Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter

The Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter, often simply known as the V-wing starfighter or Nimbus fighter, was a short-ranged starfighter deployed late in the Clone Wars by the Galactic Republic.

V-wings were some of the more recent spacecraft in the Republic Navy, and frequently filled the role as combat support ships. The small silhouette, high speed, and great agility of this fighter made it hard to target and a very effective ship despite its small size. They were later succeeded by the Imperial TIE Fighter and its variants, as well as the Rebel RZ-1 A-wing interceptor, all of which incorporated aspects of the V-wing into their designs.

Characteristics

The Alpha-3 Nimbus-class starfighter was a sturdy, wedge-shaped starfighter similar to the Delta-7 Aethersprite-class interceptors used by the Jedi Order. It was manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering, the same company responsible for both the Delta-7 fighter and its successor, the Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor, and was designed as a successor to the V-19 Torrent starfighter^[1] by Slayn & Korpil.^[10] Both the Delta-7 and the Alpha-3 were designed by the engineer Walex Blissex,^[1] who would later co-design the Rebel Alliance's A-wing fighter with Jan Dodonna.^[11]

The V-Wing featured folding wings similar to those fitted on the later Eta-2 interceptors. But when landing, the wings fold downward to form as landing gear. On each wing was a radiator panel which helped aid in heat disposal during combat. Nestled between each wing and the hull were two twin laser cannons, which could swivel on the vessel's wing hubs to provide a wide range of fire.^[2] A single forward concussion missile launcher could be fitted to the prow.^[5] Aft of the starfighter's main hull were two deflector shield heat sinks, located above the two vertically stacked ion drive thrusters. These flaps also provided some protection for the V-wing's pilots.^[2] Some models were equipped with Flak guns and Proton bombs.^[12]

In keeping with the design of the Delta-7, the Alpha-3 featured an astromech droid socket aft of the oval cockpit. V-wing pilots were often assisted by spherical Q7-series astromech droids which provided in-flight navigation and maintenance skills that would otherwise require a copilot—which the compact V-wing could not accommodate.^[2] However, later incarnations of the V-wing used by the Galactic Empire omitted the astromech, with the pilot as the only occupant.^[13] In addition, some later incarnations utilized a similar engine to the later TIE Series, resulting in it having a similar engine roar to its successors.^[7]

The V-wing starfighter was too small to feature an integrated hyperdrive, and like their Jedi-owned counterparts, it required transportation into combat zones by carriers such as the Venator-class Star Destroyers.^[2] Additionally, V-wing fighters were also capable of using Syluire-45 hyperspace transport rings to go long distances like the Eta-2 and both Delta-7 models.

History

V-wing fighters were often unleashed from warship hangars in large swarms, and were one of the most numerous starfighters in the Republic Navy late in the Clone Wars. They were most frequently deployed from Venator-class Star Destroyers and were typically the primary fighter aboard these vessels. While they lacked the power of the ARC-170 starfighter, they made up for it in raw speed and agility. There were produced in limited numbers until 19 BBY. V-wings were speedy and evasive targets, even for the advanced droid tri-fighters used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems in the last days of the Clone Wars. Mass-produced for Loyalist forces, V-wings participated in large-scale fleet operations and assisted in the defense of Republic worlds during the Clone Wars. They were ^[2] The clone trooper pilots who flew the fighter had specially adapted helmets, differing from the ones usually worn by other clone pilots. These round helmets fully enclosed the wearer's face and, along with their flight suits, were fully sealed due to the lack of a life support system. These suits allowed them to survive in space after ejection. The same pilot suit was also worn by the pilots of Theta-class T-2c shuttles.^[2]

V-wing starfighters flew into battle alongside ARC-170s and Eta-2 interceptors during the Battle of Coruscant near the end of the conflict, fighting off droid tri-fighters, Vulture droids, and deadly buzz droids, with some even getting as far as the Separatist flagship, Invisible Hand, although many were lost to enemy fire.

Following the end of the Clone Wars, V-wing squadrons flew under the banner of the Galactic Empire.^[1] Three^[7] Experimental V-wings, flown by elite pilots,^[1] escorted the self-appointed Emperor Palpatine's shuttle during his voyage from Coruscant to Mustafar and again on the return trip, culminating at the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center.^[7] These elite V-wings were modified for hyperspace travel^[1] and equipped with upgraded shields. In the early stages of the New Order, new V-wing models were commissioned. These craft featured Imperial livery and lacked an astromech droid.^[13] The pilots wore a completely black jump suit with a life support system and a black helmet simlar to the ones worn by the clone pilots, but with parts of their face being exposed and and goggles covering their eyes.^[14] These star fighters usually escorted the Emperor's shuttle and Imperials of importance.^[source?] Eventually, most of them were phased out in favor of the TIE Fighter and its variants, and were either scrapped or sold for surplus.^[5]

At least several V-wings would fall into the hands of the Rebel Alliance during the Galactic Civil War.

