THUNDERER-CLASS BATTLE FORTRESS

RPG Stats by NATHAN BABCOOK (hellcat@computerland.com)
Background info provided by the ROBOTECH TECHNICAL FILES

BACKGROUND

The Thunderer class drew heavily on the design studies of the Ikazuchi class command carriers, but was expanded to include more reflex weaponry and a larger mecha complement. The main body of the vessel retains the 'brick on its side' shape for much of its length, though it can be divided into three sub-sections: A narrow, downsloping aft central section, an enlarged and heightened forward cannon section, and a wide and low engine block aft. In addition, three additional modules are attached; two connecting by a passage to the two sides of the central body and directly to the engine block, and one to the keel. At the front of the side bodies the heavy particle cannons are mounted, which, in concert with the main reflex cannon in the main body, can bring an enormous amount of fire to bear on the forward arc. In addition, the forward subsection of the main body shields much of the vessel from return fire, and the side bodies shield the aft main body and the engine block from flanking maneuvers. At normal battle attitudes, the Thunderer's vital aft central body is usually only exposed on its top and bottom sides, and only in a very limited way forward of the engine blocks. This all combines (because of the ships' attitude) to make the central section the least vulnerable section of the ship.

Hangar decks and crew spaces are distributed through the vessel, including eight quick-launch bays first used on the Ikazuchi command carriers. There is a large Horizont bay located in the lower body, capable of a high turn-around rate on the shuttles. The lower body also contains Destroid hangars, to facilitate unloading. The Air Group hangars are all in the main and side bodies. There is no command citadel, though there is a command tower that rises above the main hull, shortly before the deck begins its aft downslope. The flag bridge is located in this tower.

The SDF-4 Thunderer and the SDF-5 Izumo were both destroyed in the final battle of the Second Invid War when the Regis and her forces fled from Earth. The SDF-6 Prometheus, named in honor of the Prometheus Attack Group and intended to be the flagship for the fleet, was completed and launched in 2042. Two more Thunderer battle fortresses were under construction at the end of the Third Invid War, but both were converted into newer Olympus-class Battle Fortresses prior to completion. The SDF-6 Prometheus is the only surviving example of this starship class, and still serves proudly as the flagship of the 2nd RGF Starfleet. The Thunderer, Izumo and Prometheus were all built at the Fantoma Orbiting Shipyard.

RPG STATS

Crew: 7,850 total

Officers: 420

Main Crew: 4,150

Flight Crew: 2,800

Mecha Pilots:

Troops: 1,800

Notable Ships of Class:

SDF-4 Thunderer	launched 2034, first new battle fortress constructed at Tirol, assigned as flagship of REF Jupiter Attack Group #2 in 2038, destroyed above Earth by Invid Regis same year
SDF-5 Izumo	launched 2037, assigned as flagship of REF Jupiter Attack Group #3 in 2038, attempted to destroy the surface of the Earth using Neutron-S missiles, destroyed above Earth by Invid Regis same year
SDF-6 Prometheus	launched 2042, assigned as flagship of the REF Prometheus Attack Fleet in 2046, survived final battle of Third Invid War, assigned to Robotech Guardian Forces in 2051, assigned as flagship of the 2nd RGF Starfleet in 2054, still in service circa 2080

MDC BY LOCATION:

(1) Forward Primary Hull (forward 1/3 of ship)      60,000
(2) Rear Primary Hull (rear 2/3 of ship)            55,000
(3) Port Secondary Hull                             45,000
(3) Starboard Secondary Hull                        45,000
    Hull Nacelle Connectors (2)                     20,000
(4) Dorsal Secondary Hull (main hangar bay)         30,000
(5) Command Tower                                   10,000
(6) Alpha Launch Bays (8)                            1,200 each
(7) Main Engines (3)                                15,000 each
(7) Auxiliary Engines (14 total)
    - Side Body (6)                                  3,000 each
    - Central Front Body (4)                         3,000 each
    - Central Aft Body (4)                           3,000 each
    Guidance Thrusters (60)                            200 each
   
    Forward Reflex Cannon (in nose)                  5,000
    Particle Beam Cannons (2)                        2,000 each
    Zentraedi-Style Laser Cannons (17)                 150 each
    Zentraedi-Style Missile Launchers (12)             150 each
    Point Defense Turrets (12)                         100 each
(8) DS-2 Full Barrier Shield System                 80,000
(8) DS-1 Pin Point Barrier System (4)                5,000 each

