Harpy - Revision history

CourseDirector: /* Engines */

2023-05-15T02:04:17Z

Engines

← Older revision	Revision as of 02:04, 15 May 2023
(No difference)

CourseDirector at 22:40, 26 December 2018

2018-12-26T22:40:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:40, 26 December 2018
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	===Torpedo Variant===		===Torpedo Variant===
	One particular version replaced the bomb bay full of missiles with a magazine-fed torpedo tube. Though it carried a smaller payload than it's missile-laden brethren, the torpedo-variant was much better at taking down enemy capital ships.		One particular version replaced the bomb bay full of missiles with a magazine-fed torpedo tube. Though it carried a smaller payload than it's missile-laden brethren, the torpedo-variant was much better at taking down enemy capital ships.

			[[Category:Course Books]]

CourseDirector: /* Armament */

2017-09-07T00:24:11Z

Armament

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:24, 7 September 2017
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	The Harpy's high degree of speed was its primary defensive assett. If a missile was fired, standard operating procedure was simply to accelerate.		The Harpy's high degree of speed was its primary defensive assett. If a missile was fired, standard operating procedure was simply to accelerate.

			===Look Back/Shoot Back===
			A key problem facing most starfighters is the [[Look Back/Shoot Back]] capacity, which was mssing from all but the most specialized starcraft for much of recorded history. Seventy PSL+ fighters are especially vulnerable.

			The Harpy was designed with Look Back functionality from the start, in the form of a dedicated, high-frequenc LIDAR-system mounted on the back. The distinctive "tail-fin"-like protrusions mounted over each engine contain the emitters, while a small bulge in the back includes a very sensitive receiver. While the system has a shorter range than the main sensor array and is poor at detectinge low-observable stealth spacecraft, it is none the less preferable over simply having a gap in the rear.

			As soon as the starcraft began to function as a fighter, pilots demanded the addition of shoot-back capability. Any number of suggestions were submitted, up to and including a manned ball turret gunner. A few Harpy variants were produced with un-manned turrets to provide better close-in defense, but the shot-back problem was solved very easily: they simply turned some of the missiles around.

			Even the stock Harpy had limited shoot-back capacity in the form of guided missiles. The very first solution ever issues was a software patch that allowed the missiles, once released, to use their guidance thrusters to turn around before igniting the main engine. The second, and permenant solution involved re-designing the bomb hard-points to accept a missile facing either direction. On high-threat missions, as many as half of the weapons payload can be set to fire in reverse-mode.

	===Power===		===Power===

CourseDirector: /* Design Features */

2017-09-07T00:23:14Z

Design Features

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:23, 7 September 2017
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	===FTL Drive===		===FTL Drive===
	The Harpy carries a small [[Faster Than Light]] drive which is a scaled down version of the type powering big ships. The stated use of the drive is for evacuation in the event the carrier is destroyed, though they have been used in attack on numerous occasions. The drive is limited to only [[FTL Factor]] 4 and is capable of very short jumps because of fuel consumption and the Harpy's lack of an onboard power generator. For long range missions that infolve [[FTL]], underway refueling is required.		The Harpy carries a small [[Faster Than Light]] drive which is a scaled down version of the type powering big ships. The stated use of the drive is for evacuation in the event the carrier is destroyed, though they have been used in attack on numerous occasions. The drive is limited to only [[FTL Factor]] 4 and is capable of very short jumps because of fuel consumption and the Harpy's lack of an onboard power generator. For long range missions that infolve [[FTL]], underway refueling is required.

			===Look Back/Shoot Back===
			A key problem facing most starfighters is the [[Look Back/Shoot Back]] capacity, which was mssing from all but the most specialized starcraft for much of recorded history. Seventy PSL+ fighters are especially vulnerable.

			The Harpy was designed with Look Back functionality from the start, in the form of a dedicated, high-frequenc LIDAR-system mounted on the back. The distinctive "tail-fin"-like protrusions mounted over each engine contain the emitters, while a small bulge in the back includes a very sensitive receiver. While the system has a shorter range than the main sensor array and is poor at detectinge low-observable stealth spacecraft, it is none the less preferable over simply having a gap in the rear.

			As soon as the starcraft began to function as a fighter, pilots demanded the addition of shoot-back capability. Any number of suggestions were submitted, up to and including a manned ball turret gunner. A few Harpy variants were produced with un-manned turrets to provide better close-in defense, but the shot-back problem was solved very easily: they simply turned some of the missiles around.

