Image Source: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/ships/vanguard/Vanguard
Affiliation: Galactic Republic
Manufacturer: Galactic Republic
Model: Wroshyr-Class Assault Fighter
Modularity: Payload
Production: Mass-Produced
Material: Terenthium and Desh, Durasteel
Classification: Assaulter
Length: 37m
Height: 7.5m
Width: 20m
Armament:
4x Heavy Blaster Cannons
2x Warhead Launcher
Pick One:
1. [Concussion Missiles, 12 missiles per launcher.]
2. [Proton Torpedoes, 4 torpedoes per launcher.]
1x Nose-Mounted Heavy Rotary Blaster Cannon
1x Turreted Twin-Rotary Blaster Cannon
Squadron Count: 3.
Special Features:
-Heavy Deflector Shields
-Targeting System
-Heavy Armor
-Hyperdrive
-Strengthened Comms
-Sensors
-Ejector Seats
-Life Support
-Nav Computer
-Other assorted standard starfighter components.
Maneuverability Rating: 6
Speed Rating: 4.5
Hyperdrive Class: 2
Strengths:
+Flying Tank: Taking its name from the massive, thick trees of the Wookiee homeworld, this assault fighter was built from the ground up to take a beating. The reasons for this were simple; it would come in at low-altitude, find the biggest, slowest target it could and unload what it had in support of ground units. While normally this role would be given over to gunships, a bit more speed was needed in order to combat the inevitable attention they would draw from opposition fighters and ground forces. This also necessitated that a signifcant amount of armor and internal plating be installed in order to keep the vessel flying through otherwise crippling damage.
+We Cover Our Own: Because of the close nature of the work between this fighter and ground forces, its comm system was shored up so that atmospheric and enemy interference would have a minimized effect on coordination with ground units. Said comm system is not impervious to interference, just robust against it. Naturally, damaging the starfighter is the best way to ensure that said vessel does no receive communications.
Weaknesses:
-Easy Target: The downside to being a giant flying target is that, unsurprisingly, you're a giant flying target. While maneuverable at low altitudes, this starfighter was not designed for dogfights. Exceptionally skilled pilots familiar with the aircraft can sometimes use it to dogfight regular starfighters, but this is considered a last ditch maneuver in any situation in which escape is impossible.
-Can't Carry Me: Due to the large size of the fighter, it simply isn't feasible nor efficient to store any number of these craft on your average ship of the line. Because of this, this fighter is often relegated to planetary garrison duty. You won't find this streaming from a carrier any time soon.
Description: With the blacklisting of the Republic by Incom, future starfighter considerations needed to be made. While their old vessels would do them for some time, newer ones need be made and produced by the Republic itself to ensure a steady stream of vessels and parts. In this manner, they would not need to rely on an outside corporation for their ships. The most pressing need for the Republic Starfighter Corps, however, was a dedicated Sithspawn assault fighter.
In almost every conflict between any significant quantity of Sith and the Republic, large Spawn are almost guaranteed to be involved. Since these beasts are almost useless in the reaches of space, a large assault fighter was put forward. While the size prohibited it from being carried through the void on the back of a starship, it did allow space for a hyperdrive to be installed. This would allow the ship to either escape a falling planet, or make the jump to a nearby system as part of a wave of reinforcements.
Most notable on the assault fighter is the heavy rotary blaster cannon housed within the nose of the craft. Said weapon takes roughly a second and a half to spool up, but once it does it unleashes a withering barrage of heavy blasterfire that is enough to penetrate even the thickest hide through sheer volume of fire. The cannon can double as an anti-gunship or anti-dropship weapon and can perform the duty efficiently. However, not every target is big, slow, and capable of being strafed by a rotary canon. It has also proven to be an effective deterrent to heavy armed vehicles, and absolutely deadly to light ones. The reason for the housing within the craft is to help guard the weapon against damage.
For this reason it carries a standard complement of either concussion missiles or proton torpedoes, depending on mission parameters. A second crewmember sits in a turret atop the ship, providing covering fire for the bomber as it makes its runs. As the bomber is typically skimming near the surface of the planet, only a turret facing upward was installed, as the overwhelming majority of attacks will occur from that angle of attack.
Also, as an astromech droid does not come as a complement to the fighter, a nav computer is installed. The turret gunner inputs up to 3 coordinates into the computer before launch, allowing the ship to make that number of jumps before needing to land for recalculation of route.
As an important note, the nose-mounted cannon and the blaster cannons cannot be fired at the same time. It is either one or the other. Said quad blaster cannons are usually twin-linked to fire two at a time to prevent undue power draw on the reactor.
Development Thread:
Intent: Provide a designated, heavy close air support fighter craft for the Republic to use against Sithspawn and enemy mechanized forces.
