diff --git a/server/src/index.ts b/server/src/index.ts
index 4c2df9a..b08efe2 100644
--- a/server/src/index.ts
+++ b/server/src/index.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
 import Fastify from 'fastify';
+import cors from '@fastify/cors';
 import { PORT } from './config.js';
 import { runMigrations } from './db/migrate.js';
+import { healthRoutes } from './routes/health.js';
+import { shipRoutes } from './routes/ships.js';
 
 const app = Fastify({ logger: true });
 
-app.get('/', async () => {
-  return { name: 'Spelljammer Ship Tracker API', status: 'ok' };
-});
-
 const start = async () => {
   try {
     runMigrations();
 
+    await app.register(cors, { origin: true });
+    await app.register(healthRoutes);
+    await app.register(shipRoutes);
+
     await app.listen({ port: PORT, host: '0.0.0.0' });
     console.log(`Server running on port ${PORT}`);
   } catch (err) {
diff --git a/server/src/routes/health.ts b/server/src/routes/health.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9acaf7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/routes/health.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import type { FastifyInstance } from 'fastify';
+
+export async function healthRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
+  app.get('/api/health', async () => {
+    return { status: 'ok', timestamp: Date.now() };
+  });
+}
diff --git a/server/src/routes/ships.ts b/server/src/routes/ships.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5f2be2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/routes/ships.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import type { FastifyInstance } from 'fastify';
+import { createShipSchema, updateShipSchema } from '../validation/ship-schema.js';
+import * as shipService from '../services/ship-service.js';
+
+export async function shipRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
+  // List all ships
+  app.get('/api/ships', async () => {
+    return shipService.listShips();
+  });
+
+  // Get a single ship with its weapons
+  app.get<{ Params: { id: string } }>('/api/ships/:id', async (request, reply) => {
+    const result = shipService.getShip(request.params.id);
+    if (!result) {
+      return reply.code(404).send({ error: 'Ship not found' });
+    }
+    return result;
+  });
+
+  // Create a new ship
+  app.post('/api/ships', async (request, reply) => {
+    const parsed = createShipSchema.safeParse(request.body);
+    if (!parsed.success) {
+      return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'Validation failed', details: parsed.error.issues });
+    }
+    const ship = shipService.createShip(parsed.data);
+    return reply.code(201).send(ship);
+  });
+
+  // Update a ship (partial)
+  app.patch<{ Params: { id: string } }>('/api/ships/:id', async (request, reply) => {
+    const parsed = updateShipSchema.safeParse(request.body);
+    if (!parsed.success) {
+      return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'Validation failed', details: parsed.error.issues });
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const ship = shipService.updateShip(request.params.id, parsed.data);
+      if (!ship) {
+        return reply.code(404).send({ error: 'Ship not found' });
+      }
+      return ship;
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      return reply.code(400).send({ error: err.message });
+    }
+  });
+
+  // Delete a ship
+  app.delete<{ Params: { id: string } }>('/api/ships/:id', async (request, reply) => {
+    const deleted = shipService.deleteShip(request.params.id);
+    if (!deleted) {
+      return reply.code(404).send({ error: 'Ship not found' });
+    }
+    return { success: true };
+  });
+}
diff --git a/server/src/services/ship-service.ts b/server/src/services/ship-service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83f0850
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/services/ship-service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
+import db from '../db/connection.js';
+import type { CreateShipInput, UpdateShipInput } from '../validation/ship-schema.js';
+
+export interface Ship {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  hull_current: number;
+  hull_max: number;
+  armor_current: number;
+  armor_max: number;
+  ac: number;
+  con_save: number | null;
+  speed: number | null;
+  maneuver_class: string | null;
+  size_category: string | null;
+  notes: string | null;
+  updated_at: number;
+}
+
+export interface Weapon {
+  id: string;
+  ship_id: string;
+  name: string;
+  type: string | null;
+  attack_mod: number | null;
+  damage: string | null;
+  range: string | null;
+  ammo_current: number | null;
+  ammo_max: number | null;
+  status: string | null;
+  notes: string | null;
+  sort_order: number;
+  updated_at: number;
+}
+
+export function listShips(): Pick<Ship, 'id' | 'name' | 'updated_at'>[] {
+  return db
+    .prepare('SELECT id, name, updated_at FROM ships ORDER BY updated_at DESC')
+    .all() as Pick<Ship, 'id' | 'name' | 'updated_at'>[];
+}
+
+export function getShip(id: string): { ship: Ship; weapons: Weapon[] } | null {
+  const ship = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM ships WHERE id = ?').get(id) as Ship | undefined;
+  if (!ship) return null;
+
+  const weapons = db
+    .prepare('SELECT * FROM weapons WHERE ship_id = ? ORDER BY sort_order ASC, name ASC')
+    .all(id) as Weapon[];
+
+  return { ship, weapons };
+}
+
+export function createShip(input: CreateShipInput): Ship {
+  const id = uuid();
+  const now = Date.now();
+
+  db.prepare(`
+    INSERT INTO ships (id, name, hull_current, hull_max, armor_current, armor_max, ac, con_save, speed, maneuver_class, size_category, notes, updated_at)
+    VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+  `).run(
+    id,
+    input.name,
+    input.hull_current,
+    input.hull_max,
+    input.armor_current,
+    input.armor_max,
+    input.ac,
+    input.con_save,
+    input.speed,
+    input.maneuver_class,
+    input.size_category,
+    input.notes,
+    now,
+  );
+
+  return db.prepare('SELECT * FROM ships WHERE id = ?').get(id) as Ship;
+}
+
+export function updateShip(id: string, patch: UpdateShipInput): Ship | null {
+  const existing = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM ships WHERE id = ?').get(id) as Ship | undefined;
+  if (!existing) return null;
+
+  const fields = Object.keys(patch).filter(
+    (k) => (patch as Record<string, unknown>)[k] !== undefined,
+  );
+  if (fields.length === 0) return existing;
+
+  // Validate current <= max against existing values when only one side is patched
+  const newHullCurrent = patch.hull_current ?? existing.hull_current;
+  const newHullMax = patch.hull_max ?? existing.hull_max;
+  const newArmorCurrent = patch.armor_current ?? existing.armor_current;
+  const newArmorMax = patch.armor_max ?? existing.armor_max;
+
+  if (newHullCurrent > newHullMax) {
+    throw new Error('hull_current cannot exceed hull_max');
+  }
+  if (newArmorCurrent > newArmorMax) {
+    throw new Error('armor_current cannot exceed armor_max');
+  }
+
+  const sets = fields.map((f) => `${f} = ?`);
+  sets.push('updated_at = ?');
+
+  const values = fields.map((f) => (patch as Record<string, unknown>)[f]);
+  values.push(Date.now());
+  values.push(id);
+
+  db.prepare(`UPDATE ships SET ${sets.join(', ')} WHERE id = ?`).run(...values);
+
+  return db.prepare('SELECT * FROM ships WHERE id = ?').get(id) as Ship;
+}
+
+export function deleteShip(id: string): boolean {
+  const result = db.prepare('DELETE FROM ships WHERE id = ?').run(id);
+  return result.changes > 0;
+}
diff --git a/server/src/validation/ship-schema.ts b/server/src/validation/ship-schema.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26f4c1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/validation/ship-schema.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { z } from 'zod';
+
+const maneuverClasses = ['A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F', 'S'] as const;
+
+export const createShipSchema = z.object({
+  name: z.string().min(1).max(100).default('Unnamed Ship'),
+  hull_current: z.number().int().min(0).default(0),
+  hull_max: z.number().int().min(0).default(0),
+  armor_current: z.number().int().min(0).default(0),
+  armor_max: z.number().int().min(0).default(0),
+  ac: z.number().int().min(0).default(10),
+  con_save: z.number().int().nullable().default(null),
+  speed: z.number().int().min(0).nullable().default(null),
+  maneuver_class: z.enum(maneuverClasses).nullable().default(null),
+  size_category: z.string().max(50).nullable().default(null),
+  notes: z.string().nullable().default(null),
+});
+
+export const updateShipSchema = z
+  .object({
+    name: z.string().min(1).max(100),
+    hull_current: z.number().int().min(0),
+    hull_max: z.number().int().min(0),
+    armor_current: z.number().int().min(0),
+    armor_max: z.number().int().min(0),
+    ac: z.number().int().min(0),
+    con_save: z.number().int().nullable(),
+    speed: z.number().int().min(0).nullable(),
+    maneuver_class: z.enum(maneuverClasses).nullable(),
+    size_category: z.string().max(50).nullable(),
+    notes: z.string().nullable(),
+  })
+  .partial()
+  .refine(
+    (data) => {
+      // Ensure current <= max when both are provided
+      if (data.hull_current !== undefined && data.hull_max !== undefined) {
+        return data.hull_current <= data.hull_max;
+      }
+      if (data.armor_current !== undefined && data.armor_max !== undefined) {
+        return data.armor_current <= data.armor_max;
+      }
+      return true;
+    },
+    { message: 'Current values must not exceed max values' },
+  );
+
+export type CreateShipInput = z.infer<typeof createShipSchema>;
+export type UpdateShipInput = z.infer<typeof updateShipSchema>;