GTA Charybdis

FreeSpace 1 Ships Terran ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers Capital ships Installations Misc Ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Vasudan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers Capital ships Misc Ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Shivan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers Capital ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Notable ships of FreeSpace 1

FreeSpace 2 Ships Terran ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers and corvettes Capital ships Installations Misc ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Vasudan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers and corvettes Capital ships Misc ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Shivan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers and corvettes Capital ships Misc ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Notable ships of FreeSpace 2

The Galactic Terran AWACS (GTA) Charybdis is an Allied Terran-designed Advanced Warning And Control System ship, making its first canon appearance in Battle of the Wilderness, although Special Operations Command used it in capturing an NTF transport a few missions prior. Along with its Vasudan counterpart, the GVA Setekh, the Charybdis' primary purpose was to negate sensor-reducing effects that nebulae had on other ships in the GTVA fleet. This is achieved by the rotating sensors located on top of the ship, which effectively double the range of every friendly ship in the vicinity. Its secondary functions included jamming enemy communications and detecting enemy stealth ships. The latter function allows other friendly ships to target enemy stealth ships like a normal enemy ship.

Despite the fact that it is meant to assist nearby friendly units in battle, the Charybdis is ill-suited for combat, with only five low-damage turrets and cruiser-grade hull plating to ward off attackers. In addition, its sensor subsystems are vulnerable to attack and, when destroyed, will render the ship completely useless.

The GTA Charybdis

Description:

FS2 Tech Room Description

Ships of the GTA Charybdis class have been packed with the latest tachyon-enabled AWACS equipment from GTVI labs. Each GTVA battle group has a squadron of Charybdis-class ships assigned to it. These ships double the range of the group's standard detection arrays. Charybdis ships' thin armor and weak defenses make them easy victims for enemy bombers. They have proven indispensable, however, in forays into the nebula beyond the Knossos portal. Charybdis-class ships are very vulnerable in this environment, as witnessed by the recent loss of the GTA Panopticon from the 3rd Battle Group.

FS2 MetaStream Model Description

Ships of the GTA Charybdis class have been packed with the latest tachyon-enabled AWACS equipment from GTI labs. Each GTVA battle group has a squadron of Charybdis-class ships assigned to it. These ships double the range of the group’s standard detection arrays. Charybdis ships are found at the center of a battle group, as their thin armor, weak offensive capability, and poor maneuverability make them easy victims for enemy bombers. They have proven indispensable, however, in forays into the nebula beyond the Knossos portal. Without the aid of AWACS, battle groups would be flying blind within the EM disturbances of the nebula. Charybdis-class ships are very vulnerable in this environment, as witnessed by the recent loss of the GTA Wachovia from the 3rd Battle Group.

Developer Notes

None

Performance:

Statistics

Type	AWACS
Manufacturer	Unknown
Maneuverability	N/A
Yaw, Pitch, Roll	20.0 s
Max Velocity	N/A ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	N/A ms-1
Armor	10 000
Hitpoints	N/A
Shields	181
Length	{{{10}}} m

Armaments

• Turrets

FreeSpace 2
Turret Type	Amount
Terran Turret Weak	4
Subach HL-7	1

Veteran Comments

Please read the Veteran Comments policy before editing this section.

The GTVA made a logical error in these AWACs craft I think. Although the AWACs ships do increase sensor range in several missions, they are high value targets, with extremely limited defenses, functioning on the front lines.

Save for its sensors, it has no combat value whatsoever. Anything will be able to kill it.

Much like the GTSC Faustus, the Charybdis is also used for plotline reasons. A storywriter can feel free to use it in missions which require long-range reconnaissance. FREDders beware: destroying its Sensors subsystem does not disable its AWACS ability automatically. Anyone who makes a mission with a Charybdis should be aware of this, especially considering how easily it is destroyed.