Terran Confederation F-44 "Rapier-II Space Superiority Fighter

F-44/A Rapier II

Name: F-44 Rapier II
Craft: Origin Aerospace F-44/A Rapier II
Type: Medium Fighter
Scale: speeder
Length: 24 meters
Skill: starfighter pilot
Crew: 1
Cargo Capacity: 1.6 metric tons
Consumables: 11 days
Maneuverability: 2D+1
Space: 12
Atmosphere: 450; 1,300 km/h
Hull: 3D+1
Shields: 2D+1
Sensors

• Passive: 30/1D
• Scan: 60/1D+2
• Search: 90/2D+1
• Focus: 3/3D

Weapons

• 2 Civilian Grade Laser Cannons

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,300/2,500/5,000m
Rate of fire: 5
Damage: 1D+2

• 2 Standard Neutron Guns

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-8/15/30
Atmosphere Range: 100-800/1,500/3,000m
Rate of fire: 4
Damage: 3D

• 5 Light Ordnance Hardpoints

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 1D

• Light Dumb Fire (DF) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-10/20/80
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/8,000m
Ammo: 2
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 1D+1

• Civilian Grade Image Recognition (IR) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-30/60/90
Atmosphere Range: 100-3,000/6,000/9,000m
Ammo: 1
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 1D+2

• Standard Friend-or-For (IFF) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-40/80/120
Atmosphere Range: 100-4,000/8,000/12,000m
Ammo: 2
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 1D+2

• Electronic Counter Measure Module

Fire Arc: all
Crew: 1
Skill: sensors
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Effects: Enemy Sensors and Fire Control -1D

Source:

• Wing Commander Encyclopedia: F-44 Rapier II
• Wing Commander Information Center: F-44 Rapier II
• The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (page 281)
• thedemonapostle

F-44/G Rapier-II

Name: F-44/G Rapier II
Craft: Origin Aerospace F-44/G Rapier II
Type: Medium Fighter
Scale: speeder
Length: 19 meters
Skill: starfighter pilot
Crew: 1
Cargo Capacity: 400 kg
Consumables: 9 days
Maneuverability: 2D
Space: 12
Atmosphere: 450; 1,300 km/h
Hull: 4D+1
Shields: 2D+2
Sensors

• Passive: 30/1D
• Scan: 60/1D+2
• Search: 90/2D+1
• Focus: 3/3D

Weapons

• 2 Civilian Grade Laser Cannons

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,300/2,500/5,000m
Rate of fire: 5
Damage: 1D+2

• 2 Military Grade Particle Cannons

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-10/20/40
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/4,000m
Rate of fire: 3
Damage: 4D+1

• 6 Light Ordnance Hardpoints

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 1D

• Light Dumb Fire (DF) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-10/20/80
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/8,000m
Ammo: 2
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 1D+1

• Light Heat Seeker (HS) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-30/60/90
Atmosphere Range: 100-3,000/6,000/9,000m
Ammo: 2
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 1D+2

• Standard Friend-or-Foe (IFF) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-40/80/120
Atmosphere Range: 100-4,000/8,000/12,000m
Ammo: 2
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 1D+2

• Countermeasure Pod Dispenser

Fire Arc: aft
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: sensors
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Ammo: 1
Rate of fire: 1
Effects: Enemy Sensors & Fire Control -1D

Source:

• Wing Commander Encyclopedia: F-44 Rapier II
• Wing Commander Information Center: F-44G Rapier II
• The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (page 285)
• thedemonapostle

F-44/V Rapier-II Vanguard

Name: F-44/V Rapier-II Vanguard
Craft: Origin Aerospace F-44/V Rapier-II Vanguard
Type: Medium Fighter
Scale: starfighter
Length: 19 meters
Skill: starfighter pilot
Crew: 1
Cargo Capacity: 400 kg
Consumables: 9 days
Jump Drive: x1
Nav Computer: yes
Maneuverability: 2D+1
Space: 2
Atmosphere: 225; 650 km/h
Hull: 8D
Shields: 3D
Sensors

• Passive: 40/1D
• Scan: 80/2D
• Search: 120/3D
• Focus: 4/4D

Weapons

• 2 Civilian Grade Laser Cannons

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,300/2,500/5,000m
Rate of fire: 6
Damage: 1D+2

• 2 Civilian Grade Neutron Guns

Fire Arc: 2 forward, 1 dual turret
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-8/15/30
Atmosphere Range: 100-800/1,500/3,000m
Rate of fire: 3
Damage: 6D

• 4 Light Ordnance Hardpoint Banks

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: capital
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-10/20/80
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/8,000m
Ammo: 20 Standard Dumb Fire (DF) Missiles per bank
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 3D

• 3 Light Ordnance Tubes

Fire Arc: aft
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 0
Atmosphere Range: 0
Ammo: 5 Mk III Porcupine Mines per tube
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 8D

• Electronic Counter Measure Module

Fire Arc: all
Crew: 1
Skill: sensors
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Effects: Enemy Sensors and Fire Control -1D

• Enhanced Countermeasure Pod Dispenser

Fire Arc: aft
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: sensors
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Ammo: 50
Rate of fire: 1
Effects: Enemy Sensors & Fire Control -2D

Gear:

• Tachyon Sonar: This accessory nullifies the bonuses of all craft equipped with an active standard cloaking device within 100,000 kilometers.