Eventually, private organizations, such as the Hutt Cartel, used V-wings after salvaging them. They were also used by the Mandalorians around the Battle of Yavin during a skirmish with the Zann Consortium.^[8]

In 13 ABY,^[15] they were one of many Clone Wars-era vehicles used by the Restored Empire. Several V-wings were present at the Imperial faction's base on the class-6 planetoid RZ7-6113-23 for the arrival of former Imperial Guardsman Kir Kanos^[9]

The Restored Empire's V-wings later saw action against a New Republic force investigating the disappearance of the [[[Dauntless-class heavy cruiser|Dauntless-class heavy cruiser]] [Endor (Dauntless-class)|Endor]] over RZ7-6113-23. The Nimbus-class starfighters engaged the MC80 Star Cruiser of Captain Lar Ndigo to buy time for the Restored Empire's fleet to launch, losing at least two of their number to the cruiser's complement of [A-wing interceptors.^[16] The faction once again employed V-wing starfighters in an attack on the insufficiently-defended Imperial Remnant capital of Orinda. The Restored Empire's numerical superiority made short work of the planet's defenses, with the outdated V-wings seeing success against the more modern TIE/LN starfighters.^[17]

Behind the scenes

The Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter was designed for the film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith directed by George Lucas.^[7] Prior to the release of the film on May 19, 2005,^[18] the V-wings appeared in the novel Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno, released on January 25,^[19] and were described and identified in the reference book Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections,^[2] released on April 2.^[20]

Animation director Rob Coleman originally considered showing TIE Fighters at the end of Revenge of the Sith, but Lucas decided to show V-wing starfighters instead, pointing out that the Empire would have nineteen years to build TIEs.^[source?] As a reference to TIE fighters, however, they have very similar engine sounds, as can be heard towards the end of the film when several pairs of V-wings are seen patrolling the area where construction of the Death Star is beginning.

Further appearances and discrepancies

In the games Star Wars: Battlefront II and Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron,^[6] the V-wing is depicted as a heavy bomber with shock cannons and proton bombs rather than the fast interceptor craft that it has been established as in other sources. Although this portrayal of the ship is likely considered non-canon, it was done regardless as the fighter and interceptor roles for the Republic faction were already filled, leaving the V-wing to take on the bomber ship class. Surprisingly, the ARC-170, which has a role of bomber in other sources, does not have that same role in Battlefront II—it is given the multi-purpose fighter role, likely for the purpose of creating continuity with its better-known descendant, the X-wing. The V-wing was also a ship in which players of the now closed MMO Star Wars Galaxies could fly as their personal ship. However, it was a very rare ship as it was only available as a loot card in the Squadrons Over Corellia trading card game booster packs. Due to the rarity of this ship in Star Wars Galaxies it was highly sought after by pilots who actively took part in player versus player content in space. A V-wing can be found on Raxus Prime in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on the Nintendo DS version of the game. In the video game Star Wars: Empire at War, V-Wings are used by pirate space forces, however their icon is the same of that of the Z-95 Headhunter's. This is fixed in the sequel. In Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, during the Mission to Mandalore, there are V-wings used by the Mandalorians that have ion cannons. When Hasbro designed the V-wing action vehicle, the folding wings were not fully incorporated into use as landing gear as was shown in Revenge of the Sith.

Non-canon appearances

Multiple LEGO Star Wars sets of V-wings were released. The first set was released in 2006 as part of the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith line and included minifigures of a clone pilot and Q7-series astromech droid.^[21] In the newer line of LEGO Star Wars products in January of 2011, a new set called the "Imperial V-Wing Starfighter" was released. This set includes a black version of the V-wing fighter, and a minifigure^[22] of an original Imperial V-Wing Pilot design with a fully black colored variant of the uniform of the craft's clone pilots,^[23] as well as R2-Q2.^[22] Another LEGO release of the Republic V-wing came out in January 2014, with a clone pilot and an unnamed red astromech droid as minifigures included in the set.^[24]

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

• LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
• LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
• LEGO Star Wars: Microfighters video game

Sources

Non-canon sources

• LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded

Notes and references

External links

• Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter on the SWG Wiki