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 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Length | 12.4 meters |
| Mass | 13 tonnes |
| Crew | 1 |
| Performance | |
| Maximum Yaw | 8 dps |
| Maximum Pitch | 8 dps |
| Maximum Roll | 8 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 | 3.0 cm |
| Rear | 3.0 cm |
| Right | 3.5 cm |
| Left | 3.5 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.
