GVF Tauret

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The GVF Tauret is a Vasudan heavy assault fighter, introduced during the Reconstruction era. The unusual design of the Tauret is based on the Apsu-Hek, a creature that once existed in the deserts of Vasuda Prime.

The GVF Tauret

Description:

FS2 Tech Room Description

The GVF Tauret is replacing the Seth as the Vasudans' heavy assault fighter. While integrating cutting-edge technology developed in collaboration with the Terrans, the Tauret boasts a distinctly Vasudan design. Its unusual configuration was inspired by the Apsu-Hek, a creature that once inhabited the deserts of Vasuda Prime. The Apsu-Hek has become an emblem of the Vasudan diaspora, and the Tauret continues the tradition of symbolic design. Armed with four gun mounts and two missile banks, the Tauret has the speed and firepower to challenge both fighters and warships.

Developer Notes

None

Performance:

Statistics

Type	Heavy Fighter
Manufacturer	Sahr Corporation
Maneuverability	Poor
Yaw, Pitch, Roll	65.0 - 75.0 s
Max Velocity	135.0 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	Medium ms-1
Armor	300
Hitpoints	530
Shields	17.5
Length	{{{10}}} m

Armaments

• Gun Mounts

FreeSpace 2
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout
1st	2	Mekhu HL-7
2nd	4	Mekhu HL-7
Compatible Primaries
Mekhu HL-7, Akheton SDG, Prometheus R, Prometheus S, Morning Star, UD-8 Kayser, Lamprey, Circe

• Missile Banks

FreeSpace 2
Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout
1st	100	MX-64
2nd	100	MX-64
Compatible Secondaries
MX-64, EMP Adv., Tempest, Harpoon, Hornet, Tornado, Trebuchet, Stiletto II, TAG-B, Infyrno

Veteran Comments

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The Tauret is an exceptional Vasudan heavy assault fighter, in the same family as the Hercules Mark II but better in almost every way. It carries an additional pair of guns (6 mounts total), moves faster, and has larger missile bays. It's still not a really good dogfighter, but for its given role it's probably the best you could ask for.

The Tauret has the qualities that make a heavy assault fighter attractive (thick shields, tough hull, near-bottomless secondary bays), yet it also has speed and maneuverability that are closer to those of a space superiority fighter than an assault. In the hands of a skilled pilot the Tauret can fight on even or nearly even terms with just about any other fighter in the game. Lastly, roll this thought around in your head for awhile: 160 Tornados. That's the ability to kill 20 enemy fighters or light bombers outright before touching the primaries button.

Small profile except from below or above.

Cannot carry the Maxim gun, thus reducing the effectiveness of this ship against capital ships. Otherwise, this is a decent Vasudan stand-in for the GTF Erinyes.

The Tauret is let down by its primary energy supply. Its recharge is respectable, the same as either Hercules' and greater than the Myrmidon's even if only a little more than half that of the exceptional Ares. However, its energy reserves are scarcely more than half that of the Hercs or Ares and two thirds that of the Myrm. This is a common weakness of Vasudan craft and limits their ability in extended engagements.

Don't fly this fighter like a Herc II. The Tauret has less shielding than the Herc, slightly better acceleration, and slightly less maneuverable as well but is faster by about 10 m/s when cruising or afterburning.

The second primary bank's guns are set in very tightly-grouped pairs, so close together that I had to move to an external view before I even realized that the ship had four guns in that bank. This does give it a much smaller field of fire than a ship where the quad guns are spread apart but makes it more likely that all four shots will hit if you are on target.

While getting high marks for heavy missile load and numerous guns, bear in mind that this fighter's guns are grouped rather oddly. The guns are placed on opposite sides of the ships front, making hitting a fighter with all six rather difficult. Against most bombers and heavy fighters this is not really an issue, but against fighters with thin target profiles (such as the Astaroth or the Taurvii) this can be a major handicap.

When stationed on the Psamtik during the main Freespace 2 campaign, do your wingmates a huge favor and make them fly this craft over the paper-thin Serapis. Load them up with Prometheus S cannons and full banks of Tornado missiles, and watch them vaporize enemy craft. You'll thank yourself in every mission.