"The Imperial Wolfships that surrounded the city of Altdorf, like a hunting hound at the heels of their master, were inspiring in their way. They were long and sleek and low in the water. Their great iron-beaked ram bits the waves. Koenig knew that the rams turned the entire ship into a weapon. When driven forward by the steel muscled arms of their oarsmen, the Wolfships became spears aimed at the very heart of the enemy ship. And if that weren't enough, their great batteries of forward-facing guns would certainly finish their foes. Koenig felt certain that no Bretonnian Corsair would prove a match for them."
- —Accounts of Lord Koenig, Imperial Admiral[1a]
An Empire Wolfship
An Empire Wolfship is the most common and perhaps the most powerful front-line vessel within the Imperial Navy. Perhaps in imitation to the Wolfships used by the northern raiders of Norsca, the Wolfships of the Empire of Man are shallow-button vessels that can easily transverse the roughest waves or even the shallowest rivers.[1b]
Wolfships are armed with great batteries of cannons stationed within the ship's high forecastle, overlooking the titanic ram which it uses to spear rival warships into splinters. Powered by wind and dedicated oarsmen selected from the strongest sailors and marines aboard the ship, this vessel seeks out the Empire's seaborne foes with a savage fury known only within the northern, war-torn lands of the Old World.[1b]
When grouped with others of its kind, Wolfships are usually formed into small detachable fleets known as squadrons. A squadron of Wolfships is capable of moving with a drilled precision that lets it bring an enormous amount of firepower to bear on its target. Once the enemy is crippled, the Wolfship closes in and makes a boarding-action. Their gun-lined forecastles makes them particularly dangerous when doing this since the Wolfship can still fire their cannons at the decks of the enemy.[1b]
An Empire Wolfship as depicted in Man O' War: Corsair.
Most Empire Wolfships are also manned with drummers who stand on the aftcastle, and beat the timing for the ship's rowers. The terrifying sound of their drumming mingles with blasts from the ship's brazen warhorns can easily frighten the sailors of other, more civilised waters. All the din serves another purpose in letting other Wolfships in the squadron know each other's position within the dense clouds of blackpowder smoke that are emitted once the cannonades begin.[1b]