The Dreadnought


Designation: Heavy Bombardment Vessel
Manufacturer: Citizens’ Naval Yard
Country of origin: USSR
Mass-produced at: Soviet Naval Yard

Key features:

• V4 “Molot” missile panel
• Overhead firing capability in emergencies
• Crew library with motivational texts
• Fumigated triple bunk beds
• Electronic sound system



When the first Molot V4 rocket streaked across the grey Siberian sky and obliterated its target – a crude plywood model of a medium-sized patrol vessel, incongruously assembled hundreds of kilometres from the nearest ocean -the military leaders present watched the burning shrapnel with the pride of a parent watching their child win a chess championship. Among the circle of beaming faces, however, a stern protest arose over the series of additional tests that were carried out. For Mastermind Sergei Kondakov, the V4’s resounding success meant that senior military leadership would soon be knocking on his door, demanding the weapon’s next iteration – and he already knew what they would ask for. Firing these Behemoths from the rock at a stationary target was one thing. Compensating for their range whilst on an unstable platform at the mercy of the ocean – he knew at that moment that this would be the greatest technical challenge of his career. This was the moment for which the modern Dreadnought had been designed.


The Soviet Union’s Ministry of War invites everyone to attend the celebrations for the Dreadnought, undeniably one of the most powerful ships ever to sail the seas.

An imposing Mastodon of the seas, the Dreadnought has already made a name for itself in various engagements by proving virtually unsinkable when paired with other warships. Team-up with Soviet Akula Submarines has provided protection against stealthy attacks, cementing the Dreadnought’s reputation as one of the most formidable forces on the water. Whilst it is a Desolator in naval combat, however, one cannot help but recall the time when it lacked the capability to strike inland targets. Nevertheless, the days of Dreadnoughts turning on their side with their guns are long gone, thanks to Kondakov’s work.

Selecting the widest standard ship hulls in the Soviet Navy was the easiest decision of the process for Kondakov. No other vessel was capable of handling the power of the V4 Molot. However, adapting the launch mechanism to the ship was a Herculean task. Taking into account the supply line of rockets stored beneath the mechanism, Kondakov and his team had to completely reconfigure every deck. In the end, they managed to make the impossible a reality. Yet the sacrifices they made – such as reducing crew accommodation and removing auxiliary toilets – led to the Dreadnought being given a few unflattering nicknames amongst enlisted personnel. Nevertheless, the Dreadnought’s officers are known to take immense pride in their service to the Union.


Time and time again, the Soviets have proven that nothing can withstand a direct assault from the Dreadnought’s ballistic rocket launchers.

Despite the triumphs achieved by the Soviet engineering team, Kondakov considered the Dreadnought to be only a partial victory. The powerful recoil of the V4 Molot rendered a high degree of accuracy unattainable at anything but fairly modest speeds. Consequently, the Dreadnought was forced to shift into neutral before firing a salvo, a manoeuvre that could expose both the vessel and its crew to significant risk during combat. The potential loss of such a combat platform and, to a lesser extent, the men on board, would lead Kondakov to push the boundaries of Soviet innovation even further. By incorporating the reaction propulsion mechanics of the Soviet MiG fighter jet, redesigned to use a steam-based thrust mechanism, Kondakov’s team developed a precisely engineered shock-absorption system that would neutralise the recoil of the Molot V4.

With mounting budgetary concerns and military leaders watching him very closely, Kondakov unveiled the Dreadnought to the world in a spectacular display of unbridled destruction. Before the charred remains of a mock coastal outpost could even be washed up on the shore, the Dreadnought had become the stuff of legend. This new Dreadnought model could quite literally sail round coastal defences whilst pounding them with ballistic rockets.

The legend would only grow with the Dreadnought’s V4 Molot’s performance in battle. The captains of such ships quickly earned a reputation as courageous patriots, as the Dreadnought’s barrage of bombs crushed Soviet opposition across the globe. The ship’s imposing bulk could scarcely be missed as it loomed on the horizon, swiftly adding yet another weapon to its already impressive arsenal: fear. In the years to come, witnessing an entire fleet flee at the approach of a Dreadnought would become a common sight. The powerful Molot V4, however, ensured that certain targets would never stand a chance of escaping. Barracks, Power Plants, Tiberium Refineries, Fortress Walls – anything that cannot move is at the mercy of the Dreadnought’s Captain.


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

• Fire from the Skies– With their three long-range ballistic rocket launchers, Dreadnoughts need not be numerous to devastate everything at sea or on land. The Rocket Soldiers can reach inland, although they cannot take cover whilst firing, even if they somehow manage to destroy nearby enemies.

-The Captain’s Wrath– In their eagerness, Dreadnought captains were known to overcharge the launch mechanisms of their V4 Molot rockets to destroy the Union’s enemies. In doing so, they significantly increased their firing rate, although the launchers sustained mechanical and electrical damage in the process. By that point, there were usually no enemies left alive to offer any resistance. The captains’ ‘noble indifference’ to ‘material things’ only added to the Dreadnought’s notoriety.

-Hold Fast, Comrades– A series of gyroscopic devices, massive shock-absorbing thrusters, and pneumatic triggers counteract the recoil of the powerful Molot V4 rockets and allow the rockets to hit their targets with impressive accuracy and significant devastation, even when the ship is at full steam. The rockets travel so fast that they cannot be hit by anti-aircraft weapons whilst in flight.

-A Heavy Beast - The Dreadnought is not the fastest or most manoeuvrable ship on the ocean. Its massive size makes it slower to reach full power, turn and come to a halt than more agile and lighter ships. It is therefore vulnerable in head-on naval engagements despite its resilience and should be escorted by Submarines whenever possible.