    Main Hangars Doors (2)                           1,000 each
    Alpha Launch Bays Hangar Doors (8)                 800 each
    Secondary Hangar Doors (14)                        500 each
    Main Airlocks (15)                                 500 each
    Small Airlocks/Access Hatches (200)                100 each
    Outer Hull (per 40ft area)                         200
    Interior walls (per 20ft area)                      40

NOTES:

1. Depleting the MDC of the forward primary hull will knock out forward reflex cannon, 5 of the laser cannons and 4 of the main missile launchers. Crew casualties will be heavy; 30+(6D6)% of the crew will be killed instantly when the forward section is destroyed.
2. Depleting the MDC of the rear primary hull will essentially destroy the battle fortress. All power systems, the main engines and the auxiliary engines will be eliminated (see below). Crew losses will be heavy; (8D6)% of the crew will be instantly killed. In addition, all internal systems will shut down due to lack of power, including life support and internal gravity. Finally, there is a 50% chance that the reflex furnace will overload and explode, doing 6D6x1,000 M.D. to everything in a 5,000 ft (1,525 m) radius.
3. Depleting the MDC of either the port or starboard secondary hulls will knock out one of the particle beam cannons, 4 of the laser cannons and 2 of the missile launchers. Four of the eight Alpha launch bays will also be destroyed. Crew losses will be significant; (6D6)% of the crew will be killed (primarily mecha pilots and flight crew).
4. Depleting the MDC of the dorsal secondary hulls will kill (6D6)% of the crew (primarily horizont pilots and flight crew). In addition, the battle fortress' ability to recover mecha will be greatly reduced due to the loss of the main hangar bay Under normal circumstances a Thunderer SDF can launch or recover 30 mecha or small ships per turn excluding the Alphas in their launch bays. For every 1,000 points of damage the flight deck takes reduce this number by 1. If the flight deck reaches 0 MDC then it is destroyed; no mecha can be launched or recovered, 40+(1D6x10)% of the flight crew will be killed, and any mecha that have already been launched will need to find another place to land (this includes the Alphas in the launch bays).
5. Destroying the command tower will instantly kill anyone on the bridge, as well as (2D6)% of the overall crew. Radar and primary communications will be knocked out. There are two auxiliary bridges in the main body of the ship that the surviving crew can take command from. However if the command tower is lost then the ship will be at -5 initiative and -3 to dodge due to loss of sensors.
6. Destroying the Alpha launch bays will greatly impair the carrier's ability to rapidly deploy mecha. For every launch bay destroyed 24 Alphas will be eliminated, along with their pilots and support crews.
7. Depleting the MDC of the main engines will force the ship to rely on its auxiliary engines. Depleting the MDC of the main engines AND auxiliary engines will leave the ship adrift in space. If in an atmosphere, the ship will crash (destruction of the main engines will render the antigravity system useless due to loss of power).
8. The DS-2 Barrier System regenerates at a rate of 40 MDC per melee round, and the Pinpoint Barriers regenerate at a rate of 2,500 MD per melee round. If destroyed, both barrier systems will eventually completely regenerate themselves. See the DS-2 Barrier System and the DS-1 Pinpoint Barrier entries for details.

SPEEDS:

Speed (sublight): 0.18 speed of light (25,600 miles/41,200 km per second)
Speed (conventional): equvalent to 5,360 mph (1,635 kmph)
Space Fold:

Range unlimited (1 light year every 6 minutes). The Thunderer's spacefold drive will transport all vessels within a three mile (4.5 km) radius with it when it executes a fold. Up to 100 smaller craft can be transported with the command carrier when it folds.

Planet bound:

The Thunderer has atmospheric capabilities through its thrusters and anti-gravity system. The maximum hover time on the anti-gravity systems is limited only by the protoculture supplies and maintenance requirements. Due to the ship's design, it cannot land on open ground without crushing the lower body, the use of the anti-gravity system will enable the ship to attempt a landing, however, while landed, the battlefortress must operate her antigravs at -99% local g at all times to prevent damage to the lower body. The Thunderer will float in an ocean, and this is the preferred landing method for planetary operations.

Maximum Range: Unlimited (powered by a protoculture reactor with an estimated life span of 40 years)

STATISTICAL DATA:

Main Power System:

RRG mk 15 protoculture-fueled Reflex furnace, Mk8 Fusion-Plasma Reaction Thrusters with protoculture energizer. Mk-3 Fusion-Plasma Emergency Reaction Thrusters with protoculture energizer.

