Bengal-class strike carrier
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The (fictional) Bengal-class Strike Carrier is a starship in the Wing Commander universe. The Bengal-class entered service in 26191. The first operational Flight IIA Bengal, TCS Tiger's Claw, was commissioned in 26442.
The Bengal-class was a fast, heavily armored and surprisingly well armed carrier with twelve launch tubes, two small side-mounted bays and a single forward bay for launch and recovery of spacecraft. Its air wing of 1042 fighters was not as large as the later Confederation-class, but was well stocked was combat planes of all types, and its launch tubes enabled it to make a flush scramble in twelve minutes.
The Bengal carried a crew of 600, including a 50-man marine complement.
Typical Bengal-class Fighter Wing 4/2654:
(Example Shown: 88th FW, TCS Tiger's Claw)
- 14 F-36 Hornet-class light fighters (Killer Bee Squadron)
- 14 CF-117b Rapier-class medium fighters (Black Lion Squadron)
- 14 CF-117b Rapier-class medium fighters (Mongrols Squadron)
- 14 CF-117b Rapier-class medium fighters (Screamin' Shepards Squadron)
- 14 F-32D Scimitar medium fighter (Blue Devil Squadron)
- 14 A-14D Raptor heavy fighters (Star Slayer Squadron)
- 04 F-54 Epee light fighters (Mixed) 3
- 04 F-57 Sabre heavy fighters (Mixed)
- 04 CF-105/A-17B Broadsword heavy bombers (Mixed) 4
- 04 Interceptors (Mixed)
- 02 CF-337d Troopship
- 02 Shuttles
Bengal-class Fighter Complement
Typical Bengal-class Fighter Wing 8/2654:
(Example Shown: 88th FW, TCS Tiger's Claw)
- 14 F-36 Hornet light fighters (Yellowjacket Squadron)
- 14 F-36 Hornet light fighters (Killer Bee Squadron)
- 14 F-44A Rapier II medium fighters (Black Lion
- 14 F-44A Rapier II medium fighters (Screamin' Shepards Squadron)
- 14 F-32D Scimitar medium fighters (Blue Devil Squadron)
- 14 A-15D Raptor heavy fighters (Star Slayer Squadron)
- 04 F-54A Epee light fighters (Mixed)
- 04 F-57A Sabre heavy fighters (Mixed)
- 04 A-17C Broadsword heavy bombers (Mixed) 5
- 04 Interceptors (Mixed)
- 02 CF-337d Troopship
- 02 Shuttles
In 2654, the Rapier II entered fighter wings and for a short time coexisted alongside the Scimitar. Carriers gave up one squadron of Rapiers for a squadron of Rapier IIs.
Typical Bengal-class Fighter Wing 8/2655:
(Example Shown: 88th FW, TCS Tiger's Claw)
- 14 F-36 Hornet light fighters (Yellowjacket Squadron)
- 14 F-36 Hornet light fighters (Killer Bee Squadron)
- 14 F-44 Rapier II medium fighters (Black Lion Squadron)
- 14 F-44 Rapier II medium fighters (Screamin' Shepards Squadron)
- 14 F-44 Rapier II medium fighters (Blue Angel Squadron)
- 14 A-14D Raptor heavy fighters (Star Slayer Squadron)
- 04 F-54 Epee light fighters (Mixed)
- 04 F-57 Sabre heavy fighters (Mixed)
- 04 A-17C Broadsword heavy bombers(Mixed)
- 04 Interceptors (Mixed)
- 02 CF-337d Troopship
- 02 Shuttles
In 2655 the Scimitar was phased out of the fleet and its place in the fleet air arsenal as a general-purpose medium fighter was taken over by the Rapier II.
Ships of the Line:
- TCS Beacontree
- TCS Bengal
- TCS Eagle's Talon
- TCS Exeter (lost 2654)
- TCS Kipling6
- TCS Kyoto
- TCS Tiger's Claw CV-07 (lost 2656)
- TCS Trafalgar (lost 2654) 7
- TCS Wolfhound 8
References
- 1 Terran Confederation Handbook, page 34.
- 2 Claw Marks, page 45.
- 3 Wing Commander Academy, Episode 3: "The Most Delicate Instrument".
- 4 Ibid.
- 5 Ibid., Episode 11: "Invisible Enemy".
- 6 Claw Marks, page 45.
- 7 Wing Commander Academy, Episode 6: "Chain of Command".
- 8 End Run, page
Namesake
A Bengal is a type of cat and tiger, named for a region in India.