VB-2 "SPIRIT" VERITECH BOMBER

(Version 1.01 - Last updated: 02/02/02)
Concept and Background by Kenneth Olson
Based on an original mecha design published in Macross Design Works

BACKGROUND

After the Invid Regis's invasion of Earth in 2032, REF military planners came to the realization the the strategies and tactics developed for combating the Invid Regent might not be applicable to fighting this new and more dangerous foe.  Intelligence from the initial Earth reclamation forces indicated that although the Regis did make use of the traditional swarming tactics, she was developing a new generation of more advanced mecha with both advanced protoculture and electromagnetic sensors to detect incoming allied forces.  Standard REF variable fighters, such as the VF-6 "Alpha' and VF-12 "Beta"  could be detected at ranges which made the early stunning successes of surprise attacks against Invid fortifications a thing of the past.  As a result, military engineers began to design more stealthy designs to counter the new Invid sensors.

The VB-2 "Spirit" was produced to fill the role of a heavy combat bomber capable of infiltrating through the heaviest Invid defenses in the earliest stages of an REF blockade and invasion.  Armed with the latest in conventional and reflex weaponry, small groups of bombers would destroy the principle Invid command and control facilities (communication towers, sector hives, and possibility reflex point itself) to be followed by massive raids from spaceborne veritech fighters and capital ships.

A modified version of the V-12S "Shadow Beta" was briefly considered for this role; however, the combat payload of the system was deemed not sufficient to carry the ordinance necessary.  The VB-2 was the first heavy bomber designed for the REF in nearly twenty years since the decision was made in 2020 not to include the VB-X-49 "Boomerang" with the Expeditionary Force.  The VB-2 was designed to have an internal weapon's capability of over 30,000 kg while possessing the latest protoculture and EM damping defensive systems capable of rendering the unit nearly invisible to the new Invid sensors.  The first VB-2 was rolled off the Tirol production line in 2042 greatly exceeding the initial designers criteria.

The weapon's capacity of the VB-2 is impressive, mounting two internal weapons bays under the fuselage.  Each bay is capable of holding up to 22,500 kg of ordinance or fifty 250 kg (Mk 82) weapons, twenty-five 500 kg cluster bombs (CBU-89), twelve1000 kg general purpose high explosive bombs (Mk 84), fifty Stiletto medium range missiles, fifteen long range Derringer missiles, or the equivalent of 22,500 kg of ordinance   The weapons in the internal bays cannot be deployed while the mecha is in battloid or guardian mode because the launcher bay doors are obstructed.  Two MM-4 multi-missile launchers are mounted underneath the main intakes in fighter and on either side of the torso in guardian and battloid.  Each launcher can fire up to four hammerhead short range missiles with a total internal payload of 16 missiles. 

In addition to the missile weaponry, the VB-2 posses a single LA-13 head laser for use against incoming ordnance.  However, the most impressive energy based weapon is the VB-2's massive EP-20 four barreled 50mm particle beam cannon mounted underneath the fuselage in fighter and on the right arm in all other modes.  The weapon is powered directly from the main protoculture generator and is capable of placing 40 MJ of energy on targets accurately out to 5000 meters.  Later Block -20 and -30 models were able to increase the rate of fire for the weapon, however, in all models of the VB-2 the weapons arm was armored with the heaviest Chobham plating capable providing protection from several direct hits from heavy anti-mecha weaponry.

The Spirit was armored with a fourth generation low-mass composite Chobham plating providing excellent protection against all light anti-mecha weaponry and moderate protection from medium class weapons (less than 55mm in caliber). However, repeated strikes from high power anti-mecha weaponry can penetrate the armor and thus disable the unit.  As the unit was not designed to fight the Inivd toe to toe, maneuverability was deemed more critical and therefore the unit is not armored to the same level as a mecha of its size could have been. 

Similar to the B-2, the VB-2 was designed with a low passive radar cross section.  Radar absorbing material (RAM) is made use of extensively throughout the unit which reduces the all aspect radar cross section of the mecha, while in fighter mode, to 30 dBsm less than a conventional VF-1 "Valkryie".  The sixth generation RAM requires far less maintenance than that of earlier models; however, maintenance personal are still required to check the aircraft after each combat mission.  In addition to the passive systems, the Spirit mounts a RRG MK 4 EM absorbing field which reduces the radar cross section an additional 20 dBsm through the use of active radar lessening techniques.

The primary sensor of the Boomerang is the AM/APQ-220 radar.  The radar has 30 separate modes and has two electronically-scanned conformal antenna mounted on the main fuselage.  The APQ-211 operates in Ku band, rather than the more traditional X-band and therefore suffers more atmospheric absorption than X-band systems; however, it has inherently higher resolution and smaller side lobe levels.  In addition to its air-surveillance modes, the systems can operate in a synthetic-aperture mode which allows it to paint a picture of the target and allows GPS quality coordinates to be handed off to the weapon system.