			Even the stock Harpy had limited shoot-back capacity in the form of guided missiles. The very first solution ever issues was a software patch that allowed the missiles, once released, to use their guidance thrusters to turn around before igniting the main engine. The second, and permenant solution involved re-designing the bomb hard-points to accept a missile facing either direction. On high-threat missions, as many as half of the weapons payload can be set to fire in reverse-mode.

	==Variants==		==Variants==

CourseDirector at 08:10, 12 March 2017

2017-03-12T08:10:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:10, 12 March 2017
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	===Dedicated Superiority Variant===		===Dedicated Superiority Variant===
	Shortly after the Harpy's initial success, a need was recognized for a dedicated combat-superiority fighter. In layman's tersm, a fighter designed to kill other fighters. Unfortunately, the versiltity of the original model was what gave it such a high success rate. Escorts were loaded with special payloads through the first century of the [[Kamian ~~Succion~~ Wars]].		Shortly after the Harpy's initial success, a need was recognized for a dedicated combat-superiority fighter. In layman's tersm, a fighter designed to kill other fighters. Unfortunately, the versiltity of the original model was what gave it such a high success rate. Escorts were loaded with special payloads through the first century of the [[Kamian Succession Wars]].

	The superiority-variant was introduced with decreased weapon's payload and increased power of manuvering thrusters.		The superiority-variant was introduced with decreased weapon's payload and increased power of manuvering thrusters.

CourseDirector: /* Defensive Payload */

2016-07-01T16:44:54Z

Defensive Payload

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:44, 1 July 2016
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	The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.		The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.

	The most common and favorite weapon was a type of [[plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] frieghter-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was advantageous from a turn-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. The downside lay in higher fuel consumption. Eventually, a hybrid variant that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.		The most common and favorite weapon was a type of [[Plasma Gatling Gun\|plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] frieghter-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was advantageous from a turn-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. The downside lay in higher fuel consumption. Eventually, a hybrid variant that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.

	====Other Systems====		====Other Systems====

Siddharth1: /* Defensive Payload */

2013-12-08T04:14:12Z

Defensive Payload

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:14, 8 December 2013
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	The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.		The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.

	The most common and favorite weapon was a type of [[plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] ~~frieghtor~~-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was advantageous from a turn-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. The downside lay in higher fuel consumption. Eventually, a hybrid variant that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.		The most common and favorite weapon was a type of [[plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] frieghter-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was advantageous from a turn-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. The downside lay in higher fuel consumption. Eventually, a hybrid variant that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.

	====Other Systems====		====Other Systems====

Siddharth1: /* Design Features */

2013-12-08T04:13:27Z

Design Features

CourseDirector: /* Variants */

2011-09-14T05:24:34Z

Variants

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:24, 14 September 2011
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	==Variants==		==Variants==
	A wide number of Harpy Variants were developed and deployed, designed with more specific uses. Since so little modification was usually required to make a successful varient, many of these modifications were hacked together away from base.		A wide number of Harpy Variants were developed and deployed, designed with more specific uses. Since so little modification was usually required to make a successful varient, many of these modifications were hacked together away from base.

			===Dedicated Superiority Variant===
			Shortly after the Harpy's initial success, a need was recognized for a dedicated combat-superiority fighter. In layman's tersm, a fighter designed to kill other fighters. Unfortunately, the versiltity of the original model was what gave it such a high success rate. Escorts were loaded with special payloads through the first century of the [[Kamian Succion Wars]].

			The superiority-variant was introduced with decreased weapon's payload and increased power of manuvering thrusters.

	===Trainer Variants===		===Trainer Variants===

CourseDirector: /* Defensive Payload */

2011-01-28T23:08:35Z

Defensive Payload

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:08, 28 January 2011
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	The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.		The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.

	The most common and favorite weapon, however, was a type of [[plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] frieghtor-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was advantagous from a ~~tunr~~-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. However, the downside lay in higher fuel consumption. ~~Evventually~~, a hybrid varient that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.		The most common and favorite weapon, however, was a type of [[plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] frieghtor-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was advantagous from a turn-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. However, the downside lay in higher fuel consumption. Eventually, a hybrid varient that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.

	====Other Systems====		====Other Systems====

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:13, 8 December 2013
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	==Design Features==		==Design Features==
	The Harpy's design was unique and ~~inovative~~, abandoning many long-standard conventions.		The Harpy's design was unique and innovative, abandoning many long-standard conventions.

