"...and their vessels cast a shadow across the stars and in that dark shadow was dread, the dread that fortells death. The Space Marines had arrived and they are fear incarnate, they are the Lords of Death"
- — Attr. Unknown
A Space Marine Nova-class Frigate of the Ultramarines Chapter
The Nova-class Frigate is a rapid strike vessel utilised by all Space Marine Chapters. These ships are mainly used for patrolling through the domains controlled by a respective Chapter, and for providing a mobile escort for the Chapter's Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers. They also conduct routine convoy escort missions, as well as scouting and surveillance missions before a Chapter commits its valuable resources to a warzone. A Nova-class vessel will most likiely be the only Lance-armed ship available to a Space Marine Chapter.
History
The Nova-class Frigate is part of a class of vessels collectively known as Rapid Strike Vessels. Of all vessels used by the fleets of the Adeptus Astartes, it is the Nova class Frigate that the Imperial Navy take exception to. It lacks sufficient size to really fulfil the deployment and assault roles for which Space Marine ships are primarily intended and its lance armament and speed make it a menacing gunboat in its own right. As such, the Nova remains rare in most Space Marine fleets, a trend the Imperial Navy, the Inquisition and other institutions perpetually concerned by the balance of power would dearly love to see continue.
Crew
Unlike the vessels of the Imperial Navy a Space Marine ship has a relatively small crew. A Space Marine is far too valuable to waste in manning a gun or watching a surveyor screen, and so only the officers aboard a vessel are likely to be Space Marines, as well as the few Techmarines who oversee the engines and perform other mechanical duties. Almost all the ship's systems are run and monitored by Servitors; half-human cyborgs who are hard-wired into the vessel's weapons, engines and communications apparatus. There are also a few hundred Chapter Serfs to attend to other duties, the Space Marines during meal times and other such honoured tasks. These serfs come form the Chapter's home planet or the enclave they protect, many of them Novitiates or applicants who have failed some part of the recruiting or training process. These serfs are fanatically loyal to their transhuman masters, and indoctrinated into many of the lesser orders of the Chapter's Cult. Although human, they still benefit from remarkable training and access to superior weaponry than is usually found on a naval vessel, making them a fearsome prospect in a boarding action, even without the support of their genetically modified lords.
Notable Nova-class Frigates and Squadrons
- Dark Knights of Caliban Squadron - A notable Nova-class Frigate squadron of the Dark Angels Chapter.
- Holy Shields Squadron - A notable Nova-class Frigate squadron of the White Consuls Chapter.
- Invictas Squadron - A notable Nova-class Frigate squadron of the Ultramarines Chapter.
- Nomad - Part of the White Scars Space Marine Chapter fleet that took part in the Damocles Gulf Crusade against the Tau Empire in 742.M41.
Sources
- Battlefleet Gothic Armada, pg. 25
- Battlefleet Gothic Magazine 3, "Space Marine Rapid Strike Vessels," by Andy Hall, pp. 17-19
- Savage Scars (Novel) by Andy Hoare, pp. 12, 21
- Forge World - Space Marine Nova Class Frigate
- Games Workshop: Specialist Games - Battlefleet Gothic Nova-class Frigate Models