This fighter was the main starfighter used by the Colonies before the destruction of all the colonies. It is light and inexpensive to build, yet is a very powerful fighter for its size. The fighter is designed to be able to be launched from carriers using fighter launch tubes but can be launched uned its own power.
The fighter is a long almost needle like structure with a blunted nose in which the fighters senors are located. The fighters cockpit is about half way between the nose and rear of the fighter and immediately behind the fighters cockpit are thee engines, one right behind the cockpit and two lower down on the fuselage of the fighter. The fighter has two small wings and a small rudder to improve flight characteristic in an atmosphere. The fighter has three struts with roller style wheels for landings. The fighters cockpit can carry a passenger in a storage bay behind the pilot. In case of emergency, the entire fighters cockpit ejects and has an emergency rescue beacon.
The fighter is armed with two laser cannons beside the pilots cockpit as its main weapon system. The fighter can also carry 2 anti-ship missiles for missions against capital ships that carried on the underbelly
This fighter does have some disadvantages when compared to other starfighters. These are that unlike many C.A.F. and Kreegor ships, uses an ion engine that has a much shorter duration than the contra-grav engines used on many other starfighters and fighter does not carry many missiles
Notes of game conversion:
Because of the nature of the series "Battlestar Galactica" and the needs to put the fighter into game mechanics, I have given many statistic as two different possible statistics to take this into account. The G that I have seen listed would not be sufficient to get near the speed of light yet many episodes have indicated speeds in this area. In some ways each version is closer to what was seen in the series.
Phase world version uses my revised phase world starship rules and can hold their own against most C.A.F and Kreegor fighters. This version is recommended if you with to put them into Phase World as among equals. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Moderate version uses Gs of acceleration and reduced weapon ranges. This version is useful for Mutants In Orbit, Phase World if used as a lower tech race, used with my forthcoming Earthforce ships conversions for B-5, and as a possible crash on Rifts Earth. Listed is the formula to allow player and game masters to calculate the fighters velocity and distance traveled.
Model Type: CF-SF-12
Vehicle Type: Light Starfighter
Crew: One but can fit a passenger in the cargo bay in emergencies.
M.D.C By Location:
| Turbolaser Cannons (2): | 30 each | |
| [1] Small Wings (2): | 50 | |
| [1] Small Rudder: | 40 | |
| [2] Engines (3): | 75 each | |
| Landing Struts (3): | 20 each | |
| [3] Main Body: | 350 | |
| Reinforced Pilots Cockpit: | 120 |
Notes:
[1] Loss of a wing or rudder while in an atmosphere will cause the
fighter to loose control and crash. The loss of a wing in space has no
effect on the fighter's performance but fighter will be unable to re-enter
an atmosphere safely.
[2] Loss of an engine will reduce performance of fighter by one third,
loss of two engines will reduce performance by two thirds, and loss of
all three engines will prevent fighter from accelerate or decelerate beyond
5% of normal (This is using maneuvering thrusters) and fighter will crash
in an atmosphere.
[3] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the fighter out of
commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support
and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating
wreck. In an atmosphere, the fighter will crash
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight:
Phase World Version: Has a special sublight engine that allows
the ship to travel up to 40 percent of the speed of light. Fighter can
accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 1.8 percent of light per melee maximum
(Standard is 1.2 percent of light per turn).
Moderate Version: The fighter does not have an effective top
speed but is limited by acceleration. Fighter can reach a top acceleration
of 11.25 G but standard is 7.5 G to conserve fuel.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Both Version: The fighter can
achieve escape velocity (Mach 32.6 / 25053 mph / 40320 kph) but normally
operates at Mach 8 (6160.7 mph / 9907.2 kph) or less.
Maximum Range: Both Versions: the fighter has enough
fuel for 312 hours (13 days) of standard performance. If fighter is operating
at maximum performance, reduce range by half. Fighter uses hydrogen for
fuel for a fusion reactor. The fighter can operate with engines on standby
to increase fighters range. Fighter has supplies for pilot for 2 weeks.
Statistical Data:
Length: 29.71 feet (9.05 meters)
Height: 13.2 feet (4.02 meters)
Width: 19.54 feet (5.95 meters)
Weight: 14.2 tons (12848.8 kg) unloaded
Power System: Fusion power supply with a 13 day duration at
normal output. Fusion power supply can run life support without any thrust
for 2 years although rations and water will have long run out.
Cargo: Small Storage Space, 3 ft x 3.5 ft x 3 ft. Used for emergency
equipment and weapons but a passenger can be crammed in emergency.
Market Cost: 20 million credits to build.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
COMBAT BONUSES: The Colonial Viper is very maneuverable and very accurate. Use the Phase World Starfighter combat (Elite or Basic) skill. These bonuses are in addition to those from the piloting skill.
[ Phase World TM, Kreeghor TM, and CAF TM are trademarks owned by Kevin
Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
[ Battlestar Galactica is copyright © Universal Pictures.]
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Rifts Conversion Copyright © 1998, Kitsune. All rights reserved.