| Ship Type | CT Fighting Ships | MT Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium | MGT Sector Fleet | Agent of the Imperium |
| Battleship | [Jump]-capable vessels which are, due to their armament and protection, capable of standing in the line of battle. While battleships (or, as they are often called, dreadnoughts) generally have little better in the way of primary armament than cruisers, their extensive secondary batteries render them virtually immune to missile and small craft attack while their bulk provides a tremendous ability to absorb damage and keep fighting. | [A] ship which, due to its armament and protection, is capable of standing in the line of battle. When a battleship meets any lesser type of ship, its victory is almost guaranteed. When battleships on two sides meet, victory goes to the better armed, better armored, and better directed ship. . . . Besides battleships, there are dreadnoughts, battle riders, and battle tenders. | (Listed as “Capital Vessels”) [Designed] for heavy combat in the line-of-battle. They exist to meet heavy enemy units and crush them in squadron or fleet actions. Most capital ships are built around the biggest spinal mount they can carry, backed up by a powerful secondary armament of bay weapons. Examples include Superdreadnought, Dreadnought, Battleship, Battlecruiser, Battle Rider | A Battleship, Capital Ship, Dreadnought, or Ship-of-the-Line. A fighting ship with the strongest of armor and the most powerful of weapons. |
| Cruiser | [The] smallest ships to carry the large spinal weapons needed to cause serious damage to a large armored ship, although most are too lightly armored to stand in the line of battle. They form the cadre of commerce raiding task forces and provide fire support for planetary invasions. Sizes range from 20,000 to 100,000 tons. | [More] lightly armored and less heavily armed than battleships. To unarmed, unarmored ships, this difference is negligible, since a cruiser can easily attack and destroy any noncombatant ships. Cruisers are assigned to support battleships and carry combat to areas where a battleship is not considered necessary. | [The] workhorse units of the Imperial Navy, and can be encountered singly or as part of a task force. Cruisers engage in patrol and flag-showing operations, deterring piracy and unrest by their imposing presence. Examples include Interdiction Tender, Reconnaissance Cruiser, Escort Cruiser, Rift Cruiser, Light Cruiser, Missile Cruiser, Strike Cruiser, Frontier Cruiser, Heavy Cruiser | A fighting naval vessel (other than a Capital) created to operate independently and project power against non-fighting ships. |
| Carrier | [Designed] to carry large numbers of small combat boats, termed either fighters or system defense boats, for use in the screen of the battle fleet or in support of a planetary invasion. Given the limited weaponry of fighters and light boats, they are little more than an annoying distraction in a major fleet action, but they can be extremely effective against ships of cruiser class or less. | [Designed] to carry large numbers of small combat craft, which in turn attack the enemy’s combatants or world surfaces. | (Listed as “Carriers and Tenders”) The Imperial Navy is not greatly enamored of fighters and other sublight craft. However, they do have their uses, and jump-capable vessels are required to transport them. Examples include Fleet Carrier, Strike Carrier, Light Carrier, Battle Tender | A naval vessel intended to transport, launch, and support other vessels which participate in a conflict. Carriers typically operate at a distance from the main battle. |
| Escort | [Small] ships of up to 5000 tons, and are meant to be light support craft for larger ships, primarily cruisers. Escorts are also widely used for convoy protection and commerce raiding roles. | [Vessels] intended to protect and assist larger vessels. They are capable of independent action, but are usually assigned to support battleships and cruisers. | (Listed as “Escorts and Couriers) Escorts keep smaller enemy vessels away from the high-value units, preventing the enemy from conducing effective reconnaissance or launching a strike with one-shot weapons. Examples include Fleet Escort, Destroyer, Missile Corvette, Close Escort, Fleet Courier | - |
| Scout | The Scout Service controls a wide variety of craft up to cruiser class, but scouts proper are vessels up to 200 tons designed for exploration, survey, and courier work. In time of war, such ships are pressed into military service, but have negligible combat value. | [Survey] and exploration ships normally employed in the scout service. They are transferred to naval duty in time of war or when otherwise necessary. Many scout ships are couriers for the navy. | - | - |
| Auxiliary | (Listed as “Other”) A wide variety of supporting ships and boats of the Imperial Navy are deployed in the Spinward Marches. Many do not fit into the five categories presented above, and they are commonly classed as auxiliaries. A representative sample is presented in the final section of this supplement. | [Although not listed as a ship type on page 5, all tankers are grouped under this classification] [The] noncombatants of the fleet. They linger on the fringes of the battle area and resupply the fighting ships with fuel, missiles, and provisions. Many are not armed, but experience says some auxiliaries do face combat and need to be capable of at least defending themselves. | (Listed as “Repair, Logistics and Supply Vessels”) These unglamorous and often-overlooked vessels carry fuel, missiles, spares, tools, food… and everything else the fleet requires. Examples include Fleet Logistics Vessel, Tanker/Resupply Ship, Dromedary, Freighter, Troop Transport, Fleet Auxiliary, Reserve Auxiliary | (Listed as “A. Minor.”) A naval vessel intended to support, refuel, repair, re-arm or communicate between other ships, especially Capitals. Auxiliaries typically have no place in an actual battle, although some may be Armored. |
| Siege | - | - | - | A naval vessel intended to launch ordnance against a stationary target (a world or an installation). Like Carriers, Siege Engines operate at a distance from the main battle. |
| Planetary Attack Vessels | - | - | [Designed] to minimize the losses taken [during planetary assaults] while maximizing the effectiveness of the attacking force. Examples include Assault Tenders, Bombardment Cruisers, Marine Carriers, Assault Ship Landing, Assault Lander, Fire Support Craft | - |
| Patrol Vessels | - | - | [The] most commonly-encountered ships of the Imperial Navy. They patrol the spacelanes to deter, counter and punish illegal activity such as smuggling and piracy. Patrol ships are often pressed into service as escorts in time of war, while in times of tension they act as “tripwire” forces to warn of enemy action. Examples include Patrol Cruisers, Colonial Cruisers, Huscarle Cruisers, System Control Ship, Fleet Picket | - |
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