The Firetail is modeled off a fighter frigate known as the Shamrock, a design used by a small, now-extinct pirate faction known as Lazari Dromitus. The blueprint found its way into the hands of Matari military forces after a raid on Lazari Dromitus's headquarters succeeded in killing its leader, thus beheading the organization and scattering its remnants to the four winds. It has since been improved upon and upgraded, and the Firetail is now a mainstay in most Republic Fleet patrols.

The Firetail is best described as a lighter, faster Jaguar. The slot layout is effectively the same (the Firetail actually gets 3/4/3 with 2 turrets, but a 20% per level turret bonus rather than the Jaguar's 10% - a holdover from when this ship had a mix of turrets and launchers, and CCP didn't want to add further turret hardpoints when they rebalanced it). Common fits for the Firetail are also very similar to the Jag, with a medium shield extender as standard and either prop/scram/web or dual prop & scram being the most common combinations. As with the Jag, an armor tank is possible, and this can potentially be flown as a 'super rifter', although this is less common.

The Firetail's damage output is reasonable, but nothing to write home about. The ship's CPU and powergrid are quite limited, making most common fits very tight in comparison to the equivalent Jag fitting. This ship can field quite a solid shield tank, but again not to the levels of the Jaguar. Where it does come through however is on speed (where it's capable of 3.5-4.5km/s with a mwd, on par with some of the combat interceptors) and in the presence of the ever-useful tracking bonus that AFs like the Jaguar lack.

The Firetail's speed makes it adept at chasing down fast targets and at dictating range in a solo engagement. It also makes the Firetail a very effective ship in gang when filling a 'chaser tackle' role.

Like the Claw, the Firetail receives no turret range bonus, and because of this (and its tracking bonus) you're usually better off holding it at range where possible, assuming your weapon system (and speed) gives you the option. It can still hit out quite far with barrage, but real DPS will reduce quite a bit as range increases. Since Firetails are usually shield tanked, EM or thermal damage is recommended. Firetails have a spare high slot, which may fit a nos or neut if they have the fitting room - beware of this if you rely on an active tank.

Minmatar Frigate bonuses (per skill level):

• 25% bonus to Small Projectile Turret damage
• 10% bonus to Small Projectile Turret tracking speed

• Minmatar Frigate II
• Spaceship Command I

[Republic Fleet Firetail, Solo Nulsec Duel Prop]
200mm AutoCannon II
200mm AutoCannon II
Rocket Launcher II

1MN Afterburner II
5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Warp Scrambler II
Medium Shield Extender II

Gyrostabilizer II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Micro Auxiliary Power Core I

Small EM Shield Reinforcer II
Small Projectile Burst Aerator I
Small Thermal Shield Reinforcer II



Republic Fleet EMP S x500
Republic Fleet Fusion S x1000
Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S x1000
Caldari Navy Inferno Rocket x100
Caldari Navy Nova Rocket x100
Nanite Repair Paste x50

[Republic Fleet Firetail, Scram Kiter DualWeb Artillery]
280mm Howitzer Artillery II
280mm Howitzer Artillery II

Warp Disruptor II
Fleeting Compact Stasis Webifier
Fleeting Compact Stasis Webifier
1MN Afterburner II

Damage Control II
Gyrostabilizer II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Small EM Shield Reinforcer I
Small Projectile Burst Aerator I
Small Projectile Metastasis Adjuster I



Republic Fleet EMP S x240
Republic Fleet Fusion S x240
Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S x1

[Republic Fleet Firetail, Brawler TD Firetail]
Small Ghoul Compact Energy Nosferatu
200mm AutoCannon II
200mm AutoCannon II

Warp Scrambler II
Balmer Series Compact Tracking Disruptor I
1MN Afterburner II
X5 Enduring Stasis Webifier

200mm Steel Plates II
Small Ancillary Armor Repairer
Damage Control II

Small Projectile Burst Aerator I
Small Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Small Explosive Armor Plate I



Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S x480
Republic Fleet Fusion S x480
Barrage S x480
Hail S x480
Nanite Repair Paste x32

[Republic Fleet Firetail, TD Kiter]
280mm Howitzer Artillery II
280mm Howitzer Artillery II

Small Capacitor Booster II
Warp Disruptor II
Balmer Series Compact Tracking Disruptor I
5MN Y-T8 Compact Microwarpdrive

Overdrive Injector System II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Damage Control II

Small Projectile Metastasis Adjuster I
Small Core Defense Field Extender I
Small EM Shield Reinforcer I



Republic Fleet EMP S x240
Republic Fleet Fusion S x240
Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S x240
Navy Cap Booster 100 x20