Paktahn
| Paktahn | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber |
| Primary User | Kilrathi Empire |
| Additional Users | Free Republic of the Landreich Mercenaries |
| General Characteristics | |
| Length | 37 meters |
| Mass | 30 tonnes |
The Paktahn is a Kilrathi bomber design that served during the Terran-Kilrathi War.
The Paktahn is a powerful bomber model that, like many Kilrathi designs, became the bane of the Terran Confederation. The Paktahn carries a large payload and a plethora of lasers which makes it specially suited for attacks against Terran capital ships, transports, and space stations, as well as being a formidable fighter that could prove lethal to pilots attempting to assault it head on. Heavily armored and equipped with a lethal rear turret, the Paktahn could absorb a great deal of damage before falling to enemy fire. Its only real weakness is its low speed and maneuverability, leaving it unable to outrun most Terran fighters without the use of its afterburners.
The Paktahn is most famous in public eyes for its role in the destruction of the TCS Behemoth, an event that was only made public knowledge after the end of the Kilrathi War. The design saw a renaissance during the Nephilim War, when General Wright suggested creating a cloak-modified variation of the Paktahn in the midst of the Ardai Campaign. Field-modified Paktahns formed the basis for what would become the Paktahn Phantom, which proved itself quickly in battle, giving rise to the Paktahn Tusk, a mine-layer variant based on the Phantom. Unlike most mine-layers, however, the Tusk is not an easy target for a fighter, capable of combining a deployed turret, standard bomber turrets, and regular guns to trap and destroy enemy fighters. The Paktahn Mauler, meanwhile, is the heaviest Paktahn variant to ever exist possessing an extremely heavy armament for one purpose: the total destruction of enemy capital ships and bases.
Postwar, Paktahns salvaged from the KIS Karga saw service with the Landreich Navy.
Variant Comparison
| Paktahn | Paktahn | Phantom | Tusk | Mauler | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Source | Wing Commander III | Victory Streak/Warbirds | Star★Soldier | Star★Soldier | Star★Soldier | |
| Length | - | 37 meters | 37 meters | 37 meters | 37 meters | |
| Mass | - | 30 metric tonnes | 30 metric tonnes | 35 metric tonnes | 45 metric tonnes | |
| Max Velocity | 340 | 340 kps | 300 kps | 260 kps | 215 kps | |
| Max Afterburn | 600 | 600 kps | 585 kps | 495 kps | 410 kps | |
| Acceleration | 400 | 100 k/s2 | 70 k/s2 | 70 k/s2 | 70 k/s2 | |
| Max YPR | 40/35/40 | 35/40/35 deg/s | 75/75/75 deg/s | 65/65/65 deg/s | 50/50/50 deg/s | |
| Shields | ||||||
| Fore | 320 | 320 cm | 370 cm | 320 cm | 370 cm | |
| Aft | 140 | 320 cm | 370 cm | 320 cm | 370 cm | |
| Armor | ||||||
| Fore | 180 | 180 cm | 1000 cm | 1200 cm | 1300 cm | |
| Aft | 140 | 140 cm | 1000 cm | 1200 cm | 1300 cm | |
| Side | 180 | 180 cm | 1000 cm | 1200 cm | 1300 cm | |
| Guns | Plasma Guns (4) Ion Guns (2) |
Plasma Guns (4) Ion Guns (2) |
Mass Driver Cannon (2) Plasma Gun (2) |
Meson Blaster (2) Ionic Pulse Cannon (2) |
Tachyon Gun (2) Neutron Gun (2) | |
| Missiles | Torpedo (3) Torpedo (3) Heat Seeker (4) Heat Seeker (4) |
2x3 FF, 2x4 FF | 5x20 Paw DF 1x4 Torpedo |
5x20 Paw DF 3x5 Porcupine Mines |
5x20 Paw DF 2x4 Torpedo | |
| Decoys | 6 | 6 | yes | no | yes | |
| Can Jump | - | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Warbirds
The Kilrathi Paktahn has similar torpedo attack capabilities as the Longbow. With mines, missiles and an impressive array of guns, this bomber can engage several fighters at once. Terran intelligence reports that Paktahn most often fly with Dralthi or Darket escorts.
| Class: | Torpedo Bomber |
| Length: | 37 meters |
| Mass: | 30 metric tonnes |
| Max Velocity: | 340 kps |
| Max Afterburn: | 600 kps |
| Acceleration: | 100 k/s2 |
| Max Yaw/Pitch/Roll: | 35/40/35 dps |
| Shield: | 300 cm equiv. |
| Armor: | |
| Fore/Aft: | 180/110 cm |
| Right/Left: | 180 cm |
| Weapons: | Ion cannon (2) Plasma gun (4) Mass driver tailgun (1) |
| Torpedo Hardpoints: | (1 x 8) |
| Missile Hardpoints: | (1 x 4L, 1 x 6H) 4 HS/6 Mines |
| Missile Decoys: | 6 |
| Jump Capable: | No |
Victory Streak
The Kilrathi Paktahn is similar to the Longbow by virtue of its torpedo attack capabilities. With 2 torpedo hardpoints and an impressive array of guns, this bomber can engage several fighters at once during a single run. Terran intelligence reports that Paktahns most often fly with Dralthi or Darket escorts.
