B-wing
B-Wing
Craft: Slayn & Korpil B-Wing
Affiliation: Rebel Alliance
Era: Rebellion
Source: Core Rulebook (page 248), Rebel Alliance Sourcebook (page 88), Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook SE (pages 118-120), The Star Wars Sourcebook (pages 16-17), Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi (page 39), Heir to the Empire Sourcebook (page 136), The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook (page 225), Starships of the Galaxy (page 64), The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (pages 14-15)
Type: Heavy assault starfighter
Scale: Starfighter
Length: 16.9 meters
Skill: Starfighter piloting: B-wing
Crew: 1
Crew Skill: Starfighter piloting 5D, starship gunnery 4D+2, starship shields 3D+1
Cargo Capacity: 45 kilograms
Consumables: 1 week
Cost: 220,000 (new)
Hyperdrive Multiplier: x2
Nav Computer: Yes (limited to 2 jumps)
Maneuverability: 1D+1
Space: 6
Atmosphere: 330; 950 kmh
Hull: 3D
Shields: 2D
Sensors:
- Passive: 30/0D
- Scan: 50/1D
- Search: 75/2D
- Focus: 4/4D+1
Weapons:
- Laser Cannon
- Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship gunnery
Fire Control: 1D
Space Range: 1-3/12/25
Atmosphere Range: 100-300/1.2/2.5 km
Damage: 7D
- 2 Proton Torpedo Launchers
- Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship gunnery
Fire Control: 3D
Space Range: 1/3/7
Atmosphere Range: 50-100/300/700
Damage: 9D
- 3 Medium Ion Cannons
- Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship gunnery
Fire Control: 4D
Space Range: 1-3/7/15
Atmosphere Range: 100-300/700/3.6 km
Damage: 4D
- 2 Auto Blasters
- Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-8/25/40
Atmosphere Range: 100-800/2.5/4 km
Damage: 3D
Capsule: The B-wing starfighter was one of the largest and most heavily armed starfighters/bombers in the Rebel Alliance's fleet. The name B-wing came from the craft's remote similarity in appearance to the lowercase letter "b", although its swordlike shape in attack mode has earned it the nickname "blade-wing", which may be another reason for the "b" prefix.
Known as "crosses" due to their distinct shape, the B-wing was designed by the Verpine company Slayn & Korpil in cooperation with then-Commander Ackbar as part of Project Shantipole. The B-wing, though difficult to fly, participated in numerous engagements across the galaxy during the latter parts of the Galactic Civil War, including the Battle of Endor and the liberation of Coruscant. The B-wing was used in its primary role of assault starfighter by both the New Republic and the Galactic Alliance throughout the Yuuzhan Vong War and beyond.
Later models included a two-man version that could be used as a small transport.
Somewhat reminiscent of the H-60 Tempest bomber, and using a wing configuration similar to Slayn & Korpil's earlier V-19 Torrent starfighter, the B-wing had a somewhat ungainly appearance resembling a top-heavy cross when fully unfurled.
The B-wing was a highly adaptable design, with modular hardpoints and other components. Its weapons could be reconfigured more easily than many other Alliance fighters. The B-wing also had a unique rotating cockpit module which was independently stabilized to allow the pilot to coordinate advanced flight and attack maneuvers. The fighter was powered by either of two engine systems: a Quadex Kyromaster engine with four thrust ports, or four Slayn & Korpil JZ-5 fusial thrust engines.
The B-wing was designed to replace the aging BTL Y-wing starfighter in the heavy assault role, as it had the advantage of more weaponry and stronger shields. However, the B-wing had several weaknesses, notably being difficult to fly and lacking speed and agility. Its large hull furthermore made it an easier target and it also had less armor protection. Consequently, it never fully succeeded supplanting the Y-wing as intended.
In particular, the rotating hull system made the B-wing a challenge to master. It also made the ship abnormally delicate; too many sharp turns could cause extreme strain to the spaceframe, and the cockpit rotation system could get stuck in one position. Only a few pilots were qualified to fly the ship before the Battle of Endor, resulting in a smaller number of B-wings present than expected. These difficulties forced the Rebel Alliance to invest in an upgraded Y-wing, rather than an entirely new ship, to fulfill their needs.
Like its predecessor, the Y-wing, the cockpit could be detached from the rest of the ship, but unlike the Y-wing, the B-wing's cockpit could be ejected into space and support atmospheric re-entry.
The B-wing would go on to participate in many battles throughout the Galactic Civil War, and would lend design elements to other vessels. Sometime after the Battle of Hoth, the hull of a wrecked B-wing was used as the design prototype for the AHS-1 heavy assault airspeeder, and later models followed the same general design.