Cobra Destroyer

Cobra Class Destroyer is middle right.

The Cobra Class Destroyer is a torpedo boat. It is fast enough, and manoeuvrable enough to get into a position from where its torpedoes will do most damage. However, due to its small size, large engine signature, and relatively poor armour, it does not stand up well to enemy fire. This shouldn't be a problem however, due to the long range of a torpedo. Cobras act in squadrons of between two and six ships, making a torpedo volley from a squadron enough to cripple a large capital ship. It is the smallest independent Imperial warship, the smaller ones being carried aboard larger cruisers.¹

The Cobra has a pair of torpedo tubes in the prow, and a single weapons battery positioned to fire to the sides, and in front of the ship. The weapons battery is a purely defensive measure, for when the Cobra is attacked by enemy escorts. It is short ranged, and is almost never used to attack a capital ship, it simply is not powerful enough to do any real damage. Cobra Class Destroyers are often seen fighting alongside Space Marine formations.¹

A Cobra Destroyer was the sole surviving ship during the Yuctan Incident, the Imperium's first encounter with Necron naval forces.²

Notable Cobra Class squadrons include:

• The Widowmakers¹
• Skargul Patrol¹
• Omna Squadron³
• Cypria Squadron
• Hydra Squadron

Notable vessels:

• Strike vessel "Honoured Prophecy". Built in Entelheim shipyard, it is owned by Death Spectres Chapter. Its crew counts 5 Space Marines and 150 Chapter Serfs. It has armaments meant for close support and it is used as a system reconnaissance craft.⁴

Sources

• ¹: Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook, p. 114
• ²: Battlefleet Gothic Resources: Necron and Tyranid Fleets, p. 72 (accessed 2010.12.05)
• ³: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, p. 39
• ⁴: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), p. 30
• ⁵: [[The Ultramarines Omnibus, p.333