Great Class Ship

Second only in firepower to the larger Imperial Class Ships, Great Class Ships are large military vessels that form the core of the Imperial Navy and which are also regularly used by the Kelrik Pirates. These ships are primarily geared towards combat and have a limited hold capacity, which is normally only just large enough for ammunition for its guns and several months’ worth of rations for its crew.
Whilst they are no longer the largest ships that ply the seas and oceans, they are still the dominant military vessel in Kelbonnar and many of them have gained notoriety for their deeds and the deeds of their crews passed. For example, five of the ten original ships whose desertion from the Imperial Navy sparked the formation of the Kelrik Pirates were Great Class Ships, including the flagship of their founder, Admiral Bramilo, the Sea Drake.

Propulsion

As sailing-ships, Great Class ships are propelled through the water exclusively by wind power. Most Great Class ships have at least three masts, whose sails power them. However, this reliance on wind power does mean that when calm conditions arrive, they move incredibly slowly, if indeed they can move at all.

Weapons & Armament

All Great Class Ships have a compliment of up to 60 guns, which are spread across two gun decks. Most of these guns, are equally split between the port and starboard sides, but almost all ships of this class also have guns at their sterns and their prows, giving them a nearly 360 degree field of fire.
Almost all of the crew on a Great Class ships will have access to weaponry and be trained to some degree in its use. Marines, highly trained and dedicated combatants are often equipped with Blackpowder Weapons, with other members of the crew often being equipped with less technical missile weapons, such as crossbows. Mêlée weapons used by crews of Great Class ships tend to be shorter than ones found in use amongst land based armed forces, as the close confines of a ship’s deck leave little room for big sweeping thrusts or swipes.

Armor and defense

Most Great Class vessels have no additional armour other than the heavy duty wood that they were constructed out of, which provides stout, but my no means impervious resistance to damage; any ship, Great class or not, that takes a well-aimed cannon shot will be damaged, that is just inevitable.

Used by

• Wreck of the Yearning Heart

Rarity

Common

Length

C.200ft

Weight

c.1,000-1,500 tons.

Speed

Between 6 to 10 knots per hour depending on conditions.

Complement / Crew

Great Class ships tend to have a crew compliment of around 500, which on Imperial Navy vessels are split into about 4/5s sailors and 1/5 marines. Ships that fly under the flag of the Kelrik Pirates tend to have a more equal 50:50 distribution.

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Cargo capacity limited to only necessary provisions for the ship and crew, very limited passenger capacity.