Robotech New Generation: The Complete Bernard Team Pilots' Reports

Version 5.0

Last Updated October 11, 2002

By Lowell Silverman (aka alphavt)

Here they are, the product of my extensive research into the mecha weapons employment in the third series of Robotech. Omitted are small arms (except in the ultra-rare cases in which they destroy targets); their ineffectiveness in destroying mecha is already well documented. Also omitted are accidental destruction of enemy craft (most notably, Lancer and Rook so confused about 3 Armored Scouts in “Reflex Point” that they collided and exploded), though oddly attained victories with weapons/devices (ie indirect kills, booby traps) are included as unconventional victories.

The data is accurate to the best of my ability, though occasionally I have been forced to estimate and extrapolate. If, in the course of reviewing the series, I conclude that I have made an error, the reports will be corrected immediately.

I welcome any comments and observations on the data itself, as well as reactions to my analysis of each pilot (a good place to post is http://www.robotech.com/community/forum/read.php?id=585860&forumid=9, or I may be reached at lowells@udel.edu).

Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

Lieutenant Commander Scott Bernard

DATA

Scott Bernard shot down 67 Invid mecha (on screen during the series):

34 utilizing the Alpha’s (also Beta’s, once) Hammerhead missiles (expending an estimated 158 missiles in salvos at these targets).

12 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 27 bursts at these targets).

8 utilizing the Cyclone’s Scorpion missiles (expending an estimated 11 missiles at these targets).

2 with a melee attack with the Alpha in Battloid mode.

2 utilizing the Cyclone’s EP-37 cannon (expending 2 bursts).

2 with the Beta’s bombs (expending 10 bombs).

1 by mysterious means (2 Alpha nose laser bursts?)

Note: In one instance in “Reflex Point” Scott and Rand both fire missiles at a group of targets at the same time, resulting in 5 Scouts destroyed. Arbitrarily, I assigned the kills of Rand 3 and Scott 2, based on the side of the screen they were shown firing at in previous shots. Whether the two separate groups seen destroying the 5 targets were indeed separate salvos from the two pilots, or one salvo (left and right sides) of a single pilot is a matter of debate.

Scott’s kills breakdown:

25 Armored Scouts (21 Alpha, 2 Cyclone, 2 Beta) (12 Hammerhead, 8 EP-13, 2 EP-37, 2 bombs, 1 mystery)

17 Booster Scouts (17 Armored Alpha) (14 Hammerhead, 3 EP-13)

18 Shock Troopers (15 Alpha, 3 Cyclone) (7 Hammerhead, 6 EP-13, 3 Scorpion, 2 melee)

5 Troopers (5 Cyclone) (5 Scorpion)

2 Royal Command Battloids (1 Alpha, 1 Beta) (1 EP-13, 1 Hammerhead)

Scott’s mode breakdown:

34 kills were achieved in Battloid mode (33 Alpha, 1 Beta)

19 kills were achieved in Fighter mode (17 Alpha, 2 Beta)

4 were achieved in Guardian mode (4 Alpha)

9 Cyclone kills were achieved in Armor mode

1 Cyclone kill was achieved in Cycle mode

Note: When flying the Alpha and Beta linked, credit is given to which module’s weapons were fired in the kill.

Scott also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

80 hammerheads and six EP-13 bursts to neutralize 52 Royal Command Battloid missiles tracking his Veritech

16 Hammerhead missiles, 4 Scorpion missiles, 3 EP-13 cannon bursts, 1 EP-15 bursts (?), and 1 melee attack using his Alpha’s cannon which resulted in damage to enemy craft

An estimated 21 EP-13 cannon bursts, 8 Hammerhead missiles, 7 EP-37 bursts, and 1 Scorpion missile in attacks which missed the enemy entirely

16 Hammerhead missiles to break through gate and then the bulkhead in the Invid mountain fortress

4 Scorpion missiles to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside “Denver”

1 EP-13 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan internal hive power core support

1 Scorpion missile that was blocked by the enemy and thus ineffective

1 Scorpion missile that struck the target but inflicted no damage

Note: Scott is not credited with a kill for his melee attack with his cannon against the Invid RCB over Reflex Point because it is doubtful that one blow could destroy so heavily armored a craft. Scott may have fired on and destroyed the craft as it fell away from close quarters, but due to lack of evidence, no kill is recorded.