Fifty units were ordered in 2042, with an additional fifty Block-20 and Block-30 in 2044.  The Saturn reclamation force was to be the bombers first combat operation and ninety units were included in the force in three bomber wings.  Military planners assigned the 509th bomber wing, thirty planes, to knock out Reflex point, and the other two wings the 34th and 77th were assigned hives in South American and Asia respectively.  The initial strikes by the 34th and 77th wings went as expected destroying and or damaging a total of 14 hives and 4 communication towers at a loss of only two units.  Unfortunately, the protoplex shield of Reflex point proved to be impenetrable to massed volleys of reflex weaponry.  The 509th bombing wing took over 70% casualties when they were caught by surprise and overwhelmed by massed numbers of Invid armored scouts.  The survivors of the first wave returned to orbit and docked with their respective carrier ships.  However,  the rearming of the bombers was given secondary importance to repairing and rearming the veritech fighters protecting the main fleet.  As a result, most of the remaining bombers were still on board the capital ships when the Invid's energy phoenix destroyed over 80% of the REF reclamation fleet.  Only five units survived the battle and these units along the ten VB-2 which were not part of the invasion fleet were reformed into the 77th bomber wing in 2046.     

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: VB-2
Class: Variable Bomber
Manufacturer: Robotech Expeditionary Forces
Crew: Two, pilot and weapons officer  wearing Tactical Life Support System
Service History:
VF-2 Block 10: REF from 2042-2044
VF-2 Block 20: REF from 2044-
VB-2 Block 30: REF from 2045-

MDC BY LOCATION:

Location

Spirit
Head Laser 40
* Head 125
Hands (2) 50 each
Arms (2) 200 each
Arm Shields / EP-20 (1) 300 each
Legs (2) 300 each
Engine Thrusters (2) 75 each
** Main Body 450
Internal Bomb Bays (2) 200 each
Reinforced Pilots Compartment 200
Wings (2) 250 each
MM-4 Missile Launcher (2) 100 each

NOTES:

  1. * Destroying the head of the Boomerang 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.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
75 kph
LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
50 ft (15 m) high or 70 ft (21 m) long without thrusters.
FLYING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
250 kph 
FLYING, GERWALK/SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
Mach One (670 mph/1072 kph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.
FLYING, FIGHTER CONFIGURATION:
Max level speed at sea level : 100 kph
Max level speed at 10km:  2000 kph
Max level speed at 30+ km:  3500 kph
Stall speed : 250 kph (VTOL rectification possible)
Initial climb rate : over 15000m per minute
Service ceiling:  unlimited capable of entering into orbit
DESIGNED G LIMITS:
+9.0/-4.6 (Computer overrides at 6.5g)
MAX ACCELERATION:  SPACE
1.77g
DELTA V:
18 kps for combat or 23 kps for dry weight.
 

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
28.1 m  in soldier configuration.
14.2 m in gerwalk configuration.
5.5 m in fighter configuration.
WIDTH:
13.1 m at shoulders in soldier and gerwalk configuration.
53.1 m  with wings at maximum extension.
LENGTH:
21.1 m in gerwalk configuration.
22.1 m in fighter configuration.
WEIGHT:
150,100 kg empty.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 60
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's and weapon officer's seat for personal belongings
POWER PLANT:
Two RX-2 miniaturized protoculture-cell energizers providing a total of 3500 kW total power
FUEL CAPACITY:
62 protoculture cell, and up to 70,000 kg of D20 for use in spaceborne operations.
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS
None
 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. 2 x INTERNAL BOMB BAYS:  Two internal bomb bays are located on either side of the main fuselage.  Each bay is capable of holding up to 22,500 kg of ordinance or  fifty 250 kg (Mk 82) weapons, twenty-five500 kg cluster bombs (CBU-89), twelve1000 kg general purpose high explosive bombs (Mk 84), fifty Stiletto medium range missiles, fifteen long range Derringer missiles, or the equivalent of 20,000 kg of ordinance   The weapons in the internal bays cannot be deployed while the mecha is in battloid or guardian mode because the launcher bay doors are obstructed. 

     

  2. 2 x MM-4 INTERNAL SHORT RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS:  Two MM-4 multi-missile launchers are located on either side of the main torso in battloid mode, and underneath the engine intakes in fighter and guardian.  Each launcher can fire four hammerhead short range missiles with and additional 12 missiles in reserve.  These launchers were rarely used as they were designed for close range defensive support and generally the VB-2 operated far outside the range of the these missiles. 

     

  3. 1 x MAUSER LA-13 HEAD LASERS: A single Mauser LA-13 laser is mounted on top of the head.  The LA-13 can be used in all modes, although it is rarely used in fighter or guardian, and is used primarily to shoot down incoming enemy missiles.  The LA-13 is powered directly from the main protoculture generators and can fire 10 MJ burst up to 40 times per minute. 

     

  4. 1 x EP-20 50MM FOUR BARREL PARTICLE CANNON:   A single EP-20 four barreled 50 mm particle beam cannon is mounted on the right arm in guardian and battloid mode and under the main fuselage in fighter and is capable of firing in all modes.  However, in order to fire in fighter mode the weapon is lowered slightly from its conformal housing in the lower fuselage thus increasing the passive radar cross section of the unit.  Each cannon is powered directly from the main protoculture generators and is capable of firing 10 MJ bursts of energy out to an effectively combat range of 5000m.  The rate of fire for the initial block-10 models is 20 times per minute; however, later block-20 and -30 models the recharge rate was increased to 30 times per minute.   In addition, the weapon housing was reinforced with armor to provide the VB-2 a large anti-projectile shield capable of withstanding numerous blasts from anti-mecha weaponry.

     

  5. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Spirit can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The VB-2 although not nearly as agile as most variable mecha 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 SPIRIT:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR SPIRIT TRAINING:

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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