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| B-wing starfighter | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Model |
B-wing starfighter |
| Class |
Assault starfighter[2] |
| Cost | |
| Technical specifications | |
| Length |
16.9 meters[4] |
| Maximum acceleration |
2,390 G |
| MGLT |
60 MGLT[4] |
| Maximum speed (atmosphere) |
950 km/h (higher speeds possible with deflector shields on)[4] |
| Engine unit(s) |
or
|
| Hyperdrive rating |
Class 2.0[4] |
| Hyperdrive system |
Slayn & Korpil HYd-997 hyperdrive motivator[4] |
| Power plant | |
| Shielding |
Sirplex Zr-41 shield generator (Rated 125 SBD)[5] |
| Hull | |
| Sensor systems |
Fabritech ANv-9q sensor system with PH-5s long-range phased tachyon detection array and PK-8f short-range primary threat analysis grid[5] |
| Targeting systems |
Fabritech ANq 3.6 tracking computer with IN-344-B "Sightline" holographic imaging system[5] |
| Navigation system | |
| Avionics | |
| Armament |
Standard configuration:
|
| Crew |
B-wing: B-wing/E:
|
| Cargo capacity |
45 kilograms[4] |
| Consumables |
1 week |
| Usage | |
| Role(s) |
|
| Era(s) | |
| Affiliation | |
The B-wing starfighter was one of the largest and most heavily armed starfighters/bombers in the Rebel Alliance's fleet. The name B-wing came from the craft's remote similarity in appearance to the lowercase letter "b", although its swordlike shape in attack mode has earned it the nickname "blade-wing", which may be another reason for the "b" prefix.
Known as "crosses" due to their distinct shape, the B-wing was designed by the Verpine company Slayn & Korpil in cooperation with then-Commander Ackbar as part of Project Shantipole. The B-wing, though difficult to fly, participated in numerous engagements across the galaxy during the latter parts of the Galactic Civil War, including the Battle of Endor and the liberation of Coruscant. The B-wing was used in its primary role of assault starfighter by both the New Republic and the Galactic Alliance throughout the Yuuzhan Vong War and beyond.
Later models included a two-man version that could be used as a small transport.
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Somewhat reminiscent of the H-60 Tempest bomber, and using a wing configuration similar to Slayn & Korpil's earlier V-19 Torrent starfighter, the B-wing had a somewhat ungainly appearance resembling a top-heavy cross when fully unfurled.
The B-wing was a highly adaptable design, with modular hardpoints and other components. Its weapons could be reconfigured more easily than many other Alliance fighters. The B-wing also had a unique rotating cockpit module which was independently stabilized to allow the pilot to coordinate advanced flight and attack maneuvers. The fighter was powered by either of two engine systems: a Quadex Kyromaster engine with four thrust ports, or four Slayn & Korpil JZ-5 fusial thrust engines.
The B-wing was designed to replace the aging BTL Y-wing starfighter in the heavy assault role, as it had the advantage of more weaponry and stronger shields. However, the B-wing had several weaknesses, notably being difficult to fly and lacking speed and agility. Its large hull furthermore made it an easier target and it also had less armor protection. Consequently, it never fully succeeded supplanting the Y-wing as intended.
In particular, the rotating hull system made the B-wing a challenge to master. It also made the ship abnormally delicate; too many sharp turns could cause extreme strain to the spaceframe, and the cockpit rotation system could get stuck in one position. Only a few pilots were qualified to fly the ship before the Battle of Endor, resulting in a smaller number of B-wings present than expected. These difficulties forced the Rebel Alliance to invest in an upgraded Y-wing, rather than an entirely new ship, to fulfill their needs.
Like its predecessor, the Y-wing, the cockpit could be detached from the rest of the ship, but unlike the Y-wing, the B-wing's cockpit could be ejected into space and support atmospheric re-entry.[7]
The B-wing would go on to participate in many battles throughout the Galactic Civil War, and would lend design elements to other vessels. Sometime after the Battle of Hoth, the hull of a wrecked B-wing was used as the design prototype for the AHS-1 heavy assault airspeeder, and later models followed the same general design.