	===Engines===		===Engines===
	The Harpy is propelled by two bi-directional [[Ion vacuum drive]]s designed specifically for it. Previous fighters ~~tended to rely~~ on [[Bussard Ramjet]] engines for main acceleration thrust, making the ~~harpy~~ the first fighter/bomber to rest exclusively on the Ion-vacuum drive.		The Harpy is propelled by two bi-directional [[Ion vacuum drive]]s designed specifically for it. Previous fighters relied on [[Bussard Ramjet]] engines for main acceleration thrust, making the Harpy the first fighter/bomber to rest exclusively on the Ion-vacuum drive.

	Numerous advancments in small-scale Ion-vacuum technology made durring the late [[Ages#The Fifth Age\|Fifth Age]] were encorporated into the Harpy's engine design, along with a few new tricks. A revolutionary ~~and contravertial~~ feature at the time was the unequal bi-directional engine.		Numerous advancments in small-scale Ion-vacuum technology made durring the late [[Ages#The Fifth Age\|Fifth Age]] were encorporated into the Harpy's engine design, along with a few new tricks. A revolutionary feature at the time was the unequal bi-directional engine.

	Starship-scale equal bi-directional engines had been in wide use since the ~~begining~~ of the Fifth Age, which allowed a spacecraft to reverse direction without turning around. The system worked by simple running the engine backwards, turning the forward intakes into ~~mottors~~ and the rear ~~mottors~~ into intakes. This of course required a significant re-design of the engine, but was still a very useful advancement. Since each end of the system essentially had to function as both an intake and a motor, they became substantialy more complicated and bulkier.		Starship-scale equal bi-directional engines had been in wide use since the beginning of the Fifth Age, which allowed a spacecraft to reverse direction without turning around. The system worked by simple running the engine backwards, turning the forward intakes into motors and the rear motors into intakes. This of course required a significant re-design of the engine, but was still a very useful advancement. Since each end of the system essentially had to function as both an intake and a motor, they became substantialy more complicated and bulkier.

	This was a minor ~~tradeoff~~ for a starship, where extra mass was fairly inconsequental, but would have been crippling to a fighter. The solution employed by the Harpy was unequal bi-direction, essenially the forward intakes could act as motors but only provide 30% thrust equivalant to the rear, while the rear motors acting as intakes could only draw in about 20% equivalant to the thrust. This meant the Harpy could not effectively 'fly backwards' without burning additional fuel, but allowed it to whip around at high speed.		This was a minor trade-off for a starship, where extra mass was fairly inconsequental, but would have been crippling to a fighter. The solution employed by the Harpy was unequal bi-direction; essenially the forward intakes could act as motors but only provide 30% thrust equivalant to the rear, while the rear motors acting as intakes could only draw about 20% equivalant to the thrust. This meant the Harpy could not effectively 'fly backwards' without burning additional fuel, but allowed it to whip around at high speed.

	Essentially, the Harpy designers had taken an element intended to allow large starships to change directions without turning, and employed it to make their spacecraft turn very fast.		Essentially, the Harpy designers had taken an element intended to allow large starships to change directions without turning, and employed it to make their spacecraft turn very fast.
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	===Armament===		===Armament===
	====Offensive Payload====		====Offensive Payload====
	An unusual decision was for the Harpy's payload to consist of missiles instead of bombs. Traditional bombers carried ~~proximaty~~-fused magnetic bombs, that once released would be pulled towards the target. The Harpy instead carried a payload of N2 missiles. This allowed it to launch ~~it's~~ attack from much further away, and ensure more direct hits as the missiles had some ability to manuver where as magnetic bombs moved in a straight line.		An unusual decision was for the Harpy's payload to consist of missiles instead of bombs. Traditional bombers carried proximety-fused magnetic bombs, that once released would be pulled towards the target. The Harpy instead carried a payload of N2 missiles. This allowed it to launch its attack from much further away, and ensure more direct hits as the missiles had some ability to manuver where magnetic bombs moved in a straight line.

	Additionally, an attack launched at close range would allow the Harpy's payload ~~to have~~ an even deadlier impact, as the fuel stored in the rocket motors could act as a secondary to the N2 warhead.		Additionally, an attack launched at close range would allow the Harpy's payload an even deadlier impact, as the fuel stored in the rocket motors could act as a secondary to the N2 warhead.

	The final advantage, and reason for the decision, was that this allowed the Harpy to use ~~it's~~ payload for defense as well as offence.		The final advantage, and reason for the decision, was that this allowed the Harpy to use its payload for defense as well as offence.

