A-17 Broadsword

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CF-131/A-17 Broadsword
Wcmbroadswordprofile.jpg
Type Fighter/Bomber
Manufacturer Camelot Industries
Primary User Terran Confederation
Additional Users Union of Border Worlds

Guild
Mercenaries

Introduction 2633
General Characteristics
Length 12 meters
Mass 14 tonnes
Crew 1 (pilot)
Performance
Velocity
Cruise 150 kps
Maximum 320 kps
Armament
Guns
Mass Driver Cannon (3)
Turrets
Dual-mounted Neutron Gun Turrets (3)
Default Missile Loadout
Missile Mounts (3)

(Post-2648) Torpedo Mounts (2)

Components
Cloaking Device No
Jump Drive yes
Defense
Shields
Fore 13 cm equivalent
Aft 13 cm equivalent
Armor
Front 10 cm
Rear 10 cm
Right 8 cm
Left 8 cm
Wcmbroadsword.jpg
CF-131 Broadsword Target Identification circa 2654
Source Confederation Handbook


History

Camelot Industry's CF-131 Broadsword is one of the Terran Confederation's most successful spacecraft designs; Broadswords served on and off from 2633 to 2701--across multiple wars and for several different factions. The bombers were originally designed during the Pilgrim War to support the Grand Fleet's invasion of the Pilgrim Alliance. Early CF-131 Broadswords served as massed missile platforms and strategic ship-to-planet bombers.

With the advent of the Kilrathi war and the development of the torpedo, Broadswords changed to fit the times. In 2648 all current model Broadswords were outfitted to carry two antimatter torpedoes. That number would eventually double, by 2664, and then double again, by 2701. Broadswords became the Confederation's heaviest anti-capship bomber for the middle portion of the war; Broadswords flying off the Tiger's Claw, Concordia and elsewhere achieved great success in dangerous torpedo runs.

After the end of the Kilrathi War, the Confederation relegated Broadswords to reserve wings and boneyards.

Zachary Banfield's Guild maintained two squadrons of Broadswords which were used to attack the FRLS Mjollnir and destroy the FRLS Sindri. The Landreich themselves operated a number of Broadswords during the Kilrathi War, fielding them during the Battle of Hell Hole.

The Union of Border Worlds operated a number of Broadswords during their aborted war with the Terran Confederation. Admiral Tolwyn was, at one point, captured by a stripped patrol Broadsword as he attempted to flee the Peleus System.

But the Nephilim invasion of 2681 reactivated Broadsword squadrons - and proved that they were incredibly effective against the new foe. Production of Broadswords resumed, with modernized variants like the Executor, Warpig and later Behemoth rolling off the assembly lines.

In the post-Nephilim War world, surplus Broadswords are a common sight on the volatile Terran-Kilrathi frontier.

Specifications

Early Terran-Kilrathi War

CF-131A BroadswordWcmbroadswordprofile.jpg Broadsword (2648)Wcmbroadswordprofile.jpg Broadsword (2654)Wcatv-broadsword-cropped.jpg
Source: Confederation Handbook Confederation Handbook Academy TV
Class: Fighter/Bomber Fighter/Bomber Bomber
Length: 12 meters 12 meters
Mass: 14 metric tonnes 14 metric tonnes
Max Velocity: 320 Kps 320 Kps
Cruise Velocity: 150 Kps 150 Kps
Guns: Mass Driver Cannons (3) Mass Driver Cannons (3) Plasma Guns (2)
Turret: Dual-Mount Neutron Gun (3) Dual-Mount Neutron Gun (3) Dual-Mount Particle Cannon (1)
Dual-Mount Laser Cannon (1)
Single-Mount Laser Cannon (2)
Missile Hardpoints: Missile Mounts (3) Missile Mounts (3) Dart DF (?)
Spiculum IR (?)
Missile Hardpoints: ----- Torpedoes (2) Torpedoes (2)
Tractor Beam Yes Yes Yes
Armor (Fore/Aft/Sides): 10.0/10.0/8.0 cm 10.0/10.0/8.0 cm
Shields (Fore/Rear): 13.0/13.0 cm 13.0/13.0 cm
Missile Decoys: None None None
Jump Capable: Yes Yes Yes
Life Support 16 hours 16 hours
Crew: 4 (Pilot and 3 Gunners) 4 (Pilot and 3 Gunners) 2 (Pilot, Co-Pilot)
Service Entry: 2633 2648

