GTM Hornet

The GTM-4 Hornet is a Great War-era early swarming missile. This missile rack launches four warheads per volley that each follow individual, slightly erratic paths to the target. This gives them a better chance of intercepting the target and increases their resistence to countermeasures. Though the Hornet has since been eclipsed by other missiles, most especially its direct descendant the GTM Tornado, vast quantities of Hornets remain available due to overzealous production.

While the Hornet will lock and track a figher-sized target, in general it lacks the speed and agility to succesfully engage anything except bombers or the slower assault fighters. Modern superiority fighters and interceptors are simply too maneuverable to be caught by this aging design.

Where the Hornet still performs well is in the role of heavy assault. In dual fire mode, 8 missiles are launched in each rapidly-loaded volley. Light warships and slow ships with minimal armor are quickly shredded by the blizzard of incoming warheads. Unlike the Tornado, the Hornet arms its explosives immediately upon exiting its launch tube, so if a target is big enough you can even launch a salvo without gaining lock on it. Assault fighters such as the Hercules Mark II can carry large numbers of these missiles, and a wing of Hornet-equipped assault fighters spell certain doom for any light ship that crosses their path.

Weapons in Descent: FreeSpace

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS1

Weapons in FreeSpace 2

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS2

FS1 Tech Room Data

Infrared and ultraviolet tracking - designed to fire in small groups of 4 missiles per burst - light medium payload per missile (12 Kt) - semi-intelligent on-board tracking - single-pass kill probability will not exceed 60% on average -designed as an offensive version of the Fury.

As a "swarm" based weapon, this missile can take out an unshielded fighter without any difficulty. It's four missile system almost guarantees one or two hits, and its speed is quite amazing. Twice as powerful against naked hulls.

FS2 Tech Room Data

The GTM-4 Hornet was showing its age even toward the end of the Great War, but it was cheap to manufacture. As a result, war-time production of the Hornet ran full-tilt at factories in eight star systems right up to the end of the war. After hostilities ceased, the GTVA found itself with an inventory of 2.6 million Hornet missiles. This stockpile has been spread among all GTVA battle groups, with each receiving at least 100,000 Hornets. This aspect-seeking missile still delivers a devastating four-missile punch, which makes it a consistent favorite of many pilots.

Veteran Comments

The Hornet is perfectly usable in a dogfight. You just need to understand how it works. The Hornet flies a lag-pursuit curve to the target, rather then a lead-pursuit like most FS missiles. It does its best work fired in a head-on pass or from within a 45" degree cone from the target's six-o'clock position. Do not expect high-deflection Hornet shots to hit anything. Also in FS2 do not expect wonders from the Hornet, as its FS1 design lacks the power against shields most FS2 missiles have.

I usually prefer either the GTM Tempest or the GTM Fury (depending on the generation) to this missile, as they pack more damage per missile bank. I generally use the Hornet to bombard tough cruisers like the GVC Mentu or the GTC Aeolus, or on any freighters or transports in the area. The Hornet has several advantages over its dumbfire cousins, including range and accuracy.

Performance

Statistics

Range	1330 m
Rate of Fire	1 / 2 s
Velocity	190 mps
Damage	50
Against Hullplating	Excellent
Against Shields	Average
Against Subsystems	Minimal
Shockwave Radius	10 m / 20 m
Homing System	Aspect Seeking
Minimum Lock Time	3.0 s
Turn Rate	1.15 s

Notes

• Missile launches in swarms of 4 missiles.