The Broadsword is famous for its exploits in Wing Commander 2, Privateer and Arena, but sometimes people forget that it also featured prominently in things like the Wing Commander novels and Academy TV show. Broadswords appeared in most episodes of Academy, and they looked good doing it! Here's some history from CIC Ships. -- Original update published on September 15, 2009
The Broadsword was always the B-17 of WC. I hope there is a Rapier(Spitfire if we continue the WW2 analogy) in the next update!
I'd have gone with the F4F as our Scimitar analogue. Not really fast, not really maneuverable, but reliable, adequately armed and really durable. (And it needed it. It took a pounding) I mean, the Wildcat was roundly outperformed but she still did the job at Midway and held out until the Hellcat and Corsair showed up! Alternatively, the Scimitar could be the SBD Dauntless. Before phase shields, Scimitars were just fine as picks for strike missions. Again, good armament, tough, not especially sexy or fast but totally reliable. And not a complete slouch in a dogfight. To a Zero, a Dauntless was hardly a sitting duck.
