Some time after the BTL-S3 and BTL-A4 were successfully released, the Alliance engineers together with Koensayr started a new experiment for a bomber variant of the Y-Wing, the BTL-M2. The Y-Wing Medium Bomber was intended to be the Alliance's best bomber. However, the experiment failed...
For the construction of the BTL-M2, they used the basic hull of the first prototype Y-Wings, the BTL-P1 (see above). The front cannons were removed to make place for a small complement of Advanced Torpedoes. These torpedoes have a larger range than normal ones, and also cause heavier damage. The former sensor pod of the BTL-P1 was re-designed to a bombardier's seat, for a second gunner (the bombardier) who operated the torpedoes. So, another three-man vessel was created, whose crew consisted of the pilot and two gunners. However, the Medium Bomber was not without flaws. The fighter was behaved like a sitting duck in space, due to low maneuverability and weak sublight engines, a flaw that could not be compensated by its better shields.
Only one squadron of Medium Bombers (12 fighter) was ever produced, as the designers realized that their new ship had more weaknesses than potential. During one of the squadron's first missions half of the squadron was lost in a fight with Imperial patrol forces although the Imperial craft were the minority. All 18 crew members lost their lives. This was a warning to the designers of the BTL-M2, and the project was abandonned. It was given a sad nickname: "Project Flying Coffin"
The eperiment had failed finally. However, the failure contributed to the development of a more secure and much more efficient starfighter, the well-known B-Wing. And so the failed experiment of the BTL-M2 closes the gap between the Y-Wing series and the more modern fighters of the Alliance.
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| Stats: | Christopher Deck & Thomas Thursby |
| Image: | Star Wars Chronicles, Chronicle Books. |