Chalice-class Battlecruiser

The Chalice-class Battlecruiser''' is a bold, experimental class Battlecruiser that is unique to Battlefleet Calixis, as it was designed within the Calixis Sector.

History
The Chalice class was a bold but not entirely successful attempt to further develop the concept of the battlecruiser. It is unique to Battlefleet Calixis, as it was designed within the Sector. The theory seemed sound: a fast heavy cruiser, with light armour and powerful weapons that could outrun and outmanoeuvre anything it could not immediately destroy. During the bleak middle years of the Angevin Crusade, much was made by Imperial propagandists of the new, locally manufactured "super-cruisers" planned to roll up the numerous xenos and heretic empires arrayed against the Emperor's forces. Even though they only came into service as the crusade ended, hopes for these vessels were immense. Early Chalice-class captains were lauded as glamorous, swashbuckling adventurers in endless vox reels and data plays.

Sadly, the vessels failed to live up to expectations. Two of the original Chalice class battlecruisers were destroyed during an engagement with unknown xenos forces in the Hazeroth Abyss in 123.M40, and others lost to accident or fleet engagements over the next millennia. Due to an active Inquisitorial campaign to conceal these military setbacks, these ships remain admired amongst the ignorant general Imperial public, who believe these ships are the iron core of Battlefleet Calixis. However, these sleek and beautiful warships, while fast and well armed, have a glass jaw, and a disconcerting tendency to rupture plasma conduits under sustained assault.

Dimensions

 * Hull - 5.1 kilometres long, 0.8 kilometres abeam at fins approx.
 * Mass - Approximately 29 megatonnes.
 * Class - Chalice-class Battlecruiser
 * Crew - Approximately 98,200 crew.
 * Accel - 3.4 gravities max sustainable acceleration.