The B-wing/E starfighter, or B-wing Expanded, was a modification to the original Slayn & Korpil B-wing design. The B-wing Expanded had an elongated cockpit that allowed a gunner to assist the pilot on missions. This allowed the pilot to concentrate on piloting, and resulted in the B-wing accounting for an increased number of kills in battle. It was faster and tougher than the original B-wing, but was somewhat less maneuverable. There were two models of B-wing/E—the first was simply a military ship, while the second generation (known as the B-wing/E2) was designed as a personal military shuttle. Ackbar used one of these E2-designs as his own shuttle, which he was forced to crash on the planet Vortex after it had been tampered with by Terpfen.
The B-wing shuttle was another variant of Slayn & Korpil's B-Wing fighter which was given a larger cockpit allowing it to house a pilot along with two passengers.[8]
The B-wing carried an unusually high payload for its size, due to its designation as an assault fighter. As originally designed, the B-wing carried three ion cannons, two proton torpedo launchers, one laser cannon, and two auto-blasters. Most B-wings had their two auto-blasters replaced with laser cannons to improve survivability and firepower, though some B-wings had four auto-blasters. The B-wing was originally designed with a unique fire-control system which fires low-power lasers at a target to give the computer range and vector information for the torpedoes and ion cannons.
While its strong deflector shields and great firepower allowed it to be somewhat survivable in fighter engagements, it usually required an escort on the way in. However, with the firepower of many naval corvettes, it fulfilled its purpose as a dangerous foe against many light capital ships.
The development of the B-wing began shortly after the Battle of Yavin. The small-unit starfighter tactics of the Rebellion were having a greater effect on the forces of the Imperial Navy than many Imperial commanders thought possible. As a response to this threat, the Empire began to produce and deploy more capital ships with a primary role of anti-starfighter defense. The primary vessel used for this strategy was the EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate, a starship with which the Alliance was already quite familiar.
The Rebels couldn't afford to field the kind of overwhelming space forces that the Empire could bring to bear in fleet engagements. The Alliance's primary assault fighters, the outdated Y-wings, took large losses in capital ship assaults. A new tactic was needed if the Rebel Alliance Fleet was to continue having any impact on the galaxy.
Fortunately, one advantage the Rebels had over the Empire was their people. Approximately a year before the Battle of Yavin, the Rebels executed a raid on an Imperial Lambda-class shuttle carrying Wilhuff Tarkin and Bevel Lemelisk near Eriadu. The Alliance rescued the renowned Mon Calamari tactician Ackbar, in a military operation the Empire might not have bothered to commit for one of their own personnel.[9] As a commander in the Alliance Fleet, Ackbar revolutionized the strategy and tactics of the Alliance.
Ackbar knew that the only solution to the Empire's new convoy defense plan was to either use equally powerful starships, which the Alliance could not afford to waste, or to create a starfighter especially for this purpose. Alliance High Command agreed, and placed Ackbar in charge of Project Shantipole. Ackbar went to the Roche system and enlisted the aid of the Verpine colonies of Slayn & Korpil.
Working under Ackbar's direction, Slayn & Korpil produced the first prototypes of the B-wing starfighter in the Roche asteroids. They were delivered to the Alliance despite Imperial interference. Imperial District Commander Bane Nothos was aware of the project, and decided to allow development to proceed so he could capture the fighters for the Empire. The Empire's efforts to capture the blueprints of the B-wing were actually foiled by the first combat flight of the original prototypes. A squadron of these prototypes was quickly put into service and christened Dagger Squadron.[10]
Despite its limited numbers at the time, it was a key Rebel craft in the Battle of Endor, where a squad of these fighters took down an Imperial II-class Star Destroyer. After the battle, the B-wing's modular design allowed it to be retrofitted with sprayers for firefighting duty on Endor, to extinguish the fires caused by the falling debris.[11]
B-wings continued to serve in the Rebel Alliance and later the New Republic and Galactic Alliance fleets as a heavy assault starfighter. B-wings were present in the Battle of Bakura.[12] The B-wing fighter also featured significantly in the campaign against Warlord Zsinj, where the B-wings of Nova Squadron were instrumental in defeating Razor's Kiss[13] and Iron Fist.[14] General Salm's Defender Wing was partially retrofitted with B-wings during the campaign against Zsinj. Also, at least one squadron of B-wing starfighters was present at the liberation of Coruscant.[15] A wing of B-wings would also serve against Delak Krennel and his Ciutric Hegemony.[16]
