Dark Warper
Rank 100 Merchant
Common

1700/1700 Hull
Abilities None
Attack 250
Defense 900

Shots to kill: 7-8

Ionic Battleship XXV
Rank 200 Pirate
Common

800 / 800 Shields
600 / 600 Hull
Abilities None
Attack 700
Defense 900

Shots to kill: 4-5

So, the Ionic Battleship has less health, same defence, more attack but is twice as easy to kill than the Dark Warper, which is half the rank. It's extremely backwards. I'm so glad I picked up the Ionic Battleship into my NPC pool, because it lowers the frequency of those damned Warpers! Can you please knock some defense off the Dark Warper? It's at least twice as hard as the Dark Velocitor (Rank 85, same type.) for a minimal rank increase. Or perhaps up it's rank to 150 and drag the damage cap with it? That'd solve the problem.

Now, to put this into context:
Rank 200 Pirate
vs
Rank 100 Merchant

Pirates fight lots. Merchants are more passive. Why does the merchant of half the rank beat the pirate? Particuarly a pirate gang formed of master ship builders. Just makes no sense.

If I remember what Serak said, even hitting damage cap it takes 6-7 shots to kill. It's the health which needs nerfing.

It's the damage cap, the pirate has a higher rank and therefore a higher damage cap and therefore you can do more damage.
Also, if you hate the warpers, start fast ranking so you won't have to deal with them anymore.