| This is the article on the ship in Homeworld. For other similarly named ships, see Bomber. |
The Attack Bomber was an anti-Capital Ship fighter used by the Kushan and Taiidan Empire in Homeworld.
Overview[]
Unlike most strike craft, the Attack Bomber is a fighter specifically designed to attack Capital Ships and other large craft. The plasma bombs they carry are exceptionally powerful weapons, but are too slow to be able to accurately hit faster moving strike craft. Attack bombers can deal lethal damage to capital ships even when deployed in relatively small groups, as well as non-combat ships based upon the Capital Ship Drive technology. While they are slower than other strike craft, the combination of their small size and still respectable speed means that weapons designed to hit larger ships aren't likely to hit them. Unfortunately, their biggest weakness is other strike craft: their very low armor and slow-moving bombs means that they are quickly destroyed against the likes of interceptors and corvettes. Their fragility means that on the off-chance they are hit by more powerful weapons, such as ion cannons, they are quickly destroyed.
Lore[]
Kushan[]
A wide variety of bomber designs were long used by various factions of the galaxy for attacking Capital Ships. Each bomber used one or more Plasma Bomb Launchers, which uses superheated plasma as its main weapon. The energy requirements of inducing such energetic plasma leaves little room for any other abilities – the worst of these being a loss of maneuverability and speed. Such a compromise makes these bombers the first target of enemy strike craft because of its function and lack of mobility. In acknowledgement of such vulnerabilities, any bomber squadron should always be deployed with a second escort wing of Scouts or Interceptors, and should never be used as a front attack wing to enter a dogfight. The bombers weapon also recharges at a fair rate, 1 to 2 plasma bombs can be shot out every second.
Though slower than a Mass Drivers' projectiles, a single plasma bomb is several times more powerful – and so it is less effective against strike craft but far more effective for attacking bigger ships, such as frigates and capital ships. When the Kushan first researched this weapon in the Great Wastelands, they adopted the design and used it, only changing the chassis to fit the pre-designed Kushan Interceptor designs.
The initial cannon design also came from a captured Assault Frigate left over from the Burning of Kharak. Kudaarks not only carried the mass driver turrets but twin plasma bomb launchers as well, this weapon platform would be the base design for the Kushan to invent the Thunderbolt.
Taiidan[]
While less manueverable than most fighters, the Kaark makes up for it by converting its engines into weapons. The Kaark literally uses its fuel plasma as a weapon, directing it through two cannons at either side of it. To add to the damage the Kaark electromagnetically charges the plasma as it passes through the cannons and then projects them forward towards their target, usually a frigate or super capital ship but on occasion non-combat vessels or even crippled strike craft.
During the Homeworld War Kaarks were rarely used against other fighters and even against corvettes because not only were they slow moving but the plasma was very slow compared to other devices of weaponry, even missiles. For this reason Kaarks would usually be dispatched to fight capital ships of various sizes or raid resourcer convoys. In case the Kaarks did end up in trouble though they were likely to resort to using electric countermeasure systems, manned by the rear-seat engineer.
Legacy[]
The bomber, as it came to be known over time, was a mainstay of many fleets since the Homeworld War. Indeed, many kiith during the Beast War made use of the Attack Bomber, but some were infected and became part of the fleet controlled by the Beast. By the time of the Vaygr War, advances in technology allowed the Hiigarans to develop stronger plasma bomb launchers that were fitted to a small group of Elite Bombers.
Trivia[]
- In the Homeworld: Cataclysm manual, the Kushan ship is codenamed Thunderbolt and the Taiidan ship is codenamed Kaark.[1]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Homeworld: Cataclysm manual