Beta-class assault shuttle

The Beta-class assault shuttle was an Imperial shuttle and a direct predecessor to the Gamma-class assault shuttle.

Characteristics
It had a modular hull structure featuring a front five-person command pod and aft engine section. These were permanent, while the central section could be reconfigured according to mission requirements. A spacetrooper module could carry 40 spacetroopers, sporting separate launching pods and power couplers for recharging the space suits. Standard troop transport configuration had place for 68 troopers with necessary equipment. There were also cargo modules available for making the ship suitable for transport duty, or additional weapon pods to reconfigure the Beta into a more powerful gunship. Its basic armament in non-gunship configuration consisted of four laser cannons, one concussion missile launcher and one tractor beam projector. Beta-class assault shuttles were both atmosphere and space capable, and had a limited hyperspace capability with Class 3 hyperdrive and a navigation computer limited to three jumps.