Imperial Navy Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers are a type of warship used by the Imperial Navy. Somewhat larger than regular Cruisers, the Battlecruiser fills the need for a heavily-armored yet high speed ship class capable of carrying Battleship-grade weaponry. They take over the roles of the Grand Cruisers as these venerable ships are gradually phased out or moved to the Reserves.
Although sporting increased firepower, Battlecruisers are often times no more durable than a regular Cruiser, due to the design compromises needed to maintain its high speeds. As a result, Battlecruisers try to avoid sustained assaults if possible.
Battlecruiser Classes
Basic
Armageddon
Built out of recovered Lunar-class Cruiser hulls, the Armageddon-class Battlecruiser was made to bulk up the numbers of the Imperial Navy in the lead-up to the Third War of Armageddon. While still possessing the default weaponry of a Lunar Cruiser, the enhanced weapon systems and power relays added helped increase their range, with still enough power to spare to support a pair of additional Lance batteries.
On the flipside, all this additional equipment, plus the manpower needed to maintain them, and the supplies for the extra crew, meant that the insides of the class were quite cramped. As a result, the Armageddon is not suited for operating independently for long periods of time.
Carrier
Dominion
A class designed to replace the Mars-class, the Dominion carried long-range Lances to compliment its payload of Assault Craft. While it performed admirably as fleet support ships, especially during the First Tyrannic War, they still suffered the same issues as the Gothic-class Cruisers. Construction of the class has been ceased as a result.
Mars
Intended to replace the Exorcist Grand Cruiser as a fleet carrier and patrol ship is, the Mars class didn't quite meet its designers' expectations, primarily due to its odd mix of weaponry. Aside from its Launch Bays, it features a Nova Cannon, plus short-ranged Macro cannons and Lance batteries.
Captains have a love-or-hate relationship with the Mars, with many thinking that its undergunned, but there's an equal number who respect its capability to operate at stand-off ranges.
Ordinance-boat
Chalice
An attempt by enginseers in the Calixis sector to create a heavily-armored Cruiser, the Chalice was in the end unsuccessful, due to a combination of weak armor and plasma conduits that had an unfortunate tendency to break during assault. Despite this, many vessels of the class still serve in Battlefleet Calixis.
Long Serpent
Another attempt at a fast, heavily-armed Cruiser, this time from the Tech Priests of Hydraphur in the wake of the Gothic War, the Long Serpent actually mostly succeeds at this task, thanks to being given what amounts to a Battleship engine on a Cruiser's frame. The result is a powerful warship able to chase down the swiftest raider without that much difficulty.
Unfortunately, since they're not any more armored than a regular Cruiser, bigger ships won't have that much trouble punching through a Long Serpent's defenses, and what's more, the catastrophic detonation of Battleship-grade Warp Drives can also take out its Escorts. Despite this, small numbers of the class are now finding their way into other Segmentum fleets.
Mercury
Built upon request by the Tech Priests of Bakka, the Mercury was yet another design that came in the wake of the Gothic War. Similar to the Long Serpent, the Mercury-class used a Battleship's engineering suite to boost its speeds so it could run down pirate vessels. Its weaponry and armor remained unchanged however, so a Mercury is relatively more fragile than other Battlecruiser classes.
Overlord
Descended design-wise from the Acheron Heavy Cruiser, the Tech Priests who designed the Overlord replaced the prow-mounted Weapons batteries with Torpedo launchers. This created a power surplus, which was then used to boost the ship's Lance array. With this formidable firepower, it is often compared to the Retribution-class Battleship, and many Captains appreciate its ability to annihilate things at long range.
In Battlefleet Gothic
Much like the Grand Cruisers before them, Battlecruisers come in as a cheaper and faster alternative to a Battleship.
While they carry better and longer-ranged weapons, they're still barely more armored than a regular Cruiser. Always keep that little tidbit in mind.
A Battlecruiser may be included in a fleet list for every two Cruisers.
In Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 1 & 2
With just a slight increase in points over regular Cruisers, Battlecruisers are able to mount stronger and heavier weaponry. The addition of actual offensive turrets that allow 270-degree firing arcs is always welcome as well.