| Battleship York | |
 |
|
| Owner | |
| Bretonia Armed Forces | |
| Status | |
| Wreck | |
| Location | |
| 3C, New London |
CLASS: Dunkirk
CREW: N/A
ARMAMENT: N/A
The Battleship York was launched in 790 AS, and tasked with securing Leeds from pirate attacks. Over time, these duties extended to the patrolling of Tau-31 and 23 to protect Bretonian interests there. When the Tau War with Kusari broke out in 813 AS, the York led the initial Bretonian offensives in Tau-29 and 31, before being pushed back to Leeds in 816 AS. It saw extensive combat through the Battles of Glasgow and Stokes, and continued to be an indispensable linchpin of the Bretonian defense following Gallia's invasion in 818 AS. In 820 AS, the York delayed the Gallic spearhead as Allied forces retreated from the system, allowing the Armed Forces to disable the Jump Gates to New London and Newcastle. This stalled Gallia's progress until their scouts could locate jump holes into Bretonian systems.
The York then coordinated the defense of Southampton Shipyard, repelling regular raids from the Southampton Debris Field and launching fighter squadrons into Leeds in return. The York participated in the Liberty-led Operation SAVIOR in 822 AS, which attempted a counter-assault into Leeds. This succeeded in destroying the Oubli fleet, but failed in its primary objective of relieving Bretonian Army forces on Planet Leeds. When the Gallic Royal Navy initiated the overwhelming New London Blitz in 825 AS, the York's fleet carried out deadly delaying actions during the Battle of Trafalgar, before falling back to Southampton. In a battle stretching over 17 hours, it became clear Southampton would not hold, and a fallback order was triggered.
While shielding these efforts, the York was cut off from retreat by the Battleship Le Cendre. As the York buckled under fire, Admiral George Hall ordered crew to launch escape pods and locked his dying vessel into a collision course. The York slammed into the Le Cendre's engines before disintegrating, with Admiral Hall posthumously awarded the Golden Sable Of Freedom, the highest Bretonian commendation an officer of the Armed Forces can receive. In the aftermath of the war, the remaining sections of the York were towed to the Romsey Graveyard, where they await scrappage at Belvedere Refinery.