The '''Gal'leath''' class [[battleship]] (known as the '''Explorer''' among the Imperials) was the first major interstellar vessel developed by the [[Tau]]. Compared to the average speed of an [[Imperial]] ship in the [[warp]], the Explorer could barely approach a fifth of this speed. It is also significantly less well armed and armoured, compared to most battleships. It does have a massive cargo capacity, however, and is much cheaper to produce than other ships of similar tonnage. Indeed, it was only the advent of war with the [[Ork]]s that finally made the Tau design an alternate vessel for interstellar combat, a role which the Explorer is ill suited to undertake alone.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}

The Explorer has undergone many different refits and reconfigurations since its inception. The two most common that are still active within the [[Kor'vattra]] are the Mk XXIII Vash'ya and the Mk XXIV Bor'kan configurations.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}

The more popular design incorporates a multi-arc prow [[Railgun]] battery, and the capacity to field eight squadrons of attack craft as well as escorts that do not have [[Gravitic Drive]]s via its three [[Gravitic Hook]]s.{{Fn|1}}

This arrangement utilises two of the flight bays to house [[drone]] controllers, allowing the ship to use Tau [[torpedoes]].{{cite this}}

*[[Kessan|Dal'yth Gal'leath Kessan]]{{Fn|21}}

*{{Endn|1}}: [[Armada Appendices]], pg. 100*{{Endn|2}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat1290319&categoryId=1100007&section=&aId=4300022 Battlefleet Gothic Resources: Tau FleetsArmada (Book)]], pgs. 100-101 (accessed 2010.11.26)