StarCitizen:Gladiator

The StarCitizen:Anvil Aerospace T8C Gladiator is a civilian variant of the UEEN's StarCitizen:T8A Gladiator. Inspired by the carrier-based dive and torpedo bombers of World War II<ref name="GladiatorLaunch">Template:Cite RSI</ref> and designed as a fighter-bomber companion to Anvil's own F7 Hornet series,<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref> the Gladiator is equipped to carry and launch a substantial volume of ordinance at a standoff range of kilometres in addition to featuring powerful guns for close-in defense and aggression. This civilian version is also highly modifiable, including the potential to be fit to carry cargo.<ref name="GladiatorStore">Template:Cite RSI</ref>

Features

Model

Ship profile

<tabber>

In space=

Isometric	Above	Port-side	Front	Rear	Below
File:Gladiator in Space - Isometric.jpg	File:Gladiator in Space - Above.jpg	File:Gladiator in Space - Port.jpg	File:Gladiator in Space - Front.jpg	File:Gladiator in Space - Rear.jpg	File:Gladiator in Space - Below.jpg

|-|

Landed=

Isometric	Above	Port-side	Front	Rear
File:Gladiator in SelfLand - Isometric.jpg	File:Gladiator in SelfLand - Above.jpg	File:Gladiator in SelfLand - Port.jpg	File:Gladiator in SelfLand - Front.jpg	File:Gladiator in SelfLand - Rear.jpg

</tabber>

Weapon Kits

Image	Name	Description
File:Anvil Gladiator S3 bomb rack.webp	Size 3 Bomb Rack	This kit replaces the Gladiator's "bomb-bay" with a bespoke bomb rack that mounts twelve Size 5 bombs.
File:Anvil Gladiator S5 bomb rack.webp	Size 5 Bomb Rack	This kit replaces the Gladiator's "bomb-bay" with a bespoke bomb rack that mounts two Size 5 bombs.

Paints

"Best In Show 2955"	"Nightbreak"
File:Gladiator BIS2955 landed in hangar - cropped.png	File:Anvil Gladiator Nightbreak.webp

Lore

<tabber>

Beginnings=

The T8A Gladiators were originally developed to bridge the gap between fighters and bombers for the military. Since their introduction into StarCitizen:UEE service, Gladiators have participated with distinction in military and law enforcement operations in numerous theaters around the Empire and beyond.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref> |-|

Vanduul=

During the StarCitizen:Vanduul push after 2681, battling the encroaching horde from Orion to Tiber, the Gladiators of the StarCitizen:214th Squadron's Bravo Flight pulled double duty as S&R craft up to the last minutes of the Tiber pullout. In 2932, Bravo Flight broke rank in a raid on Virgil to pursue a distress signal. Rigged for stealth, the six Gladiators tracked the signal to the surface of StarCitizen:Cyrene. A Vanduul patrol group was alerted and the ensuing battle resulted in heavy losses. The signal originated from a long destroyed 214th Squadron StarCitizen:Wildcat. The black box was returned to Kilian and rather than face charges the survivors were hailed for finding this artefact of the squadron's history.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>

In 2933, the Gladiator was immortalised in the photograph "The Calm Before the Storm" by Major Taia Wallen - one of only a handful of images of StarCitizen:Corin, Kilian. |-|

Civilian version=

The ship was introduced to the civilian market as the T8C Gladiator in 2943.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref> Though a heavy-hitting bomber, the Gladiator has proven easy to modify and thus has become commonplace in the civilian market. The bomb bay can easily be converted for light transport. Many pilots choose to replace the rear turret’s laser cannon with a tractor beam, making it an ideal craft for light salvage missions.<ref name="GladiatorLaunch"/> |-|

Tactics=

Since their introduction into UEE service, Gladiators have participated with distinction in military and law enforcement operations in numerous theaters around the Empire and beyond. Gladiators have been used in:

• Strategic Space-to-Ground bombing runs
• Support for long-range squadron missions
• Modified C&C and target assignment for multi-squadron combat scenarios
• Aggressive environmental recalibration
• Capital ship torpedo strikes
• Stealth operations
• Supply drops through enemy-controlled territory
• Blockade running
• Law enforcement high value target interception

This multi-role capability will continue to evolve as the Gladiator's systems are further developed.Template:Cite |-|

Silas Koerner quote=

"

A half-assed toy for full grown children to play fighter hero

</tabber>

Gallery

<tabber>

Official=

Template:Gallery |-|

In-game=

Template:Gallery </tabber>

Development

2014-11-26	The Gladiator was initially created for Squadron 42 only.<ref name="GladiatorLaunch"/>
2015-02-26	The development of Gladiator in 2013, the initial 2D concepts and a 3D concept mesh created by StarCitizen:David Hobbins (Conceptist). When he was done, StarCitizen:Andrew Ley (Concept Design Director) further refined the 3D concept mesh and the ship's appearance, as well as providing rough animations for the many mechanical elements. After that, StarCitizen:Matthew Johns (Senior 3D Artist) remodelled the ship, adding detail as well as further refining the mechanical elements and rough animations. With rendered images of the newly created 3D mesh and guidance from StarCitizen:Paul Jones (Art Director), StarCitizen:Gavin Rothery (Freelance Conceptist) provided a 2D 'paintover' image for the StarCitizen:Squadron 42 version of the Gladiator. Matthew then used this 2D paintover as a guide to inform the creation of textures and shaders that define the surfaces of the ship.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>
2015-04-11	The Gladiator became flight ready in Star Citizen Alpha 1.1.1.
2026-05-14	While the Gladiator was previously made capable of mounting the StarCitizen:CST-313 "Castillo" bomb rack on its wing pylons despite the bomb racks being undersized, the Gladiator became fully bomb-capable after the release of bespoke bomb racks enabling the conversion of the ship's internal bay to carry bombs. This update also resolved a problem where the size 5 missiles were mounted directly to the bay doors and could easily be lost to damage.<ref name="GladS3"/><ref name="GladS5"/><ref>Template:Cite game</ref>

Trivia

• The design of the Gladiator drew inspiration from the carrier-based dive and torpedo bombers utilized during World War II, including models like the Grumman Template:WP and the Douglas Template:WP.<ref name="GladiatorLaunch"/>
• The Gladiator was until Star Citizen Alpha 4.2.0 one of only two playable ships capable of mounting the StarCitizen:Stalker V Missile (the other ship being the StarCitizen:Vanguard Harbinger), and at the time this missile was also the only Size 5 ordinance the Gladiator and Vanguard could mount.<ref name="GladiatorStore"/><ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>
• It is unknown whether the Sol Gladiators of StarCitizen:Sataball are named after the ship.Template:Cite

See also

• Gladiator: Work in Progress

References

<references />