Manta

Tau Manta
The Tau Manta is the Tau equivalent to an Imperial Titan. It is the largest drop ship of its kind, carrying staggering numbers of Fire Caste Warriors in to battle, supported by dozens of Gun Drones as well as XV8 Crisis Battlesuits. The Manta consists of two decks, an upper deck where Fire warriors sit as well as an overseeing etheral, and a lower deck, where up to four devilfish or two devilfish and two hammerheads can sit. In addition, up to eight fully armed XV8 Crisis Battlesuits can sit in the lower deck, with half a dozen gun drones up top. The manta is piloted by at least four Air Caste pilots

Fire Warriors
The Manta carries forty-eight fully armed Fire Warriors into battle, each sporting full combat armor as well as optional Pulse Rifle or Pulse Carbine. Fire Warriors are held in place with restraint harnessess to prevent harm to the occupants in the event of rough landing, crash landing, or general turbulence. Soldiers descend the upper deck Through a large ramp that extends from beneath the access bay doors. Alternatively, the lower deck can be dropped off, and soldiers can simple descend normally.

Second Deck
The Lower Deck of the Manta consists of up to four devilfish-hull-based Tau vehicles, the only known exception being the Sky Ray, whose missile rack cannot visably fit inside the cargo bay. Up to eight Crisis suits can stand, ready for immediate deployment, in the center of the bay, although it is unknown if crisis suit pilots can be inside their suits' cockpits while inside the manta. Alteratively, this bay can be dropped, either to allow heavy support to another hunter cadre, or in case of emergency landing. Also, a small ramp can descend from in front of the Crisis suits, allowing them to easily disembark. Lastly, units, being skimmers and jump jet suits, can disembark from the cargo bay while the vehicle is still in flight.

Weaponry
The manta sports a staggering array of firepower, which is used to clear landing zones as well as protect the ship from anti-aircraft weaponry. Sixteen Long-Barrelled Burst Cannon, Six Long-Barrelled Ion Cannon, Two Heavy Rail Guns, Missile Pods and battery of Seeker Missiles as well as a Networked Markerlight turret all aid the Manta in its task of infantry deployement. All weaponry are presumed to be controlled by at least one gunner, who is situated behind the pilot in the "head" of the Manta, extending from the first deck.

Trivia

 * the Manta is the largest model produced by Forge Worlds, weighing a record 28 pounds without troops or vehicles inside.
 * It is six times larger than the thunderhawk
 * the manta, or manta missile destroyer, was a key in saving the Tau race from extinction in the Domacles Crusade