C2 Hercules vs A2 Hercules: Which Hercules Should You Choose?

The C2 Hercules and A2 Hercules share the same 94 × 70 × 23-meter Hercules spaceframe and identical current standard flight figures, but they allocate that platform to very different jobs.

Current Alpha 4.10.1 data gives the C2 696 SCU, Crew 2, two large cargo grids, 144,000 shield HP, and a $400 reference pledge value. The A2 cuts secured cargo to 216 SCU, expands the current crew figure to 8, raises shield HP to 211,200, carries a much heavier turret package, and mounts four current Size 10 Colossus bombs.

That makes the choice much clearer than comparing two Hercules hulls by appearance.

Choose the C2 when the ship's main job is moving freight or heavy vehicles.

Choose the A2 when the Hercules platform is being selected primarily for heavy bombing, close-support firepower, stronger protection, and multicrew combat capability, with cargo acting as a secondary function.

For broader C2 specifications, fuel, cargo workflow, and purchase information, see the Star Citizen C2 Hercules Guide: Cargo, Crew, Price & Solo.

C2 Hercules vs A2 Hercules at a Glance

Specification	C2 Hercules	A2 Hercules
Primary role	Heavy freight / vehicle transport	Heavy bomber / gunship
Current cargo	696 SCU	216 SCU
Cargo grids	480 + 216 SCU	216 SCU
Maximum supported container	32 SCU on both grids	32 SCU
Current crew	2	8
Current crew stations	2	8
Current beds	2	4
Dimensions	94 × 70 × 23 m	94 × 70 × 23 m
SCM	160 m/s	160 m/s
NAV	950 m/s	950 m/s
Pitch / yaw / roll	20 / 18 / 30°/s	20 / 18 / 30°/s
Shield HP	144,000	211,200
Current extracted armor-health field	13,000 HP	25,350 HP
Current remote turret entries	2	7
Current S10 bombs	—	4× Colossus
Quantum fuel	20.9 SCU	20.9 SCU
Stock quantum-drive max speed	~532M m/s	~392M m/s
Reference pledge value	$400	$750
Current indexed in-game purchase	18,900,000 aUEC	37,800,200 aUEC
Current standard claim	32.7 min	39.2 min
Current expedited claim	10.9 min	13.1 min

The numerical values above come from the version-locked Alpha 4.10.1 vehicle records and should be treated as current implementation data rather than permanent balance promises.

Cargo: The C2 Carries 480 SCU More

The largest practical difference is cargo capacity.

C2: 696 SCU

A2: 216 SCU

That gives the C2 480 SCU more secured cargo capacity. The A2 retains roughly 31% of the C2's current SCU figure.

The C2 divides its capacity between:

• 480 SCU
• 216 SCU

Both current grids support containers up to 32 SCU.

The A2 currently has one 216 SCU grid, also supporting containers up to 32 SCU.

This means the A2 still has meaningful cargo capability, but cargo is no longer the dominant reason for choosing the ship.

A player moving 150–200 SCU can use either variant.

A player routinely moving 500–700 SCU cannot substitute the A2 for the C2 without adding trips.

For detailed C2 grid geometry and manual loading workflow, see the C2 Hercules Cargo Loading Guide: 696 SCU Grid & 32 SCU Containers.

Why Older A2 Sources Sometimes Say 234 SCU

The original Hercules Q&A described the A2 as retaining 234 SCU in the front half of the ship.

That figure should not be used as the current Alpha 4.10.1 cargo specification.

The current version-locked vehicle record lists 216 SCU, so this comparison uses 216 SCU throughout.

The older Q&A remains useful for a different reason: it explains the design logic behind the reduced cargo space.

CIG stated that removing the bombs does not turn the bomb-bay area back into normal cargo capacity because the ordnance system remains installed.

That distinction still fits the current layout:

The A2 does not become a C2 simply because the bombs are not loaded.

Its reduced cargo capacity is tied to the military systems occupying the Hercules platform.

