Walküre
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.jpg) A Walküre fighter (794 UC (485 IC / 3594 CE)) | |
| Affiliation: | Galactic Empire, New Galactic Empire |
| Type: | Space combat fighter |
| Purpose: | Space superiority and anti-ship strike role |
| Length: | 25 metres |
| Width: | 8 metres |
| Height: | 8 metres |
| Armament: | 4 laser cannons |
| Crew: | 1 |
The Walküre (Japanese: ワルキューレ) was the fighter craft employed by the Galactic Empire from the late stages of the Alliance–Imperial War to at least 801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE).
Contents |
Design
Unlike the Alliance's Spartanian fighters, the Walküre fighter design was comprised of multiple hulls. The cockpit was positioned in a pod located at the fore of the dorsal hull, and was fully enclosed, with the pilot being afforded a virtual view from the cockpit similar to the arrangement on the Spartanian. Sensor systems were located in the fighter's central support strut.
Engines were located at the rear of the dorsal and ventral hull. The port and starboard hulls mounted two cannons each in an over / under arrangement, on articulated struts capable of full 360 degree up and down rotation, as well as a more limited capability to swivel left and right. Walküre deployed from their home ships through the use of launch tubes, being deposited into space by the launch tube docking arms rear first, with their weapons struts swivelled to face rearward. (LOGH: 'The Battle of Astarte')
Role and Capabilities
Like the Spartanian, Walküre were small, fast and highly manoeuvrable. With their articulated weapons mounts they were capable of firing on the enemy without changing their direction of flight. This capability was equally useful against enemy warships as it was enemy fighters - the four cannons of a Walküre were capable of cutting through the flanks of enemy warships. (HBSHBL: 'A Hundred Billion Stars, One Ambition'; LOGH: 'A Challenge to Arms')
Walküren were capable of atmospheric flight, and were sufficiently protected so as to be able to perform combat missions in close proximity to a star without concern. (LOGH: 'The Battle of Amritsar Starzone', 'Portraits')
Walküre fighters were also equipped with electronic warfare systems capable of jamming radar. (RET: 'Chapter II')
Gallery
 Walküre in flight (801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE)) |
.jpg) Walküre cannons (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE)) |
.jpg) Walküre variant (799 UC (1 NIC / 490 IC / 3599 CE)) |
 Walküre rear (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE)) |
 Walküre launch (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE)) |
.jpg) Cannon angling (792 UC (483 IC / 3592 CE)) |
 Cockpit view (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE)) |
 Control columns (796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE)) |
Appendices
Appearances
Licensed sources
A Walküre's laser weapons were capable of rotating 360 degrees of up and down rotation, and were capable of angling 60 degrees to left or right. The Imperial public information on the fighter listed the engines as chemical rockets. However this turned out to be deliberate misinformation. Alliance simulations based on analysis of exhaust gases concluded the engines used fusion propulsion. (Data Book: Mechanic & Seiyū Encyclopaedia, p. 174, Mechanical Photo File, p. 52)
The fighter piloted by Imperial ace, Horst Schürer, had an improved sensor and communications package. (Mechanical Photo File, p. 53)
Due to the limited volume, a reactor using strong gravity fields was not feasible. Instead a classic deuterium-deuterium fusion reactor was mounted. Energy was supplied from the mother ship in order to achieve the 100 million degree temperature necessary to initiate the fusion reaction, after which the high temperature plasma could be magnetically contained and sustained. The Walküre contained enough fuel to sustain the reaction for more than 72 hours. (Fleet File Collection Vol.1)
Background information
Walküre is German for Valkyrie, one of a host of female figures from Norse mythology.
Apocrypha
DVD features
Sketches of the Walküre fighter appears in the extra features of the DVD box set.
 Production sketch |
 Range of rotation of weapons |
