Bretonian Armed Forces - Combat Craft Review - By: Lieutenant Commander James Winters

[Snoflek]

APC-18100 'Marlin' Core Very Heavy Fighter

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Basic Information

Type: Very Heavy Fighter
Model Number: APC-18100
Role: Heavy Space Superiority Fighter
Origin: The Core
Manufacturer: AP Manufacturing
Availability Status: Limited Access from Core
Hull Cost: Estimated Production lies at 2004000 Credits
Based Availability : Yaren Base
Variants: AP-18100 "Manta" APM Very Heavy Fighter

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Manufacturer's Summary

The Marlin is a highly effective heavy space superiority fighter. Further improving the AP line of fighters, this ship features increased power and cargo capacity as well as significantly stronger hull. This ship has gradually replaced the Manta, becoming the mainstay of Core fighter pilots everywhere in Sirius, and the bane of many pirate groups.

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Winter's Summary

The Marlin is a credible fighter, leaning toward the middle of both power and speed. It handles responsively and feels good to fly. Think of it as an Templar with somewhat better maneuverability, considerably less armor and a profile that,in the hands of a decent pilot, is impossibly hard to hit coming straight on .The design's fairly sensible, but the power core and engines are all clustered in at the rear of the ship, which makes them a vulnerable target from the side. Now, while the firepower and speed may be considerable, there is one thing to be worried about. The Guns on this ship are -very- clustered together, a mine or missile direct to one of them will more likely than not destroy them, be wary of that fact. Honestly, though, If you are going to requisition a fighter from outside Bretonia, Go for the Guardian. It's easier to fly, easier to source parts for, and doesn't generate nearly as many awkward conversations. Points for Style though.

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Hull and Powercore

Armor Durability: 10600
Hold Capacity: 80
Equipment Hardpoints: Standard Countermeasure/Cloak, Torpedo/Cruise Disruptor, Mine
Weapon Hardpoints: 2 Class 8, 3 Class 9s, 1 Class 10, 1 Turret
Shield Battery and Nanobot Storage: 65/65
Powercore Capacity:11400
Powercore Charge Rate: 1160
Powercore Percentage: 100%

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Maneuvering

Standard Speed: 80 Units per Second
Turnrate: 70.87 Degrees per Second
Cruise Speed: 375 Units per Second

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Closing Comments

While the capable statistics, slim profile and 'Exotic' appearance may make it a desirable craft, the limited availability of both the crafts and the components necessary to maintain them in combat scenarios, as well as the non-standard design philosophy and control scheme, coupled with the non-traditional approaches require to be effective with it prevent me from fully recommending it. Pilots Requisitioning such a craft must consider their overall priorities in combat, as the 'Marlin' very much feels like a Bird of Prey, and not a Stalwart Defender such as the Templar.

Signed,
Lieutenant Commander James Winter - Bretonian Armed Forces

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[Snoflek]

B-1290 "Templar" Bretonia Very Heavy Fighter

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Basic Information

Type: Very Heavy Fighter
Model Number: B-1290
Role: Heavy Assault Fighter
Origin: Bretonia
Manufacturer: Bretonian Armed Forces
Availability Status: Standard Issue
Hull Cost: Estimated Production lies at 1900000 Standard Credits
Based Availability : Battleship Suffolk, Battleship Harlow, Battleship Norfolk, Battleship Essex
Variants: B-907A "Crusader" Bretonia Heavy Fighter

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Manufacturer's Summary

Heavily modified version of the Crusader, named the Templar, is the latest addition to Bretonia Armed Forces. Very heavy fighters of this type are built in an effort to stop Corsair expansion into Bretonia space. Armor capacity of this ship is rumored to be superior to any other very heavy fighter in Sirius, however, just like Corsairs' Titan, it lacks maneuverability.

