Macross Mecha DesignsPrevious | Next | Index The following material is an adaptation of mecha from MACROSS FLASHBACK 2012, an OAV sequel to the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech here in the U.S.) and the Macross Movie (1984). 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.

VF-4 LIGHTNING III
VARIABLE FIGHTER

(Version 2.5 - Last modified: 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

The VF-4 Lightning III was developed by Stonewell Bellcom in late 2009, and was promoted as the "next generation" variable fighter for the UN Spacy by the company. The VF-4 was faster, more maneuverable, could generate more thrust than the standard VF-1 Valkyrie, and was armed with dual beam cannons in addition to the traditional GU-11 gun pods. Early models of the VF-4, designated VF-X-4 Prototypes, were produced on Earth for testing purposes in 2010, just as Space War One started to increase in magnitude. The VF-X-4 prototypes were heavily based on the VF-1 Valkyrie design; 35% of the VF-X-4's components were directly taken from the VF-1 Valkyrie, including the entire nose and forward fuselage section.

Unfortunately, almost all of the initial VF-X-4s were destroyed along with Stonewell Bellcom during the Zentraedi attack on Earth during 2010. The design itself would have also died in the attack if it weren't for a team of Stonewell Bellcom technicians who were stationed on the SDF-1 Macross when the final attack came, working on maintenance upgrades for the Macross' VF-1 Valkyries. Rallying under Dr. H. Takachihoff, one of the original designers of the VF-1, the technicians refounded Stonewell Bellcom after the Macross landed on Earth and continued work on the VF-4. More VF-X-4s were constructed and tested by a number of UN Spacy pilots, including Skull Team leader Hikaru Ichijyo. In 2012 the final design for the VF-4 Lightning III was completed and mass production of the new fighter began.

The first VF-4 squadrons were issued to the Skull and Iron Chiefs Squadrons, which accompanied the SDF-2 Megaroad-01 on her colonization mission in late 2012. After the Megaroad left production of the VF-4s continued, and in 2020 the Lightning III officially replaced the VF-1 Valkyrie as the main tactical fighter of the UN Spacy. The VF-4 design was itself replaced in 2030 by the VF-11 Thunderbolt. A grand total of 8,245 VF-4s were produced for the UN Spacy between 2012 and 2030.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: VF-4 Lightning III
Class: Tactical Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Stonewell Bellcom and Shinnakasu Industries
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System

MDC BY LOCATION: 

(1) Head                                    60
    Hands (2)                               50 each
    Arms/Beam Cannons (2)                  100 each
(2) Shoulders/Engine Nacelles (2)          150 each
(2) Legs/Main Thrusters (2)                200 each
(3) Main Body                              300
    Canard Forward Wings (2)                30 each
    Main Wings (2)                         100 each
    Tails (4)                               50 each
    Reinforced Pilot's Cockpit             150
    GU-11 Gun Pod (1 or 2)                 100 each

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. Destroying the shoulders/engine nacelles or the legs/thrusters will severely damage the VF-4's engines. Destruction of either shoulder will reduce maximum speeds by 20%, and destruction of either leg will reduce speeds by 30%. If three of the four engines are destroyed the Lightning will have insufficient thrust to remain airborne and must land. If all four engines are destroyed the variable fighter will lose power and crash.
  3. Destruction of the main body will completely destroy the mecha.

SPEEDS:

FLYING IN AN ATMOSPHERE:
Mach 3.02+ (2023 mph/3237 kmph) max speed at 10,000 meters or less above sea level. Mach 5.15+ (3451 mph/5221 kmph) max speed at 10,000-30,000 meters above sea level. The VF-4 is fully transatmospheric and can attain orbital velocity above an Earth-type planet under its own power.
MAX ENGINE THRUST:
8,400 kg x2 from main engines. 5,600 kg x2 from secondary thrusters.

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
45.5 ft (13.76 m) in soldier mode.
24.3 ft (7.34 m) in gerwalk mode.
12.3 ft (3.72 m) in fighter mode.
WIDTH:
16.5 ft (5.00 m) in soldier mode.
47.1 ft (14.28 m) in gerwalk or fighter configuration (max wingspan).
LENGTH:
14.8 ft (4.48 m) in soldier mode.
28.3 ft (8.58 m) in gerwalk mode.
49.2 ft (14.92 m) in fighter mode.
WEIGHT:
13,950 kg

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 50
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.
POWER PLANT:
Two Shinnakasu/Pratt & Whitney/Rolls Royce FF-2011 thermonuclear turbine engines. Several Pratt & Whitney HMM-1A high-maneuverability vernier thrusters at key locations along the VF-4's hull for added mobility.
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:
Dorsal: NP-BP-01, NP-BP-02, NR-BP-T1, NR-BP-E2, NP-BP-10

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. LARGE-CALIBER HIGH POWERED BEAM CANNONS: The main weapon of the VF-4 Lightning III is a pair of high-power beam cannons mounted on the engine nacelles of the aircraft. The cannons can be fired together or individually, and are fed directly from the power generated by the FF-2011 engines. The cannons are slightly adjustable and can be aimed to fire anywhere in a 30 degree arc in front of the aircraft. In gerwalk and soldier modes the beam cannons are mounted on the backs of the mecha's arms, and can be fired in any direction the arms are pointing.

