VF-I2 "THUNDERCHIEF"

(Version 1.0 - Last updated: 10/19/98)

RPG Translation and Background by Kenneth Olson Kenneth Olson (olsonk@trans4.neep.wisc.edu)

Based on an original mecha design by Lee Duhig and Herb Mallette

Published in Antarctic Press "Robotech Wings of Gibraltar #1 & 2"

HTML form provided by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mediaone.net)

          Background Information derived from The Robotech Technical Files

 

BACKGROUND

The Thunderchief was designed to out perform the VF-1 in every manner.   Major renovations to the airframe were undertaken and the electronics, weapons and armor under went a major overall.  Two new Nakajima/P&W/Rolls-Royce FX-2010 fusion turbines were added to replace the venerable FF-2001 or FF-2001D initially installed.  These engines produced 25% more thrust than the earlier models at three-quarters the weight.  The aging Hughes AWG-20 X-band pulse-Doppler radar was replaced with a new AWG-30 model providing 50% greater detection range.  The head lasers were similarly upgraded to a single LA-5 laser able to fire 6 MJ bursts every 2 seconds.  In addition the GU-11 was replaced with a far more powerful GA-11 gauss rifle.  The GA-11 had an effective range of 17.1 miles and much higher accuracy and damage potential.  In addition to the newer gun pods, four missile bays were added to the shoulders and either side of the legs.  Each shoulder could mount 8 short range missiles while the bays on the legs could mount 4 each, for a total of 24 short range missiles.  Each bay could fire standard RDF short range missiles or the newer BL-30 bomblet missile.  The BL-30 was designed to be used as an offensive weapon against incoming threats or as an extremely effective anti-missile weapon.

Only a single Thunderchief  was known to be produced.  Soon after the initial test runs in January 23, 2010 an elite force of Zentraedi led by Major Calen attacked Research Station Gibraltar.  The station was quickly overwhelmed by the vastly superior Zentraedi forces, however in a last minute reversal of fortune (the then) Lt. Max Sterling piloted the VF-I2  and destroyed Major Calen.   Unfortunately, the station undertook so much  much damage that the fusion reactor ignited and  annilhated the remaining Zentraedi.  The Thunderchief sustained critical damage that prohibited it from being salvaged.  No known versions of the Thunderchief or its weapon systems are known to have survived.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: VF-I2 Valkyrie Interceptor Fighter

Class: Variable Fighter

Manufacturer: Robotech Defense Forces
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System.

NOTES:

1. Destroying the sensor head of the Thunderchief will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal). Radar and communications will be unaffected.
2. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

128 kph

LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

50 ft (15 m) high or 70 ft (21 m) long without thrusters.

FLYING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

300 kph / 400 kph for (A,B,G,H,I,T)

FLYING, GERWALK/SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

Mach One (670 mph/1072 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.

FLYING, FIGHTER CONFIGURATION:

Max level speed at sea level : Mach 1.5

Max level speed at 10km:  Mach 5.1
Max level speed at 30+ km:  Mach 7

Stall speed : 182 kph (VTOL rectification possible)

Initial climb rate : over 35000m per minute
Service ceiling : 40 km (unboosted).

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

• Two Nakajima/P&W/Rolls-Royce FX-2010 fusion turbines, total engine output 332 kN total at max. power; 613 kN are available with overboost. Exhaust nozzles allow for vector thrust, serving in place of conventional elevators. System includes two reverse-vernier thrusters, on blisters outboard of each intake; exhaust comes directly from main turbine at a maximum of 20% thrust.
• Four Nakajima NBS-1 high-thrust vernier thrusters, one on the ventral in fighter mode, three in the 'backpack' in

Guardian and Battloid modes.

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:

17.7m  in soldier configuration.

12.7m in gerwalk configuration.

6.6m in fighter configuration.

WIDTH:

10.1m at shoulders in soldier and gerwalk configuration.

15.8m  with wings at maximum extension.

LENGTH:

5.0m in soldier configuration.

12.3m in gerwalk configuration.

15.0m in fighter configuration.

WEIGHT:

25,000 kg empty.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Equal to a P.S. of 60

CARGO:

Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings

POWER PLANT:

Two Tirolian mecha protoculture-generators RT-6d providing a total of 1,000 MW

Delta V:

150  kps

COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:

None

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. GA-11 50MM SINGLE BARRELED GAUSS RIFLE: Perhaps the most advanced gauss rifle designed by the RDF.  Each weapon has 500 round capacity stored internally in microburst clusters..
 
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
• RANGE:  27.5 km or 17.1 miles.
• DAMAGE: 2d4*10 for each short bursts (10 slugs)
• RATE OF FIRE: Single shots or bursts equal to the combined attacks of the pilot.
• PAYLOAD: 500 rounds of internal ammuntion or 50 short bursts.
• NOTES:  +1 to strike at short range (0%-25% max range), will explode on a strike roll of '1' resulting in 2d4*10 damage distributed on the arm and hand carring the GA-11
 
2. LA-5 HEAD LASERS: A single LA-5 head laser was placed on the head  instead of multiple Mauser RsV-20 laser cannons.  Each LA-5 is capible of firing 6 MJ shots every two seconds.
 
