Torpedo

Torpedo is the name used for any long range missile carried by a space ship or used in a space battle.^1a Some are used in local planetary defence networks^1b while others can be launched from the planet surface, although they are required to traverse the planet's atmosphere.^1c

Anti-ship torpedoes are up to 200 feet in length and are powered by a plasma reactor, which makes up part of the warhead as well as the method of propulsion. Torpedoes are fired in salvos and do damage in two ways, impact (small damage) and the explosive warhead detonation. Standard torpedoes move in a straight line and have limited sensing and targeting abilities, turning to intercept if they come within a few thousand kilometres of their target, although often they will still miss.^1a

Torpedoes are highly effective weapons in space combat. They are so small and fast that only defence turrets and fighters can catch and destroy them easily before they impact, although using weapons batteries, lances and nova cannons can prove effective if the captain is desperate enough.^1d

Variants

Almost every race in Warhammer 40,000 uses some variant of the torpedo and the Tau are well known for their advanced torpedo designs and the Tyranids use bio-torpedoes. The following are some of the special torpedoes used by the Imperium.²

• Short Burn Torpedoes
• Guided Torpedoes
• Seeking Torpedoes
• Barrage Bombs
• Melta Torpedoes
• Vortex Torpedoes
• Cyclonic Torpedoes

Sources

• ¹:Battlefleet Gothic Rulebook p28
  • ^1a: p28
  • ^1b: p141
  • ^1c: p146
  • ^1d: p27
• ²:Battlefleet Gothic Armada p158