Craft: Tapani Starship Cooperative Manta-class Starfighter
Type: Intermediate Assault Starfighter
Scale: Starfighter
Length: 12 meters
Skill: Starfighter Piloting: Manta-class Starfighter
Crew: 1, 1 gunner
Crew Skill: Starship Gunnery 4D, Starfighter Piloting 4D+2, Starship Shields 4D, Sensors 4D.
Cargo Capacity: 100kg
Consumables: 1 Week
Cost: 95,000 Credits
Maneuverability: 3D+2 (attack formation), 1D (intercept formation)
Space: 7 (attack formation), 10 (intercept formation)
Hull: 2D+1
Shields: 2D+1
Sensors:
Passive: 20/0D
Scan: 40/1D
Search: 80/1D+2
Focus: 2/2D+1
Weapons:
2 Light ion Cannons (Fire-linked, nose mounted)
Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-3/12/25
Atmosphere Range: 1-250/1/1.5km
Damage: 3D
2 medium laser Cannons (Fire-linked, wingtip mounted)
Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-5/15/30
Atmosphere Range: 1-300/1.2/1.7km
Damage: 4D+1
2 Heavy Heavy Laser Cannons (Fire-linked, interior wing mounted)
Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire Control: 2D+2
Space Range: 1-3/10/20
Atmosphere Range: 1-100/750/1.2km
Damage: 6D
Background: The Manta-class starfighter had a flat, organic design inspired by the creature for which it was named. It featured a trio of retractable landing gears equipped with magnetic clamps, as well as several belly mounted magnetic pads, allowing the starfighter to clamp to the hull of a Tapani-class carrier and other starships for transportation; the Manta-class starfighter was not fitted with a hyperdrive, hence the need for interstellar transport.
The starfighter was designed to defend against pirates that preyed on ships traveling the Shapani Bypass. It had two configurations, acting as a high-speed interceptor or attack ship respectively. While in intercept mode, the wings were configured parallel to the hull which maximized speed but only provided average maneuverability. Although very few ships could outrun a Manta in this configuration, the aggressive capability of the ship was reduced since most power was automatically routed to the engines, leaving only the ion cannons enabled.
When in attack mode, the wings swung down 90 degrees, allowing the fighter’s two heavy laser cannons to be deployed, therefore greatly increasing the ship’s attack potential. In attack mode, the fighter increased its maneuverability greatly, at the cost of lowering speed for maneuvering.
Factory-model Manta-class starfighters cost around 95,000 credits.