Tau Imperium Escort carrier

Due to increased Pirate and merchant raider activity many militaries have began to construct light fast ships carrying up to twelve Fighters to defend convoys and support light Flotilla's.
While their payload is limited an escort fighter can provide a much needed resource for convoy commanders Giving him a screening force or outriders on the perimeter of the convoy to detect and intercept attack craft missiles and torpedoes.

Notes
This vessel is built on a corvette or frigate hull, it launches a single fighter from each storage bay which also allows refueling and maintenance facilities for the craft.
The ships heavy guns have been removed, and it's pop up turrets replaced with fixed turrets to decrease mass and increase internal space for storage and quarters for pilots and support crews.

Trivia: Escort carriers were often refereed to as "Jeep" carriers and served a major role in the Battle of the Atlantic protecting convoys from merchant raiders and submarines.
In the pacific Theatre ( at Leyte Gulf) one Group of Escort carriers Belonging to Taffy Three were forced to engage the Imperial Japanese Navy at close range. Even though some Escort carriers were heavily damaged or sank their aircraft inflicted heavy damage on the enemy and assisted the destroyers and escort Destroyers to repel a Fleet far superior to itself. Including the Battleship Yamato...which outweighed all the Taffy Three ships combined.
Several of the Japanese heavy armor piercing shells passed completely through the smaller ships before they detonated.