Early Civil War Designs:
Z-95 Headhunter: Despite its age, the Z-95 Headhunter is a hugely popular model, ranging from the ubiquitous commercial Z-95 I3 model with hyperdrive and modest shields, to the more expensive Z-95 AF1 Combat model with additional concussion missile launcher through to the common militarized Alliance AF-4 model with augmented shields, lasers and advanced concussion missiles.
Mankvim Light Interceptor: The CSA’s Mankvim 814 Series has proved almost as popular as the Headhunter for those in the market for a cheap fighter product. Models include the 815 Courier upgrade with increased speed; The 816 manoeuvrability upgrade (marketed as a cheap Interceptor circa Yavin); the 817 Endorian essentials upgrade for the very rich with laser upgrades and the very rare 818 combat model with R-41 shield generators.
R-41 Starchaser: With the original Hoersch-Kessel Drive production model obsolete after the Clone Wars, the Mark II model with third party speed/missile modifications was a production standard by the Civil War era. Subsequent Mark III military-spec shield upgrades to match the T-65B are common but far from state-of the art.
BTL Y-Wing: The early rebellion stalwart has been improved and modified over the years and remains a key part of the NR Fleet. Variants include the Yavin era A4 with Ion cannon, the S3 GCW version with gunner and the modern S4 post Endor low maintenance edition with effective hull plating and improved bomb load.
CR90a Corvette: This 50 year old design must have been quietly upgraded to military spec shields at some point and is still a common sight in the Republic fleet.
Marauder-class Mark II Corvette: A few rare leftovers from the more piratical beginnings of the Alliance with upgraded shields and additional ion cannon armaments.
Ardent-class MC30 Frigate: All of the Mon Calamari original passenger liners were swiftly retrofitted for military service and the basic hull has been improved and modified throughout the Civil War period. Variants range from the early MC30a, through the MC30b GCW upgrade featuring a complete weapons and hull overhaul, to the relatively modern MC30c with further shield upgrades and an additional pair of warhead launchers.
EF-76 Nebulon B: This venerable design is still in common service, mostly in the form of the EF-77 variant with upgraded heavy lasers, but the Kuat Drive Yards have been tinkering with the design and have a few EF-78 models for escort duty in and around the production yards.
Cruisers and Light Destroyers: Stolen Carrack Mark I’s, CW-era Dreadnaughts, Valiant MC40a Light Cruisers (with warhead upgrade) and a handful of Recusant-Class Light Destroyers (both in the original CIS Mark I and upgraded Rebel Mark II form) can still be seen throughout New Republic worlds in supporting roles.
Rebel Designs and Beyond:
As the Rebel Alliance formed, warship innovation become a key survival factor in both the early years and more recently with the formation of the New Republic, development of purpose-built warships rather than liner conversions has become the norm for the fleet. At the forefront are the T-65 X-Wing, the RZ-1 A-wing, B-Wing Assault Starfighter and most recently, the E-Wing Series I Escort Starfighter along with a number of key innovations in Corvettes, Frigates and Cruisers.
T-65 X-Wing: Early rebellion T-65B’s are still in service alongside the faster T-65C’s, but key locations in the Republic have been assigned the latest heavily shielded T-65F variant for defence.
RZ-1 A-Wing: The early years of the Rebellion had to make do with custom conversions of the Hoersch-Kessel Drive R-22 Spearhead, but since the victory at Endor, the Mark II Incom model with laser cannons that flip from front to rear facing has become a production standard. Recent New Republic upgrades to shielding are just starting to be seen in the fleet.
B-wing Assault Starfighter: New Republic Engineers have given the B-Wing design a complete overhaul, improving speed, manoeuvrability and shielding and squeezing in additional warhead capacity into the bargain with the B-Wing/E model.
DP20a Gunship: As with the CR90 design, the modern DP20 gunship has been overhauled with improved shielding and hull plating and is a common sight throughout the Republic.
CC-7700 Frigate: A product of the Corellian Engineering Corporation, the CC-7700 was the Rebel answer to the 418 Interdictor cruiser, and is a lightly armed gravity well vessel.
CC-9600 Frigate: CEC’s fast, heavily armed, frigate carries 30 heavy turbolasers and 12 turbo-ion cannon, making it a formidable warship for its size, and can be found defending key Republic worlds.
Dondonna-class Assault Frigate: In an excellent use of material, Rebel engineers took ancient clone-wars era-dreadnaughts and rebuilt them as Assault Frigates with considerably enhanced shielding, additional weapon emplacements and improved handling characteristics. More recent developments have seen a complete redesign of the Assault Frigate Mark II with the addition of a further 12 Quad lasers and a 20% boost to shielding.
Capital Developments
Both Liberty-class and Reef Home-Class MC80 Star Cruisers are a common sight throughout the Republic, with a modest number of more modern MC80a variants better suited to standing up to Imperial-Class Star Destroyers in the fleet as well. However, the New Republic has recently unveiled the first for the fleet – a new class of warship – the Republic-class Star Destroyer. Even though this is just over 1km in length, it is easily a match for an Imperial-I Star Destroyer, and with a fearsome compliment of A-wing, B-Wing and E-wing Starfighters together with combat-ready upgraded Gamma-class ATR-6a Assault Shuttles and DX9b Stormtrooper Transports, this adds significant firepower to the Republic.
However, the scattered nature of New Republic forces has been caught off-guard by the impeccable timing of Grand Admiral Thrawn, and some losses in the Outer Rim are inevitable while the New Republic reacts and it may need to consider trading space for time to give the fleet a chance to re-group for a counter-attack. The massive manpower shortages throughout the Republic may also give rise to some harsh decisions, forcing the decommissioning of older transports and trading vessels to allow for increased military flexibility. One positive note remains; Starfighter Command may still have enough strength and superior firepower compared to the Imperial fighters to slow the Imperial advances while the rest of the fleet is mobilised.
Edited by Ghostrider, 04 August 2009 - 04:04 PM.