Adeptus Mechanicus Escort
Just like their imperial counterparts the Adeptus Mechanicus also have Escorts. They are borrowed from both the Imperial Navy and the Space Marines
Destroyers
Basic
Cobra
Like their imperial navy counterparts the Ad-Mech Cobra is a dedicated torpedo platform.
Armed only with a small Macro turret and two Torpedo tubes. The weapons battery is a purely defensive measure, for when the Cobra is attacked by enemy escorts. However, due to its small size, large engine signature, and relatively poor armour, a single Cobra is incredibly vulnerable on its own. Furthermore, the Weapons Battery is short-ranged and is almost never used to attack a capital ship, as it simply is not powerful enough to do any real damage.
This shouldn't be a problem, however, due to the long-range of a torpedo. Moreover, as part of a squadron of three however, those torpedos suddenly become a threat even for slower and larger ships. Just don't allow them to hit you back.
The Mechanicus also has access to the widowmaker variant of the Cobra. It drops its macro turret for an enhanced sensor suite that increases its sensor range immensely. In this regard, it can serve as a long-distance spotter for other ships, and with its small profile and high speeds, allows it to detect enemies, then zip away out of danger without being seen in return.
- Length: 1.5km
- Mass: 5.7 megatonnes; approx
- Crew: 15,000 crew; approx
- Acceleration: 7.6 gravities max sustainable acceleration
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Widowmaker Variant
Hunter
Frigates
Ordinance-Boat
Sword
Just like it’s imperial counterpart the Sword-class is also armed simply, with two double barelled macro turrets to do the Emperor's work. These turrets are also unique in that they are able to fire to both sides, or forward with full strength. This class is a very old design, dating back to the earliest days of the Imperium. All its components have been redesigned, refined to a high level, tried and tested in innumerable engagements.
Being an escort, the Sword is expected to come under fire, and so is designed with this in mind. Its bulkheads are thicker than would be expected, and the beams and supports that hold the ship together have redundant copies nearby, that will take the load if the primary beam or support fails. Due to this, the Sword can take more punishment than would be expected for a ship of its diminutive size.
- Length: 1.6km
- Mass: 6 megatonnes; approx
- Crew: 26,000 crew; approx
- Acceleration: 4.5 gravities max sustainable acceleration
Gladius
Lance-Boat
Firestorm
A modified Sword-class, the Firestorm trades one of its macro turrets for a prow-mounted Lance battery. The latter weapon gives the Firestorm options for hurting bigger, and much more heavily-armored ships.
It is not uncommon to see a squadron of Firestorms supporting independent squadrons of Swords and Cobra Class Destroyers. In situations like these, it falls to the Firestorms to deal damage to capital ships, and rival escorts once the other two classes have lowered the enemy's shields. Firestorm Class Frigates are often seen fighting alongside Space Marine formations. Pirate fleets are known to operate Firestorm Frigates as well.
- Length: 1.8km
- Mass: 6 megatonnes; approx
- Crew: 25,000 crew; approx
- Acceleration: 4.4 gravities max sustainable acceleration
Nova
Escort
Basic
Falchion
A somewhat newer class, the Falchion was designed primarily to protect larger ships from enemy escorts. In this role, it uses Torpedoes and three macro-turrets to chase off any incoming attackers.
Mostly constructed by the Forge World Voss Prime. It is an escort ship and as such are individually weak and therefore operates paired with three or four ships; sometimes up to six ships are grouped together in a single squadron.
The pattern's operational successes have tended to be in a defensive, rather than an offensive role where it is used to clear ordnance threats to the more ponderous capital ships, however in a stand-up fight it simply cannot compete with the damage potential of the much more widespread Sword Class Frigate that is found in most fleets (even though it uses the same guns, has more of them, and has torpedoes whereas the Sword does not). It is loosely based on the Endeavour, Endurance, and Defiant classes of light cruiser.
- Length: 2.2km
- Mass: 6.5 megatonnes; approx
- Crew: 27,000 crew; approx
- Acceleration: 4.6 gravities max sustainable acceleration