Designed to act as a short-range fighter in the waning days of the Clone wars, the Alpha-3 Nimbus V-wing is a solidly built starfighter that remains in service throughout the Galactic Civil War.. Engineered by Walex Blissex for use by the Galactic Republic, the V-wing starfighter boasts light armament and some shielding but leaves heavy assault missions to other starfighters. Unlike the TIE fighter, which would replace the V-wing as the Empire’s starfighter of choice early on, the V-wing makes use of an astromech droid for repairs and pilot assistance. Despite the astromech’s presence, the V-wing starfighter is not, on its own, hyperspace-capable and must rely on a hyperdrive booster ring to travel at faster-than-light speeds.
Capabilities
Though less durable and more lightly armed than other craft of its time, the V-wing starfighter is among the fastest ships in the galaxy and remains so for years to come. Not quite as agile as its successor craft, the V-wing makes an excellent pursuit fighter capable to catching up to slower starships and running them down. Similarly, V-wings are often used in hit-and-run missions where getting past the enemiy’s defenses is a matter of speed; in many ways, the V-wing serves as the inspiration for the Rebel Alliance]’s guerrilla tactics, since some veterans of the Clone Wars will go on to serve under the Alliance banner during the Galactic Civil War.
The V-wing starfighter also makes an excellent escort fighter. Requiring only single pilot and capable of running circles around almost any space transport, the V-wing can race ahead to engage any threats while still being quick enough to return and protect the transport if trouble arises. Though weaker than many escort fighters, the V-wing can usually create enough of a diversion for its charge to escape or delay an attack until reinforcements can arrive. Additionally, since the V-wing doesn’t usually have hyperdrive capability, the ship must be launched from a larger vessel (such as a Star Destroyer), and as such is usually limited to missions within the same star system or escorting shuttlecraft launched from a capital ship.
Kuat System Engineering
Alpha-3 Nimbus V-wing Starfighter (CL 8)
Starships of the Galaxy, page 150.
Huge starfighter
Initiative: +8; Senses: Perception +6
Defenses: Fort 23, Ref 15 (flat-footed 11) ; +3 armor, Vehicular Combat
Hit Points: 80; DR: 10; SR: 15; Damage Threshold: 33
Speed: fly 16 squares (max. velocity 1,450 km/h), fly 6 squares (starship scale)
Ranged: light laser cannons +6 (see below)
Fighting Space: 3×3 or 1 square (starship scale); Cover: total
Base Attack: +2; Grapple: 25
Attack Options: autofire (light laser cannons)
Abilities: Str 36, Dex 18, Con —, Int 14
Skills: Initiative +8, Mechanics +6 (+13*), Perception +6, Pilot +8, Use Computer +6 (+13*)
* If the ship has an astromech droid, use these skill modifiers instead.
Crew: 1 plus astromech droid (skilled); Passengers: none
Cargo: 60 kg; Consumables: 15 hours; Carried Craft: none
Hyperdrive: ×1 (with booster ring), 10-jump memory (astromech droid)
Availability: Military; Cost: 102,500 (45,000 used)
Light laser cannons (pilot)
Attack: +6 (+1 autofire), Damage: 3d10×2