BIF-75 Tanto Light Starfighter (CAF/Bushido Industries):
The Tanto light starfighter, named after the traditional Japanese (or Oninese) dagger, is Bushido Industries entry into the light fighter. Other light fighters include the Consortium Scorpion and Bobcat, the older Human Alliance Vixen, Naruni Kinjal, and the Wolfen Falx Supina. Many military experts have speculated that the Tanto was developed in direct competition with the Scorpion for Consortium and possibly Human Alliance service. The Scorpion is one of the most common fighters in the Three Galaxies and could be compared to the F-16 Falcon of the late Twentieth and early Twenty-First Century.
So far, in addition to being operated by Bushido Industries forces, a number of small defense forces and mercenary groups operate the Bushido light fighter in small numbers. These operators seem to consider the fighter extremely capable and dangerous. Both the Consortium and Human Alliance have purchased a number of the Bushido light fighters to study them. It appears as if the Consortium is going to adopt an upgraded version of the Scorpion known as the “Super Scorpion” instead of a new fighter design.
While still relatively inexpensive, the Tanto is slightly more expensive than the Scorpion. The Bushido light fighter has advantages and disadvantages over the much more common Scorpion. The Tanto does not carry the extremely powerful rail gun that the Scorpion carries but have the ability to carry the same weapon pods carried on the Katana fighter, Bushido Industries medium fighter design, and is considered by many to be more flexible than the Scorpion.
The Tanto is less heavily armored than the main Consortium light fighter. Unlike the Scorpion, the Tanto does mount a variable force field. Between the force field and armor, the Tanto is able to withstand more damage than a standard Scorpion. The upgraded “Super Scorpion” mounts a variable force field as well although is mounted externally.
As far as the Bushido light fighter’s engines, they are copies of the engines carried on the Scorpion. The engine's design is modified so as to not be blatant and prevent Bushido Industries from being sued. As will the Scorpion, the Tanto mounts an auxiliary engine that can be used to boost performance vastly. One advantage the Tanto has over the Scorpion is that it is streamlined for much better atmospheric performance which makes it a highly effective ground attack fighter.
The Tanto light fighter is armed with the same particle beam cannon that the Katana medium fighter carries. While the particle beam is not as powerful as the rail gun carried on the Scorpion, as an energy weapon, it has an unlimited payload although the GR-1000 Rail Gun does have a vast payload. Two missile hard points are mounted on the Bushido light fighter. Each one carry a single capital missile or a mixture of smaller ordnance including long range and medium range missiles. The missiles are carried conformal to the hull of the light fighter. In addition, the Tanto has a single mount for a weapon pod. This allows the Bushido light fighter to operate in many different roles.
This starfighter design uses modified starship speed and weapon range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.
(Note: The power system is fusion not anti-matter because the author’s opinion is that anti-matter is to dangerous to be used in vehicles that may be used in an atmosphere. If a starship powered by anti-matter was to detonate in an atmosphere it would cause huge planetary damage. At GM option, this can also be applied to all starfighters or this fighter can be changed to anti-matter.)
Model Type: BIF-75
Vehicle Type: Light Fighter /Bomber
Crew: One.
M.D.C. By Location:
| Weapon Pod (Underside): | 300 | |
| [1] Auxiliary Engine: | 150 | |
| Missile Pylons (2, on the Underside): | 10 each | |
| [2] Main Body: | 450 | |
| Cockpit: | 150 | |
| [3] Variable Force Field: | 200 per side (1,200 total) |
Notes:
[1] If the auxiliary engine is destroyed, the ship’s acceleration is reduced to Mach .8 percent of light per turn.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the fighter out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[3] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (60 M.D.C.) per melee round.
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 40 percent of the speed of light. Fighter can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.8 percent of light per melee and with using the Auxiliary Engine, the fighter can reach up to 1.8 percent of light per melee
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is Mach 4.5 (3,336.5 mph / 5,369.7 kph) without using the auxiliary engine. If the fighter is fully loaded, reduce speed to Mach 4 (2965.8 mph/ 4,773 kph) without using the auxiliary engine.
When the fighter uses the auxiliary engine, Maximum speed is Mach 9.5 (7,043.8 mph / 11,335.9 kph) and if the fighter is carrying ordnance reduce top atmospheric speed to Mach 8.5 (6302.4 mph/ 10142.7 kph). In all situations the fighter can enter and leave the atmosphere because flight system is contra grav.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for pilot for ten days.
Statistical Data:
Length: 32 feet (9.8 meters)
Height: 9 feet (2.7 meters)
Width: 34 feet (10.4 meters)
Weight: 5.8 tons (5.3 metric tons)
Power System: Advanced Fusion with 20 year life span.
Cargo: Minimal Storage Space, place for a rifle, handgun, small survival kit, signal flares, and food rations.
Market Cost: 38 million credits.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
- One (1) Particle Beam Cannon: This cannon is identical to
the cannon that is carried in Bushido Industries Katana fighter and while
the cannon does not do as great a damage as the GR-1000 Rail gun on the
Scorpion starfighter does still inflict impressive damage. Like the Katana
fighter, the cannon is protected by the fighter’s fuselage and is not considered
destroyed until the fighters main body is destroyed. The weaknesses of
this cannon are larger compensated for by the use of weapon pods.
