The problem with energy weapons is that they can easily be stopped by energy Shields and if you up the power of said shield it would also prevent attacking craft from passing through. However those same Shields prevented the defending craft from shooting back. The result was a virtual stalemate between warring empires.
Once the Shields were up what could you do ?
That’s when the shield buster missile was devised. Essentially it was a long thin two stage rocket, the first stage contains the main rocket engine and a field generator. The second stage also has a rocket engine and carries the payload and guidance system.
The operation of the rocket is fairly simple.
When It is fired at the enemy shield it accelerates to its maximum speed. Once the rocket engine is exhausted the field generator cuts in and generates a force field around the missile which is the reverse polarity of the enemy shield.
When the missile hits the shield the generated fields cancel each other out and a small hole is created allowing the second stage to pass through. The hole does not exist for long and the enemy shield snaps back on the first stage cutting it in two. The first stage, however, is now inside the enemy force field and after releasing what remained of the first stage it ignites it own rocket engine.
The guidance system then detects the energy signature of the enemy’s field generators and guides the rocket onto its target. With enough field generators destroyed the defensive field collapses leaving the target craft open to attack.
It was not the most perfect solution. If the polarity was not correct it would explode uselessly on the shield. If the strength of the enemy shield was stronger than calculated the hole would not be created or it would snap back too early cutting the second stage and wasting the shot.
Nevertheless it was decided to go ahead and an ideal craft was found to deliver the new weapon
The Federation FDF-24 started life as a defensive fighter for use on Corvette and Destroyer class spaceships. They were a rugged and agile fighter of their day but were being replaced by the more modern and capable X-Wing class fighters.
Redesignated FASB-30 the refurbished craft retained its nose cannons and was adapted to carry four of the new “Ion Fist” anti shield missiles. Once it’s rockets were expended it reverted to a role of escort fighter to protect further waves of shield busting space craft.
Results varied from mediocre to spectacular and the FASB-30 was retained in service long after its planned retirement. Eventually it was replaced in service by larger craft that could carry more missiles but as one critic put it
“it’s a bloody useless fighter!”
Which resulted in the FASB-30 temporarily reverting to its escort role. Eventually the space craft was retired and relegated to a training role before being phased out completely.
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Hi All
Couldn't resist a Sci-Fi group build
This ones going to be a found objects scratch build based around an empty deodorant bottle,
by
Robomog, on Flickr
by
Robomog, on Flickr
This is a selection of bits I'm starting with, I haven't decided which missiles to use.
More when it happens........
.Mog
>^-.-^<