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Usually operating with two or three squadrons of escorts, Exorcists were often posted to the far-flung corners of the Imperium to patrol the edges of the Eastern Fringe and into the galactic halo.
Some Exorcists were kept on by fleets on the fringes of the Imperium to plough the long lonely patrol routes into the halo. Many Exorcists were
used as colonial transports. The entire penal colony of Brandt 764 was moved en masse by Exorcist grand cruisers to populate and work Tor Alpha, a world beyond the Eastern Fringe. The Exorcist squadron, led by the Light of Ascension was then used as convoy escorts for the ore transports returning to the Imperium, and played a major part in the defence of the system when it was attacked and eventually overrun by a Tyranid hive fleet.
[[Image:ExorcistClassGrandCruiser.JPG|thumb|150px|right|Exorcist Class Grand Cruiser]]
The '''Exorcist Class Grand Cruiser''' is a long range patrol vessel of the [[Imperial Navy]], capable of self sufficiency for longperiods of time away from fleet support.. It is able to match the firepower of larger vessels and can launch attack craft from its flight bays. These advantages mean that on patrol, the fleet can dispatch an Exorcist and its escort squadrons as opposed to a larger force of several standard cruisers and additional escorts. The Exorcist is mainly deployed to remote areas such as the Eastern Fringe, or the galactic halo, due to their ability to act independently of a support fleet for long periods of time.<sup>1</sup>
As the years have passed the Exorcist class has been viewed as obsolete, and many [[Admirals]] have switched to the [[Mars Class Battle Cruiser|Mars Class]] instead. The Exorcist is still, however, the best long range patrol ship available. This class has also proved popular in a dual role as colonization transport and or escort. As a transport its flight bays are fitted to carry new colonists and their equipment. Colony convoys are grateful for the company of an Exorcist cruiser due to its ability to out gun most pirate vessels, even when acting in its impromptu transport role. When used as a convoy escort, its flight bays launch attack craft to scout out the route ahead or protect the vulnerable transport ships from harm.<sup>1</sup>
Notable Exorcist Class ships include:
