| abstract | - The Scimitar-class gunship was an atmosphere-capable, air-to-ground heavy gunship fielded by the Imperial Naval Special Warfare Command of the Galactic Empire Special Operations Command. Its principal influence was the Meteor-class Aerial Fort of Adumar, a massive flying fortress bristling with nearly fifty laser cannons. The Galactic Empire Special Operations Command greatly wished for an atmospheric vessel that was capable of providing airborne support to special operations forces on planetary surfaces; while Neutralizer-class bombers had heavy missiles that could greatly support planetary special forces engaged in combat, starfighters could only carry limited missile munitions; it was greatly desired that a long-endurance vessel could be created that could provide extended support for ground forces. The solution lay in rechargeable weapons: namely, energy weapons. While missiles could be carried only in extremely limited supply by fighters or gunships, energy weapons had near-infinite ammunition, and were limited only by the regenerative capacity of their associated power generator. Borrowing from doctrines created for heavy fighters, such as the B-wing starfighter and the GAT-12 Skipray Blastboat, the Naval Special Warfare Command created a dedicated 50-meter-wide gunship armed with both beam and projectile weaponry that was specifically tasked for supporting Imperial Special Forces teams on the ground: the Scimitar-class gunship, named after the redoubtable former Scimitar assault bomber. Bristling with armament, it was designed for orbiting fire capability and atmospheric-specific operations: it carried a Proton beam cannon, two Mass-driver cannons, six Double laser cannons, and two Concussion missile launchers. Its principal armament was the proton beam cannon, a directed energy weapon of devastating firepower that was used against enemy fortifications and enemy vehicles. Two mass driver cannons were carried to provide precision firepower and also to penetrate shielded targets. Six double laser cannon copulas were installed to provide supporting fire against smaller targets, such as enemy infantry. Two concussion missile launchers were also obligatorily installed to provide a capability against enemy fortifications and vehicles as well. Additionally, it was heavily shielded and armored — combined with its massive armament, this inevitably made the Scimitar-class Gunship heavily laden, sluggish, and unmanueverable. Notably, it had no anti-air capability whatsoever; therefore, it was heavily dependent on friendly interceptor escorts and typically only operated in strategic theaters where the Empire had established aerial superiority. The gunship had a full-strength crew of fifteen: a commanding officer (typically a Lieutenant Commander), a pilot, a co-pilot/navigator, a fire control officer (FCO), a flight engineer, three sensor operators, and seven dedicated gunners.
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