A true multipurpose ship, the Cobra Mk III can fit comfortably into a range of roles. In combat it can hit hard and - if necessary - make a swift exit, while its spacious cargo hold allows it to carry more than other ships of similar price and size. The Cobra is also a solid choice for explorers, boasting an ample fuel tank and six internal compartments.
— In-Game Description
The Cobra MkIII is a ship manufactured by Faulcon DeLacy. A time-honoured and well-respected design, the Cobra MkIII debuted in 3100 under the banner of its original manufacturer, Cowell & MgRath of Lave. The company has since been acquired by Faulcon DeLacy, which produces the modern iteration of the Cobra MkIII. The ship is a popular choice among new pilots looking for a jack-of-all-trades at an affordable price, and even experienced and wealthy pilots are known to return to the Cobra MkIII later in their careers.
Overview
The Cobra MkIII is an exceedingly popular ship for good reason: it is a small, low-cost multipurpose vessel capable of performing very well in any role, and essentially serves as a much cheaper Python, making it a good stepping stone for every kind of pilot.
In combat the Cobra MkIII is quite potent. It has impressive damage output and defences for its price tier and it is very powerful when outfitted and engineered correctly, making it good at both Bounty Hunting and Pirating. The downside of this ship is the combat ability relative to other ships. For bounty hunters who are attempting to tackle skilled opponents the Cobra MkIII can be outmanoeuvred by Eagle MkIIs and Viper MkIIIs, however, its large cargo bay makes it more viable for pirates.
The Cobra's carrying capacity, being more than double that of the Hauler and Adder, and its cost, being almost one third that of the Type-6 Transporter, makes it a logical stepping stone for aspiring traders as there is no other ship capable of hauling more cargo at the Cobra's size and cost. If the Cobra MkIV is not an option then it can remain viable due to its small landing pad requirement. In addition it has much better combat potential than freighters and can defend itself or run away from hostile interdictions.
The Cobra MkIII is also a good and affordable exploration ship due to the sizeable 16t Fuel Tank and the amount of Internal Compartments which allows for the placement of the necessary exploration modules such as a Detailed Surface Scanner, a Fuel Scoop and an Auto Field-Maintenance Unit without the need to remove the shield. The downside is its rather low jump range compared to other ships, which averages at 29 LY and can be surpassed by the much cheaper Adder and Hauler.
As a miner, the MkIII is very effective. The MkIII's additional hardpoints, compartments, and cargo space compared to the Adder make it very effective at its job, and it can even bring along Limpets due to the extra space. It is an excellent early choice for miners until they can afford a Keelback.
Cobra MkIII hardpoints convergence
The weapon hardpoints are located as follows: two Class 2 hardpoints in front of the cockpit on the upper surface ship, and two Class 1 hardpoints on the underside of the ship. The distance between the two Class 1 hardpoints is sizable, which may cause some trouble when mounting multiple fixed weapons since it is hard to hit with all of them at the same time. The pilot's seat of the Cobra MkIII is to the left of the centre of the ship, and has the co-pilot's to the right.
