After the Battle of Yavin, a number of offshoots were designed and placed into limited production, along with an improved version of the basic X-wing. The number of these would expand after the Declaration of Republic, achieving a high point with the T65CA4.
Although the only "official" producer of the T65 was the Rebellion, one of the members of the deisgn group was a Hapan native, which supports scattered reports of early models of the T65 (-Bs, or possibly the slower and harder to maintain -A) in use within the Hapes Cluster. As always, the Hapans have no comment.
There were also a small handful of rather distressing incidents, where individuals within the Rebel Alliance have sold schematics, and even whole ships, on the black market. Clone X-Wings are occasionally found being produced in shadow ports (although not always of the highest quality), but most of these are bought by the Alliance or Alliance-sympethtic privateers, mercenaries and bounty hunters.
This is the newer version of the X-Wing that is slowly being issued to front line units, allowing thier T65Bs to go to sectors that are less active. Those squadrons assigned to the main Fleet, Rebel Head Quarters and some of our most elite squadrons (Rogue and Renegade squadrons at first) will receive them first.
It features more powerful lasers, a larger torpedo magazine, more powerful engines and thrusters, better targeting computers and better designed cockpit displays. Where the older B had flat CRT displays that served one function, the CA2 has some holographic
displays, including a true holographic HUD, while others have been converted to voice or touch controlled, multi-purpose displays. The shields have had another emitter added just aft of the astromech socket, providing greater protection for your R2 unit. The S-foils have had an extra 5 degrees of expansion added for greater atmospheric stability, and
pylons have been added to all of the ships, instead of just those that were lucky enough to get techs who could make the needed modifications.
(WEG has made stats for the T-65B and CA4. However, the SWSB mentions that there is a CA2 which is replacing the B, and "The New Rebellion" mentions them as being an older, standard type. However, the vast majority of my disposable income goes into SW, especially the RPG, and I have never found the stats for the CA2.
Note: Renegade Squadron was assigned to Echo Base, and was destroyed by Imperial forces while they were escorting a transport convoy. This was recounted in the public radio adaptation of ESB.)
When the Rebellion sanctioned the resources expenditure for the
construction of the T65CA2, they also decided to add to the authorization
a trainer variant. The teams working on the new X-Wings decided that the
simplest and cheapest thing to do would be to insert a "plug" in to the cross section, widening the fuselage by a meter, for the instructor pilot.
By using the propulsion systems of the CA2, the CA3 retains the
performance of the T65B. It also uses the same sensors and weapons as
the T65B, meaning that student pilots get the second half of their training the old fashioned way- by being shot at. It is a fully combat rated platform, and in more than a few instances, Train-X's have served in combat out of necessity.
The instructor pilot has the right hand seat, which is fitted with a
full set of controls. He also has two extra controls. One is a physical
disconnect to the student's controls, completely killing the trainee's controls if needed. The other is the switch that arms the weapons systems. With it in the "off" position, the computers simulate torpedo launch or pylon payload ejection by jostling the ship and announcing a simulated missile to everyone in the exercise. The lasers are stepped down to the point of merely "painting" the target, with not even enough power to endanger a small rodent. When the key is rotated to the "on" position, the systems are armed, ready and lethal. This mode is used both for weapons traing (usually against derelict hulks or asteroid) or for emergency combat.
The "wide-body" CA3 chassis would go on to serve in a number of
roles, including a long-range strike craft and a recon platform.
By using the engines that would be placed in the T65CA4, the CA3R is
as fast as the CA2 and the Imperial TIE/ln. These are backed-up up by an
auxiliary hyperdrive and fully capable navigational computer. With three
weeks of supplies, these long range craft are also used for selected strikes against hardened targets well behind the battle lines. To ensure that they come home, they have been fitted with the same targeting jammer as the A-wing. They have not had any weapons removed, but the hull has been upgraded.
Although High Command has strictly forbidden it, a few of these craft
are being used as personal ships by squadron and wing leaders. The performance of these craft in a straight combat role has caused some to wonder, if the funds are ever available, if it might be prudent to replace many of the T65CA2s in service with the Recon-X.
(After the Palpatine Resurgence and the Recovery of Coruscant, a number of older T65Bs were converted to -65BRs. This capable ship would serve alongside the -CA3R for many years, but never replace them.)
Designed to supplement the existing B-, H-, Y-, and X-Wings, the
Strike-X uses the wide body of the Train-X. Slightly faster than the T65B, it uses the same engine as the CA3R and CA4, but much of that power is routed to heavier weapons and shields.
Armed and armoured well enough to take a significant beating, the Strike-X uses heavier laser cannons, with a third more power on target being delivered. The magazines for the proton torpedo launchers has been expanded, and a pair of vertical bomb bays have been added. Each of these bays can carry three additional proton torps, three long range
concussion missiles, six concussion rockets, or a half dozen proton bombs, among other weapons. Add the external pylons, and you can carry 3.1 tons of extra weapons before you even begin to loose performance. This is a lot of firepower for a single ship. Especially for one still fast and agile enough to dance with TIE fighters.
These went first to the Attack squadrons with the fleet and the headquarters base, with them gradually replacing Y-Wings in front line squadrons, but the refit process is expected to take years.
Incom T-65CA2 X-Wing
Incom T65CA3 Training X-Wing
Incom T65CA3R Recon X-Wing
Intended to replace the less agile Y-Wing Longprobe, the Recon-X uses the
same wide-body chassis of the Train-X. The difference is that the Recon-X
is a single seat craft, with the extra space occupied with more powerful
sensors, a true navigational computer, and more efficient engines.
Incom T65CA3S Strike X-Wing
The stats for the T65B can be found in several dozen places, including the basic rule book. The T65CA4 can be found in the Jedi Academy Sourcebook. The T65BR can be found in Cracken's Threat Dossier.
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