Orca Gunship
From Command and Conquer Wiki
"Return to base! Return to base!"
- ORca
| Orca Gunship | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Weaponry | Rockets, Subfaction-exclusive Sonic Grenades |
| Armour | Medium |
| Type | Gunship |
| Faction | GDI |
The Orca Gunship (also referred to as Orca Mk. IV) is the most advanced version of the Orca Aircraft. Upon evaluating the Orca's performance in the Second Tiberium War, GDI completely redesigned the fighter, retaining only its VTOL engines, which have also received a major overhaul. The gunship is outfitted with heavier armour and wings designed to carry substantial amounts of rockets to engage a variety of targets ranging from infantry to structures.
The new version of the Orca has a maximum speed of 400 knots, with a combat range of 300 miles, or 1,180 miles when stripped of combat gear. Its maximum flight altitude was 42,000 feet, with a climb rate of up to 2,500 feet per minute. The power to mass ratio was 0.19 lbs/hp. The aircraft is crewed by a pilot and a copilot/gunner. It was 58.3 ft long, 48 ft wide, and 12.7 ft high. The Orca also utilises wing warping for enhanced agility inflight.
Its armament varies, but is in every way superior to its predecessors, and can be composed of an M230 30mm Automatic Cannon with 1200 rounds, Hellfire V rockets, AIM-500 Stinger air to air missiles, AGM-240 Sidearm air-to-ground missiles, AIM-18 Sidewinder air intercept missiles and Hydra 70 unguided air-to-ground rockets. Missiles and rockets are mounted on pylons just below the cockpit. Unfortunately, the standard Orca used by most GDI commanders does not have the cannon OR the air-to-air missiles: only 6 air-to-ground Sidearm guided misiles. As a result, they are only effective against vehicles and structures and are sitting ducks for fighter aircraft (Venoms, Stormriders, Firehawks). The missiles cannot track moving infantry, but will kill most with a single hit. [1]
In addition, the Orca is equipped with sonar equipment, allowing it to discharge a pulse, revealing all units that use active thermoptic camouflage for a short period of time. They can also be outfitted with sensor pod launchers. These launch sensor pods that will detect stealth units within a certain radius. The pods may also be attached to enemy units: useful for revealing where the enemy's bases and units are.
An upgrade available to most Orcas (except ZOCOM's Orcas) is the Hardpoint upgrade, which adds another 2 missiles to the Orca's arsenal.
Unfortunately, Orcas do not have ejection seats (nor, in fact, do any of the other planes in the Third Tiberium War: pilot safety is apparently not a big concern for all sides). Pilots who are shot down face a horrific and fiery death and it is rumoured that their screams can be heard over the radio while they are shot down.
[edit] ZOCOM Variant
Unsatisfied with the Orca Gunship that the majority of GDI employed at the time, ZOCOM had their own model of Orca designed and employed within their squads. These ZOCOM Orcas are outfitted with Sonic Grenade launchers, which cause powerful area-of-effect damage. ZOCOM can also upgrade their Orca Gunships with ceramic armour plating, increasing its lifespan substantially.
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