The Lambda-class shuttle is a cargo and passenger shuttle that was used by the Imperial Navy. The vessel has a stationary wing top wing and two folding wings on each side. These wings makes the shuttle quite maneuverable in an atmosphere.
The Lambda shuttle normally has a command crew of four, with the option of adding two additional officers who normally handle secure communications and power allocation. A single pilot can handle the ship, but performance suffers significantly.
Lambda shuttles can carry up to twenty passengers or eighty tons of cargo. Unlike most Imperial shuttles, Lambda shuttles have hyperdrives, which allow passengers and cargo to be transferred between different fleets and systems.
Many Imperial government officials used these shuttles as personal transports. The shuttle's armament and armor allowed the Lambda to travel alone without escort, making it very difficult for Rebel raiding parties to know wether the shuttles were carrying cargo or transporting Imperial V.I.P.'s.
The Emperor is said to have used a highly modified version of the Lambda-class shuttle that were equipped with an Imperial cloaking shield, and with armor and weapons that would make any ship smaller than a frigate think twice before attacking. That shuttle was destroyed when the second Death Star. Other Imperial officials like Darth Vader and the Grand Inquisitor used modified Lambda shuttles.
Seinar Fleet Systems also constructs a version of this shuttle, theirs is less heavily armed with the quad laser cannons removed and the shuttle has less heavy armor as well. This version is available for sale and is popular among some freight and passenger companies. There is also a completely disarmed version of this shuttle.
Notes of game conversion:
Because of the nature of the movie series "Star Wars" and the needs to put the Starship 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. I do make one huge change, fighters in Star Wars act as if they are in the atmosphere even when they operating in space. This is incorrect. The Television series Babylon 5 is a good series to watch to get a clearer idea on how space vehicles should would probably maneuver.
Phase world version uses my revised phase world starship rules and can hold their own against most C.A.F and Kreegor Starships. 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 Earth Force 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 velocity and distance traveled:
Model Type: Lambda-Class
Vehicle Type: Long-Range General-purpose shuttle
Crew: Four
Passengers: Up to 20 with the exclusion of cargo
M.D.C By Location:
| Quad Laser Cannons (2): | 75 each | |
| Laser Cannons (3) | 50 each | |
| [1] Engines (2): | 250 each | |
| Landing Struts (2): | 30 each | |
| [2] Main Body: | 2,000 [1,500] | |
| Reinforced Pilots Cockpit: | 350 | |
| [3] Variable Force Field: | 400 per side (2,400 total) | |
| [4] Wings (3): | 200 |
Notes:
[1] Loss of the shuttle's engines will reduce performance of the shuttle
by one half per engine and loss of both engines will prevent shuttle from
performing beyond 5% of normal (This is using maneuvering thrusters and
gravitic propulsion). Due to gravitic propulsion systems, shuttle will
not crash in an atmosphere even if both engines are destroyed
[2] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the shuttle 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 shuttle will crash. MDC in brackets [] is for
Seinar Fleet Systems and Civilian version of the shuttle.
[3] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (75 MDC) per melee
[4] Loss of wings will reduce atmospheric performance with 20% / wing.
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight:
Phase World Version: Has a special sublight engine that allows
the ship to travel up to 50 percent of the speed of light. Shuttle can
accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.65 percent of light per melee maximum.
Moderate Version: The shuttle does not have an effective top
speed but is limited by acceleration. Shuttle can reach a top acceleration
of 4 G.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Mach 7 but normally operates at Mach
5 or less. The shuttle also has Repulsorlift propulsion systems enabling
it to leave an atmosphere even at low velocities.
Stardrive: Uses a hyperdrive system that allows the ship to
reach a maximum of 60 light-years per hour (In the Game universe of Phase
World, it could be limited to 6 light-years per hour to compare to the
other Phase World FTL systems).
Maximum Range: Both Versions: the shuttle has enough
fuel for 90 days of operation. The shuttle uses a very small fusion cell
system for power systems. The shuttle carries four months of consumables
for shuttles crew.
Statistical Data:
Length: 65.6 feet (20 meters)
Height: 114.8 feet (35 meters) wings down, 68.8 feet (21 meters)
wings up
Width: 108.3 feet (33 meters) wings down, 59.1 feet (18 meters)
wings up
Weight/Mass: 850 tons (771.1 metric tons)
Power System: Fusion power supply with a 90 day duration at
normal output. Fusion power supply can run life support without any thrust
for 5 years although rations and water will have long run out.
Cargo: 20 passengers or 80 tons of cargo.
Market Cost: Military version: 75 million credits to
build. Armed Civilian Version: 85 million on the open market
Unarmed Civilian version: 55 Million on the open market.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
[ 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.]
[ STAR WARS copyright © 1977 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 1980, 1983, 1996 Lucasfilm Ltd.]
[ Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and their associated
logos are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.]
CGI of Ship by Mark Fergel. More of his CGI pictures of Star Wars ships at SWMA Gallery.
By Michael Söderlind (michael.soderlind@telia.com)
Revisions by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Rifts Conversion Copyright © 1999, Michael Söderlind. All rights reserved.