| Starships All text was taken from the official Star Wars Encyclopedia |
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| Speeder Bike: Small repulsorlift vehicles, they are used throughout the galaxy as personal transports, recreational vehicles, and even military reconnaissance vehicles, such as those used by the Empire's scout troops. Speeder bikes can travel at up to 500 kilometers per hour through terrain that would stop other vehicles. Most can rise only about twenty-five meters above ground level. The Empire's speeder bikes have armor plating, a single blaster cannon, two outriggers, and four forward steering vanes. Controls for maneuvering are in the handgrips; altitude controls in the foot pedals also normally control speed. Communications, sensors, and weaponry controls are at the front of the saddle. Biker scouts normally work in squads called lances. Each five-bike lance has four standard speeder-bike scouts and a sergeant commander; a lance generally splits into two elements for field operations. Imperial scouts using bikes can explore and survey far more territory per man than those using almost any other type of vehicle. Speeder troops are normally used for scouting and exploration; they are ordered to avoid conflict so that they can make reports to base commanders. Speeder-bike scout helmets have macrobinocular view plates, a full sensor array, and a terrain-plotting computer to help them navigate in unfamiliar territory at high speeds. Speeder bikes were part of the Empire's efforts to patrol the forests on Endor, but a Rebel commando team led by Han Solo and Princess Leia managed to eliminate a perimeter scouting lance, allowing Rebels a clear path to the shield generator. |
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| TIE Bomber: The Empire's primary assault bomber, it is somewhat slower and less maneuverable that standard starfighters, but provides excellent surgical strike potential against ground and deep space targets. TIE bombers have double pods and elongated solar panels. The starboard pod contains the pilot's compartment along with flight computers, communications, and life support. The port pod holds the ordnance bay and targeting and delivery systems. Twin ion engines are mounted between the two pods. The bomber's weaponry includes high-yield proton bombs, guided concussion missles, orbital mines, and free-falling thermal detonators. A pair of front-firing laser cannons provide protection from enemy ships. For space duty, the TIE bomber delivered heavy ordnance against Rebel capital ships. Normally, TIE fighters first soften up the target, followed by TIE bombers, in conjunction with assault gunboats and Skipray blastboats, which use their precise targeting computers to disable vital areas such as the shield generators or engines. When the target is crippled and unable to protect itself, Imperial boarding parties take control of the vessel or capture troops for interrogation. TIE bombers are used to assault space stations and stardocks and to mine planetary orbit. They also are exceptionally good on ground bombing missions. Their targeting computers are precise enough to level specific buildings while leaving adjacent areas unscathed. A Star Destroyer typically carries on squadron of twelve TIE bombers. Prior to Emperor Palpatine's death, the Empire began developing a more advanced bomber prototype, which eventually evolved into the Scimitar assault bomber. |
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| TIE Fighter: The TIE (fro Twin Ion Engine) fighter was the most recognizable symbol of the Imperial Navy's control of space. TIE fighters were aboard even the smallest cruisers and were stationed at starports and garrison bases across the galaxy. They were an omnipresent reminder of the Empire's might. A TIE fighter is a small ship; its most distinguishing feature is the pair of immense hexagonal solar array wings on either side of its small, shperical command pod. The ship presents a small profile, and its great maneuverability makes it even more difficult to target in combat. TIEs are short-range fighters without hyperdrives to save weight and increase performance. They depend on a home base - a nearby planet or Imperial cruiser. They carry only two days' worth of supplies and often must refuel after the first few hours of combat, but their use in massive quantities makes up for any design deficiencies. The fighters were used for planetary and cruiser defense and assault against Rebel, pirate, and alien vessels. They also escort heavily armed TIE bombers when attacking permanent planetary installations. The TIE's famous maneuverability and speed come at great practical cost to the pilot. TIE fighters have no shields, secondary waepons, or drive systems; minuscule fuel supplies; and no on board life support system. Pilots must wear fully sealed flight suits with self-contained atmospheres. Some claim the TIE is too responsive to piloting adjustments. It isn't uncommon for novice pilots to attempt an advanced maneuver that sends their ship out of control. The TIE has a pair of foward-mounted, fire-linked laser cannons. The massive laser generators are in the undercarriage of the command pod and feed off the power generators and batteries. The fighter draws much of its energy from solar radiation absorbed by the array wings. The common TIE fighter is the TIE/ln, which is actually a successor to the earlier T.I.E. and TIE models, all of which were produced by the company now called Sienar Fleet Systems. The success of the TIE fighter has led to the creation of several new mission-specific designs, including the TIE/rc (a sensor and communications reconnaissance fighter), the TIE/fc (which provides fire control for longer range Navy artillery), the TIE/gt (a makeshift bomber used prior to the introduction of the TIE bomber), the TIE/Advanced (Darth Vader's ship at the Battle of Yavin was one such advanced model), the TIE bomber, the TIE interceptor, the TIE scout (a limited production, light reconnaissance starship), the TIE vanguard (a reconnaissance starfighter that, unusual for TIEs, is equipted with shield to protect the valuable information it gathers), and fully robotic TIE/D fighter (introduced six years after the Battle of Endor.) There is also a TIE/sh shuttlecraft and a TIE boat, or sub fighter. |