Barracuda

[B]Barracuda[/B] - The [wiki]Boron[/wiki] Barracuda is the middle ground of the [wiki]M3[/wiki] class, having neither too much nor too little of anything. It retains the high top speed that many Boron ships are recognized for, while retaining a good amount of shielding. The Baraccuda's Jack-of-all-trades attitude makes it popular among many fighter pilots, although its inability to mount a rear turret is something of a design flaw.

[template]Infobox Ship Stats
| Image = [image]x3tc_barracuda.jpg|thumb|center|Barracuda Mk II-b[/image]
| Ship =Barracuda
| Race =Boron
| ClassShort =M3
| ClassLong =Heavy Fighter
| Predecessor =Eel
| Successor =
| Variants =[wiki]Barracuda Advanced[/wiki]
[wiki]Barracuda Prototype[/wiki]
[wiki]Barracuda Raider[/wiki]
[wiki]Barracuda Sentinel[/wiki]
[wiki]Barracuda Vanguard[/wiki]
| XBTF =
| XT =
| X2 = •
| X3R = •
| X3TC = •
[/template]
[template]About
| Article1 = the Barracuda
| Other2 = the Xtended Terran Conflict Version
| Article2 = Barracuda (XTC)
| Article2a =
| And2 =
| Or2 =
| For3 = 1
| Other3 =
| Article3 =
| Article3a =
| And3 =
| Or3 =
[/template]
[h="2"]General Information[/h]
The official statement from the Boron Navy on the Barracuda is as detailed below:

[quote]The [B]Barracuda[/B] is a new development to replace the [wiki]Eel[/wiki]. When the plans for the Barracuda were developed, it was made clear that the Eel was too out-dated. The Barracuda improved on the design with a new power generator. This then allowed for the weaponry to be upgraded and room for slightly increased cargo space and improved acceleration. As the Barracuda is now in service the Eel is no longer supported by the [wiki]Boron Navy[/wiki].[/quote]The Barracuda's Mk II-b versions include five variants, the [WIKI=Barracuda Raider]Raider[/WIKI], [WIKI=Barracuda Sentinel]Sentinel[/WIKI], [WIKI=Barracuda Vanguard]Vanguard[/WIKI], [wiki=Barracuda Prototype]Prototype[/wiki] and [wiki=Barracuda Advanced]Advanced[/wiki].

[h="3"]Background[/h]
The Barracuda became the latest [wiki]Boron[/wiki] [wiki]Heavy Fighter[/wiki] when it replaced the [wiki]Eel[/wiki]. Though the Eel was a capable ship, the advancement in [wiki]M3[/wiki] class ships across the universe required a more versatile and powerful ship to deal with the rigors of the universe.

Produced by the best of Boron Shipwrights in [WIKI]Kingdoms End[/WIKI], the Barracuda rapidly became the major fighter in the Boron fleet, and was soon pushed into active service. Pilots across the Boron fleet commented on its improved speed and capability, and for a long time it was unilaterally liked.

It is only in recent years, especially after the [WIKI]Kha'ak[/WIKI] invasions into Boron territories began, that the Barracuda's lack of a rear turret has become a major concern among fighter pilots. Against [WIKI=Kyon Beam Emitter]Kyon Emitters[/WIKI] the Barracuda has a major weakness, resulting in substantial losses to Kha'ak attacks. Despite this flaw, it is by far the first choice of most Boron pilots.

[quote][B][I]Excerpt from Lt. Bolu Na's letter to Col. Lobi Bi at Boron Navy Command:[/I][/B][I]

"Dear cousin Lobi.

Today I was close to joining my ancestors. We received information from the sector patrol commander that scanners had detected a Kha'ak Cluster formation on the outskirts of Boron space. Shortly thereafter, we received the order to take action against the intruders. A formation of six Barracudas, accompanied by the standard selection of smaller fighters, went into action and set course for the cluster. I headed the first wing myself, and broke left as the Cluster separated and came towards us.