The A2 Trades 480 SCU for an Actual Bombing Role

The A2's defining feature is not stronger conventional cargo hauling.

It is the bomb bay.

CIG introduced the A2 into the game as the bomber variant of the Hercules and specifically highlighted its ability to deploy massive Size 10 bombs against ground targets.

The current Alpha 4.10.1 vehicle record lists two S10 bomb racks carrying a total of:

4× Size 10 Colossus bombs.

That capability has no equivalent on the C2.

The comparison therefore is not:

Which Hercules gives you the most features?

It is:

Do you need 480 additional SCU, or do you need a heavy bomber?

If the bombing system is rarely used, the A2 owner is carrying the cost and workload of a specialized combat variant while giving up most of the C2's freight capacity.

If the operation genuinely needs S10 ordnance, the C2 cannot substitute for the A2 at all.

The A2's Combat Advantage Goes Far Beyond the Bomb Bay

Bombs are only part of the A2's combat package.

The current Alpha 4.10.1 record exposes seven remote turret entries on the A2, compared with two on the C2.

The A2's turret architecture includes a mixture of Size 4 and Size 5 weapon positions across the hull, giving a staffed A2 dramatically more crewed weapon coverage than a C2.

That does not mean every turret is useful to a solo pilot.

It means the A2 has substantially more combat hardware available when enough crew are present to operate the ship effectively.

CIG's current DefenseCon description also continues to position the A2 as the heavy-bomber Hercules variant, while the C2 remains the freight-focused member of the family.

The C2 can defend itself.

The A2 is built around delivering force as part of its primary mission.

Protection: A2 Has the Stronger Current Defensive Profile

The A2 also receives substantially more current defensive capacity.

C2

• 144,000 shield HP
• 13,000 current extracted armor-health field

A2

• 211,200 shield HP
• 25,350 current extracted armor-health field

The A2 therefore has 67,200 more current shield HP and nearly double the extracted armor-health field.

Those values should not be converted into a fixed survivability multiplier.

Actual combat survival depends on armor multipliers, weapon type, impact location, component damage, shield state, engineering response, and other mechanics.

The defensible conclusion is narrower:

The current A2 has a materially heavier protection profile than the C2.

That makes sense for a ship intended to enter hostile ground-combat environments rather than simply escape them.

Crew: C2 and A2 Are Very Different Ownership Propositions

Current Alpha 4.10.1 data lists:

C2

• Crew: 2
• Crew stations: 2
• Beds: 2

A2

• Crew: 8
• Crew stations: 8
• Beds: 4

Those figures do not mean the game requires exactly two people to launch a C2 or exactly eight people to move an A2.

They describe very different station architectures.

The C2 concentrates its role around flying and moving cargo.

The A2 adds many more combat positions plus a dedicated bomb-control workload.

For lightly staffed logistics, that generally favors the C2.

For an organization able to populate multiple turret and combat roles, the A2 can use capabilities the C2 simply does not have.

This is also why comparing their prices without comparing crew requirements misses much of the ownership difference.

Standard Flight Performance Is Essentially Identical

Despite their dramatically different missions, the current standard flight figures are the same.

Both Alpha 4.10.1 records list:

• 160 m/s SCM
• 950 m/s NAV
• 20°/s pitch
• 18°/s yaw
• 30°/s roll
• 94 × 70 × 23 m dimensions

That is an important distinction.

The A2's extra armor, shields, weapons, and bomb system do not currently produce a lower SCM, NAV, or standard rotational figure in the cited data.

Likewise, choosing the C2 does not currently provide better conventional handling simply because it is the civilian freight version.

Their differences appear far more strongly in role equipment, cargo volume, crew structure, protection, and stock quantum components.

Stock Quantum Travel Favors the C2

Standard flight is equal, but the current stock quantum configurations are not.

Both ships carry 20.9 SCU of quantum fuel.

The C2's current stock configuration lists approximately:

532M m/s

The A2 lists approximately:

392M m/s.