	====Defensive Payload====		====Defensive Payload====
	The Harpy was designed with two modular compartments in each wing, intended to hold a defensive projectile weapon of some sort. Those were the exact words of the design team, "of some sort". During the design process, the defensive weapons had not yet been settled on.		The Harpy was designed with two modular compartments in each wing, intended to hold a defensive projectile weapon of some sort. Those were the exact words of the design team, "of some sort". During the design process, the defensive weapons had not yet been settled on.

	The original generation of Harpy was manufactured with railguns, produced in various factories and shipped to the carriers seperately from the fighter frames. The [[Foundation]] contracted a number of outside firms to develop alternate defensive payloads for the modular bays. Ostensibly, this was done to provide economic stimulation during the [[Kamian Succession Wars\|war]], though a number of systems were produced and went into service with high degrees of success. Various types of beam canons, pulse lasers, compressed energy weapons, and even a laser ~~gattling~~ gun saw action.		The original generation of Harpy was manufactured with railguns, produced in various factories and shipped to the carriers seperately from the fighter frames. The [[Foundation]] contracted a number of outside firms to develop alternate defensive payloads for the modular bays. Ostensibly, this was done to provide economic stimulation during the [[Kamian Succession Wars\|war]], though a number of systems were produced and went into service with high degrees of success. Various types of beam canons, pulse lasers, compressed energy weapons, and even a laser Gatling gun saw action.

	The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.		The number of armament choices contributed to the Harpy's success; pilots felt less confined by their defensive payload, and mission planners had the ability to to very armaments more widely.

	The most common and favorite weapon~~, however,~~ was a type of [[plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] frieghtor-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was ~~advantagous~~ from a turn-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. ~~However, the~~ downside lay in higher fuel consumption. Eventually, a hybrid ~~varient~~ that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.		The most common and favorite weapon was a type of [[plasma gatling gun]] very similar to the one used on the [[Nimbus]] frieghtor-escort-fighter. This weapon required some modification to the Harpy and was slow to adopt. The gun siphoned dry plasma from the engine for ammunition, which was advantageous from a turn-around standpoint as it did not need to be reloaded. The downside lay in higher fuel consumption. Eventually, a hybrid variant that combined the plasma gatling gun with a railgun was offered, which allowed the pilot to switch between armament according to fuel and amunition needs.

	====Other Systems====		====Other Systems====
	Active jaming and ECM systems are prevelent, though power consumption makes them tricky to operate. ECM large enough to defend a fighter required enormous power, which the Harpy simply did not have. Active jaming systems were also imperfect.		Active jaming and ECM systems are prevelent, though power consumption makes them tricky to operate. ECM large enough to defend a fighter required enormous power, which the Harpy simply did not have. Active jaming systems were also imperfect.

	The Harpy's high degree of speed was ~~it's~~ primary defensive assett. If a missile was fired, standard operating procedure was simply to accelerate.		The Harpy's high degree of speed was its primary defensive assett. If a missile was fired, standard operating procedure was simply to accelerate.

	===Power===		===Power===
	Perhaps the most ingenious design aspect of the Harpy was ~~it's~~ lack of an onboard power generator. Instead, the ship ~~actually~~ uses the ~~mechanicalm~~ motion of ~~it's~~ fuel reactor to generate electricity for onboard systems.		Perhaps the most ingenious design aspect of the Harpy was its lack of an onboard power generator. Instead, the ship uses the mechanical motion of its fuel reactor to generate electricity for onboard systems.

	Cold-start power is supplied by a buffer ~~that is~~ charged from the carrier or base's main power source. The buffer is then recharged by the engines as soon as they are operable, much like the battery starter in ~~a car with~~ an internal combustion engine.		Cold-start power is supplied by a buffer charged from the carrier or base's main power source. The buffer is then recharged by the engines as soon as they are operable, much like the battery starter in an internal combustion engine.

	===FTL Drive===		===FTL Drive===
	The Harpy carries a small [[Faster Than Light]] drive which is a scaled down version of the type powering big ships. The stated use of the drive is for evacuation in the event the carrier is destroyed, ~~however~~ they have been used in attack on numerous occasions. The drive is limited to only [[FTL Factor]] 4 and is capable of very short jumps because of fuel consumption and the Harpy's lack of an onboard power generator. For long range missions that infolve [[FTL]], underway refueling is required.		The Harpy carries a small [[Faster Than Light]] drive which is a scaled down version of the type powering big ships. The stated use of the drive is for evacuation in the event the carrier is destroyed, though they have been used in attack on numerous occasions. The drive is limited to only [[FTL Factor]] 4 and is capable of very short jumps because of fuel consumption and the Harpy's lack of an onboard power generator. For long range missions that infolve [[FTL]], underway refueling is required.

	==Variants==		==Variants==