S16 Prowler-class Starfighter
Name/Type: S16 Prowler-class Starfighter
Designer/Manufacturer: Confederation Defence Industries
Combat Role: Superiority / Multi-Role
Crew: 1 + 1 Astromech Droid
Length: 14 Meters
Speed: 100 MGLT, 1300 Kph
Acceleration: 15 MGLT/s
Maneuverability: 125 DPF
Hyperdrive: x1
Shield Rating: 100 SBD
Hull Rating: 60 RU
Weapons: 2 CCA RX-9 Medium Laser Cannons, 4 CCA RX-3 Autoblasters, 3 MG-7 Proton Torpedo Launchers (9 Torpedoes, 9 Ion Torpedoes, 12 Concussion Missiles, 12 Magpulse Warheads or 12 Heavy Rockets, or any equivalent combination of listed munitions).
Countermeasures: 2 Countermeasure Launchers (20 Chaff Bursts or 20 Decoy Mines or 14 Flares).
Other: 1 CSG I Module.
The Confederation’s Defence Industries S16 is an agile fighter-bomber that was designed with an ease the cost and maintenance of the Contegorian starfighter forces via the tenets of the Unity Ship philosophy. In fact, it is this facet of the Prowler’s design, along with its formidable and customizeable weapons loadout, that has made it very popular among the Confederation pilots and local politicians; even the poorest Confederation world is able to several squadrons of these powerful starfighters. It is frequently replacing the expensive and high-maintenance S12 Deathsabers among most fleets, though several of the S12 squadrons continue to exist for recon and special strikes purposes. The S16 is now the mainstream fighter craft of the Confederation.
Unlike most previous Confederate starfighters, the S16 Prowler does not incorporate any stealth-enhancing technologies (at least initially), and instead has an astromech droid slot to accommodate R-series droids to assist the pilot in navigation, repair, and other duties. Also unlike most Confederate starfighters, the Prowler has a top-mounted blister that occupies most of the ship’s top rear volume. This is the new CSG I Module, which like the blisters of the Revanche-class, allow the starfighter to equip additional components to the stock model such as maneuvering thrusters, engines, weapons, and the like.
Three sets of wing-mounted guns are the starfighter’s principal armaments, providing firepower that can rapidly shred opposing vehicles. The largest are the pair of .CCA RX-9 Medium Laser Cannons, equipped with a beam splitter for increased penetration. An additional quartet of CCA RX-3 Autoblasters, with an option for flak burst mode, round out the Prowlers’s offensive capability. The main fuselage fo the Prowler carries three MG-7 Launchers, much like the XJ-wing, allowing the fighter to carry a reasonably powerful kinetic punch.
CDI also designed the Prowler act as a ground attack aircraft, and the Prowler has also garnered a reputation among Confederate troops as a dangerous gunship. The Prowler’s mix of agility and firepower also make it useful in attacking enemy capital ships, allowing for selective targeting of engines, weapons, and other subsystems.
However, this same mix of capabilities has proven to be the bane of many Prowler pilots in the flight simulators. The lack of effective opposition to the Prowler’s heavy firepower among most made many flyers overconfident, prompting them to dogfight with significantly faster, and sometimes more nimble, enemy escort starfighters. Though the Prowler’s agility still gives it something of an edge in these engagements, its poor acceleration and deceleration, combined with a low maximum speed compared to more modern craft, leave unsupported Prowlers vulnerable when facing opponents with more nimble starships.
Though the Prowler is easily surpassed in many flight performances by many starfighters, this starfighter’s ease of maintenance, adaptability and sheer numbers it can be produced in make it one of the better starfighters in widespread service among a galactic navies. In addition, there is a classified version of the Prowler that exchanges its CSG I Module and a MG-7 launcher to be equipped with a limited-use Serendivus cloaking device. This S16s are referred to as Phantom Prowlers by the few elite squadrons who are issued them.
CSG-1 Module: The module on the starfighter is the pod-like structure that is raised just behind the cockpit and alongside some of the starfighter’s maneuvering thrusters. These modules can be either chosen by the Fleet’s commanding officer, the squadron’s commanding officer, or by individual pilots given the circumstances. However, because of the limited space among fleets, there are only a few choices available at any given time for a spaceborne squadron.
Modules:
Long-Range: This module merely provides a self-sealing container for extra fuel and life support for starfighters making extended journeys or patrols.
Minelayer: This module allows the Prowler to become a small minelayer, carrying and laying up to four compacted Mine As, Bs, Cs, or other equivalents. Oftentimes, Prowlers also use this module to launch up to eight seismic charges.
Cargo: The module is simply an empty, but self-contained shell. This effectively makes the S16 a heavily armed courier ship.
Sensor Pack: Provides the S16 with the Shadowcaster’s Confederation
Advanced Avionics system and the OSAIA. This is by far the most issued and used module on the Prowler.
Maneuvering pack: As it suggests, enhances the Prowler’s maneuverability by adding additional maneuvering thrusters and etheric rudders to it (+30 DPF when equipped).
More possibly to come…
Test Thread: here