This is a stock component/loadout difference, not proof that the C2 hull is inherently or permanently faster in quantum travel.

A balance or component change can alter the comparison.

In the cited Alpha 4.10.1 snapshot, however, the C2 has the faster listed stock quantum-drive maximum speed.

That is relevant for a cargo-focused ship making repeated long-distance trips.

Both Share the Hercules Vehicle-Transport DNA

The A2 gives up most of the C2's cargo grid, but it does not stop being a Hercules.

The original official Hercules Q&A explicitly discussed putting a Tumbril Nova tank in the A2's remaining forward cargo area.

That source is historical, and its accompanying 234-SCU figure is no longer the current cargo value. It should therefore be used as design and compatibility context, not as the numerical source for today's cargo grid.

The current Alpha 4.10.1 A2 record instead shows a 216 SCU, 32-SCU-compatible cargo grid.

The useful comparison is:

C2: vehicle transport plus maximum Hercules freight capacity.

A2: vehicle transport capability preserved within a platform that gives substantial interior volume and systems priority to bombing and combat.

For current C2-specific vehicle evidence, including Nova, Ballista, Spartan, ramp clearance, and operational fit, see the C2 Hercules Vehicle Transport Guide: What Fits?

Price: The A2 Sits Far Above the C2

The current version-locked records list these reference pledge values:

C2 Hercules: $400

A2 Hercules: $750

That is a $350 reference-value difference.

Reference pledge value should not be interpreted as proof of continuous standalone pledge-store availability, and it should not be confused with Warbond or CCU pricing.

Current indexed in-game purchase records show:

C2 Hercules: 18,900,000 aUEC

A2 Hercules: 37,800,200 aUEC

The A2 currently costs almost exactly twice as much in indexed in-game credits.

That premium accompanies a radically different equipment package: four S10 bombs, many more turret positions, stronger shielding, heavier armor data, and a much larger crew architecture.

It should not be interpreted as simply paying more for a "better C2."

Current Claim Times Also Favor the C2

The current Alpha 4.10.1 claim records list:

C2

• Standard: 32.7 minutes
• Expedited: 10.9 minutes

A2

• Standard: 39.2 minutes
• Expedited: 13.1 minutes

The A2 therefore currently carries the longer replacement timer.

Those values are patch-specific current data, not a permanent rule for the Hercules family.

Claim time also measures only the return of the hull.

It does not replace lost cargo, vehicles, equipment, or time already invested in preparing either ship.

C2 vs A2 for Solo and Light-Crew Use

For solo or duo gameplay, the C2 is generally the more efficient Hercules when the job is logistics.

Its current Crew 2 / two-station architecture aligns naturally with freight and vehicle work, while its 696 SCU capacity gives one or two players substantially more cargo utility.

The A2 can still be flown without filling eight seats.

But a lightly staffed A2 leaves much of its defining hardware—particularly its broad turret coverage—without dedicated operators.

Its bombs remain strategically unique even with limited crew, so the A2 can still make sense when the entire reason for taking the ship is the bombing mission.

The distinction is therefore:

C2: low-staffing heavy logistics.

A2: specialized combat capability that becomes more complete as crew count increases.

C2 vs A2 for Multicrew Operations

The A2 becomes more compelling when the crew is available to use its combat architecture.

Current data lists eight stations and seven remote turret entries, creating far more dedicated combat work than the C2 provides.

A larger crew can divide responsibilities between:

• flying;
• bombing;
• turret operation;
• defensive coverage;
• engineering and ship systems;
• cargo or vehicle handling.

The C2 also benefits from additional players, especially when manually loading cargo, but its basic purpose does not require filling a large network of combat stations.

That is why the A2 should not be judged only by the cargo capacity it loses.

It exchanges that freight volume for systems that make sense in an entirely different mission profile.

Choose the C2 Hercules If...