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
• RANGE: 600 m
• DAMAGE: 4d6 for each Head laser
• RATE OF FIRE: Single shots equal to the combined attacks of the pilot up to eight times per melee.
• PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited.
 
3. MM-16 MULTIMISSILE SYSTEM:  Mounted in both shoulders are two MM-16 multi-missile systems.  Each launcher can mount 8 short range missiles or 8 BL-30 short range missiles.  Each BL-30 releases 30 unguided bomblets near the target.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault/Defense
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
• RANGE: Varies (BL-30:  3km)
• DAMAGE: Varies (1 MDC for each bomblet 50%+5d10% will hit target, class C anti-missle)
• RATE OF FIRE: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4 or 8.
• PAYLOAD: 16 short range missiles
 
4. MM-8 MULTIMISSILE SYSTEM: Mounted in both legs are two MM-8 multi-missile systems.  Each launcher can mount 4 short range missiles or 4 BL-30 short range missiles.  Each BL-30 releases 30 unguided bomblets near the target.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
• RANGE: Varies  (BL-30:  3km)
• DAMAGE: Varies (1 MDC for each bomblet 50%+5d10% will hit target, class C anti-missle)
• RATE OF FIRE: One at a time or in volleys of 2, or 4.
• PAYLOAD: 8 short range missiles
 
5. BODY/WING HARD POINTS: One fixed hard point is mounted on each wing.   These hardpoints can be used to carry 15 short range missiles, 5 medium range missles or 2 long range missiles.

 

6. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Thunderchief can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The VF-I2 is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.

DAMAGE:

• Punch in Battloid:  3D6*3
• Punch in Guardian:  3D4*3
• Kick: 3D6*3
• Leap Kick: 6D6*3
• Body Flip/Throw: 3D6*3
• Body Block/Tackle: 3D6*3
• Stomp: 6D6*3 . (only effective against small objects)
 

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE THUNDERCHIEF:

• AEROSYNCH STEALTH EM-ABSORBING SKIN COVER: strongly absorbing EM radiation from radio through ultra-violet wavelengths, and emitting only weakly in these bandwidths.  This results in the Thunderchief virtually invisable to conventional tracking systems (reduce detection range to 1% of maximum).
• AUTO-PILOT: The Thunderchief is equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will alert the pilot when the fighter is near its destination, and can also be set to automatically signal when sensors detect objects near the mecha. The auto-pilot was designed with long intra-system space journeys in mind.
• COMBAT COMPUTER: The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 10,000 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 250 targets simultaneously.
• EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away.
• HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening head and radiation. A radiation detection and alarm system are linked with the shields and will sound an alarm if there is a rupture in the shields and what the levels of radiation are.
• HOMING SIGNAL: The escape pod of the  VF-I2  is equipped with a homing device that enables rescue teams to locate a disabled craft or ejected life pod. The range of the signal is 400 miles (640 km). Most RDF ships and veritechs can locate and track a homing signal, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected.
• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the mecha's strike bonus.
• LOUDSPEAKER: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 90 decibels.
• OPTICS: INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the mecha's sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.
• OPTICS: NIGHTVISION: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive light image intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture.
• OPTICS: THERMAL IMAGER: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke, and also adds a +10% bonus to pilots using a tracking skill.
• RADAR: 200 mile range.
• RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 600 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
• SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of an advance variable fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the VF-I2 self-destruct system, which will cause the fighter to explode after a delay of up to 60 minutes (time is set by the pilot). The explosive damage is contained within a 20 foot (6 m) area and inflicts 1D6x10 M.D. to everything within the radius of the explosion. All internal systems are obliterated. The escape pod will be automatically ejected prior to the explosion unless the pilot overrides the ejection sequence.
• STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT: All RDF veritechs come equipped with a portable survival kit. Inside the small reinforced box is a medium-sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food (can be stretched into a five day supply for one person) and basic first aid items (aspirin, bandages, disinfectants, etc.)
• TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The Thunderchief cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The RDF flight suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation even during high-g turns, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot's blacking out in combat.
• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse ALQ-250(V) active sensor jammer
• Chaff and Flare dispensers: 12 chaff and 12 flares are stored in each lower leg

COMBAT BONUSES FOR THUNDERCHIEF TRAINING:

• 3 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot).
• Add one additional action/attack at levels six and eleven.
• +2 to strike
• +3 to parry
• +2 to dodge in solder, +4 in guardian, and +6 in jet mode.
• +3 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• Robotech Technical Files: Veritech Valkyrie
• Palladium Books:  "Robotech The Roll Playing Game"
• Antarctic Press:  "Robotech Wings of Gibraltar #1 & 2"