Changes

{{TauPortal}}[[Image: Tau_Mercant_Class.jpg |thumb|right|Il'Fannor Class.]][[Category:Fleet (Tau)]][[Category:Naval Vessels]]

The '''Il'Fannor''' class [[cruiser]] (designated as '''Merchant''' class by the [[Imperium]]) was the next major ship designed by the [[Tau]] after the [[Gal'leath Class Battleship]].  ==Overview==It was originally designed to become the new workhouse of the fledgling [[Tau Empire]], its [[Gravitic Drive]] being able to reach a third of normal warp speed. As the Gal'leath proved ineffective as a military vessel against the [[Orks]], the Merchant was heavily redesigned into a cheap and effective (if rather slow) warship that remained the Tau's mainline military ship until the advent of the [[Lar'shi Class Cruiser|Lar'shi]] class. As a cruiser, it lacks the hard-hitting firepower, speed and durability of those of the other major races, but makes up for it by being very cheap and easy to produce.^{{Fn|1}}

There exist two current configurations of the Il'fannor cruiser, the Ke'lshan and Dal'yth.^{{Fn|1}}

The more popular design incorporates mid-range port, prow and starboard Railgun batteries that are able to fire in multiple arcs. They also utilise two [[Gravitic Hooks]] that can transport smaller vessels that do not have their own warp drives.^{{Fn|1}}

This subtle redesign replaces the Gravitic Hooks with short range [[Ion Cannon]]s and is thus able to be better utilised in up close engagements independently.^{{Fn|1}}

*^{{Endn|1}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?community=&catId=cat1290319&categoryId=1100007&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic Resources: Tau Fleets] p102 pg. 102 (accessed 2010.12.08)

[[Category:Fleet (Tau)|*Cruisers]][[Category:Naval Vessels|*Fleet (Tau)]][[Category:Cruisers|*Naval Vessels]]