F-44 Rapier II

F-44 Rapier II
Type	Medium Fighter
Manufacturer	Origin Aerospace
Primary User	Terran Confederation
Additional Users	Free Republic of the Landreich Union of Border Worlds
Introduction	2654
General Characteristics
Length	24 meters
Mass	13.5 tonnes
Crew	1 (pilot)
Performance
Maximum Yaw	10 dps
Maximum Pitch	10 dps
Maximum Roll	10 dps
Acceleration	Excellent
Velocity
Cruise	250 kps
Maximum	450 kps
Afterburner
Maximum Afterburner	1300 kps
Armament
Guns
MK. 25 Laser Cannons (2) MK. 40F Neutron Guns (2)
Default Missile Loadout
Dart DFs (2) Pilum FFs (2) Spiculum IR (1)
Components
Decoys	None
Cloaking Device	No
Defense
Shields
Fore	7 cm equivalent
Aft	7 cm equivalent
Armor
Front	5 cm
Rear	5 cm
Right	3 cm
Left	3 cm
Rapier II flown off the TCS Tiger's Claw, Black Lion Squadron, circa 2654.
Source	Claw Marks

Work-in-progress, expect frequent changes. Help and feedback is welcome. See discussion page.

History

The F-44 Rapier II was a medium fighter introduced in 2654. The Rapier's sleek lines and famous silhouette have become synonymous with the might of the Confederation military - and will remain forever enshrined in the minds of a generation of young men and women who grew up dreaming of top gun heroics. A disproportionate number of the top twenty aces from the Terran-Kilrathi War served with Rapier II squadrons.

The Rapier II first saw combat aboard the TCS Tiger's Claw: a pair of YF-44s were assigned to the carrier for active duty testing during the invasion of the Gimle System. Major Michael "Iceman" Casey and Captain Jeannette "Angel" Devereaux of the Star Slayer Squadron credited the fighter's first kills during a three point patrol mission. The prototypes performed magnificently and the same carrier soon received the first batch of production models, which Black Lion Squadron would fly during the battle for Kurasawa. By the invasion of Venice, Rapier II squadrons were assigned to both the Tiger's Claw and the Kyoto.

Within a year, the F-44A had been replaced on the assembly lines by the F-44B, which boasted a larger missile load-out and a limited-use jump drive. A combination of cost and technical issues would force the removal of the jump drive from future iterations - making the F-44B unique among the Rapier IIs lineage until after the Terran-Kilrathi War. A and B model Rapier IIs served with distinction during Operation Thor's Hammer, the assault on Jakarta and the defense of Firekka. A pair of F-44As even flew from then-Colonel James Taggart's intelligence ship, the Bonnie Heather.

In the late 2650s, the Rapier II went through a significant redesign of its space-frame, reducing the overall size and mass. The new design began with the popular F-44C model, which would go on to serve aboard escort carriers through the 2660s. F-44Cs flew with distinction off the TCS Tarawa during Operation Back Lash and the Third Enigma Campaign.

G and H model Rapier IIs served on fleet carriers through the Battle of Earth in 2668. The TCS Concordia's F-44G Rapier II squadron, with its distinctive lightning bolt markings on their tails, was considered to be the single finest active duty fighter unit in the Space Force.

After the Kilrathi War, surplus Rapier IIs served with both the Free Republic of the Landreich and the Union of Border Worlds and proved popular among mercenary groups. By 2701, three more variants of the Rapier II had emerged as a result of needs of the Nephilim Conflict. The Rapier II Blade is a direct update of the original space-frame, whereas the Vanguard and Cavalier added armor and other defensive abilities. The Vanguard was often used in mine laying assignments, and was at the forefront of the first offensive strike against the Nephilim in their own territory.

Variants

Kilrathi War

In addition to the variants listed below, an F-44C variant operated from TCS Tarawa at the time of Operation Back Lash and the Kilrah raid; the ships carried Space-to-Ground Anti-Radar Submunition Missiles, in keeping with the escort carrier's mission role for providing air support during ground assaults. The Free Republic of the Landreich and later the Union of Border Worlds both operated Rapiers, although their specifications are unknown.

F-44A Type Medium Fighter General Characteristics Length 24 meters Mass 13.5 tonnes Crew 1 (pilot) Performance Maximum Yaw 10 dps Maximum Pitch 10 dps Maximum Roll 10 dps Acceleration Excellent Velocity Cruise 250 kps Maximum 450 kps Afterburner Maximum Afterburner 1300 kps Armament Guns MK. 25 Laser Cannons (2) MK. 40F Neutron Guns (2) Default Missile Loadout Dart DFs (2) Pilum FFs (2) Spiculum IR (1) Hardpoints 4 Defense Shields Fore 8.5 cm equivalent Aft 8.5 cm equivalent Armor Front 6.5 cm Rear 6.5 cm Right 3 cm Left 3 cm Rapier II flown off the TCS Tiger's Claw, Black Lion Squadron, circa 2654. Source Wing Commander Super Wing Commander

F-44G Type Medium Attack Fighter General Characteristics Length 19 meters Mass 15 tonnes Crew 1 (pilot) Performance Maximum Yaw 10 dps Maximum Pitch 10 dps Maximum Roll 10 dps Acceleration Excellent Velocity Cruise 250 kps Maximum 450 kps Afterburner Maximum Afterburner 1300 kps Armament Guns Laser Cannon (2) Particle Cannon (2) Default Missile Loadout Dart Dumbfire (2) Pilum Friend-or-Foe (2) Javelin Heatseeker (2) Hardpoints 6 Components Chaff Pods 2 Defense Shields Fore 8 cm equivalent Aft 8 cm equivalent Default Recharge 3 cm/second Armor Front 6.5 cm Rear 6.5 cm Right 3 cm Left 3 cm Source Joan's Fighting Spacecraft 2664.128 Update

