B-wing Starfighter

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Production information
Manufacturer
Slayn & Korpil

Model
B-wing starfighter

Class
Assault starfighter

Cost
220,000

Technical specifications
Length
16.9 meters

Width
2.9 meters

Height/depth
2.5 meters (7.3 meters w/ S-Foils in Attack Position)

Maximum acceleration
2,390 G

MGLT
91 MGLT

Maximum speed (atmosphere)
950 km/h (higher speeds possible with deflector shields on)

Engine unit(s)
Quadex Kryomaster engine (1)
or
Slayn & Korpil JZ-5 Fusial Thrust Engine (Rated 290 KTU) (4)

Hyperdrive rating
Class 2.0

Hyperdrive system
Slayn & Korpil HYd-997 hyperdrive motivator

Power plant
Vinop O2K cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor

Shielding
Sirplex Zr-41 shield generator (Rated 125 SBD)

Hull
Reinforced durasteel (Rated 60.0 RU)

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

Targeting systems
Fabritech ANq 3.6 tracking computer with IN-344-B "Sightline" holographic imaging system

Navigation system
Microaxial LpM-549 navigation computer

Avionics
Narmox HG.6w flight control avionics

Armament
Standard configuration:
ArMek SW-7a light ion cannons (3)
Gyrhil R-9X heavy laser cannon (1)
Gyrhil 72 twin autoblasters (1)
Krupx MG9 proton torpedo launchers (2)
8 proton torpedoes each, standard load

Crew
B-wing:
Pilot (1)
B-wing/E:
Pilot (1)
Gunner (1)

Cargo capacity
45 kilograms

Consumables
1 week


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 Gial Ackbar as part of the Shantipole Project. 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.

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 assault starfighter had a somewhat ungainly appearance resembling a top-heavy cross when fully unfurled. The primary airfoil took up the length of the hull, with the cockpit at one end and a weapons pod at the other end. Two S-foils amidships on either side of the airfoil also held weapons.

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 gyroscopic 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 Kryomaster engine with four thrust ports, or four Slayn & Korpil JZ-5 Fusial Thrust Engines. The Quadex core was the same version carried on-board CEC YT-1300 light freighters. The rotating airfoil allowed the B-wing to be placed vertical in launch racks, although it was also capable of landing horizontally.

Vinop O2K cryogenic power cells and an ionization reactor fueled the ship, and Slayn & Korpil HYd-997 hyperdrive motivator was a Class 2 lightspeed system. A Sirplex Zr-41 shield generator, rated at 125 SBD, and a reinforced durasteel rated at 60.0 RU provided protection.

The B-wing carried a Fabritech ANv-9q sensor system with PH-5s long-range phased tachyon detection array and PK-8f short-range primary threat analysis grid, and its targeting computer was an ANq 3.6 system with IN-344-B "Sightline" holographic imaging system. The navigation computer was a Microaxial LpM-549 unit, and the starfighter was equipped with a Narmox HG.6w flight control avionics system. The powerful systems were originally designed for small capital ships.

The B-wing was designed to replace the aging BTL Y-wing starfighter in the heavy assault role against capital ships, 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, affecting its dogfighting capability. 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. The B-wing was also expensive to manufacture.

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.

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.

The B-wing carried an unusually high payload for its size, the largest of any Imperial-era starfighter, due to its designation as an assault fighter. As originally designed, the B-wing carried three ArMek SW-7a light ion cannons, two Krupx MG9 proton torpedo launchers with 8 torpedoes each, one Gyrhil R-9X heavy laser cannon, and two Gyrhil 72 twin autoblasters. Most B-wings had their two autoblasters replaced with laser cannons to improve survivability and firepower, though some B-wings had four autoblasters. Additional configurations carried a heavy ion cannon, proton torpedoes, auto-blasters and a trio of laser cannons, or three laser cannons, three ion cannons, and twin torpedo launchers. The launcher was also capable of firing advanced proton torpedoes. The starfighter could also carry additional ordinance on hardpoints under the S-foils.

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.