TIE Bomber

Overview

With its unmistakable profile of two elongated pods, the TIE Bomber is one of the most recognizable icons of the Tarkin Doctrine that saw the high years of the Empire after the fall of the Republic. Slow and lazy to maneuver, it is still capable of delivering a deadly barrage of warheads at an enemy capital ship, station or surface target. The hull shows a great improvement in durability over the TIE Fighter and even using the P‑s4 version of the Twin Ion Engine, its added mass made it a rich target for any opponent with a faster and nimbler starfighter.

Design

The project received many other upgrades and branching designs over the years, such as the TIE Scimitar and the TIE Punisher. All Bombers in use have received direct upgrades, and their pods are now modular, allowing the use of many heavy weapons and defense equipment such as the Sienar Rotary Cannon and Sienar R/D‑77 Assault Shield. The T/B has also been upgraded to use the SubLight Acceleration Motor, making it possible to use bursts of speed and quickly close on enemy positions, or get clear of pursuing superiority fighters.

Service

Despite the many successful successors, it is still used by three flights within the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet, as it is a powerful and reliable craft.

Statistics

Statistic	Value
Shields	No
Hyperdrive	No
Shield Strength	40 SBD
Shield Recharge	15
Shield Decharge	10
Hull Strength	28 RU
System Strength	10
Counters	10
Point Value	500
Explosive Strength	1,500
Cruise Speed	80 MGLT
Acceleration	13 MGLT/s
Deceleration	20 MGLT/s
Roll Rating	42
Pitch Rating	22
Maneuverability	86 DPF
Laser Cannons	2
Ion Cannons	0
Launchers	2
Torpedo Capacity	8

Background

The TIE Bomber is the Empire's prime assault Bomber. While slower and less maneuverable than standard star Fighters, these Bombers provided excellent surgical strike potential against ground and deep‑space targets.

Unlike most TIE models, the TIE Bomber is equipped with double pods and elongated solar panels. The starboard pod houses the pilot (with ejection seat), flight computers, communications systems, and the vaunted life‑support system. The port pod holds the ordnance bay, along with targeting and delivery systems. The TIE's signature twin ion engines connect the two pods.

Although payload can vary depending upon mission profiles, a typical Bomber carries dozens of missiles, bombs, mines, and thermal detonators for attack runs. The TIE Bomber's weaponry includes high‑yield proton bombs, guided concussion missiles, orbital mines, and free‑falling thermal detonators. Depending on the mission configuration, TIE Bombers can carry eight more concussion missiles or four proton torpedoes in the forward ordnance bay. The main ordnance bay can carry eight more concussion missiles, four additional proton torpedoes, eight proton bombs, six orbital bombs, or sixty‑four thermal detonators. Two front‑firing laser cannons provide protection from enemy ships.

The TIE Bomber's targeting computers are mounted below the forward ordnance pod. Bombs are fed through the bombing chute behind the targeting computers, while missiles are launched through the missile port at the front of the port pod.

TIE Bombers have proven especially effective against capital ships in space. After standard TIE Fighters weaken the target's defenses, the Bombers use their precise targeting computers to disable vital areas such as the shield generators and engines. Once the enemy ship is crippled, imperial boarding parties take control of the vessel and capture the Rebel troops for interrogation.

TIE Bombers can also be deployed against space stations, orbital docking platforms, and facilities in planetary orbit. They normally have TIE Fighters for protective escorts in hotly contested combat zones. The TIE Bomber packs a high payload for its small size and can often slip through enemy defenses, which tend to be geared toward detecting capital ships. TIE Bombers are preferable to large capital ships because of their pinpoint targeting—capital ship turbo lasers are far less precise.

They are most efficient during bombing runs on ground targets. TIE Bombers boast incredibly precise targeting computers that allow the pilot to completely destroy a specific building without damaging surrounding structures. They are maneuverable and fast enough for low‑altitude bombing runs in cramped situations, such as canyons and cities.

Like standard TIE Fighters, TIE Bombers can be found aboard almost every Imperial space station and capital ship. A Star Destroyer typically carries one squadron of twelve TIE Bombers, and most ground installations maintain a small complement of these craft.