From Lexicanum

The Dauntless Class Light Cruiser is a common scout craft within the fleets of the Imperial Navy. Imperial scout cruisers have generally always had enough firepower to fight off a determined attack by escort size ships, and can hold enough supplies to remain autonomous for months at a time, the Dauntless being no exception. It forgoes the traditional armoured prow of the Imperial Navy, balancing this lack by being substantially faster and more manoeuvrable than a full size Imperial cruiser. Due to the need for power savings, and to conserve supplies, the Dauntless has about half the shielding and turret cover of a full size cruiser, but given its expected opposition this is sufficient protection.¹

The Dauntless Class has respectable weapons batteries on either side, and an option of a full cruiser class compliment of torpedo tubes in the prow. A furious set of Lances are set to fire past the ships prow on any enemy coming to close. This devastating array of weaponry, combined with its speed and manoeuvrability, has ensured that an enemy Captain who carelessly overlooks the Dauntless based on its size never makes the same mistake again. The effectiveness of the Dauntless is even more apparent when paired, or operating alongside an escort squadron.¹

Notable Dauntless Class of the Gothic War

• Abdiel
• Uziel and Baron Surtur: they were the first ships to detect the Chaos Warmaster Khuzor's fleet near the Formosa Cluster, allowing Admiral Sartus to bring the foe to battle.
• Vigilant
• Havock
• Guardian
• Advocate

Sources

• ¹:Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook p112

Vessels of the Imperial Navy

Type	Design	Class
Capital Ships	Battleships	Apocalypse • Emperor • Oberon • Retribution
	Grand Cruisers	Avenger • Exorcist • Vengeance
	Battle Cruisers	Armageddon • Mars • Overlord
	Cruisers	Dictator • Dominator • Gothic • Lunar • Tyrant
	Light Cruisers	Dauntless • Defiant • Endeavour • Endurance
Escorts	Frigates	Sword • Firestorm
	Destroyers	Cobra • Falchion
	Freighters	Armed Freighter • Defense Monitor • Escort Carriers • Fuel Transport • Q-Ship • Troop Transport
Small Craft	Space	Fury Interceptor • Starhawk
	Planetary	Lightning • Marauder Bomber • Marauder Destroyer • Thunderbolt • Vulture Gunship
	Transport	Aquila Lander • Arvus Lighter • Valkyrie