Restricted Ship V-4 Swingback Starbomber

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V-4 "SWINGBACK" STARBOMBER

AFFILIATION
Open market.

MANUFACTURER
Domel-Berger Assemblies.

CLASS
Medium starbomber.

ROLE
Anti-ship torpedo bomber.

COMPOSITION
Alusteel and transparisteel.

DIMENSIONS
Height - 34 meters.CREW
1-3.

PASSENGER CAPACITY
1.

CARGO CAPACITY
4 standard tons.

HANGAR CAPACITY
N/A.

CONSUMABLES
1 standard week.

SPEED/MANEUVERABILITY
The V-4 Swingback starbomber has a top speed of 110 MGLT and has sluggish maneuvering characteristics.

ARMAMENT

• 2x fixed heavy laser cannon.
• 2x 12-tube proton torpedo launcher, 24 projectiles combined total.

EQUIPMENT

• 1x class 1 hyperdrive.
• 1x navicomputer.
• 1x medium deflector screen generator.
• 4x ejection seat.

DESCRIPTION​

The V-4 Swingback medium starbomber is a fast, well armed anti-ship platform manufactured by Domel-Berger Assemblies, a division of the venerable Domel-Berger Yards which builds smaller craft. Billed as a counter to the gigantic, heavily armed capital ships which have been increasingly fielded by all sides in the present conflict, the Swingback is mainly marketed to independent planets and systems seeking to enforce their neutrality.

The V-4 Swingback is a fairly remarkable design, resembling in many ways an enlarged B-wing, although without the swiveling cockpit arrangement, maintaining its vertical orientation in flight. Crew consists of 3 individuals, including a pilot, gunner and sensor operator, as well as a single optional passenger. Cargo capacity is about 4 tons, with a week's worth of consumables. Primary armament consists of 2 banks of 12 single-shot torpedo launchers, meant to be ripple fired during approach to the target, in concert with a pair of fixed heavy laser cannons to help clear a path. Top speed is an incredible 110 MGLT, faster than most aerospace superiority fighters, although maneuverability is lacking. They are equipped with a class 1 hyperdrive, useful for rapid escapes.

In combat, the Swingback and any escorts are meant to perform massed, high-speed passes against enemy fleet formations. Accelerating to full speed, large formations are to drive straight at the enemy, firing their entire torpedo armament as soon as they are within range, and then continuing on, blowing past any opposition while firing their heavy laser cannons to try and inflict additional damage. They are not meant to directly engage enemy snubfighters or gunships, merely carving straight through at high speed and then retreating into hyperspace as soon as they have cleared the enemy fleet.

So far, Swingback starbombers have been sold to a number of neutral parties, and as yet have not seen much combat in their intended role. This is likely to change soon, however.

LEGALITY​

Restricted. Swingbacks are starbombers, and are subject to extra licensing requirements and increased scrutiny by authorities.

INTENT​

To create a high-speed starbomber meant as a direct foil to the large fleets most factions seem to be building.

RESTRICTIONS​

V-4 Swingback starbombers are highly sophisticated, highly expensive craft, although they are less expensive than a corvette or similar capital ship. They are not really intended for large factions which already have sizeable fleets, but are meant for groups seeking to counter such assets. They would likely be NPC opposition during an operation to conquer an unaligned planet, say. Regardless, the resources of at least a small faction would be required to acquire them, and they are not intended for individual use.