Late Terran-Kilrathi War

Class A-17D Broadsword (2664)WC2ManualBroadsword.JPG A-17 Broadsword (2667)Wc2broadsword.jpg A-17 Broadsword (2667)Wc2broadsword.jpg A-17 Broadsword (2667)Wc2broadsword.jpg A-17 Broadsword (2669)P1broadsword.jpg A-17 Broadsword (2669)P1broadsword.jpg
Source: WC II Playguide Manual Wing Commander 2 WC Academy Manual WC Academy (info questionable) Privateer Playguide Manual Wing Commander: Privateer
Class: Heavy Bomber Heavy Bomber Heavy Bomber Heavy Bomber Fighter-Bomber Fighter-Bomber
Length: 36 meters 36 meters 36 meters 36 meters Not Listed 36 meters
Mass: 100 metric tonnes 100 metric tonnes 100 metric tonnes 100 metric tonnes Not Listed
Max Velocity: 320 KPS 320 KPS 320 KPS 320 KPS 350 KPS 350 KPS
Cruise Velocity: 150 KPS 150 KPS 150 KPS 150 KPS Not Listed
Acceleration: Poor 1 k/s^2 Poor Poor Poor 400 k/s^2
Max Y/P/R: 5/5/5 deg/s 4/4/4 deg/s 5/5/5 deg/s 4/4/4 deg/s Average 87/85/95 deg/s
Guns: Mass Driver Cannon(3) Mass Driver Cannon(3) Mass Driver Cannon(3) Mass Driver Cannon(3) Mass Driver Cannon(3) Mass Driver Cannon(3)
Turret: Dual-Mount Neutron Gun (3) Dual-Mount Neutron Gun (3) Dual-Mount Neutron Gun (3) Dual-Mount Neutron Gun (3) Dual-Mount Laser Cannon (1)
Dual-Mount Particle Cannon (1) 		Dual-Mount Particle Cannon (2)
Missile Hardpoints: Friend or Foe (3) Friend or Foe (4) Friend or Foe (4) Friend or Foe (4) Friend or Foe (6) Friend or Foe (6)
Missile Hardpoints: Torpedoes (4) Torpedoes (4) Torpedoes (4) ----- Heat Seekers (3) Heat Seekers (3)
Tractor Beam Yes (rear) Yes (rear) Yes (rear) Yes (rear) Not Listed
Armor (Fore/Aft/Sides): 15.0/15.0/13.0 cm 40.0/40.0/35.0 cm 15.0/15.0/13.0 cm 30.0/30.0/30.0 cm 25.0/20.0/17.5 cm 25.0/20.0/17.5 cm
Shields (Fore/Rear): 18.0/18.0 cm 50.0/50.0 cm 18.0/18.0 cm 90.0/90.0 cm Not Listed Level5/Level5
Shield Recharge Not Listed 3 cm/s Not Listed 1 cm/s Not Listed
Missile Decoys: None Chaff Pod (1) Chaff Pod (1) Chaff Pod (1) None None
Jump Capable: Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Crew: 4 (Pilot, 3 Gunners) 4 (Pilot, 3 Gunners) 4 (Pilot, 3 Gunners) 4 (Pilot, 3 Gunners) Not Listed
Service Entry: Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed

Terran-Nephilim War

Class Executioner (2701) Arenabroadswordexecutioner.jpg Warpig (2701) Arenabroadswordwarpig.jpg Behemoth (2701) Arenabroadswordbehemoth.jpg
Source: Star*Soldier Star*Soldier Star*Soldier
Class: Heavy Bomber Heavy Bomber Heavy Bomber
Length: 36 meters 36 meters 41 meters
Mass: 100 metric tonnes 110 metric tonnes 150 metric tonnes
Max Velocity: 300 kps 275 kps 225 kps
Acceleration: 55 k/s^2 55 k/s^2 55 k/s^2
Max Y/P/R: 65/65/65 deg/s 55/55/55 deg/s 70/70/70 deg/s
Shields: 410 cm 410 cm 410 cm
Armor: 1000 cm 1100 cm 1350 cm
Guns: Tachyon Gun (2) Meson Blaster (2) Tachyon Gun (2)
Guns: Plasma Gun (2) Neutron Gun (2) Neutron Gun (2)
Turrets: Deployable
Bomber Turrets 		Deployable
Bomber Turrets 		Bomber Turrets
Missiles: 2x5 Heat Seekers 1x4 Torpedo 2x4 Torpedo
Missiles: 5x20 Dart DF 5x20 Dart DF 5x20 Dart DF
Jump Capable: Yes Yes Yes