Source:

• Wing Commander Encyclopedia: F-44 Rapier II
• Wing Commander Information Center: F-44 Rapier II
• The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (page 317)
• thedemonapostle

F-44/W Rapier-II Blade

Craft: Terran Confederation F-44/W Rapier-II Blade Space Superiority Fighter
Type: medium military fightercraft
Scale: starfighter
Length: 19 meters
Skill: starfighter pilot
Crew: 1
Passengers: 0
Cargo Capacity: 0.4 metric tons
Consumables: 9 days
Cost: 568,949 credits
Jump Drive: x1
Nav Computer: yes
Maneuverability: 3D+2
Space: 6
Atmosphere: 260; 750 kmh
Hull: 9D
Shields: 9D+1
Sensors

• Passive: 40/1D
• Scan: 80/2D
• Search: 120/3D
• Focus: 4/4D

Weapons

• 2 Civilian Grade Meson Blasters

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-10/20/40
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/4,000m
Rate of fire: 3
Damage: 9D; 0D vs starfighter scale

• 2 Civilian Grade Tachyon Guns

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-8/15/30
Atmosphere Range: 100-800/1,500/3,000m
Rate of fire: 3
Damage: 14D+1; 1D vs starfighter scale

• 3 Light Ordnance Hardpoint Banks

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-10/20/80
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/8,000m
Ammo: 20 Standard Dumb Fire (DF) Missiles per bank
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 8D+2; 0D vs capital scale

• 2 Light Ordnance Tubes

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-40/80/280
Atmosphere Range: 100-4,000/8,000/28,000m
Ammo: 5 Long Range Heat Seeker (LRHS) Missiles per tube
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 11D+1; 1D vs capital scale

• Electronic Counter Measure Module

Fire Arc: all
Crew: 1
Skill: sensors
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Effects: Enemy Sensors and Fire Control -1D

• Enhanced Countermeasure Pod Dispenser

Fire Arc: aft
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: sensors
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Ammo: 50
Rate of fire: 1
Effects: Enemy Sensors & Fire Control -2D

Gear

• Akwende Drive
• Matter/Anti-Matter Reactor
• Ejection Seat
• Auto Repair System
• Tachyon Sonar: This accessory nullifies the bonuses of all craft equipped with an active standard cloaking device within 100,000 kilometers.

Source: thedemonapostle; The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (page 317)

F-44/X Rapier-II Cavalier

Craft: Terran Confederation F-44/X Rapier-II Cavalier Space Superiority Fighter
Type: medium military fightercraft
Scale: starfighter
Length: 19 meters
Skill: starfighter pilot
Crew: 1
Passengers: 0
Cargo Capacity: 0.4 metric tons
Consumables: 9 days
Cost: 806,123 credits
Jump Drive: x1
Nav Computer: yes
Maneuverability: 3D+1
Space: 3
Atmosphere: 175; 500 kmh
Hull: 12D
Shields: 9D+1
Sensors

• Passive: 40/1D
• Scan: 80/2D
• Search: 120/3D
• Focus: 4/4D

Weapons

• 2 Civilian Grade Laser Cannons

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,300/2,500/5,000m
Rate of fire: 5
Damage: 5D; 0D vs starfighter scale

• 2 Civilian Grade Ionic Pulse Cannons

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,300/2,500/5,000m
Rate of fire: 2
Damage: 15D+1; 1D+1 vs starfighter scale

• 2 Civilian Grade Neutron Guns

Fire Arc: 1 dual turret
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-8/15/30
Atmosphere Range: 100-800/1,500/3,000m
Rate of fire: 2
Damage: 17D+2; 1D+2 vs starfighter scale

• 4 Light Ordnance Hardpoint Banks

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-10/20/80
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/8,000m
Ammo: 20 Standard Dumb Fire (DF) Missiles per bank
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 8D+2; 0D vs capital scale

• 2 Light Ordnance Tubes

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-40/80/280
Atmosphere Range: 100-4,000/8,000/28,000m
Ammo: 10 Enhanced Long Range Image Recognition (ELRIR) Missiles per tube
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 14D+2; 1D+1 vs capital scale

• Electronic Counter Measure Module

Fire Arc: all
Crew: 1
Skill: sensors
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Effects: Enemy Sensors and Fire Control -1D

• Enhanced Countermeasure Pod Dispenser

Fire Arc: aft
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: sensors
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-13/25/50
Atmosphere Range: 1-25/50/100km
Ammo: 50
Rate of fire: 1
Effects: Enemy Sensors & Fire Control -2D

Gear

• Akwende Drive
• Matter/Anti-Matter Reactor
• Ejection Seat
• Auto Repair System
• Shield Regenerator: Shields regenerate at +1D+1 per round.

Source: thedemonapostle; The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (page 317)

Description

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.