Purchase Locations
| System | Station | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinrarta Dezhra | Jameson Memorial | Always available | 10% discount, Founders Permit needed |
| Brestla | i Sola Prospect | Always available | 20% surcharge |
| HIP 6978 | Plucker Dock | July 27, 2016 | 15% discount |
| Itza | Ellison Station | Nov 10, 2015 | |
| Bamu | Tiedemann Dock | Jan 07, 2017 | |
| Calor | Julian Hub | Aug 06, 2015 | |
| 44 B Ophiuchi | Feustel Gateway | Jun 12, 2015 | 10% discount |
| AC +26 37030 | Culbertson Port | 2015-12-27 | |
| Afli | Pu City | Feb 15, 2015 | |
| Afli | Quetelet Dock | Feb 15, 2015 | |
| Alioth | Irkutsk | 1.06 | |
| Arque | Austen Town | Oct 5, 2015 | |
| Aryak System | Garneau Port | Mar 31, 2015 | |
| Asgaa | Wheeler Horizons | Apr 20, 2015 | |
| Biliri | Fan City | Aug 23, 2015 | |
| Branglal | Skripochka Gateway | Gamma 1.05 | |
| Breksta | Legendre Ring | Gamma 1.02 | |
| Cao Yans | Nordenskiold Hub | Feb 26, 2015 | |
| CD-52 187 | Nojiri Dock | May 16, 2015 | |
| Cebalrai | Hornblower Dock | Version 1.04 | |
| Ceos | New Dawn Station | Aug 13, 2015 | |
| Chamunda | Gidzenko Ring | Apr 28, 2015 | |
| Chemaku | Crampton Port | Gamma 1.0 | |
| Chick Bara | Israel Station | Jun 18, 2015 | |
| Chlevit | Leonov City | ||
| Chona | Smoot Terminal | Aug 17, 2015 | |
| Chowei | Swigert Port | Dec 16, 2015 | |
| Corycia | Piper Hub | Aug 20,2015 | |
| Cubeo | Medupe City | Aug 17, 2015 | |
| Dangtei | Harrington Station | Aug 17, 2015 | |
| Dulos | Wilson Ring | Feb 15, 2015 | |
| Ededleen | Godel Ring | Apr 10, 2015 | |
| Eravate | Cleve Hub | July 9, 2017 | 10% Discount |
| FK5-2550 | Samokutyayev Dock | 2014-12-21 | |
| Folna | Lorentz Dock | 2015-10-20 | |
| Fornacis | Helms Hub | 2015-04-28 | |
| Frigga | Henson Ring | 2015-01-20 | |
| GD 219 | McKee Ring | Version 1.03 | |
| Gliese 563.1 | Matteucci Ring | Jul 23, 2015 | |
| H Draconis | Brislington | Aug 15, 2019 | |
| Hanggardi | Soddy Market | Feb 22, 2015 | |
| Hel | Jones Orbital | Nov 4, 2016 | 22% discount |
| HIP 20998 | Louis de Lacaille Orbital | July 8, 2015 | |
| Hyperion | Joliot-Curie Port | ||
| Iota Persei | Walker City | Jan 1, 2016 | 10% discount |
| Kappa Fornacis | Harvestport | 2015-01-04 | |
| Kats | Truman Hub | 2015-08-20 | |
| Keliuona | Wenzel City | 2015-08-19 | |
| Kemuru | Delucas Station | 2015-10-20 | |
| Kolyawa | Remec Gateway | Sept 2016 | 22% discount |
| Kremainn | Wohler Terminal | 2015-07-23 | |
| Kui 11 | Behnken Port | Dec 23, 2017 | |
| Kurmodiae | Covey Terminal | May 26, 2017 | 10% discount |
| Lambda-1 Tucanea | Riess Hub | Aug 17, 2015 | |
| Lave | Lave Station | Jan 1, 2016 | 10% discount |
| LHS 336 | Klimuk Station | Full release | |
| LHS 3447 | Wordlidge Terminal | April 5. 2015 | |
| LHS 3505 | Olivas City | Version 1.03 | |
| LHS 371 | Cavendish Station | Dec 29, 2017 | |
| Lo Pegasi | Garcia Station | ||
| LP 445-22 | Trevithick Horizons | Jul 23, 2015 | |
| LTT 7979 | Steinmuller Gateway | Mar 4, 2015 | |
| Lung | Hopkins Landing | Dec 25, 2015 | 10% discount |
| Magec | Trumpler Dock | Gamma 1.04 | |
| Mullag | Garfinkle City | Gamma 1.04 | |
| Opala | Onizuka's Hold | Aug 15, 2019 | |
