Tower Ships (Lou chuan) are the heavy hitters of the Zhong Navy. The term was first used to describe large barges used to carry men and trebuchets, then large ocean going sailing ships used by the Nagato, the Warring States and latter the refugee states that fought in Linear formation. Now it refers to the Heavy Ironclad warships, second only in size to the gargantuan Iron Islands. Unlike the Iron Islands, they are built purely for combat, being faster, as well armored and carring guns of similar caliber. In terms of troop transport they typically only carry small numbers of marines.
Typically measuring 100-140 Bu in length and carrying heavy armaments, few things can pose a threat to these mighty warships. Anything that gets within 15 Li of these craft will end up staring down the barrels of cannons up to a Chi in caliber. Decks of smaller guns are used to provide a heavier barrage of fire. Some Admirals have said that developments in Torpedoes have made these cannons obsolete, although their is some debate about this. While better than being onboard some of the smaller ships, life onboard a Tower Ship is generally a hot, dirty affair for all save the officers.
Currently, the Zhong Empire is operating a fleet of some thirty two tower ships. Eight have been assigned to the Western Fleet. This was once ten, but two of them were left trapped in the Silver Sea after the High Elves managed to close off the two straights leading into it using a set of powerful storm spells creating and omnipresent hurricane around them. Cut off from supplies, these ships (along with thirty four other warships and a couple of ammunition ships and tenders) were slowly taken by Elvish Raiders over the next six months, one of the greatest losses of the war. That said, outside of that one instance, no Tower Ship has been lost. They proved indispensable in the bombardment which brought many western cities to their knees in the first waves of their invasion. Now, with most of the west's coastline secured with only the occasional elvish or dwarvish raid, these craft merely patrol the coasts.
