Drogue
Drogues are propeller-driven dirigible airships used by the Imperial Navy for transportation of Guardsmen and supplies.[1a]
Description
Also known as Combat Dispersal Drogues, these airships are a kilometre long with a ripped, hardwood frame and a fluked ram at the front[1a] and fins at the tail.[1c] Their eight engine nacelles have propeller blades bigger than a Warlord Titan and are assisted by gas sacks protected by armoured canvas panels.[1a] During night operations, the Drogues run dark by closing blackout shutters and shutting off rigging lights.[1b]
Drogues have a bridge mounted on the underbelly that includes a force-dome. It is used for briefings and features a holo-projector. The bridge is connected to a forward observation deck by stairway. The forward observation deck is surrounded by an inverted armoured glass dome.[1a] The Drogues have a secondary flight deck that can launch six Marauders or Lightnings from locking cradles, half of which are positioned port and the other half starboard. The aircrafts are dropped by the locking cradles through hydraulic doors into the air below where they engage their engines. The primary flight deck meanwhile serves as a launch bay for sixty drop-ships which transport the embarked guardsmen to their landing zones.[1b] A Drogue can also deploy Magogs.[1e]
An individual Drogue can carry upwards of four thousand personnel[1a] and have its name emblazoned on its nose.[1c] It can be painted silver on the belly and white on the top.[1a]
Known Drogues
- Aeolus — Took part in the Phantine campaign of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1c]
- Boreas — Took part in the Phantine campaign of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1b]
- Nimbus — Took part in the Phantine campaign of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1b]
- Skyro — Took part in the Phantine campaign of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1d]
- Trenchant — Took part in the Phantine campaign of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1e]
- Zephyr — Took part in the Phantine campaign of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1c]