Choose the C2 Hercules when your priority is:

• maximum Hercules cargo capacity;
• 696 SCU of secured freight;
• 32 SCU support across both major grids;
• conventional heavy-vehicle logistics;
• operating primarily solo or duo;
• lower current purchase cost;
• lower current claim times;
• faster current stock quantum-drive performance;
• using the Hercules primarily as a transport rather than a weapons platform.

The C2 is the better fit when moving cargo or vehicles is the mission itself.

Choose the A2 Hercules If...

Choose the A2 Hercules when your priority is:

• deploying Size 10 bombs;
• significantly heavier current turret coverage;
• stronger current shields and armor data;
• close-support or ground-assault operations;
• bringing a larger crew into combat;
• combining a Hercules-sized transport platform with heavy offensive capability;
• retaining some cargo and vehicle utility without making freight capacity the priority.

The A2 is the better fit when combat capability is the reason for choosing the Hercules platform.

Is the A2 Worth Giving Up 480 SCU?

Only when its combat systems solve a problem you actually have.

The A2 loses 480 SCU compared with the C2 and costs substantially more both in reference pledge value and current indexed aUEC.

In return, it provides four current S10 bombs, a much larger turret architecture, stronger shields, and heavier armor data.

For ordinary freight hauling, that is an inefficient exchange.

For ground assault, close support, or a multicrew operation that specifically needs heavy bombing capability, it is the entire reason to choose the A2.

The decision is therefore less about which Hercules is "better" and more about whether you need cargo capacity or offensive mission capability.

FAQ

How much cargo does the A2 carry compared with the C2?

Current Alpha 4.10.1 data lists 216 SCU for the A2 and 696 SCU for the C2, giving the C2 480 SCU more capacity. The older 234-SCU A2 figure comes from historical Hercules material and is not the current cargo-grid value.

How many bombs does the A2 Hercules carry?

The current Alpha 4.10.1 loadout lists four Size 10 Colossus bombs across two bomb racks.

Does removing the A2's bombs give it more cargo space?

The original official Hercules Q&A states that the bomb ordnance system remains in place even when bombs are not equipped, so that area does not become normal cargo storage. Current Alpha 4.10.1 vehicle data lists the A2 at 216 SCU.

Can the A2 carry vehicles?

The Hercules platform retains vehicle-transport capability, and CIG's original A2 discussion explicitly used a Nova tank as an example of what could occupy the remaining forward cargo area. That historical statement should not be confused with the old 234-SCU numerical value; current secured cargo is 216 SCU.

Is the A2 more durable than the C2?

Current Alpha 4.10.1 data lists 211,200 shield HP and 25,350 armor health for the A2, compared with 144,000 shield HP and 13,000 armor health for the C2. Those fields support a stronger current A2 defensive profile but do not establish an exact combat-survival multiplier.

Is the A2 slower than the C2?

Not in current standard flight data. Both list 160 m/s SCM, 950 m/s NAV, and the same 20 / 18 / 30°/s rotation rates. Their stock quantum drives differ, with the current C2 record listing about 532M m/s versus 392M m/s for the A2.

Which is cheaper in-game?

Current Alpha 4.10.1 indexed purchase records list the C2 at 18,900,000 aUEC and the A2 at 37,800,200 aUEC. These are in-game purchase records, not rental prices or pledge-store prices.

Final Verdict

The C2 and A2 use the same Hercules hull to solve two fundamentally different problems.

The C2 dedicates the platform to logistics: 696 SCU, Crew 2, simple large cargo grids, heavy-vehicle utility, lower acquisition cost, and a faster current stock quantum configuration.

The A2 dedicates much more of the same space and crew architecture to combat: 216 SCU, Crew 8, four current Size 10 bombs, seven remote turret entries, 211,200 shield HP, and a substantially heavier armor profile.

Choose the C2 Hercules when you need the Hercules to be a cargo and vehicle transporter first.

Choose the A2 Hercules when you need it to be a heavy bomber and multicrew combat platform first, while retaining only a fraction of the C2's freight capacity.