The Retribution class battleship is one of the Imperial Navy’s true ships of the line: a heavily armoured brawler built to charge straight at an enemy fleet and tear it apart with massed broadsides. If you’ve seen an Imperial battlefleet in art or a game, there’s a good chance this is the silhouette you’re picturing.
What the Retribution class actually is
It’s a battleship of the Imperial Navy, and it also shows up in the fleets of the Basilikon Astra, the Mechanicus’ void arm. Where a lot of Imperial warships are built to sit back and trade fire at range, the Retribution is designed to close the distance and win the fight up close.
Its defining feature is the armoured prow that most Imperial Navy ships share. That wedge of plating lets the Retribution drive headlong at an enemy line and shrug off everything except the heaviest incoming fire.
Why it matters: speed and firepower together
The surprising part is that it’s fast. A Retribution can keep pace with the main cruisers of the Imperial Fleet, which means it doesn’t hold a squadron back or arrive after the fighting has already started. That extra weight of guns showing up on time can decide a fleet engagement.
Its main punch comes from rows of weapon batteries stacked along both flanks. Those batteries throw out a devastating spread at extreme range, so a Retribution can start crippling enemy ships before they’re close enough to shoot back.
Once it’s in close, the fight gets worse for the other side. Torpedoes add another way to wreck a target, and a full close-range broadside has finished off plenty of ships over the centuries.
- Weapon batteries: massed broadsides along the hull, effective at extreme range
- Torpedoes: extra damage when closing on an enemy vessel
- Lance turrets: fewer in number but more accurate, mounted along the dorsal spine
Lances and the killing blow
The lance turrets along the ship’s back are the scalpel to the broadside’s hammer. There are fewer of them and they hit with less raw weight, but they’re more accurate than the flank batteries.
In practice that makes them a finisher. They’re typically used to put down a ship the main guns have already mauled, or to throw something back at the enemy while the Retribution is still closing in.
Notable ships and the Victory class
A fair number of named Retributions turn up across the lore. The Pride of Fenris served as the flagship of the Space Wolves’ Great Wolf, and the Fist of Adamant led Battlefleet Calixis. The Dawn of Fire carried Roboute Guilliman as his flagship during the early stages of the Indomitus Crusade.
Others include the Bloodhawk, Cardinal Boras, Embrace of Fire, Faithbringer, Hammer of Righteousness, Intolerant, Saint Augusta, Throne of Blood, and Nolandia, which served during the Horus Heresy. There’s also a variant hull, the Victory class battleship, though details on how it differs are thin.
Key facts
- The Retribution class is a battleship used by the Imperial Navy and the Basilikon Astra.
- It’s fast enough to keep pace with the Imperial Fleet’s main cruisers.
- Main armament is massed weapon batteries along both flanks, effective at extreme range.
- Dorsal lance turrets are fewer but more accurate, used to finish crippled ships.
- Notable ships include the Pride of Fenris, Fist of Adamant, and the Dawn of Fire.
- The Victory class battleship is listed as a variant of the Retribution class.
FAQ
Is the Retribution class a good battleship in Battlefleet Gothic?
It’s built for aggressive play. Its speed lets it keep up with cruisers and its broadsides hit hard, but you’re expected to close the distance rather than sit back, so it rewards players who commit to the attack.
What’s the difference between the Retribution class and the Victory class?
The Victory class is listed as a variant of the Retribution, but the sources don’t spell out the specific differences between the two hulls.
Who can field a Retribution class battleship?
Both the Imperial Navy and the Basilikon Astra use them, so you’ll see the class in Imperial and Adeptus Mechanicus fleets alike.