Scott may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:

At least 20 Armored Scouts as seen on screen, utilizing 16 Hammerhead missiles against the Invid mountain fortress’s main control matrix, destroying the entire base

3 Shock Troopers by detonating cobalt limpet mines on a dam by remote control

An estimated 2 Armored Scouts using 16 missiles launched from two PT boats by remote control

¼ of a Shock Trooper from his contributed H-90 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction.

2 Armored Scouts destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)

Destroying Dusty Ayres’s attack cycle with repeated shots from his H-90 (in rifle mode).

1¼ Armored Scouts and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-13 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Scouts, resulting in the destruction of the hive)

3 (friendly) Shadow Alpha Drones utilizing unknown means (3 Beta EU-35 bursts?)

Total on screen verified kills (99½ victories, hives omitted):

50¼ Armored Scouts

17 Booster Scouts

21¼ Shock Troopers

5 Troopers

3 Shadow Drone Alphas

2 Royal Command Battloids

1 Ayres cycle

Total ordinance expended:

294 Hammerhead missiles

59 EP-13 bursts (almost certainly a low estimate)

22 Scorpion missiles

16 PT boat missiles

10 bombs

9 EP-37 bursts

3 EU-35 bursts?

2 nose laser bursts (?)

1 EP-14 burst?

Scott’s mecha sustained the following damage during the series:

3 annihilation disc hits (1 from an Armored Scout (light damage), 2 from a Royal Command Battloid (light damage and moderate damage)) suffered by his Alpha on separate occasions

2 melee attack hits (1 from a Shock Trooper claw (light damage), 1 from a Royal Command Battloid kick (heavy damage)) suffered by his Alpha

In addition, Scott abandoned a Beta/booster module to destruction, crash landed and abandoned an Alpha (due to damage sustained on reentry), and crash landed his Alpha after sustaining the noted (1) disc and (1) kick hits from the Royal Command Battloid

ANALYSIS

            Scott Bernard is Robotech: New Generation’s ace-of-aces…something that shouldn’t be a surprise given that he’s the protagonist! Scott has a remarkable ability to stay cool under fire; this is especially evident in his talent in operating a Cyclone in battle. Despite the length of time it takes for his Cyclone’s targeting computer to lock a target (a long few seconds with annihilation discs coming at him), Scott never wastes a round by snapping off a shot. Only 1 out of 22 of the Cyclone Scorpion mini-missiles launched during the series missed its target. Even more impressively, no Invid laid a finger or a disc on him while operating a Cyclone; Rook and Rand received grazes from discs and claw swipes.          

            Interestingly, despite his conservative use of Scorpions in the Cyclone (probably dictated by his limited 4-missile supply!), Scott uses the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (maximum load of 60) prodigiously. Use of these missiles account for half of Scott’s conventional kills. Under most circumstances, Scott would fire a standard salvo (about 8 missiles) at each target. While the sheer number of missiles he expends compared to his comrades might appear absurdly high, it’s important to note that only one salvo of missiles missed its target entirely…And that was Corg’s Royal Command Battloid, no less. Aside from two salvos which damaged an Armored Scout (unfairly, the same footage was recycled, and inaccurately too!), and the missed one, each and every salvo aimed at Invid mecha resulted in the destruction of at least one Invid craft.

            Some could argue that Corg outwitted Scott twice (the surprise disc attack above the streets of Manhattan, and above Reflex Point when Corg’s RCB followed his missile salvo in with a melee attack), but the final score is Scott 1, Corg 0. While Scott did take a few hits in the course of the series, there were no instances in which he was hit because he was careless or inattentive in battle (like Rand and Lancer).

Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

Rand

DATA

Rand shot down 53 Invid mecha (on screen during the series):

18 utilizing the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (expending 60 missiles in a salvo at these targets)

14 (best on screen estimation) with the Synchro Cannon (expending three Synchro blows)

9 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 13 bursts at these targets)

5 utilizing the Cyclone’s EP-40 cannon (expending approximately 12 bursts in these attacks)

3 using the Beta’s EU-35 cannons (expending an estimated 36 bursts in these attacks)

3 using the Beta’s Coralsnake missiles (expending 8 missiles in this attack)

1 using a handheld RL-6 (expending 1 rocket at this target)

Note: Determining just how many Armored Scouts were destroyed by the 2 Alpha salvo in “Hired Gun” is tricky. Rand says: “We’re outgunned 30 to 1” (unlikely that he meant that as a literal number…rather difficult to count in a fierce battle). From the look of things, each salvo (Rook’s and Rand’s) streaked towards a separate group of 18. It is implied that all 36 Armored Scouts were destroyed, and so half have been so credited to Rand.

Note: In one instance in “Reflex Point” Scott and Rand both fire missiles at a group of targets at the same time, resulting in 5 Scouts destroyed. Arbitrarily, I assigned the kills of Rand 3 and Scott 2, based on the side of the screen they were shown firing at in previous shots. Whether the two separate groups seen destroying the 5 targets were indeed separate salvos from the two pilots, or one salvo (left and right sides) of a single pilot is a matter of debate. Also in this episode, even though about 23 out of ~30 EU-35 rounds missed (7 hits destroyed the RCB), they are acknowledged as being part of a successful attack rather than credited as outright misses.

Rand’s kills breakdown:

40 Armored Scouts (23 Alpha, 10 Synchro Cannon, 5 Beta, 2 Cyclone) (18 Hammerhead, 10 Synchro blow, 5 EP-13, 3 Coralsnake, 2 EU-35, 2 EP-40)

7 Shock Troopers (4 Alpha, 2 Cyclone, 1 handheld) ( 4 EP-13, 2 EP-40, 1 RL-6)

5 Enforcers (4 Synchro Cannon, 1 Cyclone) (4 Synchro blow, 1 EP-40)

1 Royal Command Battloid (1 Beta) (1 EU-35)

Rand’s mode breakdown (when applicable):

27 kills were achieved in Battloid mode (21 Alpha, 6 Beta)

6 kills were achieved in Fighter mode (6 Alpha)

All 5 Cyclone kills were achieved in Armor mode

1 kill was achieved on foot in uh…Battloid mode J

Rand also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

An estimated 34 EP-40 bursts which struck the enemy craft but failed to inflict any damage

An estimated 20 EP-40 bursts, 9 EP-13 cannon bursts, and 3 EU-35 bursts in attacks which missed the enemy entirely

1 EP-40 burst which resulted in damage to enemy craft

1 EP-40 warning shot into the ground to make Maxwell’s men surrender

6 EP-40 bursts to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside “Denver”

1 EP-13 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan internal hive power core support

Rand may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:

1 Shock Trooper destroyed by firing the Beta Fighter’s three main engines at point blank range

1 Shock Trooper rammed and crushed by the Beta Fighter while crash landing

1/3 of a Shock Trooper utilizing a log booby trap whose release cable he cut (credit Rook and Annie for also cutting release cables)

¼ of a Shock Trooper from his contributed H-90 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction.

