A-15 Gladius
| A-15 Gladius | |
|---|---|
| |
| A-15 Gladius in Confed colors circa 2669 | |
| Type | Medium Fighter |
| Primary User | Terran Confederation |
| Additional Users | Militia |
| Performance | |
| Maximum Yaw | 3 dps |
| Maximum Pitch | 4 dps |
| Maximum Roll | 5 dps |
| Velocity | |
| Cruise | 500 kps |
| Maximum | 750 kps |
| Afterburner | |
| Maximum Afterburner | 1695 kps |
| Armament | |
| Guns | |
| |
| Default Missile Loadout | |
| |
| Components | |
| Chaff Pods | 1 |
| Defense | |
| Shields | |
| Fore | 5 cm equivalent |
| Aft | 5 cm equivalent |
| Default Recharge | 5.0 cm/second |
| Armor | |
| Front | 4 cm |
| Rear | 4 cm |
| Side | 3.7 cm |
| Damage Threshold | 150 |
| |
| Gladius flown off TCS Lexington, Evian System circa 2669 | |
| Source | Wing Commander: Armada |
The A-15 Gladius was a Terran fighter used for patrol and anti-shipping missions by both the Terran Confederation and local planetary militia squadrons. The fighter saw widespread use in the Gemini Sector. The TCS Lexington carried a squadron of Gladii during her assault on Kilrah. One Lexington pilot, Niekro Hammond, scored at least 22 kills flying a Gladius. Gladii were also flown by pirates and renegades in the Evian System.
Variants
| Variant | Cruise speed | Max. Speed | Afterburn | Weapon | Fore shield | Aft shield | Fore armor | Aft armor | Side armor | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-15 Gladius | 500 | 750 | 1,695 | Laser Cannon (2) Particle Cannon (2) Tachyon Cannon (2) Dart Dumbfire (8) Javelin Heatseeker (1) Torpedo (1) | 5 | 4 | 3.7 | 4 | Wing Commander: Armada | |
| Gladius (Militia) | 500 | 1,000 | Laser Cannon (2) Particle Cannon (1) HS Missiles (2) Proton Torpedoes (10 | 70 | 55 | 40 | Wing Commander: Privateer | |||
| Gladius (Voices of War) | 500 | 750 | Laser Cannon (2) Particle Cannon (2) Tachyon Cannon (2) Dart Dumbfire (8) Javelin Heatseeker (1) Torpedo (1) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3.7 | Voices of War |
Gemini Sector: An Overview
- Gladius
- The Gladius combines good velocity and acceleration with an effective and varied array of weapons. Its torpedoes make it an effective fighter for combat against capital ships. With its fairly strong blaster loadout and HS missiles, the Gladius is a versatile dogfighting spacecraft. Due to its maneuverability, it is hard to target the one accurately, but just a few on target hits can down the Gladius because of its weak shields.
Armada Playtesters' Guide
FLYING THE GLADIUS
The Gladius is a marksman's fighter. If you can make your extensive dumbfire loadout count against the enemy, you can take on absolutely anything.
Turn and roll, don't let your profile remain exposed to the enemy. Aside from the Arrow and Dralthi, you're the fastest fighter in the game, so use it. Keep the pedal to the metal.
You have lots of firepower. With good shooting and intelligent gun usage you can pound an opponent virtually continuously. All those guns drain a lot of energy, however, so time your shots carefully.
You have lots of dumbfires ... don't be afraid to use them, particularly at the end of your strafing runs. But try to save your HS missile for emergencies.
Your lack of self-targeting missiles can be a liability against smaller, hard-to-hit fighters like the Shok'lar and the Jrathek. The solution? Improve your aim. If you are a dead shot, the Gladius' dumbfires are an excellent answer to the Shok'lar's cloaking device.
Because of its speed, the Gladius is an excellent choice for carrier attacks.
FIGHTING THE GLADIUS
Like the Wraith, the Gladius has a plethora of dumbfire missiles, so avoid head-to-head engagements at all costs.
With the Gladius's strong defenses, there are no quick kills against this fighter. To take out a Gladius you have to be a good enough pilot to avoid its dumbfire missiles, or a good enough marksman to shoot them down. Preferably both.
With its three types of guns, the Gladius can pound you from virtually anywhere. Keep rolling and moving ― don't let it concentrate its fire on one of your quadrants.
Sometimes the Gladius flips just like an Arrow, exposing the top or bottom for a vulnerable instant.
Avoid collisions. The Gladius is tough enough to shrug off most rams, but you might not be so lucky.
Gallery
A-15 Gladius in militia colors, Gemini Sector circa 2669
A-15 Gladius Target Identification, Gemini Sector circa 2669