F-44G Type Medium Attack Fighter General Characteristics Length 19 meters Mass 15 tonnes Crew 1 (pilot) Performance Maximum Yaw 10 dps Maximum Pitch 10 dps Maximum Roll 10 dps Acceleration Excellent Velocity Cruise 250 kps Maximum 450 kps Afterburner Maximum Afterburner 1300 kps Armament Guns Laser Cannon (2) Particle Cannon (2) Default Missile Loadout Dart Dumbfire (2) Pilum Friend-or-Foe (2) Javelin Heatseeker (2) Hardpoints 6 Components Chaff Pods 2 Defense Shields Fore 11.5 cm equivalent Aft 11.5 cm equivalent Default Recharge 3 cm/second Armor Front 7.5 cm Rear 7.5 cm Left 6.5 cm Rapier II flown off the [[TCS Concordia {CVS-65)|TCS Concordia]], circa 2666. Source Wing Commander II

Nephilim War

Rapier Blade The Rapier II replaced the aging CF-117 in 2654 and immediately made an impact: Dragon, Bandit, Maverick, Maniac, Prankster... a disproportionate number of the war’s top twenty aces served with Rapier II squadrons. The Blade is the modern version of that famed ship, updated by fire through its service against the Nephilim. Type Medium Fighter Manufacturer Origin Aerospace General Characteristics Length 19 meters Mass 15 tonnes Crew 1 (pilot) Performance Maximum Yaw 90 dps Maximum Pitch 90 dps Maximum Roll 90 dps Acceleration 150 k/s2 Velocity Maximum 451 kps Afterburner Maximum Afterburner 815 kps Armament Guns Meson Blasters (2) Tachyon Guns (2) Default Missile Loadout Dart Dumbfire (3 x 20) Javelin Heatseeker (2 x 5) Components Modules Sonar Flares Shield Battery Gun Power Core Jump Drive Yes Defense Shields Fore 280 cm equivalent Aft 280 cm equivalent Armor Front 415 cm Rear 415 cm Right 415 cm Left 415 cm Source Joan’s Fighting Spacecraft - 2700-2701 - Epsilon Sector Supplement

Rapier Vanguard Named for their exceptional service against the Nephilim. It was a Vanguard squadron which led the first strike through the gate against G#38KMSx-Red. All sixteen Rapiers were shot down, but they went out fighting: an analysis of their flight recorders showed a 129 to 1 kill ratio. Carrying Porcupines and a deployable turret, Vanguards are often used as minelayers. Type Medium Fighter Manufacturer Origin Aerospace General Characteristics Length 19 meters Mass 18 tonnes Crew 1 (pilot) Performance Maximum Yaw 90 dps Maximum Pitch 90 dps Maximum Roll 90 dps Acceleration 150 k/s2 Velocity Maximum 365 kps Afterburner Maximum Afterburner 690 kps Armament Guns Laser Cannons (2) Neutron Guns (2) Default Missile Loadout Dart Dumbfire (4 x 20) Porcupine Mine (3 x 5) Components Modules Deployable Turret Sonar Gun Battery Gun Power Core Jump Drive Yes Defense Shields Fore 230 cm equivalent Aft 230 cm equivalent Armor Front 500 cm Rear 500 cm Right 500 cm Left 500 cm Source Joan’s Fighting Spacecraft - 2700-2701 - Epsilon Sector Supplement

Rapier Cavalier When it comes to fighters, the Cavalier is the crown jewel of the Epsilon Sector’s arsenal. A true artist’s ship, the Cavalier’s weapons are focused around ranged engagements. An experienced Cavalier pilot will make use of his lasers and ionic pulse cannons to allow him to avoid missile barrages from enemy bombers. Type Medium Fighter Manufacturer Origin Aerospace General Characteristics Length 19 meters Mass 20 tonnes Crew 1 (pilot) Performance Maximum Yaw 90 dps Maximum Pitch 90 dps Maximum Roll 90 dps Acceleration 150 k/s2 Velocity Maximum 300 kps Afterburner Maximum Afterburner 570 kps Armament Guns Laser Cannons (2) Neutron Guns (2) Default Missile Loadout Dart Dumbfire (4 x 20) Spiculum Image-Recognition (2 x 10) Components Modules Deployable Turret Flares Shield Battery Shield Power Core Jump Drive Yes Defense Shields Fore 280 cm equivalent Aft 280 cm equivalent Armor Front 550 cm Rear 550 cm Right 550 cm Left 550 cm Source Joan’s Fighting Spacecraft - 2700-2701 - Epsilon Sector Supplement

Images

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  Rapier II-class line drawing from Joan's Fighting Spacecraft.

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  Origin Aerospace blueprint.

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  Origin Aerospace blueprint.

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  Origin Aerospace blueprint.

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  Rapier II flown off the TCS Tiger's Claw, Black Lion Squadron, circa 2654.

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  Rapier II flown off the TCS Concordia, circa 2666.

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  A Rapier II Blade flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.

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  A Rapier II Vanguard flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.

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  A Rapier II Cavalier flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.