View source for Mercury Class Battlecruiser

{{ImperialNavyPortal}}
[[Image:MercuryClass.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Mercury Class Battlecruiser]]
The '''Mercury Class Battlecruiser''' is a [[Battle Cruiser]] class of the [[Imperial Navy]]. 

==Overview==
Developed by the [[Tech-Priest]]s of [[Bakka]] at the request of [[Admiral]] [[Knightsbridge]] in the aftermath of the [[12th Black Crusade]], the ''Mercury'' was designed to counter smaller [[pirate]] and raider vessels. The design took less than two centuries to construct, and proved to be the fastest Imperial capital ship built in several millennia.{{Fn|1}}

The Mercury combines a basic [[Cruiser]] layout with the engineering suite normally used on a [[Battleship]], resulting in a much faster propulsion system that can move at speeds to keep up with raider vessels. The broadside [[weapons batteries]] and dorsal [[lance]] turrets mounted on the ''Mercury'' have a range comparable with [[battleship]], along with a Nova Cannon, allowing it to rapidly dispatch these smaller vessels. However, this performance came at a price, namely its armour protection and as a result the ships can only withstand as much punishment as other cruiser-class vessels. Despite this, the ''Mercury'' remains a popular choice among many officers of [[Battlefleet Bakka]].{{Fn|1}}

==Notable Ships==
*''Gorgon'' - Destroyed an [[Eldar]] [[Shadow Class Cruiser]]{{Fn|1}}
*''Long Serpent''{{Fn|1}}
*''Medusa'' - Destroyed, creating a [[Plasma Drive]] overload that destroyed the [[Lunar Class Cruiser]] ''Lord Chalfont'' and leaving a convoy of transports at the mercy of [[Ork]] raiders{{Fn|1}}
*''Nemesis'' - destroyed an [[Ork]] [[Terror Ship]] and three [[Ravager Attack Ship]]s single-handed{{Fn|1}}
*''[[Righteous Might (Ship)|Righteous Might]]''{{Fn|2}}
*''Scylla'' - Destroyed by [[Chaos]] vessels in 467.[[M41]], creating a [[Warp Drive]] malfunction that destroyed an entire squadron of [[Escort]]s and damaging the nearby [[Battleship]] ''Mailed Fist''

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Battlefleet Gothic 2010 Compendium]], pg. 41
*{{Endn|2}}: [[War Zone Nachmund: Rift War]], pg. 15

{{ImpShips}}

[[Category:Cruisers]]
[[Category:Imperial Fleet]]
[[Category:Naval Vessels]]