Nu-Class Attack Shuttle
Craft: Cygnus Spaceworks Nu-Class Attack Shuttle
Type: Military Orbital Shuttle
Scale: Starfighter
Length: 18.9 meters
Skill: Space Transports: Nu-Class Shuttle
Crew: 2, skeleton: 1/+10
Passengers: 20
Cargo Capacity: 250 metric tons
Consumables: 1 month
Cost: 85,000 (new), 50,000 (used)
Hyperdrive: x1
Hyperdrive backup: x12
Nav Computer: Y
Maneuverability: 2D
Space: 5
Atmosphere: 295, 850 kmh
Hull: 3D+2
Shields: 2D
Sensors:
Passive: 20/0D
Scan: 35/1D
Search: 75/2D
Focus: 3/2D+2
Weapons:
4 Medium Laser Cannons (fire-linked)
Fire arc: Front
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire control: 2D
Space range: 1-4/12/25
Atmosphere range: 100-400/1.2/2.5km
Damage: 4D
4 Double Light Laser Cannons (fire-linked)
Fire arc: Front (90 degree turret)
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire control: 2D+1
Space range: 1-3/1/2
Atmosphere range: 100-300/1/2km
Damage: 4D
Background: The Nu-class attack shuttle, also known as the Republic attack shuttle, was a vessel used by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars.
The Nu-class was a faster, long-range supplementary design to the standard LAAT gunship line, and shared similar design characteristics to the NR2 gully jumper of the Great Galactic War. The class had heavier armor and shielding than most atmospheric craft. It was equipped with a hyperdrive, allowing it to operate a long distance away from bases and motherships, which the hyperdriveless LAAT/i simply could not. Nu-class also had seats for the passengers due to it being designed for long distance travel, which the LAAT/i did not have due to being mostly used for atmospheric flights not too far away from a base and quick flights between surface and the mothership.
However, the LAAT/i remained very competitive with the Nu: while the shuttle could only carry 30 Clone troopers, the LAAT/i could carry that and four speeder bikes in addition, though doing so made the LAAT quite cramped. The shuttle also lacked the missile launchers of the LAAT/i and was in general much inferior in a gunship role. Lack of a hyperdrive also made the LAAT/i much cheaper to produce. As a result, it wasn’t a complete replacement for the affectionately nicknamed “larty” which was a significantly more common sight in the hangars of Acclamator-class assault ships and Venator-class Star Destroyers.
It was designed with fold-down wings, similar to fighters like the V-19 Torrent and later shuttle designs like the Theta-class and Lambda-class. Its boarding hatch was located at the front of the shuttle, in what could be described as the vessel’s “chin”. The pilots’ chairs would lower them into the boarding area for them to leave the ship, and visa-versa.
It would also appear to have been equipped with some form of tractor beam or magnetic clamp; as used to carry Anakin Skywalker’s escape pod after he had crashed the Defender into the command ship of the Separatist blockade over the planet Ryloth.
