Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing/Legends

Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing The Cygnus Spaceworks Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing, commonly referred to as the Assault Gunboat, was one of the Galactic Empire's first general-deployment starfighters to be equipped with deflector shields and a hyperdrive.

Characteristics


The 10-meter-long Xg-1 was based on a tri-wing design similar to the Lambda-class shuttle, another craft that Cygnus Spaceworks designed. Like the Lambda shuttle, the Star Wing had a fixed dorsal wing flanked by a pair of lateral folding wings. When landing, the lower wings folded upwards. However, the Xg-1 had a sleeker cockpit and warhead/engine pods along the side of the hull. It had two additional folding wings that protruded diagonally from the side pods, at an angle reflexive to the lateral wings. These secondary wings afforded the Xg-1 significantly increased maneuverability over its shuttle counter-part. When in flight position, the wing configuration resembled an inverted five-point star, thus the name "Star Wing".

Its armament consisted of two chin mounted laser cannons, two ion cannons above the cockpit, and a pair of general purpose warhead launchers. The Gunboat could also carry the tractor beam weapon developed for the TIE Avenger and newer Imperial starfighters, this was only used during Maarek Stele's campaign in the Eva-T system to snare enemy craft.

The standard payload was sixteen concussion missiles, eight per launcher, though depending upon the mission the Gunboat could alternatively carry twelve proton torpedoes, eight heavy rockets, or four heavy space bombs.

The Xg-1 was a relatively large craft, which enabled it to accommodate a hyperdrive and deflector shields. However, it was not particularly fast and had an average level maneuverability, making it mediocre in space superiority.

Role


The Star Wing was equipped with a hyperdrive, which meant that it did not need the support of a Star Destroyer or other starfighter carrier. It proved very useful in conducting hyperspace raids against convoys and space stations, and also served in a reconnaissance capacity.

The fact that it was armed with ion cannons made the Assault Gunboat an ideal choice for capture operations or planetary customs duties. Its high magazine capacity made it a deadly bomber, as a squadron of Star Wings could penetrate most medium-sized capital ships' shields with a single warhead salvo from each fighter.

The Xg-1 was famed for its resilience. Its powerful shields allowed it to engage foes at point blank range, enabling it more opportunity to inflict damage, whereas an unshielded craft would be forced to break off the attack. The Star Wing's reinforced hull could survive a direct hit from an advanced concussion missile, and several times these craft were able to return home safely despite being badly damaged. Pilots such as Maarek Stele, having previously flown TIEs whose best defense was speed and maneuverability, often took advantage of the Star Wing's defenses to press bold assaults. If the Star Wing was deployed into a combat zone directly by a Star Destroyer or carrier, its deflector shields enabled it to spearheaded the attack and drew fire away from unshielded TIEs. One such rare deployment when Maarek Stele led other Imperial Navy starfighters at the final battle of the Conflict at Mylok IV.

The Assault Gunboat was designed and deployed to perform specific missions that standard TIE fighters were unable to complete. It was not planned for widespread production like TIEs, so it did not alter the Imperial doctrine of quantity over quality. (The TIE Avenger and TIE Defender, however, were designed as high-quality alternatives to using swarms of cheap craft.)

History
The Star Wing did not prove overwhelmingly successful in its first independent deployments. As the Star Wing was the only hyperdrive-capable starfighter in the Imperial arsenal, there was initially no other space superiority craft available to escort it. The Xg-1 was able to compare favorably against similarly heavy Alliance craft such as the Y-wing and the B-wing. However, against the more common X-wing and especially the nimble A-wing which it was often forced to engage, the Xg-1 had a hard time. The Xg-1 did have the advantage of stronger shields and armour to prolong its survival, but its comparative lack of speed prevented it from coming out on top. Consequently, Star Wings were often forced into lengthy dogfights with more maneuverable Alliance fighters, which detracted from their main mission goals. When the tractor beam weapon was developed, while it would have helped the Xg-1's changes against other starfighters, most flight officers opted to install what limited beam weapons they had on the TIE Avenger and other newer faster craft, where it would be even more effective.

As a stopgap, Imperial flight officers decided that hyperspace raids should be conducted in two groups, with a squadron of missile-equipped Star Wings being pressed into the space superiority/escort role, and another group to tasked with delivering the warheads to their target (usually proton torpedoes, heavy rockets, or heavy space bombs). An example of this was the assault on the Rebel Mon Calamari Light Cruiser Lulsla, in which the Imperials succeeded but suffered significant losses.

Once available, Star Wings were escorted by TIE Avengers&mdash;another class of Imperial fighter equipped with shields and hyperdrive. Because of the hyperspace capability of both classes, they could arrive in a system at the same time, catching Rebel patrols by surprise. As the Avengers proved excellent at space superiority, this enabled Star Wings to concentrate on their intended roles, whether that be capturing craft or assaulting capital ships. Successful Starwing-Avenger partnerships included the capture of Admiral Harkov and the seizure of Galactic Electronics' mag pulse weapons.

The Assault Gunboat was largely overshadowed by the fast and versatile TIE Defender, which was virtually equal or superior in every aspect save for armour and cost. However, due to the traitor Admiral Zaarin who threatened loyalist Avenger and Defender facilities, the loyalists were forced to resort to older craft. The Assault Gunboat made a comeback in the Eva-T system to combat the rogue TIE Defender threat. The first was during the "trade" with the Rneekii pirates for the TIE Defender scientist; the mutual exchange was actually an Imperial trap, but sending a newer starfighter would be provocative, and also because the Rneekii would underestimate the Gunboat. The Xg-1, however, was piloted by ace Maarek Stele, and it carried a full load of advanced concussion missiles and the new tractor beam weapon. In the following mission, Stele would take the Xg-1 into battle against the Zaarin's TIE Defenders. Stele's ability and the inclusion of the latest technology in the Star Wing proved that it could prevail against overwhelming odds.

The follow-up to the Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing was the Missile Boat. Despite several innovations, notably a much larger warhead capacity and a sublight acceleration system, it lacked ion cannons so it was not a direct replacement. Three Xg-1s participated in the disabling and capture of the Strike Cruiser Nuance, escorted by two Missile Boats. Other noted Gunboat-Missile Boat partnerships included the successive captures of the MC80 Mon Calamari Rebel cruiser Link and the rogue Victory Star Destroyer Zeplin.

Behind the scenes
The Assault Gunboat first made an appearance in Star Wars: X-wing Imperial Pursuit expansion, in order to give the Imperial Navy a fighter with deflector shields.

In Star Wars: TIE Fighter, Assault Gunboats and Missile Boats were assigned squadron names Tau, Mau, Mu, Rho, and Nu.

In Star Wars: Essential Guide to Vehicles, Imperial Star Destroyers are stated to carry five Assault Gunboats (not explicitly stated to be the Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing), in addition to their TIEs, shuttles, and landing barges.

Interestingly, the Assault Gunboat has had very little mention outside of the X-wing series of computer games. While other fighters such as the TIE/D Defender have shown up increasingly in later Expanded Universe novels, the supposedly far more common Gunboat rarely featured.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: X-wing
 * Star Wars: TIE Fighter
 * Star Wars: X-wing vs. TIE Fighter
 * Star Wars: X-wing Alliance
 * X-wing: Rogue Squadron
 * A Bitter Winter
 * X-wing: Isard's Revenge
 * Showdown at Centerpoint

Notes and references
Angriffs-Kanonenboot