BACKGROUND (Wookieepedia, Legends)
The BTS-A2 Long-Range Strike Fighter/Bomber (Rebel Alliance designation H-Wing) was an addition to Rebel fighter wings manufactured by Koensayr Manufacturing, a company made famous for their rugged Y-Wing starfighters.
Because of the resounding success of their previous fighter, it would only be a matter of time before the Alliance military chose to include the H-Wing in their starfighter arsenal. Even so, the number that entered service was expected to remain low, as almost any two single-seated starfighters could be purchased for the same price as a single H-Wing.
The H-Wing was a stable weapons platform capable of delivering a rather hard-hitting punch; only the B-Wing was more heavily armed. The fighter's primary long-range weapon was its medium laser cannon which was mounted in a fully rotating dorsal turret. The weapon could only be fired from the turret's gunnery chair; no fire control for the main weapon was included in the piloting cockpit; a design flaw meaning that, if the gunner was incapacitated, or indeed was not there, the primary weapon could not be used.
As with the Y-Wing, the H-Wing carried two Arakyd Industries proton torpedo launchers. In contrast to the Y-Wing, however, the H-Wing boasted a magazine of eight torpedoes (twice that of the earlier Y-Wing's). Other than that, the magazines were identical to that of the Y-Wing, making heavy ordnance standard for the two craft. This ordnance was benefited by an elaborately complex, improved fire control system which was quite necessary for the craft to excel in its primary role as a strike fighter/bomber.
As well as these primary weapons, the fighter also had two light ion cannons which were fire linked for greater effect and were mounted in the starboard nose of the fighters twin-nose hull. These weapons had a maximum rotation and vertical pivot span of 40 degrees which allowed the second gunner to engage forward targets independent of flight control.
The H-Wing was designed to survive extended combat engagements and multiple hits by using a new heavily reinforced armored hull, with the added protection provided by strong, high-energy shields. However, weapons capability and hull integrity did both come at a great cost; both maneuverability and sublight speed had been sacrificed for increased battle worthiness, creating a distinct disadvantage in the H-Wing that has an extremely small chance of outrunning a numerically superior enemy or of disengaging prior to retreating.
Despite these rather obvious speed and maneuverability disadvantages, the Alliance military planners believed that it had an advantage in combat due to its full combat crew of three. Rebel pilots of advanced, single-seat fighters often complained that they could not make full use of the craft's various systems on their own; with evasive maneuvering, operating several weapons systems, and angling shields, they were simply overtaxed. However, the H-Wing's three-man crew could provide extremely efficient use of the ship's systems.
The forward cockpit contained two crew stations; primary and secondary. Piloting controls were installed only in the primary station, but shield, ion cannon, and torpedo fire control were all installed in both stations, giving the cockpit crew good flexibility. However, the multiple systems, as well as full life support, are greatly reflected in the fighters cost. In combat, the general arrangement was to have shield control operated by the pilot while the ion cannon and torpedo controls were handled by the weaponry officer in the secondary station.
Many of the components used in the Y-Wing were adapted to be used again in the H-Wing, such as an improved Fabritech ANx-y sensor package and Koensayr R440 Ion Jet engines (complete with their thrust vectrals), though larger engines were used in the H-Wing. Other components of the Y-wing were not used, however, such as the R2 unit that previously provided nav data. Instead of this, a limited navigation computer similar to that on the B-Wing was used, although the H-Wing's had a higher data storage capacity.
Additionally, the H-Wing did not employ ballistic ejection seats as that option simply was not feasible due to space constraints left from all the other systems which were installed. It did, however, contain a cramped, spartan cabin which included a bunk with a soundproof divider which could be used on a rotational basis to provide increased comfort during long hyperspace jumps.
Alliance leaders reviewed reports of the H-Wing's performance from its first encounters with Imperial fighter craft, encounters that went rather favorably for the oversized starfighter. However, its limited use proved that its greatest capabilities lay in using it as a strike and anti-shipping craft, as well as a screening fighter protecting slower transports and freighters. Some of the high-ranking leaders suggested that the H-Wing should replace the B-Wing as the Alliance's primary assault fighter. These H-Wing proponents cited that the B-Wing required high maintenance and performed poorly after suffering damage. This replacement was not likely, however, for several reasons.
Firstly, many smaller, bay-equipped starships, and even some small outposts, simply did not have fighter bays capable of housing and servicing the H-Wings, which limited its usability. Additionally, the fighter severely lacked in speed, even the comparatively slow B-Wing was faster than the H-Wing.
