F-54 Epee

F-54C Epee
Type	Light Attack Fighter
Primary User	Terran Confederation
Additional Users	Free Republic of the Landreich Union of Border Worlds
Introduction	pre-2662
General Characteristics
Length	12.4 meters
Mass	13 tonnes
Crew	1
Performance
Maximum Yaw	10 dps
Maximum Pitch	10 dps
Maximum Roll	10 dps
Acceleration	Excellent
Velocity
Cruise	250 kps
Maximum	480 kps
Afterburner
Maximum Afterburner	1360 kps
Armament
Guns
Particle Cannons (2)
Default Missile Loadout
Dart Dumbfires (2) Javelin Heatseekers (2)
Defense
Shields
Fore	6.0 cm equivalent
Aft	6.0 cm equivalent
Armor
Front	3.5 cm
Rear	3.5 cm
Right	3.0 cm
Left	3.0 cm
Epee Target Identification circa 2665

History

The F-54 Epee was a Terran Confederation light attack fighter that saw much action during the later half of the Terran-Kilrathi War.

The F-54 Epee, like the P-64 Ferret, was a light fighter whose primary purpose was to serve as a patrol and escort craft for various star systems and capital ships on the war front. They were also highly maneuverable, capable of defending themselves against enemy fighters with relative ease. However, the Epee maintained many dissimilarities from the Ferret. For one, it had superior armament, and on occasion could carry out heavy ordnance for offensive missions against the Kilrathi fleets. Such armament, combines with its speed, made it a potentially dangerous foe on the battlefield.

The Epee's major disadvantage, however, was that it lacked the armor of the Ferret, possessing only half the amount used on the Ferret. At such a disadvantage, the Epee could be an even more vulnerable target than the Ferret in the sights of a professional Kilrathi pilot.

The Epee served all along the front lines of the Terran-Kilrathi War during the 2660s, and squadrons were readily stationed on various installations and fleet carriers like the famed TCS Concordia. Their greater ordnance made them a highly-favored light fighter when the mission necessitated a heavier strike.

The Epee was soon phased out by successors such as the Arrow V, but found their way into the navies of other Terran factions, such as the Free Republic of the Landreich and the Union of Border Worlds. By 2681, they were rarely seen on the front lines.

Specifications

	F-54C Epee	F-54 Epee (2665)	F-54 Epee (2665)
Sources:	WC II Playguide Manual	Wing Commander 2	Wing Commander Academy Manual
Class:	Light Attack Fighter	Light Attack Fighter	Light Fighter
Length:	12.4 meters	12.4 meters	12.4 meters
Mass:	13 metric tonnes	13 metric tonnes	13 metric tonnes
Max Velocity:	480 KPS	480 KPS	480 KPS
Cruise Velocity:	250 KPS	250 KPS	250 KPS
Acceleration:	Excellent		Excellent
Max Y/P/R:	10/10/10 DPS	10/10/10 DPS	10/10/10 DPS
Guns:	Particle Cannons (2)	Particle Cannons (2)	Particle Cannons (2)
Missiles:	Javelin Heatseekers (2)	Javelin Heatseekers (2)	Javelin Heatseekers (2)
Missiles:	Dart Dumbfires (2)	Dart Dumbfires (2)	Dart Dumbfires (2)
Shields (Fore/Aft):	6.0/6.0 cm	6.0/6.0 cm	6.0/6.0 cm
Armor (Front/Rear/Sides):	3.5/3.5/3.0 cm	3.5/3.5/3.0 cm	3.5/3.5/3.0 cm
Missile Decoys:	None	Chaff Pods (2)	Chaff Pods (2)
Jump Capable:	No	No	No

Sources

Wing Commander 2 Playguide

• Improved Targeting and Tracking System (ITTS)
  • "The Improved Target Tracking System (I.T.T.S.) is a feature available in the most advanced fighters, such as the Epee and Sabre. This advanced targeting system calculates the amount you must lead your target in order to maximize the chance of a hit."

Joan's Fighting Spacecraft - 2664.128 UPDATE

• Confederation Fighters
  • F-54C Epee

TCSNA Handbook

• Words from the Author
  • "I was flying a reconnaissance mission in the Gwynedd sector when we were attacked by a contingent of Jalkehi. Instead of obeying my orders and remaining with the escort, my wingman Maniac broke away and engaged two Kilrathi pilots in a dogfight. In my Epee, I did not stand a chance against the seven accomplished Jalkehi pilots without cover from my wingman. I ejected from my badly damaged ship just seconds before it exploded. My injuries left me virtually blind in one eye and destroyed my career as a pilot.
• Spacecraft of the Terran and Kilrathi Fleets
  • Epee
    • "The design of the Epee is very similar to that of the Ferret. It also demonstrates excellent acceleration and velocity, and maneuvers even better than the Ferret. While its shields and armor are equally unimpressive, it does carry missiles, chaff pods and more sophisticated blasters. The renowned Confederation pilot Daredevil met his end in the Enigma Sector when his Epee fighter was downed by Jalkehi pilots.
  • Sartha
    • "The Kilrathi Sartha is a light fighter comparable to the Confederation's Epee. The Kilrathi fighter is slower and not as maneuverable as the Ferret or the Epee."

Wing Commander 2/Wing Commander: Academy

Wing Commander 2 Briefings

• Heaven's Gate System - Series 5 - Mission 1
  • Jeanette Deveraux: "For this mission, you are in Epees. Like the Ferret, the Epee is small and fast, but has greater fire-power."
• Tesla System - Series 6 - Mission 1
  • Jeanette Deveraux: "A wing of Epees will raid that outpost and destroy the enemy’s ability to intercept our transmissions. The Epee’s single torpedo should be enough to take out the base."
• Tesla System - Series 11 - Mission 1
  • Jeanette Deveraux: "We have detected a small Kilrathi listening post. Using a pair of fighters, we will attack that outpost and destroy the Kilrathi’s ability to intercept transmissions. You will be flying Epees for this mission."
• Rigel System - Series 2 - Mission B
  • Edmond: "Well, the Gettysburg has been missing for several weeks, and it carries a complement of Ferrets and Epees. That would explain how these pirates are flying Confed ships, wouldn’t it?"

Wing Commander 2 Missions

• Flyable Missions
  • Heaven's Gate System - Series 5 - Mission 1
  • Heaven's Gate System - Series 5 - Mission 2
  • Heaven's Gate System - Series 5 - Mission 3
• Appears in Mission
  • Heaven's Gate System - Series 5 - Mission 2

Special Operations 1 Missions

• Flyable Missions
  • Rigel System - Series 2 - Mission A
  • Rigel System - Series 2 - Mission B
• Appears in Mission
  • Rigel System - Series 2 - Mission A
  • Rigel System - Series 2 - Mission B
  • Rigel System - Series 2 - Mission C
  • Rigel System - Series 2 - Mission D

The Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel Carl T. LaFong: The Kilrathi War's Greatest Ace (TCSN, Retired)

• Heaven's Gate System - Series 5 - Mission 1
  • "It was my first time in an Epee, the light attack fighter that had replaced the Hornet just five years before."

Gallery

• 

  F-54C Ferret Silhouette circa 2664

• 

  F-54 Epee circa 2667

• 

  F-54 Epee target identification circa 2667