Belt Alliance fighter

Infobox Fictional Spacecraft
name = "Zephyr" class


caption = Zephyr Belt Alliance Fighter
first = Midnight on the Firing Line
last =
affiliation = Raiders
launched =
fighters =
auxcraft =
armaments = 2 Light plasma bolters
Missile hardpoints
defense = Armored hull
propulsion =
power =
mass =
length =
width =
height =
primeref =The Zephyr class light fighter (also known as "Belt Alliance fighter" or "Delta Wing") is a mass-produced aerospace fighter built for the Belt Alliance in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series.

Design

The Belt Alliance fighter is a delta winged craft with simple weapons and weak armor.cite web | url=http://b5tech.com/miscracesgroups/raiderfighter/raiderfighter.html | title=BTech.com | publisher=B5Tech.com | accessdate=2008-06-14] The ship was originally built by Earth colonies in the Orion systemcite web | url=http://b5tech.com/miscracesgroups/raiderfighter/raiderfighter.html | title=BTech.com | publisher=B5Tech.com | accessdate=2008-06-14] however it later became used by Raiders to prey on weak merchant and cargo ships of various races.

It must be noted the difference of opinion on the origin of the Belt Alliance fighter. B5tech.com states that the fighter was of human design (as already referenced) while another website [http://www.isnnews.net/hyperspace] states that the fighter is of Narn design.cite web | url=http://www.isnnews.net/hyperspace/orgs/index.html#raider | title=Hyperspace | publisher=Isnnews.net/hyperspace | accessdate=2008-06-14]

Appearances

These ships have played pivotal roles in Babylon 5 both during the series and subsequent movies. They have been seen in episodes such as Midnight on the Firing Line, Believers, (movie) and others.

In the episode Midnight on the Firing Line G'Kar, the Narn ambassador to Babylon 5 is proved to be supplying weapons to the Raiders under official orders from his government. These weapons were said to be far superior to typical Raider weaponry because of the intensity of the blast damage to a discovered cargo ship.cite episode| episodelink=Midnight on the Firing Line| title=Midnight on the Firing Line| series=Babylon 5]

Tactics

The Raider ships cannot form their own jump point thus limiting their ability to attack larger ships or also to run from the more powerful escorts from the other races. Because of this they have been known to utilize a "Battle Wagon" class of ship that can form its own jump point into hyperspace. The "Battle Wagon" is not an actual combat ship in its own right but more of a carrier for the "Belt Alliance fighter". The "Battle Wagon" first appeared in the Babylon 5 episode Signs and Portents.cite episode| episodelink=Signs and Portents| title=Signs and Portents| series=Babylon 5] An alternative version of it is seen in the tv movie .

Generally speaking, Zephyr fighters are inferior in weapons and capabilities to fighters from the Earth Alliance, Centauri Republic, Minbari Federation, and other alien races. Partly this is due to the fact that they are an older design; they tend to be slower and less-maneuverable than fighters from more advanced races. In several episodes of Bablyon 5, Earth Alliance Starfury fighters were able to destroy or disable large numbers of Zephyr fighters while losing few or no ships themselves. As a result of this weakness, Zephyr fighters are primarily used by pirates, raiders, and other "outlaw" groups to attack and capture or destroy unarmed civilian merchant starships. They are rarely used in combat against other fighters. Zephyr is also capable of atmospheric flight.cite episode| episodelink=The Paragon of Animals| title=The Paragon of Animals| series=Babylon 5]

References

External links

* [http://b5tech.com/miscracesgroups/raiderfighter/raiderfighter.html B5Tech]
* [http://www.isnnews.net/hyperspace/orgs/index.html#raider Hyperspace]