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Winter's Summary

Imagine the polar opposite of the Marlin. Good, Now we're on the same page. This isn't a fighter. Just thought we'd get that out of the way fast enough. You won't be dodging incoming fire, darting in between of cruisers and gunboats in a mad display of flight skill. Instead, you'll be a brick. If someone shoots at you, and they're half competent, they'll hit you. Now that we've got out of the way, let us continue. The Templar is only slightly less aerodynamic than a brick, and it has useless little wings that serve no purpose but to make it an even larger target. Thankfully, it's suitably difficult to bring down. This ship is so solid, I dare to say that in a heated battle, the hull of the ship has a higher chance of surviving the battle than it's pilot. In spite of all that, the Templar is not not a bad ship. It flies well enough from one place to another, but don't go planning any fancy turns without a week's notice ahead of time. It can even help put a decent hole in a gunboat, in the right circumstances. If the stars align properly, your opponent is drunk, or heavens forbid, flying something less agile than the Templar, they are in for a nasty surprise. This ship is capable of absolutely decimating most of it's opponents in a volley of fire. You'll just have to ask them to sit still politely to do it. Also: Note the very large viewscreen. Don't let it crack.

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Hull and Powercore

Armor Durability: 14000
Hold Capacity: 76
Equipment Hardpoints: Standard Countermeasure/Cloak, Torpedo/Cruise Disruptor, Mine
Weapon Hardpoints: 2 Class 8, 3 Class 9s, 1 Class 10, 1 Turret
Shield Battery and Nanobot Storage: 76/76
Powercore Capacity:12400
Powercore Charge Rate: 1270
Powercore Percentage: 100%

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Maneuvering

Standard Speed: 80 Units per Second
Turnrate: 62.89 Degrees per Second
Cruise Speed: 375 Units per Second

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Closing Comments

Despite the previous iteration of this craft being known as the 'Crown Jewel' of the Bretonian Armed Forces, this is perhaps one of the more neglected ships in our arsenal. Often abandoned in favor of the readily available 'Guardian' Very Heavy Fighter, among others, the Templar stands as a Paragon of Bretonian Virtues nonetheless. Proud, Capable, Independent, Sturdy and Enduring, this Fighter Craft deserves a commendation all it's own. Even if the Engines are Horribly, Unimaginably, Unforgivably exposed.
Signed,
Lieutenant Commander James Winter - Bretonian Armed Forces

[Snoflek]

XB-2 "Havoc Mk II" Civilian Bomber

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Basic Information

Type: Medium Bomber
Model Number: XB-2
Role: Tactical Bomber
Origin: Joint Effort between Bretonia and Liberty
Manufacturer: Ageira with Assistance from Bretonia Mining and Manufacturing
Availability Status: Readily Available
Hull Cost: Estimated 6300000 Credits
Based Availability : Planet Denver (Liberty)
Variants: N/A

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Manufacturer's Summary
Developed by Ageira with significant BMM participation, the Havoc Mk II is an advanced modification of the first "Havoc", bomber model that was popular in Liberty and Bretonia about 350 years ago. Mk II version features an advanced power array and increased agility compared to other modern bombers. While Ageira initially planned to sell the new Havoc only to Liberty Navy and Bretonia Armed Forces, company executives soon understood that this ship could make a lot of profit on alternative markets.

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Winter's Summary
The 'Havoc' is in all ways a capable craft, leaving very little that one cannot be satisfied with. There are several features I would like to note. The first being the relatively slim profile in comparison to other Bombers. The Second being the competent powerc ore, providing a managable Gap between 'SNAC' usages. The Third, is the rather comfortable Nanobot and Shielt batteries storage areas, leaving one with a surprising Longevity in the fight. Though marketed for It's agility, I personally find the actual agility of this craft to be somewhat lacking, though the manufacturer has recently gone to great lengths to upgrade the performance of the craft. The 'Havoc' by my review is fully ready for popular use among the Bretonian Armed Forces. Though Not usually a primary selling point of Bombers, this one does have a sizable cargo bay, as a bonus feature.

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Hull and Powercore

Armor Durability: 20,300
Hold Capacity: 100
Equipment Hardpoints: 2 Cruiser Disruptor/Torpedo Mounts, 1 Mine Layer, 1 Counter Measure Launcher/Other
Weapon Hardpoints: 2 Class 2 Guns, 2 Class 4 Guns
Shield Battery and Nanobot Storage: 110
Powercore Capacity: 45390
Powercore Charge Rate: 1880
Powercore Percentage: 100%

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Maneuvering

Standard Speed: 80 Units per Second
Turnrate: 56.66 Degrees per Second
Cruise Speed: 360 Units per Second