B-wing squadrons were present at the Battle of Almania,[17] the Battle of Adumar,[18] and in the defense of Mon Calamari during the Second Battle of Mon Calamari.[19] Luke Skywalker flew a B-wing into Nam Chorios.[20] As it was designed by Admiral Ackbar, the B-wing seems to have enjoyed high popularity among Mon Calamari pilots since Ackbar and Terpfen used expanded versions as their personal shuttles. Furthermore, there was a squadron present when Admiral Daala attacked Dac,[19] and a Mon Calamari pilot flew a B-wing as part of the Second Battle of Borleias.[21][22] Another group besides the New Republic noted for its use of the B-wing was the Verpine, who preferred to use the craft in high-speed bombing runs if defending their territory was necessary.[23]
Some B-wings would be modified to have a YT series cockpit and a turbolaser cannon, making them uglies. These were called Corellian/B-wing uglies.[24] These modified B-wings were used by the Sacorrian Triad during the First Corellian Crisis, but were largely unsuccessful against the Bakuran fleet that opposed them.[25]
B-wings continued to play the vital role of heavy assault fighter for the New Republic and its successor, the Galactic Alliance, throughout the Yuuzhan Vong War in all major engagements, including the First[26] and Second Battles of Coruscant,[27] the Battle of Ebaq 9,[28] and the Second Battle of Borleias. In a particular unique use during the latter instance, a Twin Suns pilot named Beelyath and his gunner, Sharr Latt, launched the decoy Goddess missile from his B-wing, luring several coralskippers to their doom.[22]
The B-wing fighter continued to serve in the Galactic Alliance Fleet through the Dark Nest Crisis/Swarm War and the Second Galactic Civil War. It is the predecessor of the Besh-type personal starfighter.
The craft's unusually thin shape was problematic for blue-screen photography; the model tended to blend into the starfield. As a consequence, some planned sequences with the B-wing were cut from Return of the Jedi, and the B-wing is not explicitly shown in action during the Battle of Endor in RotJ. In fact, after the ships fly away from the still-active Death Star II shield at the start of the battle, the B-wing is hardly seen at all. The rotating cockpit design of the B-wing was based on early concept art for the Millennium Falcon[29]
The craft derives its name from the fact that the crew labeled the two new Rebel starfighter models in Return of the Jedi as "A fighter" and "B fighter". While the A-wing looks similar to a capital A, the B-wing, on first glance, does not resemble its namesake. However, when viewed upon from a certain angle, it looks like a lowercase b. The in-universe answer is that "B" stands for "Blade", making the craft's full name "Blade-wing starfighter".
The appearance of the B-wing in the Star Wars: Droids episode "The New King" is disputed, as the B-wing may not have been manufactured by that time.
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"Who Is That Alien? Ewoks & Sullustans" - Star Wars Kids 6
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Special Edition Limited (Card: B-wing Attack Fighter) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Death Star II Limited (Card: B-wing Bomber)
"Masters of the Force" - Jedi Knights Trading Card Game (Card: B-wing)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Squadrons Over Corellia (Card: B-wing)
B-wing starfighter in the Databank
B-wing starfighter in the Databank| B-wing Starfighter
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| Certification | Alliance Ace Pilot |
| Mass | ~240k |
| Role | Heavy bomber |
| Crew | Pilot only |
| Weapon Mounts | Projectile weapon x4 Ordnance x2 |
| Astromech Technology | Flight computer |
| Acceleration | 300 |
| Deceleration | 350 |
| Yaw Rate | 75 |
| Pitch Rate | 75 |
| Roll Rate | 50 |
| Speed Modifier | 0.90 (S-foils closed) 0.85 (S-foils open) |
| Pictures | Official 6 Textures |
The B-wing Bomber is an advanced fighter ship available to Alliance Starfighter Pilot Aces. The B-wing is not known for its maneuverability; however, with four weapon ports and two ordinance bays, the firepower this monster can bring to bear is truly frightening. Though is takes patience and practice to master, the B-Wing has great potential to rip apart larger ships and take an incredible amount of punishment. However, because of the handling difficulties, it is not a ship for pilots with little or no experience. The Alliance selects its B-wing corps from among the best pilots available.
