and bombers.  A Thor class battleship may carry assault boats at an additional +5 points.   Ships with torpedo tubes are armed with ordinary torpedoes.


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