The final reason that the replacement was not likely, however, was simply economics; not only was the H-Wing a costly space vehicle, it also required a greater number of trained flight personnel than the B-Wing. While this larger flight crew did provide advantages in combat, such trained personnel were always in short supply for the Alliance. What was most likely was that the H-Wing would serve as a special engagement craft, used when its advantages would provide it its greatest combat effectiveness.
The first batches of H-Wings delivered to the Alliance were purchased in small numbers. A group of rebels were to take a commercial transport to the planet they were manufactured on and take delivery of only an individual fighter. They were than to take the fighter to a small rebel outpost where new rebel volunteers were detained until background checks had been cleared.
Unfortunately, when the group arrived at the outpost they discovered an Imperial frigate performing a system-wide search pattern. The rebels on the base activated a decoy sensor pod emplaced on a small moon nearby, giving them some time to evacuate all beings on board the single rebel transport they had available. The group was ordered to escort the transport as it attempted to jump into hyperspace.
Shortly after the transport left the ship, a group of four TIE/LN starfighters found the station and moved to attack the transport. Luckily the group managed to hold off the TIEs for enough time to allow the transport to jump to hyperspace, and then follow them.
During the Galactic Civil War, the few H-wings in action were used for escort missions and patrol missions in Rebel-held systems. Their use was limited as few facilities could maintain even one of the complex fighters.
Affiliation: Alliance to Restore the Republic
Ship Type: Assault Fighter
Class: BTS-A2 H-wing
Manufacturer: Koensayr
Crew: 1 +2 gunners +1 Astromech Droid
Cargo: 220kg
STRUCTURE BY LOCATION:
Main Hull - 750
Cockpits (2) - 200 ea
Sensor/Communications Array - 100
Engines (2) - 300 ea
Laser Turret - 150
Twin Ion Cannon - 100
Shields - 300 per side (1800 total)
Armour Level - 14
Armour - automatically stops up to and including attacks that do the equivalent of 1d6x10/60 damage in s single attack/blast
SPEEDS:
Space: 6 SU for interplanetary travel. 33 MU in combat (11 MU per phase)
Atmosphere: 800kph with shields off (2.5km per round, combat: 178m per phase, cruise: 533.5m per phase, max: 889m per phase), 9500kph with shields on (31.5km per round, combat: 2km per phase, cruise: 6.5m per phase, max:10.5k m per phase)
FTL Drive: Class 1 Hyperdrive (400 Ly per hour)
Maximum Range: Can continue normal operations for up to 1 week. Combat ops decrease this by 75%
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 17.1m
Height: 3.1m, 4.7m on landing skids
Width: 10.1m
Weight: 34 tonnes
Power System: Koensayr R440 Ion Jet Engines x2 plus a fusion battery
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
WEAPON: Twin Ion Cannon (Front)
PURPOSE: Anti-fighter
RANGE: ATMOSPHERE: 600m/1.5/3km, SPACE: 3/6/9mu
DAMAGE: 4d6x10 ion damage. Roll on Ion damage table once shields are down. Double Damage to shields.
RATE OF FIRE: equal to pilots actions
PAYLOAD: unlimited
WEAPON: Laser Cannon (Turret)
PURPOSE: Anti-fighter
RANGE: ATMOSPHERE: 500m/1.25/2.5km, SPACE: 2/4/8mu
DAMAGE: 6d6x10
RATE OF FIRE: equal to gunners actions
PAYLOAD: unlimited
WEAPON: Proton Torpedo Launchers (2 Front)
PURPOSE: Anti-ship
RANGE: ATMOSPHERE: 1.4/3.5/7km, SPACE: 4/10/21mu
DAMAGE: 9d6x10 per torpedo
RATE OF FIRE: volleys of 1 or 2 equal to gunners actions
PAYLOAD: 8 torpedoes per launcher
BONUSES: +2 strike
SYSTEMS OF NOTE:
Fabritech ANx-y sensor package
NH-7 flight control avionics package
Life Support: This system is what controls the atmosphere, internal gravity, and temperatures to optimum levels for the pilot of the vessel. The system can support the pilot for up to 1 week before needing to be serviced/replenished somehow. Combat operations however will reduce this by up to 75%.
Passive Sensors: The passive sensor array is used to scan areas without attracting attention. It includes the following systems as part of it's detection operations: Dedicated Energy Receptors, Mass Detectors, Electro-photo Receptors, Aural Sensors, Energy Scanners, Various Electromagnetic Scanners, Proximity Sensors. Range: 20 000km.
