![]() Īs the BTL-S3 became the primary Y-wing variant of the Rebel forces, the A4 was still kept in many units as a supplementary craft. Notably, only one A4 fighter from the Alliance's Gold Squadron survived the attack on the Death Star at the Battle of Yavin. However, the lack of a gunner and reduced shields typically proved a liability and made the A4 unpopular among pilots. It was commonly used by pirate, mercenary, and private defense forces, and therefore was also used by the early Rebel Alliance as the primary starfighter for bombing and disabling roles. Shield strength was also reduced to boost engine speed. The BTL-A4 was a one-man version of the S3, which removed the gunner position and locked the overhead ion cannon in a forward-facing position. There were three common designs of Y-wing, one used during the Clone Wars and two during the height of the Galactic Civil War, as well as six less common variants. This tactic was similar to the A-wing Slash, which involved solely X-wings and A-wings. This would allow the Y-wings and B-wings to focus their fire on capital ships. When properly used by such commanders as General Grisserno and Horton Salm, Y-wings would accelerate towards their capital ship targets, relying on their gunners and wingmates in X-wing starfighters and A-wing interceptors to distract enemy fighters and the enemy ships' gunners. The Y-wing was not a sluggish fighter overall, as its speed and agility exceeded that of its intended replacement, the B-wing, but its lack of mobility meant that the Y-wing was not effective as a space superiority fighter. The Y-wing also had a larger torpedo magazine. ![]() " They've always gotten me home in one piece." ― Colonel Horton Salm Ī relatively unscathed Y-wing with its hull plates still in placeĭespite its shortcomings in speed and maneuverability compared to space superiority fighters such as the X-wing (or especially compared to interceptors like the A-wing), the Y-wing was an extremely durable craft, with heavier armor and shielding making it a favorite among some Alliance pilots during the Galactic Civil War. It is unknown whether this was a standard feature or a customization. Inflatable balloons were deployed which kept the ship afloat in case of a water landing, and the cockpit could be ejected from the rest of the ship and driven as its own vehicle. In at least one Y-wing, special features were included which assisted in the event of crashing on the surface of a planet. Pilots found that this lightened the frame and kept components cooler, noticeably boosting performance. Due to this, many Y-wings had no hull plating (except on the cockpit), exposing the internals of the main hull. The Y-wing was originally entirely sheathed in an aerodynamic, elegant fuselage, but its high-maintenance nature led to many aggravated maintenance crews getting fed up with constantly having to remove the superficial hull plating and disposing of it altogether. The design had many flaws and required constant maintenance. In addition to the Rebel Alliance, many planetary defense forces, mercenaries, and pirates fielded the craft. Its deficiencies were partly compensated for by the heavy proton torpedo load it could carry, and its ability to paralyze craft with ion cannon fire without destroying them, a unique ability until the B-wing starfighter was introduced after the Battle of Yavin. The Y-wing was a resilient, well- shielded craft, but was slow and ungainly compared to other Alliance fighters. ![]() An astromech droid, such as an R2 unit, could be plugged into a socket behind the cockpit to act as a co-pilot and manage the ship's various systems. Its weaponry included two laser cannons, two ion cannons, and two proton torpedo launchers. " They're the workhorses of this outfit, I can tell you that." ― Tiree Īffectionately known as a "wishbone" to Rebel Alliance and New Republic pilots, the Y-wing starfighter was deployed as a fighter-bomber, designed to fight its way to its objective, deliver its payload of high explosives, and fight its way out again. ![]()
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