Terran Confederation F-104 "Bearcat" Heavy Fighter

Name: F-104 Bearcat
Craft: Terran Confederation F-104 Bearcat Heavy Fighter
Type: medium military fightercraft
Scale: starfighter
Length: 27 meters
Skill: starfighter pilot
Crew: 1
Passengers: 0
Cargo Capacity: 0.8 metric tons
Consumables: 10 days
Cost: 253,570 credits
Maneuverability: 3D+1
Space: 10
Atmosphere: 435; 1,250 kmh
Hull: 4D+1
Shields: 9D+1
Sensors

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

Weapons

4 Light Tachyon Guns

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-10/20/40
Atmosphere Range: 100-1,000/2,000/4,000m
Rate of fire: 4
Damage: 11D+1; 1D vs starfighter scale

4 Dual Light Ordnance Hardpoints

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D

Standard Heat Seeker (HS) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-30/60/90
Atmosphere Range: 100-3,000/6,000/9,000m
Ammo: 4
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 11D+1; 1D vs capital scale

Enhanced Image Recognition (EIR) Missile

Scale: starfighter
Space Range: 1-40/80/24
Atmosphere Range: 100-4,000/8,000/24,000m
Ammo: 4
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 12D+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

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: 24
Rate of fire: 1
Effects: Enemy Sensors & Fire Control -1D

Gear

Ejection Seat
Auto Repair System

Description: The F-104 Bearcat was a heavy fighter in the service of the Terran Confederation.

Designed and manufactured in the aftermath of the Terran-Kilrathi War, the Bearcat was to be the next top-of-the-line heavy fighter in the Terran Confederation Space Force. A peacetime design, it was to defend the Confederation against future enemies and against Kilrathi raiders who were still intent on continuing the war with the Confederation. With a standard armament and fair speed, it had potential as a formidable dogfighter on the frontlines.

The Bearcat was one of many new Terran innovations to come forth during the peacetime era. By 2673, several combat-ready prototypes of the Bearcat were in testing. A number of them fell into the hands of the Black Lance, who used them in an attempt to provoke war between the Confederation and the newly-independent Union of Border Worlds.

One notable action undertaken by the Bearcats was their role in the Black Lance assault on the Peleus System, where they were charged with defending a jamming ship that was creating a communications blackout across the system. They also were present at the BWS Intrepid's assault on Ella.

In Speradon, a trio of Confederation pilots sympathetic to the Border Worlds defected to the Union after hijacking a squadron of Bearcats. The Union, in desperate need of fighter pilots, acted quickly to rescue the defectors before the Black Lance could intercept them.

Source: thedemonapostle; The Wing Commander Role Playing Game (page 303)