The flagships of the Klingon Navy in the 23rd century, these large vessels dwarfed the other Klingon ship classes of the time. A C8 Dreadnought is equal in size to the modern Vor'Cha Attack Cruisers, and almost its equal in firepower as well.

The C8 Dreadnought soldiered on, but new advancements in Klingon ship design eventually deprecated the C8. Newer, stronger battleships such as the Komo Val proved superior to the aging C8 in nearly every way possible.

As time wore on, the Klingon Defense Forces eventually sold off its remaining C8 Dreadnoughts to the heads of noble houses where they found renewed life as family flagships.