The Naginata Cruiser


Designation: Advanced anti-ship vessel
Manufacturer: Shirada Naval Yard (unconfirmed)
Country of origin: Japan
Serially manufactured at: Imperial Docks

Key Features:

• Two Type-X Shinya torpedo launch tubes
• Concealed Type-S torpedo ramp
• Impact-resistant nano-steel hull
• Fully furnished officers’ quarters
• Engravings inspiring national pride



The Empire of the Rising Sun attacked by sea, deploying its unprecedented fleet, assembled in secret. Japan encountered little resistance, gaining ground across the oceans to the north of the Soviet Union, partly due to the element of surprise being on the Emperor’s side and partly because of the Imperial Naginata Cruisers. The Imperial Navy’s ship hunters decimated virtually everything in their path, creating an opportunity for Japan’s Shogun Battleships to unleash a devastating coastal bombardment, clearing the way for a full-scale invasion. Whilst the Naginata’s role is limited to controlling the seas, it excels at this to such an extent that it has proved to be one of Japan’s most feared military assets.

The role of the Naginata Cruiser is evident even in its name: these ships take their name from an ancient sword, which was once used to keep the enemy at bay or cut down swift cavalry. Today’s Naginata is just as dangerously unapproachable at sea, as its captains always seem well prepared to fire pairs of semi-guided torpedoes that destroy everything on the water. Whilst the two rapid-fire torpedo launchers look exactly alike, each Naginata Cruiser turns out to have an additional set of five launchers concealed below the waterline. These can launch a spread of torpedoes to attack multiple targets, should the Empire’s fleet become quickly overwhelmed. This type of weapon speaks for itself, demonstrating that the Naginata’s vulnerability to encirclement is virtually non-existent. What’s more, these Type-S torpedoes travel below the waterline and can even attack Soviet Akula Submarines, which cannot hide from them – a fact that contributed to the first, largely one-sided encounter between the Soviet and Imperial navies.


The Imperial Navy launched a crushing invasion led by Naginata Cruisers such as the one pictured above, which can secure the seas more effectively than almost any other vessel.

Studies into the weaknesses of the Naginata Cruiser have shown that indirect fire appears to be the only reasonable way to counter them. Even so, this approach has failed, as it is still likely that the Empire of the Rising Sun has several of its Sea-Wings lurking nearby, ready to set up a Sleeper Ambush on any approaching aircraft. As for the Naginata Cruisers, not only are they powerful, but they are equally elegant and manoeuvrable. The speed of these vessels allows them to close the gap between themselves and their targets before swiftly finishing them off, whilst their exceptionally strong armour also enables them to withstand heavy enemy fire.

Service aboard a Naginata Cruiser is considered a great honour in the Emperor’s Navy. These ships are relatively rare and are tasked with protecting the most powerful forces in the Imperial Fleet, the Shogun Battleships. Consequently, the rigours of the required training and the responsibilities of the post mean that service aboard Naginata Cruisers is restricted solely to the Japanese elite -men whose unwavering loyalty to the cause and keen instincts for naval warfare are said to make them as feared within their own society as their ships are hated by their enemies.


Reconnaissance on the battlefield has at least revealed the following facts about the Naginata Cruisers:

• Torpedo Assault– The formidable torpedo boat of the Empire of the Rising Sun is loaded with ammunition and built for rapid launches. The torpedoes have limited guidance but pack an enormous punch, making them Desolators against anything at sea.

-Scatter Fire– The Naginata’s secret weapon is a concealed array of torpedo tubes, linked to fire simultaneously. The unguided warheads then fan out and strike anything in their path. Some Naginata captains now tend to conserve the use of Type-S Torpedoes, concentrating the entire salvo on a single target to compensate for their lack of accuracy.

-Nano-steel armour- Naginata Cruisers tend to emerge victorious in any naval battle thanks to their fast torpedoes and their thick, solid armour, which is highly resistant to concussive explosions of any kind.

-Specialised against ships - Although the resources of the Empire of the Rising Sun appear to be limited, for despite the Naginata Cruiser’s immense power against other vessels, it has no anti-air capabilities and is restricted to sea-based movement, unlike the Imperial Tsunami-class tanks.