1/3 of an Enforcer buried by the ice and destroyed by 4 already mentioned EP-40 bursts in concert with Rook and Lancer

2 Armored Scouts destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)

1¼ Armored Scouts and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-13 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Scouts, resulting in the destruction of the hive)

6 Armored Scouts using the Synchro Cannon’s self-destruct bomb (not exactly clear, but it looks like the fragments shredded all Scouts within view…and the Scouts were seen in formation moments earlier)

Total on screen verified kills (651/6 victories, hives omitted):

49¼ Armored Scouts

87/12 Shock Troopers

51/3 Enforcers

1 Royal Command Battloid

Rand eliminated 1 Invid infantryman while on foot:

1 Urban Enforcer unit with an H-90 pistol in the streets of Manhattan

Total ordinance expended:

74 EP-40 bursts (estimate)

60 Hammerhead missiles

39 EU-35 bursts (almost certainly a low estimate)

23 EP-14 cannon bursts

8 Coralsnake missiles

3 Synchro blows

1 RL-6 rocket

Rand’s mecha sustained the following damage during the series:

5 annihilation disc hits: 1 from a Shock Trooper (light damage), 1 from a Royal Command Battloid (light damage), and another 3 from the same RCB at a latter date (heavy damage) suffered by his Alpha

4 melee attack hits: 1 from a Shock Trooper claw’s grab attack to his Cyclone (no damage), 1 from a Shock Trooper swipe to his Beta (light damage), and 2 kicks from a Royal Command Battloid (Alpha drops cannon, and moderate damage) suffered by his Alpha

1 Protoculture shock from a Royal Command Battloid which severed one of his Alpha’s arms

In addition, Rand was thrown from his Cyclone on two occasions as the result of annihilation disc near misses

ANALYSIS

            Rand is a remarkable character, who over the course of the series is transformed from a reluctant fighter with no prior combat experience into a pilot with a bag second only to Scott’s. He might have done even better had he not stubbornly stuck with the poorest Cyclone weapon of all, the EP-40 cannon, instead of picking up something more powerful (at Point K for instance when Scott grabbed an EP-37 or “Hole in the Wall” when he was carrying an RL-6). Certainly, the fact that he missed about 20 bursts with the EP-40 demonstrates his lack of experience, but then again, another 34 rounds hit their target ineffectually.

            The low total of 5 kills in his Cyclone aside, Rand performed well, thanks to the cannons he preferred of a bit higher power: A solid 12 Invid were downed with the Alpha and Beta’s cannons, and (having secured a rare privilege) another 14 Invid mecha at least were vaporized by his use of the Synchro Cannon artillery piece. Like Rook and Lancer, Rand is somewhat stringent on missile use, employing them on merely two occasions (though one, of course, he launched all 60 against 18 Armored Scouts!).

            Rand’s enthusiastic “let’s go get them” style might well be the reason for his success in beating out his competitor, Rook (who usually hoarded her ammunition for precise strikes). At the same time, it probably is responsible for making the Invid use Rand for target practice! So too, Rand is a bit careless as a fighter, perhaps due to his lack of prior military experience. His getting shot in the (Battloid’s) back on the streets of New York by Corg was due in large part to his lack of situational awareness. He also took a while to learn that one should not stand still on a Cyclone when a Shock Trooper’s cannons are glowing with a priming charge!

           

Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

Rook Bartley

DATA

Rook Bartley shot down 36 Invid mecha (on screen during the series):

18 utilizing the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (expending one salvo of 60 missiles at these targets)

8 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 15 bursts at these targets)

9 utilizing the Cyclone’s RL-6 rockets (expending 9 rockets at these targets)

1 in a melee attack with the Cyclone‘s feet in Armor mode

Note: Determining just how many Armored Scouts were destroyed by the 2 Alpha salvo in “Hired Gun” is tricky. Rand says: “We’re outgunned 30 to 1” (unlikely that he meant that as a literal number…rather difficult to count in a fierce battle). From the look of things, each salvo (Rook’s and Rand’s) streaked towards a separate group of 18. It is implied that all 36 Armored Scouts were destroyed, and so half have been so credited to Rook.