Sources

Joan's Ships of Known Space - 2654

  • CF-131 Broadsword
    • "The first Broadswords were deployed during the Pilgrim War to support Confed's invasion fleet. It still remains Confed's primary fighter /bomber. In 2648 all in- service Broadswords were upgraded to mount two antimatter torpedoes, but other than that change and minor upgrades to ship's systems, the Broadsword of today remains remarkably similar to those that flew with the Grand Fleet.
      • The Broadsword stacks an amazing amount of destructive potential into a compact package, but only at the expense of maneuverability. The Broadsword has virtually no evasive capacity it has to either destroy attackers outright or rely on escorts of lighter fighters. On the plus side, its three recessed turrets can provide a full 360 degrees of fire support, and be set for independent or synchronized targeting. There's also a defensive Al mode that will automatically fire the turrets at any enemy targets of opportunity.
      • Like all Confed fighters, the Broadsword mounts a Tempest targeting and navigational system, and its drive array is jump capable. The Broadsword is rated for up to 16 hours of life support. It can generate a retrieval tractor rated up to 150 tonnes. It is capable of ejecting the pilot in a standard survival pod."

Wing Commander Movie

Wing Commander: Academy TV

Wing Commander 2 Playguide

  • Weapons
    • "Depending upon which ship you’re flying, you may have blasters, chaff pods, missiles and/or torpedoes available to you. In larger ships, like the Broadsword and the Sabre, you can switch from the front viewscreen to turrets positioned at the sides and rear of the ship."
    • Torpedoes
      • "From this point onward, until you complete the lock, you must not maneuver your ship too quickly. There’s a little leeway, but you must fly mostly straight toward the target—any significant deviation will break the lock, forcing you to start all over again. (For this reason, only turret-equipped ships, the Sabre and Broadsword, carry torpedoes, even though any of the other fighters could theoretically handle the missiles."
    • Turrets
      • "the Broadsword and the Sabre, have multiple guns. In addition to the standard complement of front-firing weapons, the Sabre has a turret in the back, and the Broadsword has three turrets (one to the rear, one to the left and one to the right)."
    • Tractor Beam
      • "In addition to standard turret-mounted weapons, the turrets in the Broadsword and Sabre are equipped with a new device—a tractor beam."
  • Jumping Out
      • "A hyperspace jump is the quickest way to travel from one part of the universe to another. Of the ships you fly, only the Broadsword bomber is capable of making such a jump."

Joan's Fighting Spacecraft - 2664.128 UPDATE

  • Confederation Fighters
    • A-17D Broadsword

TCSNA Handbook

  • Spacecraft of the Terran and Kilrathi Fleets
    • "The Broadsword was originally designed as an attack bomber for enemy capital ships, but it also serves as an adequate all-purpose fighter. Poor acceleration and maneuverability may force the Broadsword to take several hits from hostile fighters, but strong armor and shields and a wide array of weapons make it a formidable enemy. Keep in mind that the Broadsword is equipped with turrets on both sides and the rear of the ship and several missiles. If it manages to get close enough to a capital ship, it can successfully penetrate phase shields with its four torpedoes. A tractor beam allows this ship to perform retrieve-and-rescue missions in space."

Wing Commander 2/Academy

Wing Commander 2: De(Briefings)

Wing Commander 2: Missions

Special Operations 1: Missions

Special Operations 2: Missions

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

  • The New Tactics of Space Combat Operations
    • Watch the Rear Turret guns on Heavy Fighters
      • "Acceleration and maneuverability had become the weak links in the defensive capabilities of the Jalkehi and Grikath. Their acceleration ratings were average and bad respectively, so only our Broadswords had any trouble keeping up."
    • Using the Tractor Beam
      • "Confederation Sabres and Broadswords were equipped with a tractor beam that was used in rescuing pilots and retrieving other objects in space. The tractor beam could only be operated from the rear turret. The tractor beam was extremely powerful, but there were a couple of points that would ensure success."
      • "Since the rear turret was used for both the tractor beams and neutron guns, a switch (the G key) was used to toggle between the two functions. In the heat of a dogfight or rescue operation, it was easy to forget to change from the default "guns" setting. Nothing could be worse than putting yourself into position for a pickup, then blasting the object or individual away with your guns. Always be certain that you check the setting before engaging the tractor beam with the fire button."
      • "Tactical Command issued a recommendation for the use of the tractor beam. The safest method to retrieve an object was to fly past it, hit the backspace key to bring your engines to full stop. Then switch to the rear turret and begin the pickup sequence. If your engines were still running when you moved to the rear turret, they would automatically accelerate to maximum velocity and increase the time needed to tractor the object."
    • Torpedo Runs
      • "When phase shields first appeared on Kilrathi capital ships, Confederation pilots were stymied. It was impossible to break through the shields using our conventional missiles or guns. It didn't take long, however, for our research and development teams to design a weapon that would slice through the shields. The torpedo was the weapon, but it required specific procedures to ensure successful delivery."
      • "The effectiveness of torpedoes was affected by the range at which they were fired. The power of the torpedo blast increased as the range at which they were fired decreased. In addition, our torpedoes could be destroyed by flak cannons. When torpedoes were fired at longer ranges, it was more likely that Kilrathi gunners could destroy the weapon before it connected."
      • "Since it takes a long time for torpedoes to lock onto a target, Confederation engineers had determined that only ships with turret guns would have any chance at delivering the weapon. The turret guns were needed to engage Kilrathi fighter escorts that would attack during a launch procedure. Tactical Command had produced a procedure for our Broadsword and Sabre pilots that increased the odds of success:"
        • "1. Destroy enemy fighters before starting a torpedo run. It didn't guarantee that new fighters wouldn't appear later, but it gave us fewer enemies to worry about."
        • "2. At a range of 8000 to 10,000 meters, select the torpedo (W key) and lock the target (L key). This started the torpedo-lock sequence, which took about 20 seconds to complete. Staying at long range, either by stopping the engines or moving at slow speed, prevented your ship from taking heavy damage until the lock sequence was completed."
        • "3. When the torpedo-lock sequence (not target-lock) was completed, we increased speed and headed straight for the target. Our path couldn't waver, or we would lose the lock with our weapon."
        • "4. At a range of 2000 meters, we launched our torpedo."
      • "While the above procedure increased the odds of a successful torpedo strike, Kilrathi gunners were still able to knock a torpedo down about one-third of the time. Since only one torpedo could be launched per run, if a torpedo was destroyed, the procedure had to be started again from the beginning."
      • Author's Note
        • "In the Wing Commander II game, you operate the rear and side turret guns. If enemy fighters appear during a torpedo run, you must switch to one of the turrets and engage the enemy. You will be informed when the torpedo-lock sequence is completed."

Wing Commander: Fleet Action

Gemini Guide

  • Other Spacecraft
    • "The Broadsword is a commonly encountered Confederation fighter. It is equipped with a deadly array of blasters and several HS and FF missiles, which pose a severe threat to any enemy that ventures to cross its path. The Broadsword’s main weaknesses lie in its slow speed, low maneuverability and limited acceleration powers. If you are flying a very maneuverable ship in an encounter with this vessel, the odds are definitely in your favor. A side attack on the weaker port and starboard armor is advisable."

Wing Commander: Privateer

Joan's Fighting Spacecraft 2700-2701 - Epsilon Sector Supplement

  • A-17 Broadsword Executioner
    • "The Executioner is a return to the Broadsword’s pre-war role as a heavy missile platform. Fighter pilots are well advised to avoid the Executioner’s forward firing arcs: they combine five Dart DF rocket packs with heavy hitting plasma cannons. A truly deadly combination on their own, these weapons are accompanied by a military grade tractor beam capable of immobilizing enemy ships."
  • A-17 Broadsword Warpig
    • "Though they were initially relegated to the surplus yards, the Broadsword design proved itself against the Nephilim. During the first assault on a construction reef, it was a militia Warpig squadron which scored the killing blow — while Devastator and Shrike units suffered heavy casualties."
  • A-17 Broadsword Behemoth
    • "The Behemoth is an inelegant solution for the limitations of the modern battlefield: the design adds giant sheaths of Platolum armor to protect the ship’s delicate fuselage. The upgrade also doubles the torpedo capacity of the classic design. Although these additions significantly reduce engine performance, expert Broadsword pilots know better than to rely on maneuverability in the first place."

Wing Commander: Arena

Gallery

  • CF-131 Broadsword circa 2654

    CF-131 Broadsword circa 2654

  • CF-131 Broadsword Cockpit circa 2654

    CF-131 Broadsword Cockpit circa 2654

  • CF-131 Broadsword Target Identification circa 2654

    CF-131 Broadsword Target Identification circa 2654

  • A-17 Broadsword Target Identification circa 2664

    A-17 Broadsword Target Identification circa 2664

  • A-17 Broadsword Target Identification circa 2669

    A-17 Broadsword Target Identification circa 2669

  • Privately owned A-17 Broadsword Executioner in the Antares Quadrant, circa 2701

    Privately owned A-17 Broadsword Executioner in the Antares Quadrant, circa 2701

  • Privately owned A-17 Broadsword Warpig in the Antares Quadrant, circa 2701

    Privately owned A-17 Broadsword Warpig in the Antares Quadrant, circa 2701

  • Privately owned A-17 Broadsword Behemoth in the Antares Quadrant, circa 2701

    Privately owned A-17 Broadsword Behemoth in the Antares Quadrant, circa 2701

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