Fold System:

Robotech Research Group (RRG) Mk. 4 fold system cluster

Sublight Drive:

REF Naval Engineering Class XXIV macro nozzle cluster

Gravity Control System:

Thurian internal gravitic field system

Auxiliary Engine:

REF Naval Engineering Class XXII mass-conservation thrust system

Radar System:

RRG Type XX Alpha Hyperspace Sensor Cluster

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. REFLEX CANNON: This is the heaviest of the ship-borne weapons, at full power it has the effective yield of a 14 MT fusion weapon, approximately equivalent to the firepower of a fully-powered Zentraedi Monitor. Unlike the Zentraedi Monitor and Flagship as well as the SDF-1, this weapon does not require a split-boom firing design. The weapon is located in an aperture in the center forward body and is concealed much like the mega-laser on the Ikazuchi and Icarus-class command carriers.
   • Primary Purpose: Anti-Warship/Anti-Planet
   • Range: 300,000 km
   • Mega Damage: Destoys everything in its path. Fires a 2 mile wide beam of destruction.
   • Rate of Fire: Once every 20 Melees (5 Minutes)
   • Payload: Effectively Unlimted

2. PARTICLE BEAM CANNONS (2): Located in the forward Port and Starboard Hulls These weapons can fire 2.5 TJ of particle energy per shot once every fifteen seconds. The cannons can fire separately at different targets or fire coaxially (by themselves, or with the main Reflex Cannon) at a single target.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault/Anti-Warship
   • Range: 100,000 Miles in an atmosphere, 200,000 miles in space.
   • Mega Damage: 1D4X1000
   • Rate of Fire: each may fire once per melee.
   • Payload: Effectively Unlimted

3. ZENTRAEDI-STYLE PARTICLE GUN TURRETS (17): Each turret is capable of delivering 3000 MJ of particle energy. These weapons are mounted on the upper central hull, aft (2) and forward (3), on top of the side bodies (2 each), under the side bodies (2), and under the central bodies aft (2) and forward (2).
   • Primary Purpose: Anti-Spaceship.
   • Range: 50,000 Miles in an atmosphere, 100,000 miles in space.
   • Mega Damage: 1D4X100
   • Rate of Fire: 5 shots per melee
   • Payload: Effectivly Unlimted

4. ZENTRAEDI-STYLE MISSILE LAUNCHERS (12): Four launchers are located near the engines, two others near the bridge, two on the side bodies, and the remaining four are located forward.
   • Primary Purpose: Defense/Anti-Missile, Anti-Ship
   • Range: Varies with Missile Type
   • Mega Damage: Typically 4D6X100
   • Rate of Fire: twice per melee, in volley of 2 or 4
   • Payload: 350 missile per launcher

5. PL-2A POINT DEFENSE TURRETS (12): Mounted behind movable panels in the side bodies (4) and the central bodies (8), these standard REF weapons can fire 56 MJ of particle energy four times per second.
   • Primary Purpose: Anti-Mecha
   • Range: 30 miles in an atmosphere, 60 miles in space
   • Mega Damage: 2D6X20
   • Rate of Fire: five shots per melee
   • Payload: effectively unlimited

6. DS-2 FULL BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: The Thunderer battle fortresses are equipped with a full barrier system similar to the one fitted on the SDF-3. When activated the force field encompasses the entire ship, which prevents the launch of mecha, firing of weapons or even using the main thrusters while the shield is up. The shield can be erected or dropped in 5 seconds; in game terms, the shield can be dropped, mecha recovered, weapons fired and the shield raised in the same melee round, but the rate of fire for all weapons and the number of mecha that can be launched/recovered is reduced by 2/3. The DS-2 can regenerate its MDC at a rate of 10,000 MDC per hour (40 MDC per round).

7. DS-1 PINPOINT BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: The Pinpoint Barrier System generates four small disc-shaped force fields that can be positioned anywhere along the ship to deflect missiles, energy beams or projectiles. Each pinpoint barrier is about 200 ft (61 m) in length and can absorb up to 5,000 MD in damage, which then regenerates within 30 seconds (2 melee attacks). The barriers can also be layered on top of each other to generate a field which provides 20,000 MDC and can even deflect heavy particle beams (usually). The DS-1 is considered a backup system for the DS-2 Full Barrier System.s

   The four barriers are controlled by operators in the command tower of the carrier. These operators are instructed to defend (1) the command tower, (2) main engines, (3) flight deck, and (4) weapons systems in that order. The operators primarily concentrate on defending the ship against larger spacecraft and leave defense against mecha attacking the battle fortress to the Veritechs and retractible weapon systems.