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Closing Comments


Signed,
Lieutenant Commander James Winter - Bretonian Armed Forces

[Snoflek]

"Paladin" Bretonian Heavy Fighter

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Basic Information

Type: Heavy Fighter
Model Number: Unknown, Presumed B-Series
Role: Light Space Superiority Fighter
Origin: Bretonia
Manufacturer: Bretonian Armed Forces
Availability Status: Readily Available
Hull Cost: Estimated 1700000 Credits
Based Availability : Battleship Harlow, Battleship Suffolk, Battleship Norfolk, Battleship Essex
Variants: N/A

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Manufacturer's Summary

The Paladin is the result of years of painstaking research and development in the weapons labs of Sunderland Research Station. Utilising many of the technologies that make the Templar and Hussar essential Bretonian assets, the Paladin attempts to find a happy middle-ground between these two prestigious ships. Boasting a revolutionary combination of agility and firepower, the Paladin has found favour among the BAF's skirmishers and scouts who need to strike fast and hit harder.
Having first seen heavy action in the Bretonian-Kusari war, veteran Paladin fighter pilots often find themselves the better asset to counter the agile Gallic fightercraft then their Templar counterparts.

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Winter's Summary
Being a Heavy Fighter, this ship is surprisingly well represented in the ranks of the Armed Forces, and, deservedly so. Boasting a slim profile, though somewhat sub par agility, the Paladin is a rather deadly dogfighter. Continuing the tradition of Bretonian Craft, the Paladin is remarkably sturdy for it's size, and can certainly take a hit, though it's fast enough to usually evade them. The ship itself appears to be a merger between the design of the Cavalier and the Crusader. Surprisingly, I can't find a model number associated with it, which strikes me as odd, though it may be I received a miss-printed tech manual. With the ship's agility and slim size however, there are some downsides. The Powercore is absolutely standard, with 9000 EU Storage, and 1200 Unit regen. Average Statistics in many regards, the Paladin shines through just right however, although it might not have an abundance of strong points, similarly, it suffers from no major flaws. Other than an horribly exposed engine. There are some structural abnormalities in the design, not found in the light fighter or very heavy fighter of the same line, however this can be attributed to experimental structure design, and my theory is this may be what lends it the surprising sturdiness.

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Hull and Powercore

Armor Durability: 8,600
Hold Capacity: 50
Equipment Hardpoints: 1 Cruiser Disruptor/Torpedo Mounts, 1 Mine Layer, 1 Counter Measure Launcher/Other
Weapon Hardpoints: 1 Class 10 Gun, 5 Class 7 GUns
Shield Battery and Nanobot Storage: 56/56
Powercore Capacity: 8,000
Powercore Charge Rate: 1,200
Powercore Percentage: 100%

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Maneuvering

Standard Speed: 80 Units per Second
Turnrate: 71.97 Degrees per Second
Cruise Speed: 375 Units per Second

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Closing Comments
I will not stop harping about the engine issue, maybe if I go on long enough, someone will take it seriously.

Signed,
Lieutenant Commander James Winter - Bretonian Armed Forces

[Snoflek]

CTU-7f "Raven's Talon" Civilian Very Heavy Fighter

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Basic Information

Type: Very Heavy Fighter
Model Number: CTU-7f
Role: Short Range Escort Fighter
Origin: Independent
Manufacturer: Independent
Availability Status: Readily Available
Hull Cost: Estimated 2075000 Credits
Based Availability : Battleship York, Freeport 4
Variants: N/A

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Manufacturer's Summary

The Raven's Talon is a civilian vessel built by many independent shipbuilding factions, such as the Independent Miners Guild, Zoners and Junkers. A ship not usually bought for its looks, it is a good choice for the freelancer who prefers solid performance over flash.

The Raven's Talon can be found in service across Sirius, having made its way onto the black market, and is sold all over the sector. In addition to being flown by civilian pilots, it can be found in the hands of many mercenaries, freelancers and pirates. Its popularity is in no small part due to the widespread availability of compatible replacement parts, making the Raven's Talon one of the most easily maintainable ships on the market.

