- "Strikecraft delivering blanketing ordnance. Strong against all ground targets." — In game description
The SJG-12 Forge-class Gunship is a large combat aircraft used by the Coalition of the Northern Kiithid during Operation Khadiim. Gunships were launched from Sakala-class carriers on its larger runway and featured vertical landing. In combat, it strafes its targets with its air-to-ground explosive autocannon to deal moderate damage over a large area.
Lore[]
- "S'jet Aerospace has built a century long reputation for aircraft designs that are the embodiment of beauty and grace, although their military aircraft have also been deadly. When it came to the Forge, however, it seems that the only thought on the designer's mind was dealing death. The Forge is a heavily armored thug of an aircraft that exists for one reason and one reason only: to direct devastating firepower against light armored raider formations. Armed with multiple VRF cannons, this gunship is tough enough to orbit its target while slowly bringing all of its weapons up to speed. And once that happens, very few escape alive." — Expedition Guide
Campaign[]
Gunships are heavy aircraft designed to attack and destroy formations of lightly armored Gaalsien vehicles with its explosive autocannon. Specifically, gunships are effective against sandskimmers, heavy railguns and assault ships. However, any target with no air defence are opportune targets. To launch gunships, you select the launch ability from a carrier and designate a target area. When launched from the Kapisi, the gunship will fly to the marked area, ignoring enemy units encountered along the way. If any enemy units are found in that area, it will encircle an auto-acquired target and bombard it with its explosive autocannon until their ammunition is expended, and then return to the carrier. Unlike strike fighters, gunships are launched independently and do not operate in squadrons. They utilize the longer and larger runway on the deck of Kapisi and have vertical landing systems.
Gunships are generally used to destroy groups of lightly armored vehicles such as Gaalsien assault railguns, heavy railguns and sandskimmers. The autocannons inflict moderate damage with a very large blast radius; the explosive autocannons spread makes it ideal at bombarding groups of targets.
Being relatively durable, more so than the strike fighter, it can endure return fire while strafing its targets. However, during its attack run, it remains vulnerable for longer than any other coalition aircraft while engaging its target. Its hull and armor should not be relied on, especially if there are Gaalsien missile ships nearby, rather as a generous margin of error when on its sortie.
Veterancy[]
Rank | Effect | XP Required |
---|---|---|
Officer | +100 Hull | 5500 |
Lieutenant | +100 Hull | 8000 |
Lt. Commander | +100 Hull | 12000 |
Commander | +100 Hull | 18500 |
Captain | +100% Damage | 27500 |
Research[]
Name | CU Cost | RU Cost | Time | Effect |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gunship Fabrication | 750 CUs | 225 RUs | 45s | Enables gunship production |
Multiplayer[]
Functionally is identical to its campaign variant. Gunships are primarily built to destroy large groups of LAVs, sandskimmers and railguns with its explosive autocannon, encircling its targets. They can be researched as soon as LAV fabrication has completed research and a gunship be built early in the game to attack and destroy resource operations before they build anti-air defences.
Gunships are effective at responding and pursuing large groups of LAVs and strikecraft, especially on large maps where there are no ground vehicles available to pursue them. Clusters of railguns are also ideal targets for gunships, if there are no nearby anti-air vehicles. Any ground vehicle without any air defence are opportune moments for gunships to deal some damage.
Attacking in a strafing run, gunships render themselves most vulnerable to anti-air defences or interdiction from enemy strike fighters/interceptors, more so than any other aircraft. Even production cruisers with their AA point defence cannons pose a significant threat. Given their RU cost, they should not be considered expendable.
A single sortie deals a maximum of 600 damage to a single unit that has no armor, a total of 40 attacks dealing 15 damage each instance. Of course, the area damage would greatly increase the total damage overall. It takes roughly 25 seconds for it to restock and refuel.
Strong against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
Weak against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
Veterancy[]
Rank | Effect | XP Required |
---|---|---|
Officer | +20% Sensor Range | 1300 |
Lieutenant | +100m Weapon Range | 2470 |
Lt. Commander | +10% Speed and Turn Rate | Unknown |
Commander | +10% Damage | Unknown |
Captain | +200 Hull | Unknown |
Research[]
Name | CU Cost | RU Cost | Time | Effect | Prerequisite |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter and Gunship Fabrication | 500 CUs | 200 RUs | 50s | Enables strike fighter and gunship production | Light Attack Vehicle Fabrication |
Trivia[]
- Gunships were piloted by a crew of three Kiith S'jet.
- Two autocannons can be seen equipped on the gunship, but only one is ever used in battle.
- AI players in multiplayer never build gunships.