Concussion missile

A concussion missile was a short-range, winged or wingless anti-vehicle missile generally deployed by starship- or vehicle-mounted launchers. There were a wide range of concussion missiles, varying in speed, maneuverability, and destructive capability. The concussion missile evolved from the ancient concussion spheres that were bigger, slower, and less destructive weapons similar to traditional bombs. This missile type was a weaker form of assault concussion missile, but could, however, have their explosive yield and exit velocity increased via advanced concussion missile upgrade.

Description

Concussion missiles were cylindrical projectiles tipped with explosive warheads. The weapon was originally designed for use during bombing runs in a planetary atmosphere, where the resultant concussion blast upon detonation caused a significant amount of devastation. However, the concussion missile was also found to be highly effective during combat in space. Concussion missiles were unaffected by ray shields.^[3]

Weapons manufacturers generally produced both the launchers and the missiles, and sold them as units. Ground forces used them against any fast-moving vehicle. In space combat, concussion missiles ranged in potency from anti-starfighter weapons launched from other diminutive craft to devastating warheads capable of crippling massive capital ships that were launched from specialized defensive satellites.^[4] Concussion missiles could also be set to airburst above their intended target to great effect, dispersing shock waves and damaging infrastructure.^[5]

Each missile was stored and launched from a pressurized canister which was designed to protect it during transport, storage, and loading, but also acted as a launch tube. The canisters were racked in circular magazines that were loaded into a vehicle. In ground-based launchers, the missile was launched sideways before igniting and traveling its course.

Concussion missile were generally cylindrical projectiles with tapered tips and fitted with stabilizer fins at the rear. A sophisticated homing sensor tipped the weapon, mounted on the armor-piercing warhead. A compact energy pack was nestled behind the warhead, and they were attached to the Concussion Cylinder that made up the bulk of the weapon. Energy envelope projectors were mounted around the middle of the missile to sheath the projectile in an energy field during flight to prevent premature detonation due to collisions with space debris or near-misses from enemy weapons fire.^[3]

The armor-piercing warhead penetrated a target's hull and the impact would trigger the missile's warhead, which contained a small energy pack that triggered a concussion blast that damaged the surrounding area and disrupted instruments and equipment.^[6] The damage caused by a concussion missile could cause more devastating results than single-shot turbolaser cannons.^[7]

Standard combat practice was to fire concussion missiles in staggered pairs, with one missile slightly ahead of the other. The first missile impacted the target, damaging deflector shields and armor plating; the second missile would then impact the now-vulnerable target, causing further damage. In space combat, concussion missiles were used to target and destroy the shield generators of enemy ships, opening the vessels up to turbolaser strikes. When used in an atmosphere, the explosion generated a sonic boom and caused localized ground tremors that could damage buildings, equipment, and inflict heavy casualties.^[3]

A concussion missile did not necessarily need to impact in order to detonate, however; some could be set to explode at a preset proximity to the target.

History

Starfighters such as the Rebel Alliance RZ-1 A-wing interceptor^[8] and the Imperial Missile Boat made extensive use of concussion missiles in dogfights.

The Victory I-class Star Destroyer was well known for its battery of concussion missiles, but newer capital ships like the Imperial-class Star Destroyer replaced them with ion cannons because missiles were expensive and could only be carried in limited numbers. Some were equipped with multiple lock-on systems.

During the Battle of Endor, Lando Calrissian fired concussion missiles at the main reactor of Death Star II, triggering the fatal blow, after wingman Wedge Antilles used proton torpedoes to take out the battle station's power regulator.

Commenorian pilots nicknamed concussion missiles "bangers."^[9]

Notable models

• Arakyd ST2 concussion missile
• Dymek concussion missile

Behind the scenes

In early LucasArts games, such as Star Wars: X-Wing, concussion missiles were referred to as simply missiles. This warhead is common in all of the X-wing games. The games depict concussion missiles as less damaging than proton torpedoes, although other sources reverse this relationship.

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references