Welcome to the HoloNet Uplink, citizen. This series focuses on Fantasy Flight Games’ Star Wars Roleplaying Game, with content aimed mostly at the Gamemaster. Threats, adventure seeds, rules supplements, and more are all to come for those who access The HoloNet Uplink.
Today, much like the Emperor, I have something special planned. I’m welcoming my good friend, fellow Star Wars superfan, and long-time gamer Brett Bambridge as a guest author. Brett brings a wealth of military historical knowledge to his gaming, especially on the naval side, so I trust you’ll enjoy his take on a classic Legends starship. Enjoy.
Thank you Chris, I look forward to bringing some of my EU favorites forward into Age of Rebellion. As Chris noted, I am a big fan of military history, particularly naval history and ship design. I like to try to draw parallels between starship designs and actual naval vessels. The first ship I would like to tackle is an old favorite of mine, the Nebulon B-2 Frigate. I first encountered this ship 20 years ago playing Tie Fighter, and its unique profile has always stuck with me. It was big and tough, but not so overwhelming as a Star Destroyer or Mon Cal cruiser. I imagine it as something like a heavy frigate from the age of sail, designed to outfight anything it can’t outrun. For those GMs familiar with the fantastic film Master and Commander, I present to you your Acheron, ready to bedevil your own parties of Lucky Jack Aubreys.
EF78 Nebulon B-2 Frigate
While the Nebulon B frigate remains a mainstay of the Imperial Navy, Kuat Drive Yards has produced a much-improved refit. The New B-2 model serves as both an effective convoy escort, and superb hunter-killer.
The entire fore section has been rebuilt and reinforced. Offensive systems have been upgraded, and a powerful concussion missile launcher fitted. Despite the upgraded weapons, the power plant systems of the Frigate have not been overhauled and its operational range has been halved. Still a rare vessel, initial deployments have proven wildly successful and Alliance command grows increasingly concerned.
- Silhouette: 6
- Speed: 3
- Handling: -1
- Defences
- Forward 2
- Port 2
- Starboard 2
- Aft 2
- Armour: 7
- Hull Trauma Threshold: 80
- System Strain Threshold: 35
- Hull Type/Class: Frigate/ Nebulon B2
- Manufacturer: Kuat Drive Yards
- Hyperdrive: Primary: Class 2, Backup: Class 12
- Navicomputer: Yes
- Sensor Range: Long
- Starfighter Complement: Twenty-Four Starfighters
- Encumbrance Capacity: 5000 (depending on configuration)
- Passenger Capacity: 125 Troops
- Consumables: 12 Months
- Price/Rarity: 9,000,000 (R)/7 (Price is for newly built B2s, existing Nebulon Bs may be refitted to B-2 standards at a cost of 1,750,000 Credits and six months work at a suitable naval construction/refit facility)
- Weapons:
- Three port and three starboard turret mounted twin medium turbolasers (Fire Arc Forwards, Aft, and Port or Forward, Aft and Starboard; Damage 10; Critical 3 Range [Long]; Breach 3, Slow-Firing 1; Linked 1)
- Three port and three starboard retractable turret mounted medium turbolasers (Fire Arc Forwards, Aft, and Port or Forward, Aft and Starboard; Damage 10; Critical 3 Range [Long]; Breach 3, Slow-Firing 1)
- Three starboard, three port, 3 forward and three aft retractable turret-mounted twin light laser cannons (Fire Arc Port or Starboard or Forward or Aft; Damage 5; Critical 3; Range [Close]; Accurate 1. Linked 1)
- 2 forward mounted heavy tractor beam emitters (Fire Arc Forward; Damage -, Critical -; Range [Medium]; Tractor 6)
- 1 forward mounted assault concussion missile launcher (Fire Arc Forward, Port and Starboard; Damage 7; Critical 3; Range [Short]; Blast 4; Breach 5 Guided 3; Slow Firing 1).
Extended Lore
While the Nebulon B frigate remains a mainstay of the Imperial Navy, concerns about the fragility of this ubiquitous vessel has led to an extensive redesign from Kuat Drive Yards. The Nebulon B-2, or Modified Nebulon as it is sometimes known, seeks to rectify some of the shortcomings of the original design while maintaining its mission profile.
The fragile connecting spar, which links the fore and aft sections of the Nebulon, has been considerably shortened and reinforced. The original, single forward hull has been replaced with a double structure, each offset at 60 degrees, affording significantly more space for weapon mounts and cargo.
The weapons systems have also been overhauled, with half of the turbolaser complement upgraded to newer double weapon mounts. The newly assessed threat of starfighter attack has also lead to the replacement of the original single mounted medium lasers with newer dual linked cannons with improved tibana spin accelerators and a wholly redesigned targeting package. The redesign to the forward section of the frigate necessitated the removal of one of the vessel’s tractor beam emitters, though the placement of the remaining projectors to the bottoms of the downward sweep of the fore section does give them an increased arc of fire. Rounding out the changes to the armaments is the prow mounted concussion missile launcher, which gives the vessel further improved anti-starfighter defenses and a powerful close in punch against other vessels.
The starfighter complement remains unchanged, with 24 TIE/LN fighters carried in external racks along the central spar. Plans to include an additional modular hanger space along the central spar were rejected as too costly, though Kuat does intend to further develop this concept for future consideration by the Navy as an additional aftermarket upgrade.
These upgrades have not been wholly without their downsides. The power plant systems of the frigate have not been overhauled and the significant increase in power demands, necessitated by the improved weapon system, does place the vessel under significant stress. These demands, coupled with the increased crew complement required for the B-2 version of the ship has lead to a halving in the independent operational endurance of these vessels over their un-upgraded counterparts. For these reasons the B-2 will operate alongside the original B class, rather than supplant it entirely.
Kuat Drive Yards reports brisk sales of the new Nebulon B-2 model as the Imperial Navy continues to expand its fleet orders. Increased Alliance attacks have created panic among Imperial governors, who demand increased planetary defense forces. The B2 serves as a cost-effective upgrade to local forces without dispersing the Imperial fleet.
Nebulon B-2s represent a significant threat to Alliance shipping. Each vessel carries enough firepower to swiftly overwhelm most convoy escorts. The TIE complement afforded to each B-2 is generally sufficient to dissuade all but the most determined starfighter attack. Should its attendant fighters be swept away, its point defence weaponry and concussion missile armament can force the Rebel Alliance to pay a heavy toll in lost fighters and bombers—one it is scarcely able to absorb
The B-2 has also proved its worth in engaging and destroying Nebulon Bs that have been stolen by, or defected to, the Rebel Alliance. Their improved weapons and thick armour make them more than a match for their older counterparts in a ship-to-ship engagement. Encountered singly or in paired Hunter-Killer groups, the Nebulon B-2 represents a significant threat to the handful of capital ships available to the Rebellion at this time. As yet there have been no reports of B-2s falling into Rebel hands, in no small part due to the Imperial Navy’s practice of only assigning the most capable, and loyal, captains to these vessels.
Brett Bambridge
Latest posts by Brett Bambridge (see all)
- HoloNet Uplink – Nebulon B-2 Frigate (Guest Edition) - February 14, 2019
