I'm playing a WH40k campaign, but started conventional. Eighteen years in and I haven't launched a warship yet, although I finally have a few building. I also haven't created any out-system colonies yet, mainly because I have never seen an early map with so many empty systems. The two most promising ones (Orpheus and Sigma Draconis), both have hostile aliens. So far, I have been using fighter-sized survey ships, but I just launched my first pair of full-size survey ships. They are unarmed, but carry two fighters, two scout shuttles and an assault transport.
Tempest class Survey Frigate 15,000 tons 339 Crew 2,284 BP TCS 300 TH 750 EM 0
2500 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-54 Shields 0-0 HTK 88 Sensors 5/8/5/5 DCR 20-13 PPV 0
Maint Life 6.13 Years MSP 2,403 AFR 90% IFR 1.2% 1YR 110 5YR 1,647 Max Repair 225 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 2,000 tons
Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 60 months Flight Crew Berths 40 Morale Check Required
RM-150 Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 15000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-750-ME (1) Power 750.0 Fuel Use 7.05% Signature 750.00 Explosion 6%
Fuel Capacity 1,303,800 Litres Range 221.8 billion km (1026 days at full power)
MK I Frigate Active Augur Array (1) GPS 7200 Range 61m km Resolution 120
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 5.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Geological Survey Sensors (5) 5 Survey Points Per Hour
Gravitational Survey Sensors (5) 5 Survey Points Per Hour
Strike Group
1x Thunderhawk Assault Transport Speed: 9500 km/s Size: 20
2x Fury Interceptor Speed: 10001 km/s Size: 6
2x Aquila Scout Speed: 2500 km/s Size: 4