The fighting was intense, and many brave Boron pilots were killed by the swift Kha'ak Scouts. [...] After almost ten minutes of close-quarter fighting, we were able to overcome the threat, but at great cost. My colleagues kept telling me stories of how they took damage from the pursuing scout ships, and that if they had had a rear turret to take care of the enemy, they might have been able to escape. As it turns out, the only really effective way to combat a swarm of these quicker, numerically superior fighters, is to fly close formation with your wingman. That way, when you are followed and harassed by the Kha'ak, your wingman can shoot them down - and you can provide him with likewise support. I have enclosed a description of the tactic here, [...] and I trust that you will take it up with your superiors. Our hope is that this might lead to adding more wingman tactic exercises in Flight School."[/I]
[/quote][h="3"]Expert's review[/h]
The ship is agile and quick, as is to be expected from Boron ships, and as such is more than capable of keeping itself ahead in a dog fight, despite lacking the rear turret of many current [wiki=Heavy Fighter]Heavy Fighters[/wiki]. It is capable of outrunning the vast majority of ships it encounters, so it can easily retreat from a battle before it is overwhelmed.

[h="3"]Known Ships of this Type[/h]

[LIST][*][wiki]Nikkonofune[/wiki][/LIST]

[h="2"]Statistical Comparison[/h]
[template] Infobox Ship Previous
| GamesPlusOne =4
| X2Yes = 1
| X3RYes = 1
| X3TCYes = 1
| XShip = Barracuda
| X2Version = Barracuda Mk I
| X3RVersion = Barracuda Mk II
| X3TCVersion = Barracuda Mk II-b
| X2Rep = -1
| X2MinNotoriety = Antagonist
| X3RRep = 6
| X3RMinNotoriety = Queens Knight
| X3TCRep = 6
| X3TCMinNotoriety = Queens Knight
| X2MinSpeed = 60
| X3RMinSpeed = 56.97
| X3TCMinSpeed = 72
| X2MaxSpeed = 204
| X3RMaxSpeed = 142.426
| X3TCMaxSpeed = 180
| X2Acceleration = 9
| X3RAcceleration = 17.21
| X3TCAcceleration = 15.4 - 38.5
| X2Yaw = 12.0
| X3RYaw = 23.1
| X3TCYaw = 23.1
| X2Pitch = 12.0
| X3RPitch = 18.3
| X3TCPitch = 18.3
| X2Roll = 12.0
| X3RRoll = 18.5
| X3TCRoll = 18.5
| X2Reactor = Not Available
| X3RReactor = 570 KJ
| X3TCReactor = 570 KJ
| X2Hull = 7500
| X3RHull = 9000
| X3TCHull = 9000
| X2Shield = 2 x [wiki]25 MW Shield[/wiki]
| X3RShield = 2 x [wiki]25 MJ Shield[/wiki]
| X3TCShield = 2 x [wiki]25 MJ Shield[/wiki]
| X2Recharge = Not Available
| X3RRecharge = 112 s
| X3TCRecharge = 112 s
| X2WeaponEn = Not Available
| X3RWeaponEn = 3400 w
| X3TCWeaponEn = 3400 w
| X2WeaponsRe = Not Available
| X3RWeaponsRe = 84.97 w/s
| X3TCWeaponsRe = 84.97 w/s
| X2WareClass = M
| X3RWareClass = M
| X3TCWareClass = M
| X2MinCargo = 63
| X3RMinCargo = 63
| X3TCMinCargo = 63
| X2MaxCargo = 208
| X3RMaxCargo = 208
| X3TCMaxCargo = 208
| X2Dock = N/A
| X3RDock = N/A
| X3TCDock = N/A
| X2GunCount = 2
| X3RGunCount = 8
| X3TCGunCount = 8
| X2Price = 849,064
| X3RPrice = 1,484,003
| X3TCPrice = 1,484,003
[/template]

[h="3"]Equipment[/h]
The weapons of the Barracuda are not to be taken lightly, despite the generally peaceful nature of the Boron people. Fitted with a regular array of [wiki]Heavy Fighter[/wiki] class weapons, the Barracuda also includes the Boron and Argon [wiki]Ion Disruptor[/wiki] - useful for quickly taking down the enemy's shields, hopefully causing a quick change of heart on the opponent's attack.

