The Battleship Shogun


Designation: Heavy bombardment vessel.
Builder: Shirada Naval Yard (unconfirmed)
Country of origin: Japan
Mass-produced at: Imperial Docks

Key features:

• 400 mm Shirada cannons (x6)
• Self-powered auxiliary generator
• Defence shield concentrated at the bow.
• On-board detention cell / On-board meditation garden also.
• Hand-sewn ornamental flags that inspire faith.



There is a grim irony in the fact that a ship as majestic as the Shogun-class battleship of the Empire of the Rising Sun can be so incredibly destructive. Although it is the flagship of the Imperial Navy, its decorative and symbolic nature is merely a embellishment of its role as a vessel purely designed for coastal bombardment and long-range naval combat. The forces of the Soviet Union, unfortunately for them, only became aware of these details recently when the Empire launched its unexpected assault on Russia’s northern coast, decimating most of the defences with relative ease. The rest of the world is now aware of their sacrifice.


The Shogun-class battleships are the flagship vessels of the Imperial Navy, equipped with the most advanced long-range bombardment guns to date.

The Shoguns are the largest, the most expensive and, in many ways, embody one of the most powerful weapons in the Emperor’s entire army. Furthermore, they have never been mass-produced. However, because they tend to be the most heavily defended and supported elements within an Imperial strike group, these sturdy vessels are rarely known to require even the slightest repair. Their armament is limited to six main guns, mounted in two rows of three at the bow and stern, allowing the Shoguns to compensate for their slow speed when turning by providing 360-degree fire coverage. As expected, however, they must turn sideways to engage a target with the full power of their guns. Although the guns are unquestionably built like those of the Battleships of years gone by, they appear to have been modified to fire a kind of energy projectile. The impact of the ensuing explosion must be measured in several thousand unknown degrees Celsius at the point of impact, judging by the destruction they cause… and the guns themselves boast a remarkable rate of fire for such powerful weapons.


In surveys carried out amongst young Imperial boys aged between 8 and 12, a remarkable 26 per cent stated that their lifelong ambition was to one day become the Captain of a Shogun Battleship. Shown above is last year’s winning entry in the annual Battleship calligraphy competition for this age group (E. Nakamura, aged 11).

Although Shogun battleships are naturally kept in the rear ranks of Imperial armadas, some of the most spectacular early moments of this war occurred when the Soviets initially managed to break through the Imperial lines and engage a fleet of Shoguns head-on. Once threatened, the battleships faced a revitalised and self-assured Soviet fleet-comprising battleships and Stingrays-head-on, rather than turning to one side. All the Shoguns then supercharged their engines in unison whilst activating a sort of forward-mounted shield defence system and surged forward at terrifying speed, smashing into and destroying the remnants of the Soviet fleet, which was shattered. Only an escort of Akula-class Submarines managed to escape… but their Captains were shaken and nearly driven mad by the experience. The video evidence they provided is now being studied closely to gain a better understanding of Imperial strategy.

If there is one thing that can be predicted about the Shoguns, it is that command of such vessels is reserved solely for the most highly decorated, the most honourable and, often, the veterans of the Imperial Navy. These are the men who have practically given their lives in the service of their Emperor and are prepared and motivated to fulfil that service by fighting for the Empire until their last breath. It is said that to die in the Captain’s chair of a Shogun Battleship is the greatest honour for a man from modern Japanese society.


Reconnaissance on the battlefield has at least revealed the following facts about the Shogun battleships:

• Shirada guns– Shogun battleships are armed with six guns: three guns on each of two mounts, one at the bow and the other at the stern. Although functionally similar to the guns on traditional 400-millimetre battleships, the superheated projectiles fired from the Shirada guns are even more destructive and accurate.

-At full throttle– Although the guns on a Shogun battleship are unable to engage all nearby targets, these ships are far from defenceless at close range. Their captains stand ready to supercharge their engines and ram any enemy ships that dare to approach them.

-The Highest Standard- There are two types of Shogun battleships, one of which is rarer and reserved for the most venerable Captains and Commanders. These fortified Shoguns can be identified by their ornate flags and are, overall, more powerful than their counterparts.

-In support of the armada - The strict code of the Imperial Navy dictates a symbiotic relationship between the various elements of the fleet, linking their survival to their cooperation. Consequently, the Shogun battleship avoids carrying any anti-aircraft weapons. Yet the purity of its resolve is also perceived as a weakness.