SF-6 Osprey Class Medium Starfighter (H.A.F.N. / C.A.F.):

Replacing the even older Tiger Starfighter, the Osprey Medium Starfighter was one of the longest serving fighter designs having first served in the Human Alliance Forces Military and later adopted by the Consortium Armed Forces. They were produced in larger numbers than any other Human Alliance or Consortium medium fighter design although the Black Eagle may eventually eclipse it. The only Consortium fighter design produced in larger numbers has been the Scorpion light fighter. The Trans-Galactic Empire Flying is believed to have been produced in larger numbers. The Osprey fighter remained in production longer than any other Human Alliance or Consortium deign. The fighters served as the backbone of the defense forces of the Consortium of Civilized Worlds and was considered an excellent fighter by pilots.

It is only recent that the fighter has been theoretically replaced in Consortium Military Forces by a newer fighter design. The Black Eagle was developed as a replacement although shortages mean that large numbers of the Osprey remain in service even with the Consortium purchasing large number of Katana fighters to compensate for shortfalls. The biggest shortage of new fighters is among the interceptor version of the Black Eagle medium fighter.

Most of the medium star fighters that are in service in the Human Alliance Forces Navy continue to be the Ospreys fighter. Being as common as it is, a large number of the fighters used by Independent Defense Forces are Ospreys as well. When the CAF adopted the Black Eagle, large numbers of the Ospreys were declared surplus and as a result a large numbers of them passed into Free Worlds Council, Independent Defense Forces, small star nations, and mercenaries hands.

Even though no Osprey class medium fighters have been manufactured for several decades and huge numbers have been scrapped, vast numbers still remain in operational condition. Several companies specialize in the maintenance of the Osprey medium starfighter. In addition there is a handful of companies which specializing these fighters to virtually modern standards. Upgrades include modifying weaponry for greater firepower and flexibility, new engines, and even increasing armor slightly.

When it was first introduced, the Osprey was extremely fast, about fifty percent better acceleration than the Tiger starfighter, although both the new Black Eagle and Katana fighters have greater acceleration. There is still a number of common fighters which have lower acceleration than the Osprey. Designed as a lifting body, the fighter has excellent atmospheric performance for a space fighter. The Osprey also was one of the first fighters to mount a variable frequency force field. This made the fighter able to withstand incredible damage. Standard crew of the medium fighter is two, a pilot and a sensor / electronic warfare officer. The pilot has ful access to sensor systems and the sensor officer have duplicate flight controls as well.

The fighter was manufactured in two basic models. One of these is an interceptor model and the other is an attack version. Both versions are armed with a pair of laser cannons and two bays which carry eight medium range missiles per bay for a total of sixteen missiles. These weapons are mainly for comparatively short range combat. The lasers are reasonably capable even though an older design. Where they differ is in their heavy missile weaponry. While both versions have two missile bays, the attack version has the ability to carry four capital missiles with two in each bays. In the missile bays of the interceptor version, there are mounted four long range missiles per bay for eight long range missiles total. Because all missiles are mounted in bays, the fighter’s payload does not reduce fighter’s performance in an atmosphere. Still, the way the bays are designed, a single fighter design cannot use both cruise and long range missiles.

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:	SF-6A	Attack Model
	SF-6I	Interceptor Model

Vehicle Type: Attack or Interceptor Fighter.

Crew: Two (Pilot and weapons and sensor / electronic warfare officer).

M.D.C. By Location:

	Wing 2 cm Laser Cannons (2):	30 each
	Heavy Missile Bays (2):	75 each
	Medium Range Missile Bays (2):	50 each
	[1] Main Body:	600
	Cockpit:	100
	[2] Variable Force Field:	200 per side (1,200 total)

Notes:

[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the starfighter out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The fighter itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.

[2] 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 1.2 percent of light per melee.

Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum normal speed is Mach 6 (4,567.3 mph /7,350.3 kph), can enter and leave atmosphere because flight system is using contra grav. Because missiles are in a bay, they do not reduce the fighters atmospheric top speed.

Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for pilot and weapon officer for four weeks.

Statistical Data:

Length: 48 feet (14.63 meters).

Height: 15 feet (4.57 meters).

Width: 42 feet (12.80 meters).

Weight: 15 tons (13.61 metric tons) empty and 21 tons (19.05 metric tons) fully loaded.

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. Does not include missile bays.

Market Cost: 35 million credits for either model (Fighter is no longer being produced) - Less well maintained Ospreys can sell for 25 million credits.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Two (2) Wing 2 cm Light Laser Cannons: On each wing of the starfighter is a laser cannon mount. They are not as efficient as modern laser cannons beams but are more massive than most modern laser mounts. This means that they are actual slightly more powerful and slightly longer ranged than those carried by the CAF Black Eagle. However, they are not as powerful as the rail gun mounted on the Black Eagle. The gun pods are controlled by the fighters pilot.

Maximum Effective Range: 6 miles (9.7 km) through atmosphere and 600 miles (966 km) in space.

Mega-Damage: 2D4x10+10 per single blast, or 4D4x10+20 per double blast.

Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).

Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
Two (2) Heavy Missile Launchers: The type of missiles carried by the fighter depends on the model. Attack models are set up to carry four cruise missiles and interceptors are set up to carry a total of eight long range missiles. These missile launchers are normally controlled by the weapons officer but can be controlled by the pilot in emergencies. The missiles are carried in bays, two missile per bay for cruise missiles and four missiles per bay for long range missiles. Launchers can launch on multiple targets at the same time.
1. Cruise Missile Bays (Attack Model): The attack version of the Starfighter carries 4 cruise missiles with 2 missiles in each bay. Missile 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.) 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 unpowered, is at -25% to be detected.) Cruise missiles have penalties to hit small targets but are all considered smart missiles.
  
  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.
  
  Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Anti-Matter multi-warheads inflict 5D6x100 M.D.C. each.)
  
  Rate of Fire: Can fire cruise missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4) cruise missiles.
  
  Payload: Four (4) cruise missiles (2 each bay).
2. Long Range Missile Bays (Interceptor Model): The Interceptor model carries eight long range missile with four long range missiles in each bay. Missile has 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.) 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 star ships (Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile, when unpowered, is at -25% to be detected.) Long range missiles do not have penalties to hit small targets unlike cruise missiles and are all considered smart missiles.
  
  Maximum Effective Range: 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.
  
  Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)
  
  Rate of Fire: Can fire long range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), four (4), or eight (8) long range missiles.
  
  Payload: Eight (8) long range missiles (4 each bay).
Two (2) Medium Range Missile Bays: On the outside of the heavy missile bays on the Osprey are two medium range missile bays. Weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and long range and cruise missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Weapon system can be used on multiple targets simultaneously.

Maximum Effective Range: 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: Varies with medium range missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire medium range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or sixteen (16) medium range missiles.

Payload: Eight (8) medium range missiles per bay for a total of Sixteen (16) medium range missiles.

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Image created and copyrighted by Dieter Ludmann (dieter.ludmann@inka.de) .

More Dieter Ludmann artwork at DL-SPACE

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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