YVF-14 "TIGERCAT"

(Version 1.01 - Last updated: 7/27/98)
Based on an original mecha design by Ted Nomura, Joeming Dunn and Mel Fujitsu Published in Antarctic Press Robotech #1
RPG Statistics by Kenneth Olson
Background Information borrowed with permission from The Robotech Page Compendium:  Tigercat entry by Macross
             

BACKGROUND

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The VF-14A ‘Tigercat’ was the first Terran success at applying Robotechnoloy to existing conventional aircraft designs and was the predecessor of the VF-1A ValkyrieVeritech Fighter. For almost six years, the United Earth Government’s Research Team, headed by Dr. Emil Lang worked to unravel the mysteries of the technology of the crashed SDF-1. Finally, almost seven years after the crash, Dr. Lang felt that enough information from the SDF-1 was understood to apply it’s technology. After fierce competition from General Dynamics, Lockheed, Northrop and several other major aeronautical corporations, the UEG sold the design contract the Grumman Corporation, a large and trusted supplier of United States Naval combat aircraft for many years before and during the Global Civil War. The design teams of Grumman, pressured to produce a prototype as soon as possible, looked to modify their aging F-14 ‘Tomcat’ design instead of building a new design from scratch. They began by first upgrading an F-14D with the latest communication and sensor systems that the UEG’s Research and Development branches had come up with in the past few years. The most significant of all changes was the addition of a new type of power source and Central Computing Unit, which Dr. Lang and his elite Research Team revealed little information about. The first prototype, simply called the ‘YF-X14’ first flew 11 May, 2006 and performed magnificently. Unfortunately, during a follow-up test flight four days later, the aircraft’s engines stalled at a low altitude during a touch and go exercise, causing the prototype to crash killing the test pilot.

A mere two weeks later, Dr. Lang and his team approached a new high technology corporation, Arumon, to specially construct a radical engine design they had created. The UEG assigned a rising officer, Lisa Hayes, to act as the liason between the two civilian corporations and see that the deadlines were met. Two months and over 50,000 man-hours later, two prototype Arumon vectoring engines were completed. The Research Team then presented the engine to the Grumman Engineers and ordered them to incorporate it into the F-14D’s airframe. By 3 October, 2006, the second prototype called the YVF-X14 rolled out of the production line. Lang’s Research Teams briefly explained that the ‘V’ in the designation was due to a new ‘variable technology’ feature of the fighter. The aircraft’s maiden flight was a week later on 10 October. The new test pilot for the program, Lt.(jg) Roy Fokker, handled the aircraft superbly and successfully demonstrated the unique characteristics of the aircraft. He reconfigured the aircraft by extending it’s reverse articulated legs and demonstrated it’s new found VTOL capabilities. The first variable technology machine, or ‘Veritech Mecha’ was an enormous success.

The UEG placed orders for several more prototypes that could test the new configuration, or “Guardian configuration” as Dr. Lang’s team called it. By quickly modifying airframes, the Grumman Corporation completed the next prototypes, officially called the YVF-14A ‘Tigercat’ which rolled out of the production line 1 January, 2007. Lt. Roy Fokker was at the controls and took the first machine through it’s maiden flight a week later. While the Grumman Engineers slaved to build the ‘Tigercat’, Dr. Lang was secretly putting the finishing touches on a brand new dynamic and revolutionary design based on elements of the successful ‘Destroid’ program. Immediately after the successful flight of the ‘Tigercat’, the UEG contracted Grumman to quickly build a prototype of Lang’s new three-form design, theVF-X1. The YVF-X1 ‘Valkyrie’ prototype flew on 27 March, 2007. The ‘Tigercat’ prototype, made it’s final flight to the UEG’s secret storage facility, or ‘museum’ May 11th, 2008, two years after the first flight of the YF-X14.

 

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: YVF-14A Tigercat
Class: Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Robotech Defense Forces
Crew: One pilot and one weapons officer both wearing Tactical Life Support System.

MDC BY LOCATION:

Location Tigercat
40 mm Cannon 10
Legs/Engine Thrusters 75
(1) Main Body 150
Reinforced Pilots Compartment 100
Wings (2) 50
Fins (2) 25
Tails (2) 25

 

NOTES:

  1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.

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SPEEDS:

FLYING, GERWALK/SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
Mach 1.1 (1200 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 1.4
Max level speed at 10km:  Mach 3.2
Max level speed at 30+ km:  Mach 7
Stall speed : 182 kph (VTOL rectification possible)
Range:  2000 km
Initial climb rate : over 25000m per minute
Service ceiling : 30 km (unboosted).

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
6.93m in gerwalk configuration.
4.90m in fighter configuration.
WIDTH:
19.5m with wings outswept
LENGTH:
. 20.6m
WEIGHT:
13000 kg empty.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 40
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.
 
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:
None

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WEAPON SYSTEMS:

 

  1. 1 x 40MM M99-A1 ANTI-TANK CANNON: A single 40mm cannon is mounted underneath the fuselage.  The gun can fire 300 rounds per minute and has a 200 round capacity stored internally.

     

  2. 1 x 20MM M61-A1 CANNON: A single 20mm cannon is mounted underneath the fuselage on the left side.  The gun can fire 600 rounds per minute and has a 400 round capacity stored internally.

     

  3. 6 x BODY HARD POINTS: Four body hard points are mounted between the engines and two are mounted below each engine mount.  Each hard point can carry 1 missile of any type or 500 kg of bombs.  Any missiles mounted on the two hard points below the engines must be fired before the Tigercat can transform.
  4.  

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  5. 4 x WING HARD POINTS: Two hard points are mounted on each wing. Each hard point can mount 15 short range, 5 medium, 2 long range missiles, or 500 kg of bombs.
  6.  

  7. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Tigercat can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. Without a dedicated battleloid mode the Tigercat only possesses limited hand to hand abilitys.

    DAMAGE:  

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STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE TIGERCAT:

 


COMBAT BONUSES FOR TIGERCAT TRAINING:


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REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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