Scanning Sensors: The scanning sensor array is an active system used to locate any ships or anomalies within range. It includes the following detection systems as part of it's operations: Dedicated Energy Receptors, Mass Detectors, Electro-photo Receptors, Aural Sensors, Environmental Sensors, Energy Scanners, Full Spectrum Transceivers, Life Form Indicators, Terrain Following Sensors, Active Trackers, Radar, Lidar, Inertial Tracking Devices, Thermal Imaging Arrays, and Various Electromagnetic Scanners. Range: 35 million kilometers. Imparts a bonus of +5% to the sensor operations skill.
Search Sensors: The searching sensor array is a detailed system that is more highly calibrated and accurate than its scanning counterpart. These sensors can only be directed in one direction at a time generally speaking so usually are set to "rotate" thru the various arcs of the ship. It includes the following detection systems as part of it's operations: Dedicated Energy Receptors, Mass Detectors, Electro-photo Receptors, Aural Sensors, Environmental Sensors, Energy Scanners, Full Spectrum Transceivers, Life Form Indicators, Active Trackers, and Low level thermal imaging sensor. Range: 40 000km. Imparts a bonus of +10% to the sensor operations skill.
Focusing Sensors: The focusing sensor array is a set of systems that are attuned much more finely and can determine even more details in regards to things within an area of the scanning systems. It includes the following detection systems as part of it's operations: Dedicated Energy Receptors, Mass Detectors, Electro-photo Receptors, Aural Sensors, Environmental Sensors, Energy Scanners, Full Spectrum Transceivers, Life Form Indicators, Active Trackers, Variable band optical imaging cluster, Low level thermal imaging sensor, Short range Primary Threat Analysis Grids. Range: 2000km diameter. Imparts a bonus of +15% to the sensor operations skill.
Direct Communication Transceiver - Also known as a comlink, this system is used aboard the starship, mainly for short-range communications such as landing/departure clearances and formation commands. This system can be encrypted as necessary. Range: 50 000km. Imparts a bonus of +10% to the Communications/Radio Basic skill.
Subspace Transceiver - The subspace transceiver, also known as a subspace comm, subspace radio, hypertransceiver, subspace vox, or wide-band radio receptor, is a standard device used for instantaneous, faster-than-light communications between nearby systems. Similar to its shorter-ranged cousin, the comlink, subspace transceivers rely on energy to broadcast signals. The starships carries this unit to broadcast distress signals and other important messages. They use subspace as the communications medium. This system can be encrypted as necessary. Range: 8 lightyears with an emergency beacon that has a range of 22 lightyears. Imparts a bonus of +5% to the Communications/Radio Basic skill. This system typically has a lag of approximately one second per 25% of the systems range.
Electronic Warfare Systems - These systems help interfere with an opposing ships sensor and targeting systems to give the ship an advantage in travelling and combat. A successful Electronic warfare skill imparts a penalty of -15% to any opposing ships trying to detect the vessel or communicate with it's allies as well as a penalty of -2 to strike in combat. Opposing sensor operators can try to break through the interference at penalty of -10% to their sensor operations skill. Range is equal to the scanning range of the ship's sensors.
Combat Computer and Targeting Sensors - this system has a significant database in regards to vehicles, vessels, interstellar phenomena, and the particulars of each in order to identify the targets being tracked accurately. Imparts a strike bonus of +3.
Navigation Computer - Also known as a NaviComp, this separate computer takes all gathered sensor data along with all known navigational data available in it's database to calculate the safest routes through through a star system.
Ship's Transponder – The transponder signal or code is a signal that is used for registration, identification, and tracking the starship.
Astromech Droid Socket - This allows the ship to dock and interface with an Astromech Droid essentially giving the pilot a effective copilot of sorts to monitor the ships systems while the pilot focuses and more important tasks, particularly during combat.
Ejection System - This was a basic ejection seat/parachute combination that was only to be used in atmosphere unless the pilot had a fully sealed Flightsuit. It will launch the pilot and the Astromech Droid 200m away from the ship allowing them to float to the surface. If in space it just launches the pilot away from the ship.
COMBAT BONUSES:
Use fighter combat training plus the following
+1 dodge at level 8
+10% piloting rolls
REFERENCES USED:
Star Wars RPG Books
Star Wars Reference Books
Wookieepedia
Misc Bombers - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Misc_Bombers
Star Wars Starfighters - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Starfighters
Star Wars Rhodium - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Star_Wars_(Rhodium)
Rhodium RPG - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/The_Rhodium_RPG_System
World of Jaymz - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Worldofjaymz_Wiki