Macross Mecha DesignsPrevious | Next | Index The following material is an adaptation of mecha from MACROSS 7, a sequel to the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech here in the U.S.). Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit to me and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

AZ-130 PANTSERZORENE
VARIABLE FIGHTER

(Version 1.1 - Last Modified: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:58:59 PST)
RPG Stats by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.net)
Background info provided by the MACROSS ONLINE COMPENDIUM

BACKGROUND

As the war with between the Varuta and the Macross 7 Colony Fleet began to escalate the Varuta began updating their forces to keep pace with improvements made by the UN Spacy forces. One of their more successful new designs was the AZ-130A Pantserzorene, an upgraded heavy fighter version of the FZ-109 Elgerzorene, the standard fighter for the Varuta space forces. Like the FZ-109, the AZ-130 design is originally based on the UN Spacy's VF-14 Hunter Fighter/Bomber that were designed around 2025. The masters of the Varuta, the Protodeviln, gained this technology when they captured and brainwashed the crew of the Megaroad-13, which had the misfortune to stumble upon the Protodeviln's icy homeworld in 2043.

The Pantserzorene is basically a much heavier version of the Elgerzorene which sacrifices some speed and agility for increased armor and greater firepower. The AZ-130 is a monstrous design with thicker arms and legs, broader shoulders, and a larger and heavier main body and head. The fighter still uses the Varuta-modified versions of the FF-2770 thermonuclear turbine engines however, so the increased mass of the armor leads to lower speeds and performance, especially in a planetary atmosphere. Similarly, the weaponry was changed on the AZ-130 to include two 35mm autocannons, two fixed laser clusters in addition to most of the standard armament used on the FZ-109. The Spiritia Absorption Beam was also kept on the Pantserzorene, and a new Spiritia Defense System was added to try and counter the powers of the Macross 7's Sound Force and Jamming Birds special forces.

The introduction of the Pantserzorene in the Macross 7/Varuta war was devastating, as the design greatly outclassed the VF-11 Thunderbolts that made up the bulk of the Macross 7's forces. However, the reduced speed and maneuverability hurt it when dealing with faster, more agile opponents such as the upgraded VF-17 Nightmare and the newly-introduced VF-19 Excalibur. The AZ-130 was only produced in one variant and in great numbers, and was very common throughout the second half of the war.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:
AZ-130A (Standard version)
Class: Heavy Tactical Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Varauta, based on technology from General Galaxy
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System

MDC BY LOCATION: 

(1) Head                                        120
    Hands (2)                                    80 each
    Arms (2)                                    180 each
    Shoulders/Missile Launchers (2)             200 each
    Shoulder Lasers                              75 each
    Legs & Thrusters (2)                        300 each
    Rapid-fire laser clusters (2)                50
(2) Main Body                                   420
    Wings (2)                                   130 each
    Reinforced Pilot Compartment/Escape Pod     180
    Multipurpose Gun Pod                         75

NOTES:

(1)
Destroying the head of the Pantserzorene will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all radar, nightvision, thermal, spiritia sensor, and even the main optical system. This puts the pilot in a VERY bad position, as he will have to rely on backup sensors not designed for combat. The pilot will suffer a -5 to hit and dodge, and have a -5 penalty to initiative until he can retreat and have his sensors fixed. The Spiritia Absorption Beam will also be destroyed if the head is knocked out.
(2)
Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha. The pilot may attempt to eject in the cockpit section/escape pod before the craft explodes, but the computer will NOT automatically eject the escape pod like UN Spacy mecha are designed to do.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER:
40 mph (64 kmph)
LEAPING, SOLDIER:
15 ft (4.5 m) high or 20 ft (6 m) long without thrusters.
FLYING, SOLDIER:
180 mph (288 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.
FLYING, GERWALK:
Mach One (670 mph/1072 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.
FLYING, FIGHTER:
Mach 4.0+ (2680 mph/4288 kmph) max speed at 10,000 meters or less above sea level. Mach 9.0+ (6030 mph/9648 kmph) max speed at 10,000-30,000 meters above sea level. Mach 15.0+ (2.8 mps/4.5 kmps) max speed at 30,000+ meters above sea level. The AZ-130 is fully transatmospheric and can attain orbit above an Earth-type planet without extra booster assistance. Maximum rate of ascent is 37,500 meters/minute. G limits are +35.0 to -20.5 standard Earth gravities.
MAX ENGINE THRUST:
55,000 kg x2.

