VF-11 "THUNDERBOLT"
FULL-ARMOR VARIANT

(Version 1.3 - Last Updated: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:01 PST)

RPG Stats by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.net)
Background info provided by the MACROSS ONLINE COMPENDIUM

BACKGROUND

In practice full-armor VF-11s are usually reserved for heavy assaults or coordinated strikes against large fleets of enemy fighters and spacecraft. While the armor additions do provide the fighter with a staggering amount of firepower, the extra weight greatly reduces maneuverability, especially in a planetary atmosphere. In addition, the VF-11 is unable to transform into Gerwalk or Fighter while encased in the armor, and thus the craft is unable to benefit from the versatility of three different modes of operation. To partially compensate for this the armor has a "blow-away" option where it can be instantly ejected from the mecha when damaged or depleted, allowing the VF-11 to function thereafter as a normal Thunderbolt VF.

Usually only a small amount of VF-11s for any UN Spacy force are converted to full-armor variants, perhaps amounting to only 5% of the unit's total force.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:

Any VF-11 can be converted into a full-armor VF-11 except for custom types such as the VF-11D Custom and VF-11 MAX-L Kai.

Class: Heavy Assault Fighter
Manufacturer: Shinsei Industries
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System

MDC BY LOCATION:

    Head Laser                                   30
(1) Head                                         75
    Hands (2)                                    50 each
    Arms (2)                                    100 each
(3) Extra Armor (2)                              80 each
    Legs & Thrusters (2)                        200 each
(3) Extra Armor (2)                             120 each
(2) Main Body                                   300
(3) Extra Armor                                 150
    Canard Forward Wings (2)                     30 each
    Main Wings (2)                              120 each
    Tails (2)                                    50 each
(3) Engine Booster Pods (2)                     120 each
    Multipurpose Gun Pod                        100
(3) Missile Shoulder Mounts (2)                 100 each
(3) Shoulder Cannons (2)                         50 each
(3) Heavy Anti-Projectile Shield                250
    Reinforced Pilot Compartment/Escape Pod     150

NOTES:

1. Destroying the head of the VF 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. The pilot and cockpit section/escape pod will be automatically ejected from the doomed mecha before it explodes by the mecha's main computer.
3. Parts of the heavy-armor system. When a full-armor VF-11 is hit, deduct damage from these sections first before going to the main body or corresponding section. If the pilot ejects the heavy armor from the VF-11 then these sections are removed.

   NOTE: After the heavy armor is ejected, stats for the standard VF-11 Thunderbolt should be used to determine mecha performance.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

63 mph (101 kmph)

LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

21 ft (6.3 m) high or 35 ft (10.6 m) long without thrusters.

FLYING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

147 mph (235 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely. Max altitude of 20,000 meters without rocket booster assistance. Maximum rate of ascent is 12,000 meters/minute. G limits are +22 to -14.5 standard Earth gravities.

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

28,000 kg x2 from main engines plus 15,000 kg x2 from heavy armor booster units.

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT: 45.47 ft (14.21 m)
WIDTH: 20.95 ft (6.54 m) at shoulders
LENGTH: 12.76 ft (3.99 m) in soldier configuration.

WEIGHT: 20.5 tons at full load.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Equal to a P.S. of 50
CARGO: Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.
POWER PLANT:

Two Shinsei Industries/Pratt & Whitney/Rolls Royce FF-2025G thermonuclear turbine engines. Several additional Pratt & Whitney HMM- 5B high-maneuverability vernier thrusters for additional mobility are mounted at key positions along the mecha's hull. Additional paired super booster units added as part of the heavy armor option.

COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS: None

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. XS-06 HEAVY GUN POD: Designed and built by Three Star Heavy Industries, this immense weapon is designed specifically for use with the full armor variant of the VF-11 Thunderbolt. The gun can also be used by standard VF-11 Thunderbolts but must be held in soldier or gerwalk mode; the weapon is FAR too large to be carried on the underside of a VF in fighter mode. In addition, no spare clips are carried for the XS-06, as additional clips are too large to store anywhere on the mecha. One XS-06 is issued for each VF-11 Full Armor Thunderbolt.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
   • RANGE: 5000 feet (1500 m)
   • DAMAGE: Does 1D6x10 M.D. for a short burst, 2D6x10 M.D. for a long burst, or 3D6x10 M.D. for a full melee burst.
   • RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the number of combined attacks of the pilot.
   • PAYLOAD: 600 rounds per clip equals 60 short bursts, 30 long bursts, or 15 full melee bursts. Once the gun pod is out of ammo it must be reloaded back at base. NO spare clips can be carried for the XS-06.

   

2. ANTI-AIRCRAFT PULSE LASER: The VF-11 mounts a single pulse laser for use in air combat skirmishes and for defensive purposes. The laser is mounted on the head of the mecha in soldier mode, and is located in the central dorsal section of the main body pointed rearward in fighter and gerwalk modes. The laser can only fire to the REAR of the fighter in these modes; it cannot be turned to fire along another arc.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile/defensive
   • RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m)
   • DAMAGE: 2D4 M.D.
   • RATE OF FIRE: The laser can be fired in rapid pulses up to 4 blasts per round. A rapid fire blast counts as a burst of up to 4 shots.
   • PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited.

3. MISSILE LAUNCHER PODS (8): The extra super booster units for the heavy armor version of the VF-11 Thunderbolt also contain 8 rapid-fire missile launcher units (4 per booster unit). Each unit contains 4 short- range missiles for a total of 32 SRMs. Each launcher can fire 2 missiles per melee round, so a volley of up to 16 missiles can be fired in a single melee. Armor-piercing SRMs are standard issue, but others can be mounted if desired.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • MISSILE TYPES: Any type of standard UN Spacy Short Range Missile can be used.
   • RANGE: Varies with missile type; typically 5 miles (8 km).
   • DAMAGE: Varies with missile type; typically 1D6x10 M.D.
   • RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of 1 to 16 missiles. One volley counts as one attack.
   • PAYLOAD: 4 missiles per launcher; 32 total.