Rook’s kills breakdown:

28 Armored Scouts (25 Alpha, 3 Cyclone) (10 Hammerhead, 7 EP-13, 3 RL-6)

7 Shock Troopers (6 Cyclone, 1 Alpha) (6 RL-6, 1 EP-13, 1 melee)

1 Enforcer (1 Cyclone) (1 RL-6)

Rooks’s mode breakdown:

18 kills with the Alpha were achieved in Battloid mode

6 kills with the Alpha were achieved in Fighter mode

2 kills with the Alpha were achieved in Guardian mode

All 10 Cyclone kills were achieved in Armor mode

Rook also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

10 EP-13 cannon bursts and 1 RL-6 rocket in attacks which resulted in damage to enemy craft.

5 (apparent) RL-6 rockets in attacks which missed the enemy entirely

8 Hammerhead missiles to break through gate in the Invid mountain fortress

4 RL-6 rockets to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside “Denver”

1 EP-13 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan internal hive power core support

Note: From a distant view, Rook is seen to fire three blue (energy?) bursts at an Enforcer during the battle inside “Denver”. As such weapons fire is inconsistent with the rockets the RL-6 she was armed with fired, such a firing record is omitted.

Rook may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:

1/3 of a Shock Trooper utilizing a log booby trap whose release cable she cut (credit Rand and Annie for also cutting release cables)

¼ of a Shock Trooper from her contributed H-90 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction

1/3 of an Enforcer buried by the ice and destroyed by 2 already mentioned rockets in concert with Rand and Lancer

2 Armored Scouts destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)

1¼ Armored Scouts and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-13 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Scouts, resulting in the destruction of the hive)

Total on screen verified kills (401/6 victories, hives omitted):

31¼ Armored Scouts

77/12 Shock Troopers

11/3 Enforcers

Total ordinance expended:

68 Hammerhead missiles

26 EP-13 bursts (estimate)

19 RL-6 rockets

Rook’s mecha sustained the following damage during the series:

1 annihilation disc hit on her Alpha from a Shock Trooper, which caused moderate damage and personal injury. In addition, her Cyclone was grazed by a pair of discs on one occasion, causing her to lose control and tumble from the air, but without apparent damage

4 melee hits: 1 backhand from a Shock Trooper which sent her Cyclone tumbling, 1 from a Armored Scout which stuck a claw through the Alpha Battloid’s head, 1 swipe from an Enforcer which deflated a tire, and 1 punch by Corg’s Royal Command Battloid which caused light damage to her Alpha

 

ANALYSIS

            Rook established a notable combat presence in the series, beginning with her miraculous rescue of Rand and Annie in “The Lost City”. Indeed, her use of the RL-6 rocket launcher is every bit as precise (if not more so) than Scott’s Scorpion use. Out of 10 direct hits in the course of the series on Invid mecha with the RL-6, 9 are destroyed and one damaged.

            Her precise usage of ammunition extended to the Alpha. Indeed, every time she used her Alpha’s cannon to fire upon a target, that target was hit (I don’t mean that no shots missed, but rather that all attacks (sometimes 2-3 bursts) resulted in damage to the enemy).

            Rook used Alpha missiles only a single time in the entire series. Remarkably enough, her suggestion was for both her and Rand to each use all 60 at once to clear the skies of a cloud of Invid Armored Scouts. It worked too.

            Rook‘s aggressive fighting style paid off as often as it nearly got her killed. In “Lonely Soldier Boy”, despite leaving her RL-6 at home, so to speak, Rook made two attempts to strike Shock Troopers in their sensor eye weak spot with the Cyclone’s feet. The first time, the Trooper dodged and nearly immolated her with a pair of annihilation discs, but the second time she succeeded in scoring the kill.

            Rook gets in the most trouble from hand-to-hand combat, perhaps a result of her love of getting in close to pummel the enemy. Rook sustained melee damage from each and every type of Invid mecha!

Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

Lancer

DATA

Lancer shot down 14 Invid mecha (on screen during the series):

8 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 11 bursts at these targets)

4 using the Cyclone’s rocket propelled grenades (expending 9+ RPGs at these targets)

1 utilizing the Beta’s EP-14 (expending 6 bursts at this target)

1 using a handheld RL-6 (expending 1 rocket at this target)

Note: There is no way to know how many RPGs Lancer used against the Shock Trooper in “Survival” which is why the counted 9 rockets has the plus symbol, indicating a higher unknown quantity expended.

Lancer’s kills breakdown:

6 Armored Scouts (5 Alpha, 1 Beta) (5 EP-13, 1 EP-14)

6 Shock Troopers (4 Cyclone, 1 Alpha, 1 handheld) (4 RPG, 1 EP-13, 1 RL-6)

2 Royal Command Battloids (2 Alpha) (2 EP-13)

Lancer’s mode breakdown:

8 kills were achieved in Fighter mode (7 Alpha, 1 Beta)

1 kill was achieved in Battloid mode (1 Alpha)

3 kills were achieved in Cyclone Armor mode

1 kill was achieved in Cyclone Cycle mode

1 kill was achieved on foot in uh…Battloid mode J

Lancer also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

9 EU-35 cannon bursts (approximately) and 16 rocket propelled grenades against heavy Invid targets in attacks which were ineffective against their armor despite direct hits.

2 Hammerhead missiles against turrets in the Invid mountain fortress (one hit, one destroyed)

8 Hammerhead missiles to break through gate in the Invid mountain fortress

18 RPGs to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside “Denver”

1 EP-14 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan internal hive power core support

Lancer may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:

2 Armored Scouts expending 7 ASC naval cutter missiles

1 Enforcer (as a result of the 12 RPGs that were ineffective against the Enforcer’s armor, ice dropped and trapped it. In the end, the Enforcer destroyed itself attempting to escape this trap, so Lancer might well deserve the credit for its destruction)

1/3 of an Enforcer buried by the ice and destroyed by 12 already mentioned RPGs in concert with Rook and Rand

2 Armored Scouts destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)

1¼ Armored Scouts and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-14 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Scouts, resulting in the destruction of the hive)

2 (friendly) Shadow Alpha Drones utilizing 4 Cyclone RPG rounds

Total on screen verified kills (227/12 victories, hives omitted):

11¼ Armored Scouts

6 Shock Troopers

2 Royal Command Battloids

2 Shadow Drone Alphas

11/3 Enforcers

Lancer eliminated 2 Invid infantrymen while on foot:

2 Urban Enforcer units with an H-90 pistol in the streets of Manhattan

Total ordinance expended:

47+ RPG rounds

11 EP-13 bursts (estimate)

10 Hammerhead missiles

9 EU-35 bursts (estimate)

2 EP-14 bursts

1 RL-6 rocket

Lancer’s mecha sustained the following damage during the series:

2 annihilation disc hits (both from Corg’s Royal Command Battloid): 1 to his Beta (ineffective) and 1 to his Alpha (heavy damage)

ANALYSIS

            Lancer takes part in surprisingly few battles during the course of the series, making analyzing his skills and style difficult. Like Rook and Rand, he is stringent with missile use; despite often flying an Alpha or Beta loaded with firepower, he preferred to use his Veritech’s cannons in battle. He is the antithesis of Scott in this matter: He conserves Veritech missiles, but saturates targets (in a Cyclone) with rocket propelled grenades.

            One notes that Lancer never missed a target altogether (in other words, not a single round from a salvo of RPGs or cannon found their mark). Of course, in so few battles, that doesn’t mean much.

            Lancer might not be as attentive a flier as Scott; letting his guard down in “Dark Finale“ very nearly cost him his life, but for “the power of human emotions“ on impressionable Invid. Surprisingly, as often as Lancer flew the Beta, only one of his conventional kills was achieved while flying that mecha. In Veritechs, Lancer preferred for the most part to stay in Fighter mode, though his one Battloid kill is an enviable achievement: A Royal Command Battloid.

