Eel Rapier

Eel Rapier
Size (W×H×L)	14m×14m×90m
Cargo capacity	10 TC
Cargo bay extension	No
Maximum speed	0.495 LM
Manoeuvrability	Roll: 1.8 Pitch: 0.6
Energy banks	4
Energy recharge rate	Unknown
Gun mounts	Fore, Aft
Missile slots	3
Shield boosters available	Yes
Military shields available	Yes
Hyperspace capable	Yes
OXP or standard	OXP
Available to player	Yes
Base price	500000 Cr

Overview

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Comment

While in a TL15 station (Xevera, G5) I traded in my SuperCobra for an Eel Rapier, re-bought all of the expensive gizmos and left the station without saving to disk.

The first thing I noticed is that it's fast; slightly slower than a Tiger, but noticeably quicker than my SuperCobra. The difference in speed is multiplied when using the injectors. But this plus-point is counter-balanced by a poor rate of climb and dive. Never mind. The real test would come in combat, so I witched to some anarchy systems to see how it fared.

Oh, Lord Lummy! I nearly felt sorry for the pirates. I could speed into a group of 5 or 6 of them, with most of the group attempting to hit me with laser fire. Even at a distance of 3 or 4 km, perhaps only one of their laser bursts would actually make contact with the Eel's super-slender hull. By contrast, I'd knock out a couple of them before my front laser overheated. Then I'd fly through their group, switching to the rear laser to polish off something large and cumbersome like a Longshot or Mosquito Trader. Then at close quarters, it was clear-up time, which was slowed down by the Eel's pitch rate.

In combat, it's a fantastic ship - fast and hard to hit with a laser. Once you've added a naval energy unit, military shield enhancement and a cloaking device, it's nigh-on invincible. Forget mere bounty hunting; if you wanted to take on the Galactic Navy, you could do it with this ship.

But what it gains in combat, it loses as a trader. That 10 tonne cargo hold means that although it would be perfect for hauling a couple of thousand kilos of platinum across the galaxy, those contracts will never be offered to a ship that hasn't already shifted its fair share of textiles and machinery.

So for now, it's back to the Soopy.

Download

The Murgh's X-Ships containing the Eel.

Links

• Author: Murgh
• I've test-driven an Eel Rapier (2008)