Origin's Official Guide to Wing Commander III
Take a look at that silhouette! The Paktahn just doesn’t care if you target it. And why should it? It’s the best armored offensive ship in the game. Paktahn are veritable floating bunkers
- Always take out the Paktahn first in any Kilrathi squadron. After all, the only reason to send a Paktahn out at all is because it's after one of your cap ships. Killing all Paktahn will certainly cripple the Kilrathi plan of attack.
- Also, it's just good sense to be firing at the Paktahn rather than waiting for the Paktahn to fire at you. They have impressive arsenals front and back, and a plethora of FF missiles that they won’t be at all shy about sending your way.
- Always try to approach the Paktahn from an angle, preferably an angle in their rear quadrant. (Just remember not to let the Paktahn’s Dralthi or Darket escorts line up behind you while you’re pounding away at the bomber.)
- Don’t waste your missiles against a Paktahn, just nibble away at his rear shields with guns. (Save the missiles to scatter those pesky escorts.)
Star★Soldier
Paktahn Phantom
Bomber
General Wright, commander of the Alliance 12th Fleet, came up with the idea of a cloak-modified Paktahn bomber during his campaign at Ardai. Phantoms, field modified from existing bombers, were able to slip behind
enemy lines and destroy the heavily defended base within minutes. The design was quickly adopted, and the ships are readily available today.
| Length: | 37 meters |
| Mass: | 30 metric tonnes |
| Max YPR: | 75/75/75 dps |
| Max Velocity: | 340 kps |
| Max Afterburner Velocity: | 585 kps |
| Acceleration: | 70 k/s2 |
| Shields: | 370 cm |
| Armor: | 100 cm |
| Weapons: | Mass Driver Cannon (2) Plasma Gun (2) Paw DF (5x20) Torpedo (1x4) |
| Devices: | Gun Battery, Flares, Cloak, Shield Battery, Bomber Turrets |
| Jump Capable: | Yes |
| Manufacturer: | Ja’targk Clan |
Paktahn Tusk
Bomber
The Tusk is a Paktahn minelayer developed from the earlier Phantom model. These deadly ships were originally deployed to sneak behind enemy lines and tie up shipping by deploying massive minefields. In practice, they proved to be better than expected dogfighters, capable of using their stationary weapons to tie up lighter fighters while their guns and turrets move in for the kill.
| Length: | 37 meters |
| Mass: | 35 metric tonnes |
| Max YPR: | 65/65/65 dps |
| Max Velocity: | 260 kps |
| Max Afterburner Velocity: | 495 kps |
| Acceleration: | 70 k/s2 |
| Shields: | 320 cm |
| Armor: | 1200 cm |
| Weapons: | Meson Blaster (2) Ionic Pulse Cannon (2) Paw DF (5x20) Porcupine Mines (3x5) |
| Devices: | Gun Battery, Sonar, Deployable Turret, Shield Power Core, Bomber Turrets |
| Jump Capable: | Yes |
| Manufacturer: | Ja’targk Clan |
Paktahn Mauler
Bomber
The Mauler is a heavy bomber par excellence. It possesses both the giant Paw DF rocket pod array of a missile frigate and the eight torpedoes found on only the heaviest attack craft. Nevertheless, Mauler pilots are among the best in space: it
takes tremendous skill to maneuver these flying tanks on a battlefield owned by space superiority fighters.
| Length: | 37 meters |
| Mass: | 45 metric tonnes |
| Max YPR: | 50/50/50 dps |
| Max Velocity: | 215 kps |
| Max Afterburner Velocity: | 410 kps |
| Acceleration: | 70 k/s2 |
| Shields: | 370 cm |
| Armor: | 1300 cm |
| Weapons: | Tachyon Gun (2) Neutron Gun (2) Paw DF (5x20) Torpedo (2x4) |
| Devices: | Engine Battery, Gun Battery, Gun Power Core, Flares, Tractor Beam, Bomber Turrets |
| Jump Capable: | Yes |
| Manufacturer: | Ja’targk Clan |
Images
Appearances
- Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game - Heck Outa Dodge
- Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game - Shelton Slide
- Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game - Shift in Battle
- Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game - Improved Shields
- Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game - Torpedo
