GTF Atalanta

The following information has not been confirmed by Volition and is therefore not canon for the FreeSpace universe.

For the original ship, see TF Kvasir.

Description:

The GTF Atalanta

Blue Planet Tech Room Description

The Atalanta is the first of the Threat Exigency Initiative's Wave 2 fighters, true next-generation strike craft with extraordinarily capabilities. Produced in record time by the Alliance's first wholly classified procurement and design process - plagued by rumors of intrigue and mysterious 'red assets' - the Atalanta is an elegant, minimalist design wholly devoted to murdering other strike craft with very nearly Shivan flight characteristics. The original specifications of the Atalanta called for a multirole interceptor and space superiority fighter. Due to the United Earth Federation's fighter corps' successes, this variant has been field-modified to enhance its capabilities in the space-superiority role. These fighters remain rare in the Terran theatre, but they are likely to become a mainstay of Alliance forces in the near future.

Credits List

• Model by Esarai

Name Origin

In Greek mythology, Atalanta (Αταλάντη) was an accomplished hunter. She was notable in slaying the Calydonian Boar, sent by Artemis as punishment for being forgotten in a king's rites to the gods. Atalanta was also notable for challenging potential suitors to a footrace for the honor of marrying her, which Melanion won with the help of Aphrodite.

Performance:

Statistics

Name	GTF Atalanta
Type	Space Superiority
Manufacturer	Nankam Aeronautical
Maneuverability	Good
Yaw, Pitch, Roll	3.3, 3.3, 3.3 s
Max Velocity	80 - 100 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	160 ms-1
Max Afterburner Duration	7.64 s
Armor	Poor
Hitpoints	300 pts
Shields	425 pts
Length	17 m
Weaponry
Primary weapons
1st bank	4 guns
2nd bank	2 guns
Secondary weapons
1st bank capacity	80
Countermeasures
Countermeasure capacity	25 countermeasures

Armaments

• Gun Mounts

Default Statistics
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout
1st	4	Balor
2nd	2	Balor
Compatible Primaries
Subach HL-7, Akheton SDG, Morning Star, Prometheus S, Prometheus R, UD-8 Kayser, Lamprey, Circe, Maxim, Balor

• Missile Banks

Default Statistics
Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout
1st	80	Tornado
Compatible Secondaries
Rockeye, Tempest, Harpoon, TAG-A, TAG-B, TAG-C, Hornet, Tornado, EMP Adv.

Gallery

• 

  A captured Atalanta engaging a Nyx in Aristeia.

Veteran Comments

Please read the Veteran Comments policy before editing this section.

The Blue Planet Atalanta is essentially the GTF Ulysses's spiritual successor. Insanely maneuverable for a Galactic Terran fighter, more so than the GTF Perseus or GTF Aurora it still has 6 guns, a small target profile, and as much missile space as a GTF Myrmidon albeit all in one bank. It is still too lightly armored to be survivable anywhere near anti-fighter defenses, particularly AAA beams. The sole mission in which it's player controllable: Aristeia demonstrates this accordingly. If you do have occasion to fly it, don't forget that it also possesses side thrust ability, excellent for strafing larger targets, pacing and taking down multiple enemy bombs, making tighter turns, and dodging enemy fire. When fighting them, several well placed Rapier bursts can and will take them down, but even the Javelin doesn't have the maneuverability to catch them in higher difficulties.

An amazing fighter that's a joy to fly and to look at. Its small, excellent target profile is ideal for dogfighting and interception. Its gun configuration is excellent and flexible, and when a swarm of Atalantas come at you, Balors blazing and Tornadoes volleying, don't even try to do anything other than extreme evasive maneuvers. My one criticism of it is that its secondary capacity (which is the same as the GVF Thoth), while good, is all in one bank, severely limiting the Atalanta's flexibility and versatility--even in pure dogfighting roles. It's easy to see, though, why it would become a mainstay of GTVA forces in the near-future: unless it's expensive, this fighter excels in the interceptor, space superiority, and warhead/bomber intercept roles.

Taking these fighters on in early acts of War in Heaven, treat it like you would a hyper-intelligent Dragon pilot. Grimlers or well-timed Slammers at long range, and the Rapier or Sidhe are surefire ways to bring these ships down.

"The weapons subsystem is right on the nose, break early in head2head engagements and be very careful not to collide with anyone or you'll lose your weapons. This can be fixed by firing a lot of rockeyes which will make the AI break away and with the huge capacity on your only secondary bank you can pack enough of them to last for a few fights. The placement on the 4-bank is sub-optimal so switch to your 2-bank for bomb intercept or adjust your aim as needed. If you're against these ships in something heavier always go for jousts instead of close-range dogfights, they will fly circles around you with side-thrusters and reverse burners."

Download link:

• Blue Planet: WiH Part 1 Release Thread: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=70745.0