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The Missile Boat was not present in the multiplayer-oriented X-Wing Vs. TIE Fighter , although it made an appearance in X-Wing Alliance . There was a significant difference between the TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance models of the missile boat; the former was sleeker and less boxier by comparison. SPECIFICATIONS Its weapons consisted of 1 SFS L-s9.3 laser cannon, two advanced concussion missile launchers (''20'' missiles ''each''), and two more warhead launchers of variable payload (advanced concussion missiles, advanced proton torpedoes, mag pulse torpedoes, heavy rockets or space bombs). (Previous Imperial starfighters only carried a maximum of 16 missiles.) Its two dedicated missile launchers more than compensated for its lack of fixed energy armament and besides their anti-starfighter purposes, they could be used for intercepting enemy warheads (in order to protect a VIP's craft) or even as unguided rockets. The Missile Boat's massive warhead payload was sufficient (in the TIE Fighter game) to singlehandedly destroy a large capital ship or facility from a safe standoff distance. Even if the enemy had an advanced anti-warhead defense missile system, the Missile Boat could expend a few of its own missiles to easily overwhelm it. The Missile Boat was usually armed with a tractor beam to hold the TIE Defenders so that they could be destroyed by the craft's many missiles at stand-off ranges (2.5 kilometers in the flight simulator) rather than attempting to enter dangerous dogfights with it. Its shields were slightly more powerful than that of the Assault Gunboat in order to compensate for its weaker hull. The single laser cannon on the missile boat has an unusually fast firing rate to compensate for the fact that it is only a single laser, however most pilots rarely made use of that "pea-shooter" and instead diverted its energy towards shields or the SLAM. At cruise speed the Missile Boat was rated at 125 MGLT, making it a touch faster than the A-wing , and considerably faster than the X-wing star fighter. It could also use the new SLAM (Sub-Light Acceleration Motor) System to double its speed up to 250 MGLT, by drawing on its laser cannon's generator and draining its power; the speed boost allowed the Missile Boat to outrun enemy advanced concussion missiles or quickly close within firing range. HISTORY Due to the Missile Gunboat's capabilities, Imperial flight commanders warned their pilots not to let this craft fall into enemy hands. One, however, did fall into the hands of the Imperial traitor Grand Admiral Zaarin . Shortly before the Battle of Endor, one of Zaarin's co-conspirators, another former imperial officer named Namuura Din, wished to defect to the Rebels. He knew the Missile Gunboat would be a perfect bargaining tool. His ship the, Victory Star Destroyer ''Zeplin'', met with the Rebel Mon Calamari Cruiser ''Link''. Din transferred the Missile Gunboat over to them, as well as information that the Death Star at Endor was an elaborate trap. Just after these transactions were complete, a task force under the command of Darth Vader arrived to stop the meeting, as Imperial intelligence learned of it. By then the meeting was over, and the ''Link'' entered hyperspace. The ''Zeplin'' was captured along with Namuura Din. The Imperial task force followed the ''Link'', and learned that since its commander had ordered the ship to go so fast, it exhausted most of its fuel. Vader seized upon the opportunity, and captured the ''Link'' and it's commander, before he could radio to Rebel command that the new Death Star was a trap. The Missile Gunboat, however, had already launched, and went to a Rebel space station. Vader's task force followed it there and destroyed it before it could flee again. Due to the huge expense in producing each Missile Boat, only small numbers were produced. In contrast to more conventional Imperial starfighters such as TIEs, it was costly to re-arm each Missile Boat before a mission, considering the high price of the advanced concussion missile and the large numbers of warheads needed to make this craft effective. Combat losses and Zaarin's successful attacks on Missile Boat production facilities caused this starfighter to be recalled from active combat duty and put into storage shortly before the Battle of Endor, and possibly explains why the existence of the Missile Boat is limited mostly to the Star Wars space combat simulation games. SEE ALSO
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