Orca Gunship
From Command and Conquer Wiki
| Orca Gunship | |
|---|---|
| |
| Unit | |
| Affiliation | |
| Role | |
| Armament |
6 to 8 rockets, Sensor pod Launcher |
| Protection |
Medium |
| Production | |
| Produced by |
Airfield |
| “ | ORCA GOING DOWN! - Unfortunate ORCA Gunship | ” |
The Orca Gunship 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 is 42,000 feet, with a climb rate of up to 2,500 feet per minute, with a power to mass ratio of 0.19 lbs/hp. The aircraft is crewed by a pilot and a copilot/gunner. It is 58.3 ft long, 48 ft wide, and 12.7 ft high, the Orca also utilizes 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 etc.). 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.
Orcas have no ejection seats and often pilots are heard screaming in transmissions when they are going down.
Contents |
[edit] In-game
| “ | Return to Base! RETURN TO BASE! - Orca | ” |
This aircraft follows the legacy of the old Orca Assault Aircraft due to its rockets but the difference between Venoms and its stealth detection abilities were this the Orca must have its ability charged and ready while the Venom must be close to enemies. It's missiles are effective against buildings and armour, although they are outshined by the Firehawk in building destruction aspect.
[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. They cost as much as Firehawks however.
[edit] Development
The Orca Gunship went through many iterations during development (some can be seen below). When the final look was nailed down, the developers had to decide on what weapons should it use. Early versions included a machinegun and rockets, but before release, the machinegun was axed.
The Orca was featured in the E3 C&C3 Trailer alongside other GDI arsenal elements. It was different in that it had only a single crewman inside and had the aforementioned machinegun.
[edit] References
[edit] Gallery
 Early models had only a single crewman |
 Orca Gunship with the hardpoints upgrade |
 Early Orca concept |
 Orca brainstorm |
 Various upgrade options for an Orca |
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