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Winter's Summary
I have a few choice words for this ship, and not many of them are positive. Firstly, this ship is perfectly well rounded. This might sound like a compliment to it, but it really is not. Compared to other ships on the open and military market, this vessel simply does not hold up. Betrayed by a large profile, and lacking agility, it's out performed by many other craft. While it is reliable enough, and easy to maintain, in a proper military that's not exactly needed. Given that we have access to routine maintenance and some of the best trained mechanics in Sirius, reliability is not a strong platform from which to vouch for this ship from.

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Hull and Powercore

Armor Durability: 12,400
Hold Capacity: 75
Equipment Hardpoints: 1 Cruiser Disruptor/Torpedo Mounts, 1 Mine Layer, 1 Counter Measure Launcher/Other
Weapon Hardpoints: 1 Class 10 Gun, 2 Class 8 Guns, 3 Class 9 Guns
Shield Battery and Nanobot Storage: 65/65
Powercore Capacity: 12,400
Powercore Charge Rate: 1,270
Powercore Percentage: 100%

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Maneuvering

Standard Speed: 80 Units per Second
Turnrate: 65.48 Degrees per Second
Cruise Speed: 375 Units per Second

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Closing Comments
While it may perform decently on paper, in simply does not hold up against the many other fighter craft available in Sirius. I cannot recommend it to any pilot.

Signed,
Lieutenant Commander James Winter - Bretonian Armed Forces

[Snoflek]

CTE-19000 "Roc" Civilian Bomber

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Basic Information

Type: Bomber
Model Number: CTE-19000
Role: Escort....Bomber?
Origin: Liberty
Manufacturer: Civilian
Availability Status: Readily Available
Hull Cost: Estimated 6200000 Credits
Based Availability : Battleship Ark Royal,
Variants: N/A

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Manufacturer's Summary

Ironically labelled a 'civilian' bomber by its Libertonian designers, who also developed such classics as the 'Eagle' fighter, there is little civil about this piece of kit.

This ship is now being used by various civilian corporations that find themselves being pirated by gunboats and similar, who purchase this ship from construction yards or build it themselves after acquiring the rights to its patent. Also of note is the rather large amount of these ships found in the possession of criminal organisations such as the Xenos in Liberty and the Golden Chrysanthemums in Kusari space.

This may indicate that these groups are able to cannibalise the hulls of their Eagles and modify them to make them into bombers, or that they have more financial support for their military machines than lawmen would have previously imagined.
Seen all over Sirius, in the hands of corporations, criminals, Zoners and Freelancers, this bomber is a versatile piece of equipment, handy for those that all-too-often find themselves on the wrong end of big guns.

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Winter's Summary
I'm not even certain where to begin with this vessel. Perhaps the Designation. 'Civilian Bomber'. If those two words together do not warn you off far enough of why this is a bad idea, I don't know what will. But I digress, I am meant to analyse the ship's capabilities, not why it was made.

This ship is agile, for a bomber, as is to be expected of the CTE Series. Boasting a perfectly average Power Core, Middling Armor, it's primary statistics are acceptable, however there are some more subtle problems that should be considered. For One, the Roc is by no means a small vessel. Additionally, both Heavy Anti-Capital weapons are spread out on the wings of the craft, which one must keep aware of during combat.

Over All, an acceptable machine which the Armed Forces has been importing in surprisingly large numbers.

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Hull and Powercore

Armor Durability: 17,400
Hold Capacity: 96 Standard Units.
Equipment Hardpoints: 2 Cruiser Disruptor/Torpedo Mounts, 1 Mine Layer, 1 Counter Measure Launcher/Other
Weapon Hardpoints: 6 'Bomber' Class Guns.
Shield Battery and Nanobot Storage: 85/85
Powercore Capacity: 38,200
Powercore Charge Rate: 1,722
Powercore Percentage: 100%

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Maneuvering

Standard Speed: 80 Units per Second
Turnrate: 60.88 Degrees per Second
Cruise Speed: 350 Units per Second

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Closing Comments
The Concept of a 'Civilian Bomber' just rubs me the wrong way. Arming Civilians with firepower able to easily accost Battleships, and additionally permit the sale and purchase of such without the Crown's Oversight seems like a hornet's nest waiting to be shaken.

It's fully functional in it's role, and as much a threat to us as the Enemy.

Signed,
Lieutenant Commander James Winter - Bretonian Armed Forces