Vehicle: Starhawk Bomber

Starhawk Bomber

Description:

Type: Spacecraft
Tactical Speed: 15m/10 AUs
Cruising Speed: 1,800 kph/ 6 VUs per Strategic Turn in Space
Manoeuvrability: –10
Structural Integrity: 45
Size: Massive
Armour: Front 35, Side 35, Rear 30
Carrying Capacity: Forward rack of 10 anti-ship missiles, rear bays with 40 plasma bombs

Crew: Pilot, Co-pilot, 5 Gunners, Bombardier, Tech-Priest Enginseer

Weapons

1 Forward Gunner-operated-Twin-linked Lascannon (Facing Front, Range 600m (6 AUs), S/–/–, 5d10+10 E, Pen 10, Clip 200, Reload —, Twin-linked)

2 Gunner-operated Twin-linked Long-barrelled Multi-laser Turrets (Facing All, Range 500m (5 AUs), –/–/10, 3d10+3 E, Pen 4, Clip Unlimited [powered from onboard reactor], Reload 2 Full, Twin-linked)

2 Wing-mounted Remote Gunner-operated Twin-linked Heavy Bolter Turrets (Facing Front/Left/Rear or Front/Right/Rear, Range 120 m (2 AU), –/–/10, 2d10+2 X, Pen 5, Clip 1000, Reload —, Tearing, Twin-linked)

Special rules

Spacecraft: This vehicle may exit the atmosphere. While in the atmosphere it may operate as a skimmer or ﬂyer at the pilot’s choice. It gains all beneﬁts and drawbacks of skimmers and ﬂyers. If operating as a ﬂyer, it must be moving at least half its cruising speed at all times lest it begin a terminal dive to the earth below. In either case, if it becomes completely immobilised due to damage, count the vehicle as destroyed instead as it crashes to the ground (or begins to fall out of the sky in a terminal dive).

Bomber:

Reinforced Hull: When a vehicle with a Reinforced Hull receives a Critical Hit, halve the result, rounding up. This quality does not affect rolls on the Critical Hit chart generated by Righteous Fury.

Availability: Extremely Rare

Bio:

Calixis – Pattern Starhawk Bomber

Slightly smaller than an assault boat, Starhawk-class bombers are slower and less armoured. Instead of troops, they carry a payload of plasma bombs, armour-piercing missiles, and (in some cases) torpedoes. The Calixis-pattern has forward racks for up to 10 large anti-ship missiles with powerful krak warheads, and mid-bays containing multiple bomb-firing cylinders. Starhawks launch volleys of missiles at precise targets on an enemy ship, then close and make “bombing runs” on the hull, pumping out flurries of plasma warheads. Crews of ten to fifteen man these weapons as well as less-potent armaments designed for defence against starfighters and incoming missiles. Like the Fury interceptor that often accompanies it, the Starhawk has cramped living quarters that allow these spacecraft to be used for extended assignments. Starhawk bombers are typically organised into squadrons of ten craft.