Perhaps the oddest-looking starfighter in the Rebel Alliance fleet, the B-wing fighter is as powerful as it is ungainly. The ship's structure is almost entirely taken up by its primary airfoil, which houses a cylindrical cockpit on one end, an engine cluster in the center, and a heavy weapons pod at its base. Located just below the engine cluster are a pair of S-foils which can deploy to extend the firing arc of twin laser cannons.
The B-wing's command pod has a unique gyroscopic control system. The pilot can orient it so that it always stays level with a pre-designated horizon line. No matter which way the B-wing may maneuver laterally, its pilot remains upright.
B-wing fighters figured prominently in the Battle of Endor as Alliance pilots such as Ten Numb piloted the ship into the historic showdown.
The Alliance drew many needed supplies by raiding Imperial convoys with their venerated X-wing and Y-wing starfighters. In response to this piracy, the Empire countered with heavily armed starships -- escort frigates -- protecting their shipments. The Alliance countered with the B-wing starfighter.
The B-wing/E (or B-wing Expanded) was a modification to the original Slayn & Korpil B-wing design. First proposed by Admiral Ackbar and the Verpine after the Battle of Yavin, the B-wing Expanded had an elongated cockpit that allowed a gunner to assist the pilot on missions. This allowed the pilot to concentrate on piloting, and resulted in the B-wing accounting for an increased number of kills in battle. It was faster and tougher than the original B-wing, but was somewhat less maneuverable. There were two models of B-wing/E—the first was simply a military ship, while the second generation (known as the B-wing/E2) was designed as a personal military shuttle. Ackbar used one of these E2-designs as his own shuttle, which he was forced to crash on the planet Vortex after it had been tampered with by Terpfen.
The B-wing carries an extremely powerful array of weapons, including a heavy ion cannon, proton torpedoes, auto-blasters and a trio of laser cannons. Alternate configurations feature three laser cannons, three ion cannons, and twin torpedo launchers. Since the vessel is designed to engage capital ships, it has phenomonal firepower, but lacks speed and maneuverability.
The peculiar shape of the B-wing fighter worked against it in earning screen time. The extremely thin front and back views of the fighter made it all but disappear in shots against space, so many of the planned B-wing sequences were cut from the film.
The rotating cockpit assembly was inspired by designs originally planned for the Millennium Falcon.
While the B-wing was designed to replace the aging Y-wing, the fact that it was very difficult to fly meant that it never fully succeeded in this respect. The fact that its entire hull could rotate separately from its cockpit made the B-wing a challenge to master, as well as making the ship abnormally delicate; too many sharp turns could cause extreme strain to the spaceframe. Only a few pilots were qualified to fly the ship before the Battle of Endor, resulting in a smaller number of B-wings present than expected. These difficulties forced the Rebel Alliance to invest in an upgraded Y-wing, rather than an entirely new ship, to fulfill their needs.
Despite its limited numbers, it was a key Rebel craft in the Battle of Endor, where a squad of these fighters took down an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.
The B-wing is mostly used as a bomber and used to great effect against gunboats, capital ships, etc. That being said the B-wing is more than capable of going head to head with interceptors and other bombers and will usually win a joust, though it has a bit more trouble winning in a turn fight, even with a p/y/r engine. The B-wing has a unique advantage over other ships in that it has a different roll axis. The axis runs through the cockpit and therefore the B-wing is harder to hit when rolling. If the pilot can make use of this roll combined with yawing and pitching they can be very hard to hit.
The B-wing's mass allows it to easily fit a Nova engine and 4 re-engineered level 8 weapons, or 3 level 8s and a level 10 if needed.
A note on weapons: It's somewhat in-efficient to use more than 3 level 8s during PvE. The only time it's recommended to use all 4 weapons is during a PvP encounter when the weapon spread is really needed. Against most NPC ships it's very unlikely that all 4 weapons will hit and there's not much of a risk when they do not all hit the target as there is while PvPing.
The B-wing also has potential as a mining ship due to its numerous weapon slots, which still allow a good amount of firepower when you have a mining laser and tractor beam equipped as well as enough mass for a huge starfighter cargo hold. It is suggested to place your tractor beam in the first slot (The gun on the cockpit) since anywhere else will cause some difficulty when using/aiming a tractor beam to collect astroid chunks.
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