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Quick facts:
Gladiator
The Anvil T8C Gladiator is the civilian variant of the T8A Gladiator. Supporting a maximum of two, the Gladiator is equipped to engage in combat with or without a wingman. Its great modularity allows pilots to choose between an extra cargo hold or a bomb bay, and replace the rear turret's cannon with a tractor beam, making it a suitable craft for light salvage missions.[1][2]
Features
Fighter support
It was originally designed as a combination fighter-bomber companion to Anvil's F7A Hornet.
Missiles
The vehicle can hold 4 size 5 torpedoes in its bomb bay as well as 4 size 3 missiles hardpoints under its wings.
Guns
The ship has a pair of size 3 guns, controlled by the pilot, as well as a pair of size 3 guns on a manned turret.
Specifications
Model
Ship profile
Series variants
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
T8A Gladiator | The T8A Gladiator is the military variant of the Gladiator used by the UEE Military. |
Paints
Acquisition
Tactics
Since their introduction into UEE service, Gladiators have participated with distinction in military and law enforcement operations in numerous theaters around the Empire and beyond. Gladiators have been used in:
- Strategic Space-to-Ground bombing runs
- Support for long-range squadron missions
- Modified C&C and target assignment for multi-squadron combat scenarios
- Aggressive environmental recalibration
- Capital ship torpedo strikes
- Stealth operations
- Supply drops through enemy-controlled territory
- Blockade running
- Law enforcement high value target interception
This multi-role capability will continue to evolve as the Gladiator's systems are further developed.
Lore
"A half-assed toy for full grown children to play fighter hero"
Silas Koerner, CEO of Consolidated Outland[3]
The T8A Gladiators were originally developed to bridge the gap between fighters and bombers for the military. Since their introduction into UEE service, Gladiators have participated with distinction in military and law enforcement operations in numerous theaters around the Empire and beyond.[4]
During the Vanduul push after 2681, battling the encroaching horde from Orion to Tiber, the Gladiators of the 214th Squadron's Bravo Flight pulled double duty as S&R craft up to the last minutes of the Tiber pullout. In 2932, Bravo Flight broke rank in a raid on Virgil to pursue a distress signal. Rigged for stealth, the six Gladiators tracked the signal to the surface of Cyrene. A Vanduul patrol group was alerted and the ensuing battle resulted in heavy losses. The signal originated from a long destroyed 214th Squadron Wildcat. The black box was returned to Kilian and rather than face charges the survivors were hailed for finding this artefact of the squadron's history.[5]
In 2933, the Gladiator was immortalised in the photograph "The Calm Before the Storm" by Major Taia Wallen - one of only a handful of images of Corin, Kilian.
The ship was introduced to the civilian market as the T8C Gladiator in 2943.[6] Though a heavy-hitting bomber, the Gladiator has proven easy to modify and thus has become commonplace in the civilian market. The bomb bay can easily be converted for light transport. Many pilots choose to replace the rear turret’s laser cannon with a tractor beam, making it an ideal craft for light salvage missions.[7]
Gallery
Development
The development of Gladiator in 2013, the initial 2D concepts and a 3D concept mesh created by David Hobbins (Conceptist). When he was done, Andrew Ley (Concept Design Director) further refined the 3D concept mesh and the ship's appearance, as well as providing rough animations for the many mechanical elements. After that, Matthew Johns (Senior 3D Artist) remodelled the ship, adding detail as well as further refining the mechanical elements and rough animations. With rendered images of the newly created 3D mesh and guidance from Paul Jones (Art Director), Gavin Rothery (Freelance Conceptist) provided a 2D 'paintover' image for the Squadron 42 version of the Gladiator. Matthew then used this 2D paintover as a guide to inform the creation of textures and shaders that define the surfaces of the ship.[8]
Trivia
- The Gladiator was inspired by the carrier-based dive and torpedo bombers of World War II such as the
- It was initially created for Squadron 42 only.[9]
- It is unknown whether the Sol Gladiators of Sataball are named after the ship.
References
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- ↑ 9.0 9.1
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