BTL-S3 Y-wing starfighter

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"The Koensayr BTL-S3 Y-wing attack starfighter, long the staple of the Alliance Fighter Corps. The all-purpose craft has proved its worth as a fighter and [...] a bomber noted for its precision."
―Soontir Fel[6]

The BTL-S3 Y-wing starfighter was a variant configuration of the BTL Y-wing starfighter. It was used primarily by the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

Characteristics

"The BTL-S3 model's advantage is that the gunner seated behind the pilot is able to use the cockpit ion cannon to find his own targets."
―Soontir Fel[6]

The BTL-S3 was the most common Y-wing configuration.[7] A two-man strike starfighter, the first crew member piloted the craft, while the second acted as a gunner and controlled the two swivel-mounted ion cannons, located right on top of the cockpit.[8][1]

Many Y-wings of this variant were modified with defensive rapid-fire blaster turrets replacing the ion cannon turret, and particle cannons instead of the dual laser cannons on the nose.[9] These Y-wings were used as heavy capital ship destroyers, and were eventually phased out by the new B-wing starfighters.

History

An S3 cockpit module detaches from the main body.

Luke Skywalker used this variant on his mission to Panna in 0 ABY,[10] as did Princess Leia Organa and C-3PO on their journey to the Circarpous system.[11]

The Deretta Destroyers, a mixed starfighter squadron of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, consisted of several BTL-S3s. Rebel pilot Tenk Lenso proved his skill as a gunner in the rear of a BTL-S3 while serving with the Destroyers.[12]

The Rebel Alliance also used two-person Y-wings at numerous battles during the Galactic Civil War[9] and at the Battle of Bespin.[5]

Several of the BTL-S3s were stationed at Echo Base on the planet Hoth in 3 ABY. They assisted the base's T-65 X-wing starfighters in the evacuation of numerous GR-75 medium transports through the Imperial blockade of the planet. Rogue Squadron members Derek Klivian and Wes Janson escorted the transport Thon's Orchard to safety using a BTL-S3.[12]

The Rebel Alliance-affiliated Bothan Blue Squadron used 12 Y-wings. Half of them were destroyed on the Raid on the Suprosa.[13]

During the period after the Battle of Endor, Aggressor Wing's New Republic BTL-S3 Y-wing starfighters commanded by Colonel Horton Salm participated in the Battle of Brentaal IV,[6] and later rescued Rogue Squadron during the evacuation of Ciutric.[14]

A BTL-S3 as seen in the Star Wars Holiday Special

Behind the scenes

The BTL-S3 Y-wing starfighter first appeared in 1978's novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye, by Alan Dean Foster, and the first Expanded Universe novel.

Both Star Wars: Rogue Squadron: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide mislabel the single-seat BTL-A4 Y-wing starfighter as the S3 variant.

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook
  2. ↑  Y-wing starfighter in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  3. ↑ Star Wars Battlefront: Prima Official Game Guide
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 File:SWG logo sm.png Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: Battlefront
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: In the Empire's Service
  7. ↑ The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
  8. ↑ The Star Wars Sourcebook
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Star Wars: Battlefront II
  10. ↑ The Star Wars Holiday Special
  11. ↑ Splinter of the Mind's Eye
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back
  13. ↑ Shadows of the Empire (novel)
  14. ↑ Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Mandatory Retirement
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