Adeptus Astartes Escort
The SPESS MEHREENS too, have access to their own Escort fleets. Space Marine fleets generally have less variety than their Imperial Navy counterparts and as such, there is less overall specialization in these crafts. Instead, like the Codex Astartes, the majority of Space Marine Chapters have made their fleets flexible and adaptable, with their Escorts being no exception.
Like most Space Marine vessels, the Escorts of the Space Marines resembles heavily like a miniature Battle-barge, showcasing again, the lack of general diversification for our power armored boys.
Destroyers[edit]
Hunter[edit]
The Hunter-Class Destroyer is designed to fulfil the same role in the Space Marine Fleet that the Cobra-class Destroyer does in the Imperial Navy. Although available to all Space Marine chapters, the class is mainly used by the Dark Angels, due to their distrust of other sections of the Imperial hierarchy. The Dark Angels maintain large flotillas of Hunter class ships within their battlefleets.
The Hunter-class is armed similarly to the Cobra, but is a little faster, allowing it to react quickly to openings the enemy provides. The vessel is equipped with Torpedo tubes and a Weapons Battery. The same shield and turret array complement found on the Cobra class is fitted on a Hunter-class. The Hunter is also more heavily armoured than a Cobra, providing it with a little more survivability in a combat situation.
However, like all Space Marine vessels, they lack an armored prow, so don't let this ship get too close to another ship attempting to ram it.
It should be noted that the Adeptus Mechanicus also own the Hunter-class for their own needs, with the main difference being that they swapped out Space Marines with enhanced sensors and more mechanical bois.
It is armed with 2 Torpedo Launchers and 1 Light Macro Turret.
- Length: 1.5km
- Mass: 5.5 megatonnes; approx
- Crew: 15,000 crew; approx
- Acceleration: 7.7 gravities max sustainable acceleration; approx
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The Mechanicus glowup.
Frigates[edit]
Ordinance-Boat[edit]
Gladius[edit]
The Gladius-Class Frigate is part of the Space Marine Fleet, fulfilling a role similar to that of the Sword-class Frigate in the Imperial Navy. It is also used by the Adeptus Mechanicus Fleet.
The ship is crewed mainly by chapter serfs, with only a single squad of Space Marines on board, either on the bridge or at other command posts around the ship.
The Gladius is armed with a mid-sized weapons battery, much like the Sword-class, but its engines are about twenty percent more powerful than the Sword. This enables the Gladius to take advantage of the enemy's movements, darting into holes left in the battle line, and using its weapons batteries to good effect. The ship is shielded as well as any other escort, but due to the nature of its role in combat, it has an excellent turret array for its size, comparable to that of a standard Imperial Navy cruiser.
It is armed with 2 Double-Barrel Light Macro Turret.
- Length: 1.8km
- Mass: 6.1 megatonnes; approx
- Crew: 20,000 crew; approx
- Acceleration: 7.8 gravities max sustainable acceleration; approx
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The Mechanicus version of the Gladius.
Lance-Boat[edit]
Nova[edit]
The Nova Class is a Lance-boat, much like the Firestorm-class Frigate in the Imperial Navy. It is a much more controversial ship, however, because it does not follow the Codex Astartes. It is a pure-breed warship; it cannot land troops, or transport them to other ships. It is ineffective in planetary assault also, but a very capable capital ship hunter.
Both the Imperial Navy and Inquisition have taken issue with the class, as it encroaches on the duties of the Imperial Navy, and upsets the balance of power within the Imperium, giving too much to the Adeptus Astartes. Nevertheless, the AdMech seems to be okay with this and has given the thumbs up and even use some of them in their fleets. Due to this, the Nova remains a rare sight in the fleets of the Space Marines but a common one within the Mechanicus as a sort of balance-of-power situation.
It is armed with a single turret-mounted lance in the prow of the ship, able to fire to the sides, and in front of the ship, and two small weapons batteries, also turret mounted. However, its engines are much more powerful than a Firestorm's, making the Nova almost twice as fast as a cruiser of the Imperial Navy. This speed and manoeuvrability allow the Nova class to get to favourable firing positions, deliver the lance armament's bite, and withdraw before the enemy can react to bring their guns to bear on the Nova.
It is armed with 1 Light Lance Artillery and 1 Double-Barrel Light Macro Turret.
- Length: 1.8km
- Mass: 5.9 megatonnes; approx
- Crew: 17,000 crew; approx
- Acceleration: 7.8 gravities max sustainable acceleration; approx
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When a ship is so controversial that it forced the Mechanicus to take some of them so they can handle a political dispute.
In Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 1 & 2[edit]
These Escorts function like miniature Battle-barges. With the exception of the Nova, Space Marine Escorts could handle itself relatively well. Like all Space Marine vessels, do not try and board one. Casualties, one too many!