BTL-A4 Y-wing starfighter

BTL-A4 Y-wing starfighter The BTL-A4 Y-wing starfighter was the one-man version of the BTL-S3 starfighter model.

Characteristics
The BTL-S3 was supplanted in most Rebel services by the BTL-A4, which was crewed by a single person. The ion cannon turret was typically locked forwards in this design, although some pilots chose to lock it facing aft for extra cover. In addition, this variant boasted much greater endurance (as much as three times greater) over its earlier predecessor, but was penalized with less powerful shields and loss of accuracy in the ion cannons.

History
BTL-A4s are known to have been used prior to 0 BBY and remained in use throughout the Galactic Civil War. Commonly used by pirate, mercenary, and private defense forces, it was only natural that the BTL-A4 became used by the early Rebel Alliance as the primary starfighter for bombing and disabling roles.

As the BTL-S3 became the primary Y-Wing variant of the Rebel forces, the A4 was still kept in many units as a supplementary craft. Despite the existence of the BTL-S3 and even the introduction of the B-Wing, the BTL-A4 variant of the Y-Wing was favored by Red and Gold Squadrons, and served with distinction in many major battles. They were the starfighter intended to destroy the first Death Star during the Battle of Yavin. Four years later, twelve of these variants, piloted by Alliance pilot Ace Azzameen and Bothans sympathetic to the Rebellion, participated in the capture of the Imperial freighter Suprosa during the First Battle of Bothawui to capture a supercomputer containing the plans to the second Death Star. BTL-A4s also fought in the climactic Battle of Endor.

Behind the scenes
There is a discrepancy between two sources concerning the internal size of the main laser cannons. Y-Wing blueprints created during production of Star Wars: Episode IV show the internal laser cannons ending before the pilot's feet, whereas in Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections they continue throughout the entire cockpit.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: X-Wing
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars 15: Star Duel
 * Star Wars 26: Doom Mission
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars: TIE Fighter
 * Star Wars: X-wing Alliance
 * Shadows of the Empire novel
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
 * Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader