Broadsword Boasts Bold Biography (September 15, 2009)

[ChrisReid]

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.

Camelot Industry's Broadsword is one of the Terran Confederation's most succesful spacecraft designs; Broadswords served on and off from 2633 to 2701--across multiple wars and for several different factions. The bombers were originally designed during the Pilgrim War to support the Grand Fleet's invasion of the Pilgrim Alliance. Early CF-131 Broadswords served as massed missile platforms and strategic ship-to-planet bombers.


With the advent of the Kilrathi war and the development of the torpedo, Broadswords changed to fit the times. In 2648 all current model Broadswords were outfitted to carry two antimatter torpedoes. That number would eventually double, by 2664, and then double again, by 2701. Broadswords became the Confederation's heaviest anti-capship bomber for the middle portion of the war; Broadswords flying off the Tiger's Claw, Concordia and elsewhere achieved great success in dangerous torpedo runs.

After the end of the Kilrathi War, the Confederation relegated Broadswords to reserve wings and boneyards.

Zachary Banfield's Guild maintained two squadrons of Broadswords which were used to attack the FRLS Mjollnir and destroy the FRLS Sindri. The Landreich themselves operated a number of Broadswords during the Kilrathi War, fielding them during the Battle of Hell Hole.

The Union of Border Worlds operated a number of Broadswords during their aborted war with the Terran Confederation. Admiral Tolwyn was, at one point, captured by a stripped patrol Broadsword as he attempted to flee the Peleus System.

But the Nephilim invasion of 2681 reactivated Broadsword squadrons - and proved that they were incredibly effective against the new foe. Production of Broadswords resumed, with modernized variants like the Executor, Warpig and later Behemoth rolling off the assembly lines.

In the post-Nephilim War world, surplus Broadswords are a common sight on the volatile Terran-Kilrathi frontier.

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Original update published on September 15, 2009

 

[CataclysmX]

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!

 

[frostytheplebe]

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!

Or the Scimitar? Brewster F2A Buffalo perhaps?

 

[Toast]

Or the Scimitar? Brewster F2A Buffalo perhaps?

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.

 

[ChrisReid]

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!

It's no coincidence that the Broadsword carries the A-17 designation in Wing Commander.