The T'au fleet of Mantas allowed for superior strategic mobility against the less air-mobile forces of the Astra Militarum and allowed for the outnumbered T'au Hunter Cadres to face the Imperial Guard on equal terms by bringing superior force to bear in localised counter-attacks and defensive engagements. In this way, Mantas were used to position T'au troops for counter-attacks against Imperial forces and stood ready to quickly extract T'au forces after an engagement. Several T'au Mantas bring T'au forces to the Kroot homeworld of Pechĭuring the Taros Campaign, Mantas were mainly used to transport Hunter Cadres and their heavy equipment across the planet and into the deserts of Taros to assault and slow the Imperial advance. 5 Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Technical Specifications.In the void they are used to attack enemy starships and are a match for entire squadrons of Imperial starfighters, while during planetary assaults they function as dropships and heavy fire support for T'au ground forces. Straddling the functional roles of both an attack craft and a full starship, these small voidcraft are useful in a variety of roles. The Manta is the smallest interstellar-capable voidcraft of the T'au, and serves a vital role in carrying out the current and future expansions of the T'au Empire. The Manta also features a large transport capacity that allows it to carry entire Hunter Cadres to and from engagements. It is well-armoured for use in frontline combat and can deliver massive amounts of firepower to the battlefield to help support T'au ground forces during a frontal assault against entrenched enemy positions. The Manta, more formally known as the Manta Missile Destroyer, is a super-heavy T'au voidcraft that is also the T'au Empire's closest equivalent to the Imperium of Man's Titans and Ork Gargants.

A pair of T'au Mantas with a Barracuda squadron escort

Manta ray size comparison