When the citizenry of the Empire thought about the Rebel Alliance, this fighter was often one of the first pictures in their head. The X-Wing has become the mainstay of the rebel alliance although the Y-Wing still holds the record for the most Tie Fighters destroyed. This is simply because the Y-Wing has been in service so much longer than the X-Wing has been. The X-Wing is the favorite among many Rebel pilots. It is fast, very maneuverable, and is heavily armed. Like the Y-Wing and unlike most imperial fighters, it has a hyperdrive to travel from system to system. What is interesting is that, even though it is not a bomber, the X-Wing holds the records for the largest single ship destroyed by a fighter and the most tonnage destroyed by any ship class including capital ships. This is due to the X-Wing Red 5 destroying the first Death Star.
Unlike the Y-Wing, the X-Wing has a very sleek shape. The whole fighter is needle shaped with two wings on either side of the fighter. The pilots cockpit is about one third from the aft end of the fighter. If the pilot has to eject, the top of the cockpit is blow off and the pilot ejects out of the top of the fighter. Directly behind the pilot is the compartment is the socket for astromech droid. Behind the droid are the power systems of fighter. The fighters has four ion engines with two on either side body of the fighter and act as supports for the wings as well. The laser cannons are on the outside end of the wings. Since the fighter is far more aerodynamic than the Y-Wing, it operates far better within an atmosphere and that was one reason for the way the fighter was designed. The wings are also know as S foils. The S-Foils have two modes, travel which the wings are together and attack mode which the wings are split into an X pattern. The guns cannot be fired when the S-foils are in travel mode but the fighter cannot make a normal landing when the wings are open.
The fighters laser cannons are individually slightly less powerful that those on the Y-Wing but since there are four mounts instead of two, the overall ability to inflict damage is greater. It takes very few shots to destroy a Tie fighter with the laser cannons. The fighter carries less Proton Torpedoes than the Y-Wing carries but still has two launchers with four torpedoes each. The Torpedoes are the equivalent of long range missiles in Rifts. These torpedoes are the main weapon normally used against larger ships but can target other fighters if needed.
In many ways, the fighter is as good as the fighters within the Three Galaxies. The fighter is not quite as long ranged as some but still has a very good range and endurance. It also does not carry as many missiles as many of the fighters within the Three Galaxies.
Notes of game conversion:
Because of the nature of the movie series "Star Wars" 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. I do make one huge change, fighters in Star Wars act as if they are in the atmosphere even when they operating in space. The Television series Babylon 5 is a good series to watch to get a clearer idea on how space vehicles 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 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: T-65
Vehicle Type: Space Superiority Fighter
Crew: One and one Astromech Droid
M.D.C By Location:
| Laser Cannons (4): | 50 each | |
| Proton Torpedo Launcher Bay (2 Launchers): | 100 | |
| Astromech Droid (Behind Cockpit): | 50 | |
| [1] Engines (4): | 250 each | |
| S-Foils (4): | 150 each | |
| Landing Struts (3): | 20 each | |
| [2] Main Body: | 450 | |
| Reinforced Pilots Cockpit: | 250 | |
| [3] Variable Force Field: | 250 per side (1,500 total) |
Notes:
[1] Loss of the fighter's engines will reduce performance of fighter
by one quarter per engine and loss of all four engines will prevent fighter
from performing beyond 5% of normal (This is using maneuvering thrusters
and gravitic propulsion). Due to gravitic propulsions systems, fighter
will not crash in an atmosphere even if all four engines are destroyed
[2] 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
[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
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 1.5 percent of light per melee maximum.
Moderate Version: The fighter does not have an effective top
speed but is limited by acceleration. Fighter can reach a top acceleration
of 9 G.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Both Version: The fighter is
aerodynamic and is quite capable in an atmosphere. As a result, the fighter
can achieve escape velocity (Mach 32.6 / 25053 mph / 40320 kph) but normally
operates at Mach 7.5 (5771.3 mph / 9288 kph) or less. The fighter also
has Gravitic 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). Astromech Droid can store up to 10 coordinates
for hyperspace jump locations.
Maximum Range: Both Versions: the fighter has enough
fuel for 360 hours (15 days) of operation. Fighter uses a very small fusion
cell system for power systems. The fighter carries three weeks of consumables
for fighters crew.
Statistical Data:
Length: 41.3 feet (12.6 meters)
Height: 8.1 feet (2.48 meters)
Width: 38.8 feet (11.84 meters)
Weight: 15 tons (13,600 kg) unloaded
Power System: Fusion power supply with a 15 day duration at
normal output. Fusion power supply can run life support without any thrust
for 1.5 years although rations and water will have long run out.
Cargo: Small Storage Space, 2.5 ft x 2.5 ft x 2 ft. Used for
emergency equipment and weapons.
Market Cost: 65 million credits to build.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
COMBAT BONUSES: The Rebel X-Wing Starfighter is very maneuverable and very accurate. Use the Phase World Starfighter combat (Elite or Basic) skill. The pilot gets the following bonuses when the S-Foils are open or in attack position:
[ 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 Wojtek Jarosz. More of his CGI pictures of Star Wars ships at The Lightwave Source.
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Rifts Conversion Copyright © 1998, Kitsune. All rights reserved.