Imperial Conoilithian Navy

The Imperial Conoilithian Navy was the naval force of the Conoilithian Empire's military. It had no official founding date, although the construction of the Conoilithian armada during the Conoilithian-Karzonic Wars is generally accepted to be its birth. After the defeat of the Virgandian Empire and its war-fleet, the Imperial Conoilithian Navy was the unquestioned naval power in all of Eithlith, and eventually Burithien, until after the Conoilithian-Mittelrijkian War, when it was disbanded following the collapse of the Conoilithian Empire.

HISTORY
The Imperial Conoilithian Navy had its origins in the fleet of warships maintained by the Kingdom of Conoilith prior to the formation of the Conoilithian Empire in 2200, used to protect the country from pirate raids. Starting as a collection of repurposed cogs, ships would carry marines, as the main method of naval combat back then was to intercept enemy vessels and board them. The Conoilithian war-fleet saw its first major action against another Eithlithian country when it decisively defeated the combined Karzonic and pirate fleet at the Battle of Orlan in 2150. From then on, the Conoilithian navy would receive significant attention from the Conoilithian Empire's government, with Emperor Conrad II building a fleet, according to records at the time, of over 500 warships prior to the Conoilithian-Virgandian War.

Although initially suffering defeats from the Virgandian fleet, which possessed flamethrowers, Conoilithian warships eventually won the war with new weapons, such as primitive cannons and explosives. From then on, the Imperial Conoilithian Navy had earned its position as the unquestionable naval power of Eithlith; pirates in the western sea were quickly dealt with, and the Conoilithian navy played a crucial role in transporting troops during the Great Southern Crusade (2553-2555). In the 2600s to 2700s, the Conoilithian navy waged a long and gruelling struggle for supremacy over the Eastern Sea against the pirate fleets which had previously controlled the lucrative trade routes, coming out victorious in the end with overwhelmingly superior firepower, as the Imperial Navy's galleons, frigates and later ships-of-the-line easily outgunned the pirates.

In its brief war with the eastern empire of Daikók' in 2845, the Conoilithians also defeated the Daikók' fleet's war junks, and using the first ironclad warships, cementing the Imperial Conoilithian Navy's status as the single most powerful navy in Burithién for many decades to come, until its reputation was challenged and heavily tarnished by the Royal Mittelrijkian Navy during the Conoilithian-Mittelrijkian War. In 2912, the Conoilithians had the largest navy in the world, consisting of hundreds of battleships, cruisers and destroyers. The Mittelrijkian fleet was comparatively smaller; however, they had pioneered submarine warfare, and their ships were newer. These newer and faster ships, along with the more advanced submarines, dealt heavy blows to the Imperial Conoilithian Navy in the Conoilithian-Mittelrijkian War, seriously threatening its position as the strongest navy in Burithién.

WARSHIPS
This list presents the warships in the Imperial Conoilithian Navy's service at the beginning of the Conoilithian-Mittelrijkian War. Conoilithian warships have the 'HIMS' (His Imperial Majesty's Ship) designation in front of their names.

BATTLESHIPS
HIMS Dauntless: The pride of the Imperial Conoilithian Navy, and its newest and most powerful battleship at the time of its launch. Possessing 380mm guns in 4 double turrets as its main armament, and just under 200 metres in length, it easily outmatched any other warship in Burithién. Despite its fiersome reputation, however, it was sunk in the autumn of 2913 by a Mittelrijkian submarine.

Monarch Class: The Emperor Class consisted of 3 ships; Conrad I, Conrad II and Arkinia. They were previously the largest and most potent battleships in the world before the launch of HIMS Dauntless, each carrying 8 x 356mm main guns in 4 twin mounts.

CRUISERS
Fortress Class: The Fortress Class heavy cruisers were named after famous strongholds and castles in Conoilith, intended to fight alongside battleships at closer ranges. They carried the most guns out of all the Conoilithian cruisers, and all the cruisers in the world, with 4 x 305mm main guns in 2 main turrets, 10 x 120mm secondary guns in side sponsons, and 20 x 76mm quick-firing secondaries. Their formidable armament made them arguably powerful enough to be battleships in their own right.

Soldier Class: The Soldier Class light cruisers were named after famous Conoilithian war heroes, and they were intended as escorts and as support for larger battleships.

TORPEDO BOATS
Weapon Class: The Weapon Class torpedo boats served as escorts for Conoilithian capital ships, performing scouting duties and also launching torpedoes from the 6 torpedo tubes aboard.