4. HEAVY ARMOR BEAM CANNONS (2): The add-on heavy armor shoulder sections for the VF-11 come with two dual-barrel beam cannons for additional heavy firepower. These cannons have only a limited area of fire and can only fire to the front or the rear of the mecha (not the sides).
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Heavy Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
   • RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m)
   • DAMAGE: Does 1D4x10 M.D. per barrel, or 2D4x10 M.D. for a dual- barrel burst. Barrels are usually fired together.
   • RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the number of combined attacks of the pilot.
   • PAYLOAD: External power capacitors contain enough power for 20 single-barrel shots per cannon, or 10 dual-barrel shots per cannon.

5. HEAVY ARMOR MISSILE LAUNCHERS: The add-on heavy armor for the VF-11 also contains MANY short-range missiles for use against large numbers of opponents or capital ships. These missiles are concealed by armored plates, which flip up seconds before the missiles are fired. Armor-piercing SRMs are ususally used for ALL missiles, but mixes are possible if desired.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Heavy Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-warship
   • MISSILE TYPES: Any type of standard UN Spacy Short Range Missile can be used.
   • RANGE: Varies with missile type; typically 5 miles (8 km).
   • DAMAGE: Varies with missile type; typically 1D6x10 M.D.
   • RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of any number of missiles up to 20 missiles per attack. ALL missiles (!) can be fired in a single combat round if the player forefits all of his other attacks.
   • PAYLOAD:
     • 15 missiles per shoulder launcher unit
     • 10 missiles per chest launcher unit
     • 3 missiles per hip launcher unit
     • 3 missiles per arm launcher unit
     • 20 missiles per leg launcher unit
     • 102 MISSILES TOTAL (!)

6. WING HARD POINTS: The wing hard points of the VF-11 cannot be used to carry missiles while the Thunderbolt is wearing the heavy armor modules.

7. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the pilot of the VF-11 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The variable fighter 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:

   • Restrained Punch: 1D4 M.D.
   • Full Strength Punch: 2D6 M.D.
   • "Booster" Punch: 3D6 M.D. (counts as two attacks)
   • Tear or Pry with Hands: 1D6 M.D.
   • Kick: 1D6 M.D.
   • Leap Kick: 2D6 M.D.
   • Body Flip/Throw: 1D4 M.D.
   • Body Block/Tackle: 1D6 M.D.
   • Stomp: 1D6 M.D. (only effective against small objects)

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VF-11:

• AUTO-PILOT: The VF-11 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 W/HUD DISPLAYS: The VF-11 is equipped with a combat computer that can store and analyze data during combat with hostile forces. The entire cockpit canopy of the VF-11 is a large HUD display, which allows the computer to display large amounts of data to the pilot and even highlight enemies and missile attacks with overlaid graphics. 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.
• ESCAPE POD: The entire reinforced cockpit of the VF-11 is a detachable escape pod that can be jettisoned when the mecha is destroyed. The ejected cockpit does not contain thrusters, but does contain a powerful locator beacon and an integrated life support system that can support the pilot for up to 24 hours after ejection. The pod is also equipped with parachutes in case of ejection in an atmosphere. The combat computer is programmed to automatically eject the escape pod if the mecha is destroyed (main body MDC reduced to 0), but this can be overridden if the pilot is feeling suicidal for some reason.
• 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 heat 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.
• HEAVY ANTI-PROJECTILE SHIELD: The full-armor version of the VF-11 is equipped with an external heavy shield on the left arm of the mecha. On a successful parry the shield can be used to block missiles or projectiles, thus protecting the main body from harm. Although constructed of super-strong materials, the shield is NOT regenerable and must be ejected once its MDC is depleted.
• HOMING SIGNAL: The escape pod of the VF-11 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 UN Spacy ships and variable fighters can locate and track homing signals, 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 (321 km) 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 a variable fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the VF-11's 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 UN Spacy variable fighters 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 VF-11's cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The UN Spacy 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.

COMBAT BONUSES FOR THUNDERBOLT VF TRAINING:

BASIC VARIABLE FIGHTER COMBAT TRAINING

• Basic training for non-pilot military personnel.
• 1 attack per melee (plus those of the pilot).
• Add one additional action/attack at levels three, nine, and fifteen.
• +1 on initiative.
• +1 to strike.
• +1 to parry
• +1 to dodge in soldier mode, +3 in gerwalk, +5 in jet mode.
• +1 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• No leap dodge.
• No leap kick.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.
• Body block/tackle/ram - 1D6 M.D. plus a 50% chance of knocking an opponent down, causing him to loose initiative and one attack that melee round.

• Advanced training for pilots specializing in the VF-11.
• 3 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot).
• Add one additional action/attack at levels three, six, eleven, and fifteen.
• +2 on initiative.
• +2 to strike
• +3 to parry
• +2 to dodge in solder mode, +4 in gerwalk, +6 in jet mode.
• +3 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• +2 to leap dodge. A leap dodge is an automatic dodge which causes no loss of attacks per melee. The new generation variable fighters are so maneuverable that the pilot can dodge an attack while moving to counterattack an enemy.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.
• Body block/tackle/ram - 1D6 M.D. plus a 50% chance of knocking an opponent down, causing him to loose initiative and one attack that melee round.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• "Doe's All The Worlds' Mecha Guide: Shinsei Industry VF-11 Thunderbolt Entry"
• Macross 7 TV episode 26
• This is Animation Special: Macross Plus

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