[template]Weapons Mask
| X3TCShip =Barracuda Mk II-b
| X3TCpos1 =Main Guns
| X3TCcount1 =8
| X3TClaser1 =[wiki=Impulse Ray Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/ire.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Particle Accelerator Cannon][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/pac.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=High Energy Plasma Thrower][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/hept.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Phased Repeater Gun][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/prg.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Ion Disruptor][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/iond.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Plasma Burst Generator][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/pbg.png[/IMG][/wiki]
| X3TCmissiles =[wiki=Aurora Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/aurora.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Firefly Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/firefly.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Firelance Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/firelance.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Tempest Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/tempest.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Wildfire Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/wildfire.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Windstalker Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/windstalker.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Remote Guided Warhead][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/remoteguidedwarhead.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Tornado Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/tornado.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Wasp Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/wasp.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Banshee Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/banshee.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Beluga Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/beluga.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Cyclone Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/cyclone.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Disruptor Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/disruptor.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Dragonfly Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/dragonfly.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Hammerhead Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/hammerhead.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Hurricane Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/hurricane.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Mosquito Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/mosquito.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Rapier Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/rapier.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Silkworm Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/silkworm.png[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Thunderbolt Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/thunderbolt.png[/IMG][/wiki]
| X3RShip =Barracuda Mk II
| X3Rpos1 =Main Guns
| X3Rcount1 =8
| X3Rlaser1 =[wiki=Alpha Impulse Ray Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3raire.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Beta Impulse Ray Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rbire.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Alpha Particle Accelerator Gun][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rapac.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Beta Particle Accelerator Gun][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rbpac.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Alpha High Energy Plasma Thrower][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rahept.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Concussion Impulse Generator][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rcig.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Ion Disruptor][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rid.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Alpha Pulsed Beam Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rapbe.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Beta Pulsed Beam Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rbpbe.gif[/IMG][/wiki]
| X3Rmissiles =[wiki=Aurora Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3raurora.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Firefly Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rfirefly.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Firelance Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rfirelance.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Tempest Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rtempest.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Wildfire Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rwildfire.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Windstalker Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rwindstalker.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Wasp Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rwasp.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Banshee Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rbanshee.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Disruptor Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rdisruptor.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Dragonfly Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rdragonfly.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Hammerhead Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rhammerhead.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Hornet Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rhornet.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Hurricane Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rhurricane.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Mosquito Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rmosquito.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Rapier Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rrapier.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Silkworm Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rsilkworm.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Thunderbolt Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x3rthunderbolt.gif[/IMG][/wiki]
| X2Ship =Barracuda Mk I
| X2pos1 =Main Guns
| X2count1 =2
| X2laser1 =[wiki=Alpha Impulse Ray Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2aire.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Beta Impulse Ray Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2bire.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Gamma Impulse Ray Emitter][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2gire.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Alpha Particle Accelerator Cannon][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2apac.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Beta Particle Accelerator Cannon][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2bpac.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Gamma Particle Accelerator Cannon][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2gpac.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Alpha High Energy Plasma Thrower][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2ahept.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Beta High Energy Plasma Thrower][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2bhept.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Ion Disruptor][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2id.gif[/IMG][/wiki]
| X2missiles =[wiki=Mosquito Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2mosquito.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Wasp Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2wasp.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Dragonfly Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2dragonfly.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Silkworm Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2silkworm.gif[/IMG][/wiki][wiki=Hornet Missile][IMG]http://www.thexuniverse.com/wikiimages/x2hornet.gif[/IMG][/wiki]
[/template]

[h="2"]Gallery[/h]
[template]Gallery
| XShip = Barracuda
| Images = [image]x2-logo.jpg|thumb|Barracuda Mk I[/image] [image]x3reunion.jpg|thumb|Barracuda Mk II[/image] [image]x3tc_barracuda.jpg|thumb|Barracuda Mk II-b[/image]
[/template]

The three versions of the [B]Barracuda[/B].

[h="2"]Links[/h]
[LIST]
[*][URL="http://argonopedia.ppcis.org/ship.php?ship=22"]Argonopedia, Barracuda Article[/URL]
[/LIST]

[category]Ships[/category]
[category]Boron Ships[/category]
[category]Heavy Fighter[/category]
[category]X3 Terran Conflict[/category]
[category]X3 Reunion[/category]
[category]X2 The Threat[/category]