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
56.74 ft (17.73 m) in soldier configuration.
25.60 ft (8.00 m) in gerwalk configuration.
12.64 ft (3.95 m) in fighter configuration.
WIDTH:
41.44 ft (12.95 m) at shoulders in soldier configuration.
70.88 ft (22.15 m) in gerwalk or fighter configuration with wings at maximum extension.
LENGTH:
16.51 ft (5.16 m) in soldier configuration.
45.47 ft (14.21 m) in gerwalk configuration.
56.90 ft (17.78 m) in fighter configuration.
WEIGHT:
15,500 kg

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 95
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.
POWER PLANT:
Two Shinnakasu/Daimler FF-2770D thermonuclear turbine engines, equipped with three-dimensional convergent/divergent vectored exhaust nozzles for enhanced V/STOL performance and maneuverability, as well as hexagonal underfuselage air intakes for use in an atmosphere. Several additional Pratt & Whitney/Daimler HMM-5C high-maneuverability vernier thrusters for additional mobility are mounted at key positions along the mecha's hull.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. FIXED 35mm AUTOCANNONS: The main weapons of the AZ-130 are two fire-linked 35mm autocannons that are mounted underneath the main fuselage pointed forward in fighter and gerwalk modes, and on the shoulders of the mecha in soldier mode. In the latter mode, the cannons can rotate forward over the shoulders to fire in front of the Pantserzorene, or can be aimed up to 30 degrees behind the mecha to shoot at aircraft or targets above it.

  2. RAPID-FIRE LASER CLUSTERS: As a backup weapon for the autocannons, the Pantserzorene is mounted with two three-barrelled beam guns similar to the one on the Elgerzorene. The laser clusters are mounted on the main fuselage of the mecha in fighter and gerwalk modes, and on the chest in soldier mode. In all three modes the cannons are restricted to firing in front of the mecha. The lasers are intended for use in short to medium range combat, either against other mecha or ground forces.

  3. FIXED REAR LASER CANNON: Another defensive measure, the AZ-130 has a single laser gun fixed on the rear of the aircraft for firing at missiles or mecha pursuing it. The laser is mounted on the rear fuselage in fighter/gerwalk mode, and on the back of the mecha pointed downward in soldier mode (the laser is seldom used in this mode).

  4. FIXED SHORT-RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS (8): The other main offensive armaments of the AZ-130 are 8 missile launchers. 4 launchers are mounted on the front of each engine nacelle in fighter and gerwalk modes, and on the shoulders of the mecha in soldier mode.. Each missile launcher contains 6 SRM missiles and can fire 1 missile per melee round (including reload time), so volleys of up to 8 missiles can be fired each round. Armor-piercing SRMs are standard issue for the AZ-130, but other types can be mounted if desired.

  5. LEG-MOUNTED MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS: Each leg of the Pantserzorene is equipped with a concealed missile launcher bay that can hold up to 8 medium-range missiles. When armed, the missile launcher assembly lowers out of the leg units, allowing all 8 missiles to be fired at once (if necessary). The missiles can be fired in any mode; fighter, gerwalk, or soldier. Any type of MRM can be used in the launchers, but high explosive are standard issue.

  6. MULTIPURPOSE GUN PODS (2): Like the FZ-109, the primary handheld weapon for the AZ-130 is a gun pod similar to the old GU-11 used by the original VF-1 Valkyrie. The Varuta gun pod is shorter, however, and features a targeting sensor on the front and a removable clip on the back for easy reloading. Each AZ-130 has TWO gun pods, one mounted in each leg in fighter mode and ejected into the hands in gerwalk and soldier modes. There is also one spare clip for each gun pod in each leg of the mecha. Pilots of the Pantserzorene usually only use one gun pod at a time to extend their ammo supply. The gun pods can be fired in all three modes; in fighter mode the shots exit out of concealed ports in the engine nacelles.

  7. SPIRITIA ABSORPTION BEAM: The most unique weapon of Varuta mecha is the Spiritia Absorption Beam. A product of Varauta technology, this energy beam is designed to drain the Spiritia from a humanoid and store it for later use. The Spiritia Absorption Beam projects a pencil-thin beam of energy that can penetrate ANY form of armor (even starship armor) without \ any deflection. Fortunately, the beam has a fairly short range and must be used in close combat. Furthermore, for the beam to have any effect it must strike the BRAIN of a victim; if it hits any other part of the body all the beam produces is a mild stinging sensation. For this reason the beam is usually only used after a target has been incapacitated or otherwise restrained.

    For more information on Spiritia, see the optional Spiritia rules for the Palladium RPG in these web pages. (coming soon)

  8. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the pilot of the Pantserzorene can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. Because of its increased strength the AZ-130's punches are far more devestating than those of the FZ-109, though it is not as agile as the Elgerzorene.

    DAMAGE:

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE AZ-130:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR PANTSERZORENE FIGHTER TRAINING:

AZ-130 PANTSERZORENE COMBAT TRAINING

NOTE: AZ-130s are often piloted by brainwashed humanoids from the Macross 5 colony mission. Brainwashed pilots tend to be sluggish, and suffer a -2 to initiative and -1 to hit and dodge rolls during combat.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

Macross Mecha DesignsPrevious | Next | Index
DAVE DEITRICH http://www.mcs.net/~deitrich/index.html
deitrich@mcs.net