The Sun-Hawk is a type of medium warship[1] used as an A-Class battle cruiser[2] by Drazi Military. The pak'ma'ra are also using Sun-Hawk class ships as transports.[3] The Drazi Freehold uses these ships for various purposes ranging from assault missions through escort missions to patrolling duties. Sun-Hawks played a key role during the Second Shadow War on the side of Army of Light.
Characteristics[]
The Sun-Hawk is configured only for non-atmospheric combat and while the ship is not equipped with a dedicated hanger bay, a Sun-Hawk can be adapted to mount a single Sky Serpent fighter on a dorsal docking cradle.[4][5]
A single Sky Serpent launching from a Sun-Hawk.
The Sun-Hawk was initially designed less than a year before the Dilgar War and was rushed it into production by the Freehold as hostilities escalated. As a result, the Sun-Hawks have seen a number of upgrades to both the drive systems and armaments over the years.
The cockpit of a Sun-Hawk.
By 2264 a Sun-Hawk's standard armament consisted of four Medium Plasma Cannons mounted on the outboard nacelles,[6] a single nose mounted Particle Beam Cannon[7] that was added to the design in 2238 and a pair of Missile Launchers that became a part of the Sun-Hawks's standard munitions in 2257.[8]
Like other Drazi ships, Sun-Hawks utilize a unique drive and power system significantly different from those of other races such as the particle thrust engines on Earth Alliance ships or the gravimetric drives on Minbari vessels.[9] However in 2239, the Freehold acquired Centauri power and drive technology from the Narn Regime which were retrofitted into a few select craft.
Drazi military organisation is intentionally decentralised, stemming from the idea that that they work best in smaller groups and the Sun-Hawk was built with this in mind. As a smaller and less costly ship to build in comparison to larger scale, more traditional capital ships such as the Minbari Federation's Sharlin class warcruiser or Earth Alliance's Omega class destroyer, the Sun-Hawk could be built in larger numbers and be deployed over a wider area. When missions require the firepower of a heavy cruiser, it's simple enough to organise a small task force of Sun-Hawks, who's combined tactical strength compensates for the relative weakness of a single Sun-Hawk.
During the Shadow War, the Drazi committed a large number of Sun-Hawks to the multi-planetary fleet organized by then Captain John Sheridan, retaining the recently upgraded Sun-Hawks for homeworld defence, sending only the ships still in the original configuration into the conflict.[10] They also acted in a supporting role for the Earth Alliance Resistance's Liberation Fleet, alongside other League vessels during the later phase of the conflict in 2261.[11][12] They would later see action in the Centauri War of 2262 and participated in the defence of Earth during the onset of the Drakh War in 2266.[13][14]
Notable Vessels[]
- Strakath: A part of the fleet that fought at the Battle of Coriana VI. During the final phase of the battle, the Strakath was destroyed when it took a missile hit meant for Captain Sheridan's flagship, the White Star 2. [1]
- Drosak’s Sun-Hawk: This unidentified Drazi Sun-Hawk warship was commanded by Drosak, a member of the Anla’Shok Rangers, and an old friend of Marcus Cole. When Centauri Blockade Mines surrounded the colony on the planet Zagros VII, both Marcus Cole and Drosak used his Sun-Hawk to attempt to get through the heavily armed minefield, knowing full well that it’s a suicide mission. The vessel was destroyed by Centauri Blockade Mines shortly after ejecting Marcus Cole’s personal Sky-Serpent fighter, in an successful attempt to reach Babylon 5 in order to ask them for help.
Apocrypha[]
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The following is based on The Mongoose Publishing RPG books and contradicts canon sources. |
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The following is based on The Agents of Gaming Strategic Game and contradicts canon sources. |
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The specifications of the Sun-Hawk class varies widely in non-canon sources (roleplaying games and miniature tabletop games):
- Weapons: 4 particle blaster, 1 particle cutter, 2 standard particle beam
- Auxiliary Craft: 2 shuttles
- Service Date: 2198+
Babylon 5 the Roleplaying Game's Ships of the Galaxy
- Crew: 38
- Weapons: 1 particle cutter, 2 twin-linked particle blasters
Babylon 5 the Roleplaying Game's The League of Non-Aligned Worlds Fact Book
- Crew: 28
- Weapons: 1 particle cutter, 2 particle beams, 4 particle blasters
- Auxiliary Craft: 2 shuttles
Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (Game)'s Fleet Lists
- Crew: 14
- Weapons: 1 particle cutter, 1 particle blaster
- Service Date: 2198+
Behind the Scenes[]
“"I’d always liked the Liberator (hated by all at the BBC) and the Drazi Sunhawk was my attempt to update it."
- – Ron Thorton interview for B5Scrolls
Aft view of first-seen Drazi Sun-Hawk variant.
The CG model of Sun-Hawk was designed and built by Foundation Imaging Co-Founder Ron Thornton and was heavily influenced by the Liberator model from the BBC sci-fi series Blake's 7.[15]
The original model that appeared in ("Deathwalker") featured a distinct red/orange aft section, though in all later appearances this was covered by a more conventional-looking grey casing.
Appearances[]
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Sources[]
- Babylon 5 the Roleplaying Game's The League of Non-Aligned Worlds Fact Book
- Babylon 5 the Roleplaying Game's Ships of the Galaxy
- Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (Game's Fleet Lists
- Babylon 5 Wars: Ships of the Fleet
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Into the Fire
- ↑ The Official Guide to Babylon 5 (CD ROM)
- ↑ Lines of Communication
- ↑ Matters of Honor
- ↑ JMS Post on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated - 1/22/1994
- ↑ The Fall of Centauri Prime
- ↑ And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder
- ↑ Movements of Fire and Shadow
- ↑ JMS Post on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated - 6/29/1994 1:37:00 PM (as of year 2258)
- ↑ Shadow Dancing
- ↑ Between the Darkness and the Light
- ↑ Endgame
- ↑ A Call to Arms
- ↑ War Zone
- ↑ Sun-Hawk at B5Scrolls
- Other Sources
 League of Non-Aligned Worlds Ship Classes 
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| Capital Ships | ||
| Sun-Hawk-class Medium Cruiser • Brakiri Cruiser • Xill-class Cruiser • Vree Saucer • Iksha Warship • pak'ma'ra ship • Grome Corvette • Hyach Gunship • Hurr Gunship • Yolu ship • Abbai Gunship | ||
| Fighters | ||
| Sky Serpent | ||
| Transports | ||
| Markab Transport • Drazi shuttle | ||
| Other | ||
| Brakiri spacedocks • Drazi orbital platform • Drazi "Spinner" | ||