   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Defense (the pinpoint barrier system cannot be used as a weapon)
   • RANGE: Up to 100 feet (30.5 m) from the surface of the vessel.
   • DAMAGE CAPACITY: Can sustain up to 5,000 MD per round. Regenerates at a rate of 2,500 MD per melee round.
   • RADIUS: 200 ft (61 m)
   • DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT: Can move from one end of the carrier to the other in less than a single round. Trained operators can attempt to block attacks up to 8 times per melee (counts as a parry) and are at +7 to block. Untrained characters can parry up to their number of hand-to-hand attacks with their normal parry bonuses only.
   • PAYLOAD: Nearly inexhaustible. Will work as long as system is functional (see below) and engines are intact. If main engines are destroyed, the barrier will loose power and not function.
   • NOTE: If all four barriers are grouped in a single spot they can deflect a heavy particle beam attack, such as the one generated by Zentraedi or Robotech Master warships. However, the beam will completely destroy all four barriers and put incredible strain on the pinpoint barrier system to the point where it may short out. After deflecting an energy beam, roll percentile dice on the table below to determine additional effects/damage.
     • 01-15: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
     • 16-30: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
     • 31-45: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair (yes, DAYS of work).
     • 46-60: Completely destroyed! System can be rebuilt, but will require new parts and 2D6 DAYS of work to replace.
     • 61-75: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair.
     • 76-90: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
     • 91-95: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
     • 96-00: It's a miracle! Trivial damage only, system will be operational again in only 4D6 melee rounds!

ENDURANCE NOTES:

The dry stores endurance is limited to about 20 years, as the on board recycling installations are very extensive, and only incidental biomass losses need to be replenished. Water stores are recycled almost completely. The hydroponics installations on board will provide the crew with a steady supply of fresh foods, and some can even be 'exported' to smaller ships in the fleet.

The mecha consumables supplies (mainly missiles) are very extensive, and can sustain continuous combat operations for over twenty-five days against the Invid. However, battles against the Zentraedi or other powers with capital ships will exhaust the anti-ship missile supplies at a faster rate, and the Thunderer-class cannot sustain those operations for more than two or three days. The ship launched missile magazines should suffice for three large battles or five or more skirmishes.

Several small Robotech Factories are located in the ship which are designed to produce spare parts and ammunition for the Thunderer's mecha complement. If necessary, they can be used to construct complete mecha, however the rate of production is fairly low. The factories can produce roughly 10 Cyclone-sized mecha per day or 3 Veritech-sized mecha per week.

SYSTEMS OF NOTE:

• ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION SYSTEM: The Thunderer battle fortresses are equipped with anti-gravity propulsion systems which are used for planetary landings and liftoffs. The system is good for vertical ascent/descent only and can lift the ship at speeds of up to 1,320 feet (400 m) per minute. The system will function so long as the main engines can supply energy to it.
• HYPERSPACE COMMUNICATIONS: Thunderer SDFs are equipped with hyperspace communications relays which allows faster-than-light communication between the ships and other vessels or planetary bases. Hyperspace communications are still not instantaneous, however. Audio/video communication travels through hyperspace at a rate of about 5 seconds per light year, so messages communicated over vast distances can still take days, weeks, or months to arrive.
• LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: The Thunderer SDFs have sufficient life support to provide breathable air and comfortable temperatures for 12,000 people for up to 20 years (air is recycled). In an emergency the life support system can support up to 16,000 people at one time, though living conditions onboard will get extremely cramped at that point.
• LONG-RANGE LASER/SATELLITE RELAY COMMUNICATIONS: The impressive communications array of the SDF can communicate with up to 1,000 craft simultaneously at ranges of up to 1,200 miles (1,920 km). This range can be boosted indefinitely by using satellites or other spacecraft to relay communications.
• LONG-RANGE RADAR: The radar array of the Thunderer can track and identify up to 800 craft simultaneously. The radar system has a 3,000 mile/4,800 km range.
• SPACE FOLD SYSTEM: Thunderer SDFs are equipped with a Robotech Research Group fold drive, capable of propelling the ship through hyperspace at speeds up to 3.28x10^10 mps (5.25x10^10 kmps), or 1 light year per 6 minutes. When executing a space fold the cruiser will transport any ships within a 3 mile (4.8 km) radius with it, allowing it to transport up to about 100 smaller ships with it, if necessary. The range of the fold drive is theoretically unlimited except by the life expectancy of the spacecraft.
• SUBLIGHT ENGINES: As a backup to the Fold System, the battle fortress is equipped with sublight engines that can propel the ship at speeds up to 0.18 speed of light (28,800 miles/46,350 km per second) in space. Note that these engines are mainly intended for rapid movement inside a planetary system and are not suited for long voyages between star systems.
• SUBSPACE MASS SENSORS: Thunderer SDFs are equipped with subspace sensors which are based on the same principles as the hyperspace communications array. These sensors can essentially instantly detect mass readings and movement of objects up to 1 AU (93 million miles) distant from the carrier, and the readings are used both for early warning and for navigation when travelling at sublight speeds. Readings taken with the subspace sensors are not very detailed (-25% penalty when trying to identify a detected object) and cannot detect objects of less than 60,000 kg (this includes most veritechs and Invid mecha).