| Orrere | Sharon Lee Free Port | Version 1.03 | |
| Ovid | Bradfield Orbital | Gamma 1.04 | |
| Parnut | Meyrink Dock | June 17, 2016 | |
| Rakapila | Stone Enterprise | Version 1. 2 | |
| Ross 151 | Kuhn Gateway | Feb 23, 2015 | |
| Ross 667 | Alexander Terminal | Apr 15, 2015 | |
| Ross 718 | Birkeland Enterprise | Jun 26, 2015 | |
| Ross 754 | Dana Gateway | 2015-01-20 | |
| Sol | Mars High | Gamma 1.05 | |
| Sol | Titan City | Gamma 1.0 | |
| Sorbago | Hencke Orbital | Version 1.0 | |
| Sui Guei | Pascal Orbital | May 25, 2015 | |
| Tetek | Balog Refinery | May 27, 2015 | |
| Tote | Whitelaw Enterprise | Gamma 1.03 | |
| Turir | Brooks Terminal | ||
| Ualapalor | Rochon Ring | 2015-01-20 | |
| Una | Hoard Orbital | Feb 19, 2015 | |
| V1688 Aquilae | Littlewood Terminal | ||
| Wapiya | Brothers Station | 06-05-2015 | |
| Wyrd | Gareth Edwards Park | Version 1.03 | |
| Zhao Jin | Wilson Ring | 2015-08-18 | |
| HIP 20737 | Korlevic Port | 8-1-2016 | 15% discount |
| Raksha | Boswell | 17-1-2017 | 22% discount |
Outfitting
- Main article: Outfitting
All ships are highly customizable through the Outfitting menu of Station Services. Listed below is the default load-out for the Cobra MkIII.
| Category | Default System | Default Rating | Default Class | Max Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Hardpoint | Empty | -- | -- | 1 |
| Empty | -- | -- | 1 | |
| Medium Hardpoint | Pulse Laser | F | 1 | 2 |
| Pulse Laser | F | 1 | 2 | |
| Utility Mount | Empty | -- | -- | 0 |
| Empty | -- | -- | 0 | |
| Bulkheads | Lightweight Alloys | I | 1 | 8 |
| Reactor Bay | Power Plant | E | 4 | 4 |
| Thrusters Mounting | Thrusters | E | 4 | 4 |
| Frame Shift Drive Housing | Frame Shift Drive | E | 4 | 4 |
| Environment Control | Life Support | E | 3 | 3 |
| Power Coupling | Power Distributor | E | 3 | 3 |
| Sensor Suite | Sensors | E | 3 | 3 |
| Fuel Store | Fuel Tank [x16] | C | 4 | 4 |
| Internal Compartments | Cargo Rack [x8] | E | 3 | 4 |
| Cargo Rack [x8] | E | 3 | 4 | |
| Shield Generator | E | 4 | 4 | |
| Cargo Rack [x2] | E | 1 | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Advanced Docking Computer | E | 1 | 1 | |
| Supercruise Assist | E | 1 | 1 | |
| (PAS) | I | 1 | 1 |
- (L) = Loaned Module
- [x#] = Capacity
- (PAS) = Reserved solely for the Planetary Approach Suite or Advanced Planetary Approach Suite
Trivia
- The Cobra MkIII has the most amount of Livery options of any ship. Somewhat ironically, the Cobra MkIV has the fewest.
- The Cobra MkIII has gone through several design iterations. An example of an older iteration from over a century ago can be found at a crash site at the coordinates -54.3, -50.3 on HIP 12099 1 B. It was the personal ship of the famed CMDR John Jameson, who was hired by the Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm near the end of the first Thargoid conflict to deploy the mycoid bio-weapon against the alien invaders. CMDR Jameson's ship was secretly sabotaged by INRA to ensure he did not return from his mission, however.
- As of December 16, 2019, the Cobra MkIII was one of the three most popular ships in Elite Dangerous, the other two being the Asp Explorer and the Python.[1]
Videos
Gallery
