Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter

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The Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter,^[9] also known as the Alpha-3 Nimbus or V-wing starfighter, was a starfighter model manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering.^[1]

CharacteristicsEdit

DesignEdit

The Alpha-3 Nimbus-class starfighter^[9] was a sharp and wedge-shaped fighter. Manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering, the same company that made Jedi starfighters, V-wings were agile and fast,^[10] with the ship having a top speed of 1,450 kilometers per hour and maximum acceleration of 5,200G's.^[1] Cutting-edge technology was used to give the V-wing maneuverability, and the starship had vertically placed^[10] twin ion engine^[5] thrusters, allowing for surprisingly fast pitch-turnings. Thrusters were placed at the end of the starfighter, but, like a number of ships made for the Loyalists, the V-wing was too compact to hold a hyperdrive. However, the V-wing did possess a powerful reactor.^[10]

To maximize power for speed and agility, Kuat produced the starfighter without a pressurized cockpit. This required pilots to wear sealed flight suits equipped with life-support systems.^[5] This flight suit also allowed a pilot to eject. A single clone trooper pilot flew the ship, and an independent Q7-series astromech droid backed up the clone. This astromech helped in-flight maintenance and navigation. Close to the astro-droid were two deflector shield heat sinks. Also included in the ship were repulsorlift vanes, at least one reactant tank, shield projector units, the power lines to the shield projectors, and forward sensors.^[10]

Much like the larger Star Courier of Sienar Fleet Systems, the V-wing had folding radiator wings and laser cannons.^[5] The wings, which were located at either side of the V-wing and reached above and below the craft, were the ship's most distinguishing feature^[1] and on articulated collars, which let the wings move ninety degrees for landing. During intense activity, the radiator panels on the wings helped heat disposal. The wings radiators remained unfolded while the ship was in flight position.^[10] The laser cannons could swivel on and had a rapid fire capability by being placed^[10] on both of the wing struts^[1]/hubs. The cannons had a power feed and capacitors.^[10]

Role in combatEdit

The V-wing starfighter served as a support ship in the Republic Navy during the Clone Wars. The Galactic Republic's warships and carriers deployed furious swarms of V-wings, and the fighters were used to defend fortress worlds and part of fleet actions.^[10] Because of the ships's lack of a built-in hyperdrive, the V-wing required transportation into combat zones by carriers such as the Venator-class Star Destroyer.^[5] Because of the V-wing's maneuverability, it was more agile than the Republic's Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter. The ship was also a clone trooper pilot's best choice for a dogfight against the Vulture droid starfighters and droid tri-fighters^[10] used in the Confederacy navy.^[11]

Because of its twin laser cannons, the V-wing was a deadly and surprising enemy. They were also a frustratingly elusive target and could be part of a mixed strike-force when used with Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptors and Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighters.^[10]

HistoryEdit

Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wings were first deployed by the Galactic Republic in the final days of the Clone Wars.^[3] Streamlined mass productions techniques let this ship take the V-19 Torrent starfighter's place as the preferred compact space superiority starfighter.^[10] V-wings served in the Battle of Coruscant against the Confederacy of Independent Systems and continued to see use under the Galactic Empire. V-wings were also utilized as escort fighters for Emperor Palpatine's personal Theta-class T-2c shuttle.^[11]

In the following years, V-wings were gradually replaced by TIE/ln space superiority starfighters. The Alpha-3 Nimbus was little more than a single pilot fuselage pod sitting on vertically stacked ion engines flanked by deployable, heat radiating, stability foils. The V-wing was designed for speed and agility, at the expense of a reliable life support system or hyperdrive. The pilot instead relied on a sealed flight suit in case of ejection.^[12]

AppearancesEdit

• Star Wars Battlefront II
• Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (First appearance)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Victory and Death"
• Lords of the Sith
• "Mercy Mission"—The Rise of the Empire
• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
• Tarkin
• Age of Rebellion - Darth Vader 1
• Thrawn
• Thrawn 1
• Target Vader 2 (Appears in flashback(s))
• Shadow Fall
• Shadow Fall audiobook
• Galaxy's Edge 3 (Appears in flashback(s))

SourcesEdit

• Star Wars Rebels: A New Hero (Picture only)
• Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as Alpha-3 Nimbus)
• Entertainment Weekly's Ultimate Guide to Rogue One
• Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia (First identified as Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter)
• Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
• Star Wars: Complete Vehicles
• TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
• Collapse of the Republic
• Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
•  Star Wars: Destiny – Convergence (Card: V-wing)
•  "Unfinished Business" Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)
•  V-wing Fighter in the Databank (backup link) (First identified as V-wing starfighter)

Notes and referencesEdit