MECHA COMPLEMENT:

The immense landing bays of the Thunderer SDFs can hold and support a grand total of 1,218 veritechs/destroids of any type, in addition to the 192 Alpha fighters in the 8 Alpha launch bays, as long as the mecha are smaller than 50 ft (15.2 m) and weigh less than 40 tons each. In addition, there are 18 special berths for larger mecha up to 100 ft (30.4 m) tall and 300 tons in weight (i.e. Mac II or III). Below are some typical mecha complements, though changes may be made if required by a particular mission.

RSS Thunderer Mecha Complement (circa 2038)

• 192 VAF-6 Alpha Fighters housed in 8 Alpha launch bays (Sentinels pg. 82)

• 258 VAF-6 Alpha Fighters (Sentinels pg. 82)
• 40 VAF-6R Reconaissance Alpha Fighters (Sentinels pg. 82)
• 290 VBF-1 Beta Fighters (Sentinels pg. 87)
• 24 VF-1V Vindicators
• 96 VF-1 Veritech Fighters (Robotech RPG pg. XX)

• 3500 VR-052 Battler Cyclones (Sentinels pg. Z)
• 600 VR-041 Sabre Cyclones (Sentinels pg. Z)
• 900 VR-038 Light Cyclones (Sentinels pg. Z)
• 50 VR-055 Devastator Cyclones

• 40 Mk III Gladiator Destroids (Sentinels pg. 63)
• 40 Mk II Gladiator Destroids (Robotech RPG pg. Q)
• 50 Mk VII Excaliber Destroids (Sentinels pg. 61)
• 100 Mk VI Excaliber Destroids (Robotech RPG pg. Q)
• 70 Mk XIII Spartan Destroids (Sentinels pg. 68)
• 30 Mk XII Spartan Destroids (Robotech RPG pg. Q)
• 50 Mk XI Raidar X Destroids (Sentinels pg. 66)
• 50 Mk X Raidar X Destroids (Robotech RPG pg. Q)
• 12 M.A.C. III Destroids (Sentinels pg. 65)
• 6 M.A.C. II Destroids (Robotech RPG pg. Q)

• 60 TBP-Z1 Tactical Battle Pods (Sentinels pg. 70)
• 20 OBP-Z2 Officer's Battle Pods (Sentinels pg. 72)
• 4 CRP-Z3 Cyclops Theatre Scouts (Sentinels pg. 73)

• 40 AAT-40 Assault Transports (Sentinels pg. 107)
• 60 AAT-30 Assault Transports (Sentinels pg. 107)
• 36 ARRAV Rocket Launchers (Sentinels pg. 108)
• 3 MTA Titans (Sentinels pg. 114)

• 12 Cat's Eye Recon Planes (Robotech RPG pg. R)
• 9 T.A.S.C. Pegasus Assault Shuttles (Southern Cross pg. S)
• 20 Horizont Transatmospheric Shuttle (three are modified to carry MTA Titans, Sentinels pg. 94)

RSS Prometheus Mecha Complement (circa 2047)

• (to be written)

In addition the Icarus carries 100 TCH-4 Tractor-Haulers, 200+ ML-3 Forklifts, 30 MOV Moles, 12 AMR-10 Mecha Retrieval Transport Vehicles, 24 REF Personnel Shuttles and 16 REF Cargo Shuttles onboard.

http://www.mcs.net/~deitrich/index.html deitrich@mcs.net

Last Updated: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:14 PST