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) | |
| Default Missile Loadout | |
| Dart DFs (2) Pilum FFs (2) | |
| 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.
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Nephilim War
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Images
Rapier II-class line drawing from Joan's Fighting Spacecraft.
Origin Aerospace blueprint.
Origin Aerospace blueprint.
Origin Aerospace blueprint.
Rapier II flown off the TCS Tiger's Claw, Black Lion Squadron, circa 2654.
Rapier II flown off the TCS Concordia, circa 2666.
A Rapier II Blade flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.
A Rapier II Vanguard flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.
A Rapier II Cavalier flown by a mercenary pilot in 2701.