  2. BODY/WING HARD POINTS: The VF-4 is also equipped with six fixed hard points for missile loads and other ordinance. One hardpoint is mounted on each wing of the aircraft and four are mounted under the main body. These hardpoints can be used to hold a variety of different ordinance types, including long or medium range missiles. One long range or 3 medium range missiles can be mounted per hardpoint. Usually long range missiles are used.

  3. GU-11 55mm MULTIPURPOSE GUN POD: For additional close-range combat capability, the VF-4 can be armed with one or two GU-11 gun pods, identical to the ones used by the original VF-1 Valkyries. However, the gun pods are mounted on hardpoints when not being held in the mecha's hands, and therefore the VF-4 cannot carry as many missiles as usual. When mounted each GU-11 takes up one hard point, reducing the number of missiles the Lightning can carry (see above). One spare GU-11 clip can be stored in each leg of the VF-4.

  4. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the pilot of the VF-4 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The Lightning 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:

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VF-4:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR LIGHTNING III VARIABLE FIGHTER TRAINING:

Note: Valkyrie Combat Training (from Macross II) or Veritech Combat Training (from Robotech) can be substituted for either of the skills below. If this is the case, then the pilot gets a bonus of +1 to parry and dodge and one extra melee attack per round in addition to the his normal combat bonuses due the speed and agility of the Lightning III.

BASIC VARIABLE FIGHTER COMBAT TRAINING

ADVANCED LIGHTNING III COMBAT TRAINING

FICTIONAL BACKGROUND FOR ROBOTECH CAMPAIGNS:

The VF-4 Lightning III was designed and produced in 2012 during the Reconstruction Period following the First Robotech War, in response to the need for a faster and more agile attack mecha for use in anti-Zentraedi combat missions. The Zentraedi Uprisings after the war were too widespread to be effectively countered by the RDF's surviving Veritech and Destroid squadrons, and resources for new mecha were scarce due to the development of the SDF-3 expeditionary mission and the creation of the new Southern Cross armies. A more effective mass-producable anti-mecha fighter was needed to deal with the threat of Zentraedi Battlepods and Powered Armor attacks on settlements.

The VF-4 was designed and produced at the Robotech Defense Force R&D Labs in New Macross by Dr. H. Takachihoff. Takachihoff and his team were originally doing research into improving the VF-1 Veritech fighters on Macross Island during the restoration of the SDF-1, and were subsequently stranded on the superdimensional fortress during the entire First Robotech War. Dr. Takachihoff worked along with Drs. Lang and Burke to design the Armored Veritech and Super Veritech versions of the VF-1, and was given complete control over the design of the VF-4. Early prototypes of the VF-4 were tested by a number of famous RDF pilots, including Captain Rick Hunter and Lt. Miriya Sterling. However, much of the research was lost when the main RDF R&D Labs were destroyed during the Zentraedi warlord Khyron's suicidal attack on the SDF-1 and Macross City on December 30, 2012.

Dr. Takachihoff and the surviving team members reconvened in the new R&D labs in Tokyo, Japan, and completed the design of the VF-4 in late 2013. The new fighter combined Robotechnology with state-of-the-art combat avionics, resulting in a highly maneuverable mecha with weaponry that made it a match for all known Zentraedi mecha designs. VF-4s were often used in first-strike and assault missions, where they would go in rapidly and destroy as many mecha and fortifications as possible, clearing the way for following Veritech and Destroid squadrons. They were also commonly used in fire support missions for ground troops during the Malcontent Uprisings. The high thrust engines and multiple venier thrusters on the VF-4 also made it ideal for space combat, and many were stationed in space to help Super Veritech squadrons patrol for raiders and orbital intruders.

Many squadrons of VF-4s were produced during 2013-2020, and served well in supplementing Veritech fighter squadrons on Earth, orbiting bases, and the moon bases. Several squadrons of VF-4s were assigned to the SDF-3 and accompanied the ship on the REF Expeditionary Mission in 2022. The remaining VF-4s on Earth were turned over to the TAF and TASC armies of the Southern Cross to supplement their forces. Eventually, the VF-4 was replaced by the non-transformable Corsair III and Specter Interceptors, and the new VF-11 Thunderbolt Veritechs. The remaining VF-4s were reassigned to garrison duties, and many were destroyed during the battles with the Robotech Masters during the Second Robotech War. A few VF-4 squadrons did survive the war, but all were reported destroyed during the initial Invid invasion of the Third Robotech War/Second Invid War. No VF-4s are known to have survived the period of the Invid wars intact.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: The aircraft Lancer flew during the first invasion of the Invid (seen in flashback in Robotech episode 71, "The Secret Route") looks suspiciously like a VF-4 Lightning III. Obviously it isn't since Macross and Mospeada are completely different shows, but it does provide an interesting opportunity for GMs who want to integrate Macross mecha into their Robotech campaigns.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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