Robotech New Generation Accomplishment Report

“Lunk” Cooper

DATA

As Lunk is not a pilot, it should come as no surprise that all his victories were achieved through non-mecha, or unconventional means:

3 Shock Troopers utilizing Nader’s armor-piercing cannon, fired from his jeep

2 Armored Scouts utilizing Nader’s armor-piercing cannon, fired from his jeep

1 Armored Scout using the naval cutter’s cannon

2 Shock Troopers by creating a rocky avalanche booby trap

¼ of a Shock Trooper from his contributed SAL-9 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction

1 Shock Trooper utilizing 5 rocket propelled grenades fired from his jeep

Lunk also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

At least 1 missile fired from a launcher on the back of his jeep at the Invid mountain fortress’s main gate

Sustained burst from an unknown weapon at Corg’s RCB to distract him (ineffective)

12 Hammerhead missiles over Manhattan during his only combat flight in an Alpha, launched at Corg’s RCB (missed)

Total on screen verified kills (9¼ victories):

6¼ Shock Troopers

3 Armored Scouts

Lunk’s craft sustained the following damage during the series:

One jeep abandoned after an annihilation disc’s near miss caused it to roll.

ANALYSIS

            Lunk is not a pilot, but the fact that he survived his only combat flight (against Corg’s Royal Command Battloid) is a distinction not earned by the majority of REF pilots in “Dark Finale” and “Symphony of Light” against the same opponent. Lunk’s aiming skills are impressive with the armor-piercing cannon…5 shots, 5 hits, 5 kills aimed while in motion! Unfortunately, it would appear that that was all the ammunition he had available. I guess it makes him an ace, though. Sorta.

Robotech New Generation Accomplishment Report

Annie “Mint” LaBelle

DATA

As Annie is not a pilot nor a fighter, it should come as no surprise that she has only a number of unconventional kills:

2 hive protectors and 1 Invid brain destroyed utilizing a cobalt limpet mine.

1/3 of a Shock Trooper utilizing a log booby trap whose release cable she cut (credit Rand and Rook for also cutting release cables)

0 Shock Troopers from her contributed snow ball to the firefight which resulted in the destruction of 1 Shock Trooper (but worthy of mention for the effort J ).

Annie also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

3 snowballs to distract a Shock Trooper attacking Rook & Rand

Total on screen verified kills (I am soooooo not going to bother! J )

Annie received a Shock Trooper swipe, which parted her jacket without injury. But it was ok, as miraculously the garment healed itself on the way to go slap Ken! (Marlene’s jacket has the same ability J )

ANALYSIS

Annie’s ineffectiveness in battle is surpassed only by Marlene (Ariel). Oh well.

And as a special bonus…

Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

Colonel Jonathan Wolff

DATA

Colonel Wolff shot down 5 Invid mecha (on screen in the episode “Eulogy“):

2 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 2 bursts at these targets)

2 in a pair of melee attack with Alpha‘s legs in Battloid mode

1 utilizing the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (expending one salvo of 16 missiles at these targets)

Wolff’s kills breakdown:

3 Shock Troopers (3 Alpha) (2 melee, 1 EP-13)

2 Armored Scouts (2 Alpha) (1 Hammerhead, 1 EP-13)

Wolff’s mode breakdown:

4 kills were achieved in Battloid mode

1 kill was achieved in Guardian mode

Wolff also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

1 EP-13 cannon burst aimed at a Shock Trooper’s claw in a successful attempt to free a Cyclone rider (Rand) in the Trooper’s grasp

12 Hammerhead missiles and 2 EP-13 bursts in attacks which either missed or were blocked (thus doing no damage) by the enemy

Wolff may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:

2 Shock Troopers which Wolff intentionally tricked a pair of Invid Armored Scouts into destroying

Total on screen verified kills (7):

