Hippocampi Class Destroyer

**This article, Hippocampi Class Destroyer, was written by Cornish Moose. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Hippocampi class Destroyer

*Scylla*, one of the vessels constructed by the forces of the Trojan Crusade

## Specifications

### Standard armament

Turret mounted Accelerator Autocannons

*Feel free to create ships to use in your own articles. If you let me know I will add them to the notable vessels list.*

The **Hippocampi class Destroyer** is a class of aquatic vessels utilised by the Planetary Defence Forces (PDFs) of a number of Imperial worlds and less commonly the Astra Militarum, for the purposes of supply route defence and countering pirate elements. It has also seen use amongst crusading forces in unique circumstances where the aquatic elements of a foe cannot be defeated by air power due to the inability to establish air superiority.

## Background

Across most worlds of the Imperium, aquatic supply routes remain of great importance to the functioning of the planetary populations. Even on the most peaceful worlds criminal elements such as pirates seek to raid such supply ships and in the event of an invasion by an external foe, cutting these routes is a high priority. As a result the majority of worlds that boast significant bodies of water will maintain an aquatic navy as part of the PDF. The Hippocampi class Destroyer is commonly seen amongst these fleets, acting as a scout and combat unit. While small and comparatively lightly armed and armoured, the Hippocampi class is often the primary combat vessel of these fleets, as it is more than a match for most pirate raiders and capable of catching all but the swiftest vessels. The heavier vessels will only see combat against the largest and most formidable pirate fleets, or in the event of an external invasion.

While their deployment offensively, as part of invasion forces, is quite rare, there have been a number of examples of this taking place. Typically these examples are during campaigns that drag on for a considerable length of time or in cases where the foe possesses such vessels and the Imperial forces lack other means of dealing with them. In most circumstances these vessels are constructed in situ by local Mechanicus forces rather than brought in from another world, and are gifted to the budding PDF upon the campaign's conclusion.

## Design

### Overview

Based on an ancient STC design, the Hippocampi class is a small but powerful warship, rivalling even the largest land based vehicles in size, if not necessarily mass. The hull is made of plates of Plasteel and Adamantium, resistant to most anti-vehicle weapons, with a thicker "belt" that rings the ammunition stores and engines.

#### Weapons

The primary armament of an Hippocampi class is:

* **Accelerator Autocannons** - Four turrets, two forward and two aft each housing a pair of autocannons.
* **"Long Lance" Missile Array** - Six launcher turrets, three per side, each holding two pods of six missiles, mounted along the sides of the superstructure.
* **Flak Batteries** - A comprehensive suite of Lascannons, Autocannons and Heavy Stubbers in turrets provides air defence

#### Void Shields

In addition to substantial armour protection, the vessels also possess two Titan-grade Void shield generators, able to absorb prodigious amounts of incoming fire.

#### Propulsion

A plasma generator is housed in the hull, providing power for the propellers and ship's systems. During the initial designing, an important consideration was ensuring that the power output would allow for the engines to run at flank speed in addition to operating the void shields and weaponry. Despite the best efforts of the Mechanicus, they were unable to achieve this, thus the class must rely on its speed and manoeuvrability to offset the weakened Void shields when in combat.

## Notable Vessels

* ***Scylla*** - Constructed by the forces of the Trojan Crusade, *Scylla* was built as part of a fleet of vessels intended to counter Trojan aquatic vessels which were harrying the Crusade's coastal forces and supply lines. At the battle of Juhtlan in the late war, *Scylla* was part of the scouting element of the Imperial fleet, which was able to drive the Trojans back into their ports and secure the oceans, albeit at great cost.
At the end of the war, *Scylla*, which had sustained heavy damage in its engagements, was scrapped, with some components being used in the construction of newer Hippocampi class vessels.