GTW Subach HL-7

The GTW Subach HL-7 (more commonly referred to simply as the Subach) is one of the GTVA's basic weapons, along with the GTM Tempest dumbfire and GTM Rockeye heat-seeking missiles. It is the first primary weapon granted to new recruits and is thus the first one encountered by the player in FreeSpace 2.

Though it lacks the sheer hitting power of many weapons encountered later in the campaign, the Subach remains a useful weapon throughout much of the game for its high compatibility and refire rate, and its well balanced shield/hull damage ratio. It also consumes much less power than heavier guns, a powerful advantage since it allows one to direct power to the shields and engines instead of energy-hungry weapons.

The Vasudans have a variant of the Subach HL-7 that can be mounted only on their ships, the GTW Mekhu HL-7.

Weapons in Descent: FreeSpace

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS1

Weapons in FreeSpace 2

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS2

The GTW Subach HL-7

Tech Room Data

The Subach-Innes HL-7 is a xaser weapon, firing an intense, highly focused beam of x-ray emissions. Until the Shivans appeared with their shield technology, these weapons were considered an unnecessary and costly extravagance. But Great War dogfights against Shivan craft quickly taught the Allies that their ships didn't stand a chance unless they could punch through shields. The HL-7 works superbly against shields of all varieties and has become the standard issue Primary weapon for all Terran fighters and bombers.

Performance

Statistics - Subach HL-7

Range	900 m
Rate of Fire	5 shots per second
Velocity	450 ms-1
Base Damage	13.5
Armor Damage	Full	13.5
Shield Damage	Good	10.5
Subsystem Damage	Poor	4.5

Statistics - Subach HL-D

Range	900 m
Rate of Fire	5 shots per second
Velocity	450 ms-1
Base Damage	15
Armor Damage	Full	15
Shield Damage	Full	15
Subsystem Damage	Poor	4.5

Notes

Operation Templar and Subach HL-7

• It should be noted that the Subach is conspicuously absent from the canon campaign, Operation Templar, which took place sometime after the GTVA's formation in 2345. This indicates that the Subach had not reached mass production at the time. However, it is not entirely clear which year Templar took place in, apart from the fact that the GTVA existed at the time.

Veteran Comments

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This is my favorite cannon throughout the game (especially on a GTF Erinyes or GTF Myrmidon or other fighter with double banks). Unlike the GTW Prometheus S or the GTW UD-8 Kayser this gun doesn't really eat much energy at all, continuing to work consistently. Some people may find its relatively low raw damage a disadvantage, but some will find the high rate-of-fire, efficiency, and compatibility balance out those issues.

The HL-7 variants are generally never a bad choice. However, a less energy-efficient gun often allows for a quicker kill, particularly against heavy fighters and bombers.

Subachs are the saving grace of any Terran stealth fighter. Since stealth fighters can only carry one primary weapon, they would either be left with this, the Mekhu or the Prometheus. With its high rate of fire, fairly high speed of projectile and energy efficiency, I would use this on a Pegasus any day.

The Subach isn't a bad weapon, but it's dwarfed by more advanced primaries. Everything can be equipped with it, and you can keep firing it forever even with decreased laser recharge. However, most combat situations in FreeSpace 2 don't require you to sustain fire for very long, thereby negating the Subach's strongest feature. Against warships, it just doesn't do that much damage, not to mention that the Prom S has a longer range, and thus it's more useful against turrets. While attacking blind spots, a pilot with Prom S can sustain his fire just as well as a pilot with Subach, with full power on laser recharge. NTF fighters are traditionally equipped with Subachs and Prom Rs for balance reasons, and they aren't very good with them. Despite this, it's still superior to the Prometheus R, so prefer the Subach over it under any circumstance.