The original Gaul picture from the Renegade Legions Fighter Briefing.
Renegade Gaul fighters deploying. (Original miniature by MarkyMark Ortiz.)
3d printed Gaul miniature by MarkyMark Ortiz.
Side view.
Rear view.
The Gaul is an older two-seat heavy Commonwealth fighter based on the frame of the Space Gull. It´s most notable feature is the folding wing assembly that allows it to occupy smaller landing berths.
Etymology[]
The Gaul is named after a collection of barbarian tribes on Terra whose warriors defied the first Roman Empire for centuries before finally being subdued. When the fighter was first commissioned, shortly after the start of the Terran Overlord Government´s invasion, the name was chosen as a sign of defiance and as an insult hurled at the Caesar.
Design Philosophy and Tactical Role[]
The Gaul is a product of the Commonwealth´s design philosophy at the time of its inception, with a mix of many different weapons types and only a single missile. Its mass drivers and Neutron particle cannon allow it to attack an enemy at range and reduce its armour, then swoop in or pass at an oblique angle and stab through the weakened hull with its laser.
The front and rear armour were strong for the time, although they have since been superseded by stronger crystal-bonded alloys. They reflect the Gaul´s intended role for in-and-out attacks, either moving directly towards or directly away from an enemy fighter. The side armour is reasonably good, but the side shields are rather weak. This hampers the fighter in a moving dogfight.
The Gaul´s folding wings have inspired many pilots to horseplay.
The folding wing assembly was first designed as a means to get the heat dissipation panels as far away from the weapons and cockpit as possible while still fitting the fighter into a standard landing berth (docking space being at a premium on smaller carriers).
Almost from the start, pilots began making mischief with the mechanism. By overriding the governors that ensure a symmetric wing position, pilots would get their fighters to salute; often, wings would be tucked inwards before performing a roll to make the manoeuver look more impressive. A classic manoeuver that has become a tradition in Gaul squadrons is the "vulture flap", performed after a successful engagament. Whether the gesture is intended as a salute to the defeated enemy or a taunt is not fully clear.
A few of these stunts actually proved beneficial: by angling the wings in certain positions, the Gaul could improve its clumsy handling in atmosphere, proving superior in atmospheric dogfights to other anti-grav-equipped fighters. Pilots also found that by adopting a Space Gull´s wing position, they could make their fighters appear as Gulls on TOG long-range scans. (TOG has scheduled long-range scanners in its fighters to be replaced with an improved version starting in 6832.)
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Legionnaire RPG Values: Gaul[]
| Hit Location | Sub-Location | Damage Boxes / Damage |
|---|---|---|
| [1] Structure | - | [][][][][] [][][][][] [][][][][] [][][][][] [][] |
| [2] FTL Drive | - | None |
| [3] Shields | - | [][][][][] |
| [4] Engines / Thrust | - | [][][][][][] ::: Thrust 6 g |
| [5] Armour | - | [][][][][] [][][] |
| [6] Crew | [1-5] Pilot
[6-10] Gunner |
[][][][][]
[][][][][] |
| [7] Weapon Computers | - | [][][][] |
| [8] Sensors | - | [][][] |
| [9] Life Support | - | [][][] |
| [10] Weapons | [1] MDC 10 | Damage 8 |
| - | [2] MDC 10 | Damage 8 |
| - | [3] 3/6 Laser | Damage 5 |
| - | [4] NPC-16 | Damage 6 |
| - | [5] Hardpoint | * |
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Leviathan Values: Gaul[]
Fleet Action[]
Due to its good dogfighting ability, the Gaul is a fighter often employed in line squadrons, as well as in patrol wings.
Raiding Action[]
Raiding carriers often use the Gaul as backup fighters to stiffen the areas where their raiding complements encounter more resistance than expected. The fact that Gauls are equipped with a turret and can "fire on the run" makes them good fighters to cover a retreat. Carrier captains also appreciate the fact that folded-up Gauls takes up less space than other fighters of the same displacement; room for supplies and fighter craft is notoriously cramped on the smaller carrier ships.
| Group (72 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armour Row 6 | [][][][][][] [][][][][][] [][][][]-- - | 50 | 68 | 126 | 6 |
| Armour Row 5 | [][][][][][] [][][][][][] []--- | - | 57 | 105 | - |
| Armour Row 4 | [][][][][][] [][][][]-- - | - | 46 | 84 | - |
| Armour Row 3 | [][][][][][] []--- | - | 34 | 63 | - |
| Armour Row 2 | [][][][][]- -- | - | 23 | 42 | - |
| Armour Row 1 | [][][]--- | - | 11 | 21 | - |
| Flight (24 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
| Armour Row 3 | [][][][][][] [][]-- | 10 | 23 | 42 | 8 |
| Armour Row 2 | [][][][][][] -- | - | 15 | 28 | - |
| Armour Row 1 | [][][][]-- | - | 8 | 14 | - |
| Squadron (6 Fighters) | Armour | Missile Attack Value | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
| Armour Row 1 | [][][][][]- | 0 | 6 | 11 | 10 |
| Single Fighter Values | Armour | Missile Hardpoints | CRA | LRA | Thrust |
| Gaul | 75 | 1 | 19 | 35 | 6 |
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Deployment[]
In Shannedam County, the confirmed / suspected deployment of the Gaul is:
- one Flight at Kukulak
- 2 - 3 Squadrons with the 369th Naram Fighter Wing (The Grand Jaguars) (unconfirmed)