Craft: Slayn & Korpil A/SF-01 MK II B-Wing Starfighter
Type: Heavy assault starfighter
Scale: Starfighter
Length: 16.9 meters
Skill: Starfighter piloting: B-wing
Crew: 1, gunners: 1
Crew Skill: Starfighter piloting 4D+1, starship gunnery 4D+2, starship shields 3D
Cargo Capacity: 50 kilograms
Consumables: 1 week
Cost: 265,000 (new)
Hyperdrive Multiplier: x2
Nav Computer: Yes (limited to 2 jumps)
Maneuverability: 1D
Space: 7
Atmosphere: 350; 1,000 kmh
Hull: 5D
Shields: 2D+2
Sensors:
Passive: 30/0D
Scan: 65/1D
Search: 80/2D
Focus: 4/3D+2
Weapons:
Composite Beam Laser
Fire Arc: Front
Scale: Capital
Fire Control: 3D
Space Range: 1-3/12/25
Atmosphere Range: 100-300/1.2/2.5 km
Damage: 6D (+8D against unshielded targets or targets who failed their shield roll)
3 Medium Ion Cannons (fire-linked)
Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship gunnery
Fire Control: 4D
Space Range: 1-5/9/40
Atmosphere Range: 100-500/900/4 km
Damage: 4D
Proton Torpedo Launcher (8 torpedoes)
Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship gunnery
Fire Control: 3D
Space Range: 1/5/9
Atmosphere Range: 50-100/500/900
Damage: 9D
Game Note: The New Republic Slayn & Korpil A/SF-01 MK II B-Wing Starfighter is identical to the Slayn & Korpil A/SF-01 MK I B-Wing Starfighter except that it adds a Composite Beam Laser and a second proton torpedo launcher. The optional ammo magazine attachment carries 12 more proton torpedoes but lowers the Slayn & Korpil A/SF-01 MK II B-Wing Starfighter’s maneuverability to 0D+2.
Background: The A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter, manufactured by Slayn & Korpil, was a relatively poor dogfighter, but it was primarily designed as a “blockade buster” to attack and destroy large capital ships. As such, it was equipped with weaponry and systems normally reserved for much larger craft. Indeed, the B-wing boasted more firepower than most patrol ships and corvettes. At the same time, it was slower and less maneuverable than a Y-wing, gave off a significant infrared signature, and required more maintenance than any other Rebel starfighter.
The primary airfoil took up the length of the hull, with the cylindrical command pod at one end and a weapons pod at the other, and an engine cluster in between. Two S-foils just below the engine on either side of the main airfoil provided functionality similar to that of the X-wing starfighter. Still, they featured more advanced actuator technology and locking mechanisms. Anti-gravity generators and repulsorlift projectors were mounted in the S-foils.
The command pod featured a cockpit for the pilot, life support systems, flight computer, comlink transceiver and various sensor systems such as a long-range forward scanner, short-range tactical sensor and weather radar. While the B-wing featured an ejector seat, the pod could also disconnect from the rest of the starfighter with a separate sublight engine at the rear of the pod. The avionics packages were on par with those used by small capital ships. Advanced targeting systems allowed pilots to synchronize attacks across multiple B-wing fighters.
The B-wing was unusual compared to other starfighters in that its command pod featured a unique gyroscopic control system that kept it stationary as the rest of the starfighter rotated around it. By keeping the cockpit module level with a horizon no matter how the body of the craft was positioned, the B-wing pilot was better able to concentrate on flying and targeting enemy ships, allowing them to evade enemy fire while staying on target. This gyroscopic stabilization also minimized the g-stresses the pilot felt performing evasive maneuvers. If however the gyroscopic system failed, it would lock the wing in place and put the pilot under more physical strain when attempting to make tight turns.
The engine cluster in the middle of the B-wing consisted of a single Kyromaster ion engine with four thrust nozzles, along with the ship’s fusion reactor and Class-2 hyperdrive. At the front of the cluster was the B-wing’s cooling system, with four cooling vent “intakes” on either side of the splitter plate along with the main heat radiators. Retro-thrust nozzles were also located next to the cooling system. The primary wing below the engine held the B-wing’s ANv-9q sensor array housed in a protective window, along with other systems including navigation sensor array, wing status sensors, velocity sensors and sensor jammer system.
The A/SF-01’s impressive array of weaponry made it the most heavily-armed starfighter in the galaxy when it was introduced. As standard its weapons pod held a SW-7a ion cannon, an R-9X heavy laser cannon and an emission-type MG9 proton torpedo launcher. Two more SW-7a cannons were mounted at the ends of the S-foils, with a secondary MG9 in an armored emplacement between the command pod and engine cluster. The command pod featured a weapon mount that could accommodate multiple options; typically it featured a pair of twin auto-blasters with room for a second pair. Alternative weaponry included quad lasers or laser-guided bombs.
The B-wing starfighter was capable of diverting power from all other systems into its energy weapons, unleashing enough firepower to vaporize a small mountain in one blast. However, attempting to maintain this level of firepower would lead to gradual system failure.
In addition to the four low-powered targeting lasers, one each mounted at the four ends of the starfighter, the B-wing had another unusual targeting feature. By continuously firing the R-9X heavy laser cannon at very low power at an enemy, the targeting computer could receive enough data to ensure a 97% probability of hitting it with the ion cannons and/or torpedoes. Unfortunately this method also revealed the B-wing’s approach vector to the enemy, so it was used sparingly and actually removed by many pilots.
The prototype starfighter, B6, built by the Mon Calamari Quarrie featured a composite-beam laser weapon that could inflict heavy damage upon cruiser-class targets, but its range was short, and use interfered with the hyperdrive. The B6 also had a second gunner’s cockpit at the opposite end of the main airfoil. Neither of these features were included with later production models, where the primary weaponry focus shifted to missiles.
Appearances: Skeleton Crew