Maximum Effective Range: 4 miles (6.4 km) through atmosphere and 200 miles (321.8 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: 2D6x10 per blast
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited
- One (1) Weapon Pod: The fighter can carry one special purpose
weapon pods. They are identical to those carried by the Katana starfighter
and are attached centerline on the underside of the Tanto. Like the pods
on the Katana, the pod can be changed or interchanged within 10 minutes
by a capable service crew that is familiar with the fighter. Crews that
are no familiar with the Tanto or the Katana may require an additional
2D4 minutes.
- Anti-Starfighter Weapon Pod: This pod combines a medium range
missile launcher and a powerful gravity rail gun. Along with Fighters,
It is also useful for use against Robots and Power Armors. The rail gun
is very powerful but is short ranged. Projectiles are fired from the gravity
rail guns at a significant fraction of the speed of light. Medium Range
Missiles have a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has
an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Normally used for anti-fighter
and point defense. Medium range missiles can be launched on multiple targets
simultaneously.
Maximum Effective Range: Gravity Rail Gun: 2 miles (3.2 km) through an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space. Medium Range Missiles: 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds) in space.
Mega-Damage: Gravity Rail Gun: 3D6x10 per 40 round burst. Medium Range Missiles: Varies with medium range missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Gravity Rail Gun: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Pilot (usually 4 or 5). Medium Range Missiles: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4) missiles.
Payload: Gravity Rail Gun: 8,000 rounds (200 bursts). Medium Range Missiles: Sixteen (16) medium range missiles.
- Cruise Missile and Laser Pod: A mount that carries two cruise
missiles and a light laser to backup the internal particle beam. Cruise
Missiles have a top speed of Mach 25 in an atmosphere and in space has
an acceleration of 10% of light per turn (far faster than any starship.)
Cruise missiles can be launched on multiple targets simultaneously. Cruise
missiles have penalties to hit small targets but are all considered smart
missiles. Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed
of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will continue to
travel in a straight line unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting starships
(Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile
when dead is at -25% to be detected.)
Maximum Effective Range: Cruise Missiles: Range is 8,000 miles (12,875 km) in an atmosphere and 4,000,000 miles (6,437,376 km/ 21.5 light seconds) in space. Light Laser: 1 miles (1.6 km) through an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: Cruise Missiles: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Anti-Matter multi-warheads inflict 5D6x100 M.D.C. each.) Light Laser: 6D6 per blast.
Rate of Fire: Cruise Missiles: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2). Light Laser: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Cruise Missiles: Two (2) Cruise Missiles. Light Laser: Effectively Unlimited
- Mini-Missile Pod: This is a pack of mini missiles that can
be used against ground targets, infantry, and against starships. Missile
has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration
of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it
is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration). Mini-Missile is phase world
are normally guided.
Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire:Can fire mini-missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or twelve (12) missiles.
Payload: Forty-Eight (48) mini-missiles.
- Plasma Ejector Pod: A very heavy weapon that fired superheated
plasma. Very destructive weapon but limited in rate of fire and short ranged.
The Ejector Pod is capable against tanks, Giant robots, and large starships.
Maximum Effective Range: 25 miles (40 km) in space and 1,200 feet (326 m) in an atmosphere.
Mega-Damage: 1D4x100 M.D. per cannon.
Rate of Fire: Twice per melee each (each shot counts as two melee attacks, even when linked together).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
- Anti-Starfighter Weapon Pod: This pod combines a medium range
missile launcher and a powerful gravity rail gun. Along with Fighters,
It is also useful for use against Robots and Power Armors. The rail gun
is very powerful but is short ranged. Projectiles are fired from the gravity
rail guns at a significant fraction of the speed of light. Medium Range
Missiles have a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has
an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Normally used for anti-fighter
and point defense. Medium range missiles can be launched on multiple targets
simultaneously.
- Two (2) Missile Pylons: On the underbelly of the fighter
are two missile racks that allows the fighter to carry one cruise missile,
two long range missiles, or four medium range missiles. Individual pylons
must carry all the same type ordnance but each pylon may carry different
types of ordnance. Cruise missile are normally carried when on an anti-capital
ship role and long and medium range missiles when fighting other starfighters.
Cruise Missiles
has a top speed of Mach 25 in an atmosphere and
in space has an acceleration of 10% of light per turn (far faster than
any starship.) Long Range Missiles have a top speed of Mach 20 in
an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn
(faster than any starship.) Medium Range Missiles have a top speed
of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light
per turn. Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed
of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will continue to
travel in a straight line unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting starships
(Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile
when dead is at -25% to be detected.) Cruise missiles have penalties to hit small
targets but are all considered smart missiles. Missiles can be launched
on multiple targets simultaneously.
Maximum Effective Range: Cruise Missile range is 8,000 miles (12,875 km) in an atmosphere and 4,000,000 miles (6,437,376 km/ 21.5 light seconds) in space, Long Range Missile range is 3,400 miles (5,470 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,897,000 km/9.7 light seconds) in space, and Medium Range Missile range is 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds) in space.
Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Cruise Anti-Matter multi-warheads inflict 5D6x100 M.D.C. and Long Range Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4) missiles.
Payload: One (1) Cruise Missile, Two (2) Long Range Missiles, or Four (4) Medium Range Missiles per pylon.
- Special Bonuses: Like the Katana starfighter, this fighter is extremely maneuverable; add +5% to the pilots piloting skill, +1 to strike, +2 to dodge energy and projectile fire, and +3 to dodge missiles, obstacles, and stellar debris. The fighter also have a very advanced terrain following system. All bonuses are in addition to pilots bonuses (Hand to hand and Starfighter Pilot: Basic or Elite).
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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
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