Hades-class Heavy Cruiser

Once a design considered for the backbone of a battle fleet, the Hades-class Heavy Cruiser is an exceptionally dangerous and well-armed vessel, a dire threat to any ship of the line. Hades Heavy Cruisers can put out a devastating amount of firepower at long range, including dual banks of lances and heavy clustered weapons batteries on each broadside. It is suspected that the Hades Class contains certain non-euclidian quirks of architecture, perhaps placed deliberately by its planners, that inexorably lead towards madness and worshiping beings of the warp. Whatever the truth, it is well-known that this heavy cruiser is often found serving at the forefront of traitor battle formations.

Notable Hades Class Heavy Cruisers

 * Optimus Nemesis - The vile pirate warlord Karrad Vall uses a Hades-class heavy cruiser, the Optimus Nemesis, as the flagship of his reaver fleet. Its name spoken in fear by Rogue Traders and Navy officers alike, the Optimus Nemesis has engaged dozens of ships from Battlefleet Calixis and several Rogue Traders.  Although it has been brought to battle many times, the Optimus Nemesis has never been destroyed, it's deeply-scarred hull a testament to the ship's unholy resilience.  Some whisper that the ship is often commanded by a Chaos Space Marine, thus explaining its exemplary battle record.  Despite this, however, there are reports that Karrad Vall is currently constructing a much larger class of ship in orbit over the planet Iniquity.  It is likely he intends to shift his flag to this new vessel, whatever it may be.