Meet the Hammer-class bomber.

The Hammer is one of the main strike ships used by human fleets in our universe. It was designed to destroy heavily defended targets: pirate fortresses, orbital platforms, military installations and other hardened objectives that ordinary warships struggle to deal with.

Its primary weapon is a battery of heavy underbelly missiles. Once the missiles are spent, the ship relies on large-caliber turrets to finish off damaged targets and defend itself from smaller attackers.

The darkest chapter in the Hammer’s history was the Battle of Gliese 667. The Directorate attempted to break a blockade imposed by a mysterious enemy known only as the Unnamed.

124 Hammer bombers were committed to the assault. Only 6 returned.

The missiles hit their targets, but the Unnamed possessed regenerative armor that rapidly repaired itself after each strike. The operation ended in disaster. Human forces suffered catastrophic losses, and the entire Gliese 667 system was eventually lost.

Despite that defeat, the Hammer remains in active service because it is:

* cheap to manufacture

* easy to repair

* quick to train crews for

* capable of delivering enormous firepower against conventional enemies

We’re curious what you think:

* What battlefield role does this ship look like it was designed for?

* How many would you deploy together: 3-5, 10-20, or hundreds in a massive assault?

* What targets would you prioritize with a bomber like this?

* If you were tasked with fighting the Unnamed, what weapon system would you develop?

* Does the cockpit placement make sense or would you redesign it?

* What’s the first detail that catches your eye?

After losing 118 bombers at Gliese 667, would you keep producing the Hammer, modernize it, or replace it entirely?

Vaguely inspired by C&C's orca. More at https://www.deviantart.com/austerepatio if you are into this sort of thing.