Sidewinder (Oolite)
| ship name::Sidewinder scout ship (Oolite) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Size (W×H×L) | 65m×ship height::15m×ship length::35m |
| Cargo capacity | ship cargo capacity::0 TC |
| Cargo bay extension | ship cargo extension::N/A |
| Maximum speed | ship speed::0.37 LM |
| Manoeuvrability | Roll: 2.8 Pitch: 1.6 |
| Energy banks | ship energy banks::3 |
| Energy recharge rate |
Poor (2.0) |
| Gun mounts | Fore |
| Missile slots | ship missile slots::0 |
| Shield boosters available | ship supports shield booster::No |
| Military shields available | ship supports mil shields::No |
| Hyperspace capable | ship can hyperspace::No |
| OXP or standard | {{#set:ship is standard=Standard}}Standard |
| Available to player | ship is player flyable::No |
| Base price | ship base price::N/A |
Overview
Designed by Faulcon de Lacy and built in the Onrira Orbital Shipyards by Spalder and Starblaze Inc. to Navy specifications for a multi-purpose support craft, the ship began rolling off production lines in 2982. The specification was for a small, mass-produced ship which would be inexpensive to build by the thousand.
Notable Features
While the Navy still uses thousands of these small ships for reconnaisance and as a light fighter, in recent years this ship is more commonly seen as a trader escort. Value-conscious traders hauling a bellyful of cargo in large ships like the Anaconda use the Sidewinder to make up for the large ship's lack of manoeuverability. The small ship is difficult to hit, but can pack a reasonable punch if equipped with beam lasers. It is also strong for its size, and isn't instantly vaporized by a military laser.
It has no hyperspace capability. The normal technique is for the Sidewinder pilot to keep the ship close to the 'mothership', and then use its wormhole to reach the destination. Being small, many Sidewinders can pass through the wormhole without collapsing it, meaning a trader using this ship as an escort is likely to come out of the other end of the jump with a full compliment of escorts.
The Sidewinder is often sought out by 'guns for hire', often young pilots with good reactions, offering to escort trade ships into dangerous situations. The low cost of the ship coupled with its manoeuverability attracts it to many a pilot who's starting out and looking to make a living without having to get involved in trading.
It is increasingly being found as a pirate escort, too - inexpensive to equip, and if remotely piloted, cheap to lose in battle, pirates have begun to use this ship to attack traders before arriving in their larger, slower and less combat-ready cargo hauler to pick over the remains. Be suspicious of Sidewinders seen alone - since they are not hyperspace capable it is more than likely the ship they came along with is lurking just out of scanner range, and the crew might not have your safe passage in mind.
The Sidewinder-X is a development of the Scoutship version, and was designed as a medium interceptor. Larger and faster than the Scoutship, it also has a Hyperspace motor.
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