The B-wing Starfighter

NAME/MODEL:                        B-wing Starfighter
DESIGNER/MAUFACTURER:              Slayn & Korpil
COMBAT DESIGNATION:                Heavy Assault Starfighter
CREW:                              One pilot
LENGTH:                            16.9 meters
CARGO CAPACITY:                    45 kilograms
ENGINES (4):                       Four Slayn 8. Karpil JZ-5 fusial
                                   thrust engines Rated at 290 KTU
SENSOR SYSTEMS:                    FabritechANv-9a with Phased Tachyan
                                   Array PH-5s Primary Thread Grid PK-8f
TARGETING SYSTEMS:                 Fabritech ANq 3.6 tracking computer
                                   and IN-344-B "Sightline" imaging system
S-FOIL WINGS:                      Three S-Foil Wings
ION CANNONS:                       Three Armek SW-7a ion cannons
                                   (single fire or fire-linked)
PROTON TORPEDO LAUNCHERS:          Two Krupx MG9 proton torpedo launchers
                                   6 torpedoes each
LASER CANNONS:                     Three Gyril R-9x laser cannons
                                   (single fire or fire-linked)
DEFENSES:                          Forward / rear projecting Chempat
                                   shields (rated at 50 SBD)
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES:           Gyroscopically-stabilized Command Pod

The B-wing Starfighter is a ship with tremendous combat capabilities. Admiral Ackbar, then a Commander, designed the B-wing (with the aid of Slayn & Korpil, a Verpine engineering company) as a response to the increasing number of Nebulon-B Frigates present at Imperial military targets. There are some who say that the B-wing is too powerful to be a starfighter; indeed, it packs more power than an average Correlian Corvette. One laser cannon and two Auto-Blasters enable the B-wing to blast through capital ships' shields while retaining the tracking and recharging capabilities needed for starfighter-to-starfighter combat. The presence of ion cannons (three of them) makes the B-wing versatile enough to take place in capture operations. They also make it even more threatening to medium-sized capital ships such as the Nebulon-B Frigate, which, once their shields are down, are particularly vulnerable to the system-disrupting damage done by ion cannons. Two proton torpedo launchers complete the B-wing's arsenal.
The B-wing was an instant success. After several engagements in which the B-wing distinguished itself, the Imperial forces were at a loss as to how to protect their convoys. There is a rumour (unconfirmed) that during a raid on one such convoy, an Imperial-Class Star Destroyer arrived on the scene too far away to engage the B-wings and launched TIE Fighters. The TIEs, upon seeing the B-wings heading straight towards them, turned tail and fled back to the Star Destroyer. This story is unlikely, since the TIE pilots knew what kind of punishment would be meted out to them upon their return, but serves to illustrate the reputation of the B-wing.
Several drawbacks do exist. The B-wing is slow (its speed is comparable to a Y-wing) and very tricky to maneuver. It utilizes a unique manuevering/stabilizing system. During combat, the cockpit and command pod stay stable while the rest of the ship rotates around it. This provides the pilot protection against G-forces but requires much training to master. In addition, the system places stress on the B-wing's servomotors, which often freeze and require much maintenance. However, the B-wing's shields and hull are powerful enough to withstand several hits, and overall, pilots who learn to master the B-wing usually prefer it above all other craft.

B-wings were present at the Battle of Endor, where they assisted the Rebel Cruisers in confronting Star Destroyers. They also provided the much-needed ability to strike well-defended Imperial convoys and shipyards. There is another type of B-wing, called the B-wing/Expanded (or B-wing/E) which has a longer, two-man cockpit, allowing the addition of a gunner. The picture included (above) is of a B-wing/E.