5 Shock Troopers

2 Armored Scouts

Total ordinance expended:

28 Hammerhead missiles

5 EP-13 bursts

Wolff’s mecha sustained the following damage in the episode in which he appeared:

1 annihilation disc hit which dealt the Alpha he borrowed from Scott moderate damage. A power surge dealt Wolff himself a mortal wound, however

ANALYSIS

            Colonel Wolff’s combat style (coincidentally) supports the Macek/McKinney theory that Wolff was a Hovertank pilot prior to his time on Earth. Observe how well he uses the Alpha as a melee weapon: Indeed, he dispatches two Shock Troopers with blows from the Veritech’s legs, compared to only one Invid craft dispatched with two heavy salvos of missiles. In other words, Wolff would have had experience with hand to hand fighting (as demonstrated with Hovertanks in “Half Moon”), but less with Hammerhead missiles (of which Hovertanks had none, and no equivalent). Despite expending 28 missiles, Wolff’s one kill with them was not terribly impressive. His first salvo of 12 was too spread out, allowing a clever Shock Trooper to block the one that came close enough to enough to cause damage. The second salvo of 18 might have caught both Armored Scouts, but concentrated on only one (which was destroyed).

            Wolff used the Alpha‘s cannon precisely, much like a Hovertank Battloid pilot might. Two Invid mecha were dispatched with single bursts each, one shot severed a Shock Trooper’s arm (freeing Rand’s Cyclone), and the other two shots struck near a pair of Shock Troopers, perhaps convinced them to back off for a moment.

            It would seem though, that Wolff’s show[boating] of skill in operating the Alpha was his downfall. In taking the effort of making the fancy move of kneeing a Shock Trooper in the sensor eye, another Shock Trooper came up from behind and the two traded lethal shots. One imagines in his prime, however, that Colonel Wolff was one of the deadliest pilots the Invid ever faced.

And as an even more special bonus…

Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

Corg

DATA

Corg shot down 9 REF mecha (on screen during the series):

All 9 utilizing the Royal Command Battloid’s forearm plasma (annihilation disc throwing) cannon

Corg’s kills breakdown:

9 Alpha (9 RCB) (9 annihilation disc)

Corg also expended ammunition for the following reasons:

Approximately 25 missiles from his RCB’s back launchers which were intercepted and neutralized by the target’s fire

Approximately 11 missiles from his RCB’s shoulder launchers which were intercepted and neutralized by the target’s fire

8 annihilation discs which scored hits upon and inflicted damage to enemy mecha

1 Protoculture shock which severed the arm of an enemy Battloid

1 annihilation disc which struck an enemy target but was ineffective

Note: Given the prodigious (and ineffective use) of annihilation discs on the part of Invid pilots, the number of rounds from this weapon that missed have not been recorded.

Note: The hit that Corg is believed to have scored on Rand’s Alpha while flying a Shock Trooper before transmutation to human form is omitted. 

Total on screen verified kills (9 victories):

9 Alphas

Corg’s mecha sustained the following damage during the series:

1 RCB hit repeatedly by Cyclone arms and buried under ice during action in “Denver”; whether this vehicle escaped along with its pilot is unknown.

His RCB was hit by an Alpha’s EP-13 blast (light damage) and approximately 5 rounds from a Beta’s EU-35 cannon (ineffective)

1 RCB was destroyed by a Beta’s Hammerhead missile fire and its pilot killed

ANALYSIS

Corg is a highly talented pilot, proving a tough adversary against the Bernard Team even before he was transmutated to human form.  Even when flying an Armored Scout or Shock Trooper against the Bernard team, he was able to survive (if not significantly damage them).  Indeed, the clearest demonstration of Corg’s talents comes not from his victories against admittedly lackluster REF pilots but from his ability to engage (as seen in “The Big Apple”) 4 excellent pilots alone and score hits.  One must take the combat scenes against the “red-shirt” Alphas with something of a grain of salt.  Their pilots fly in straight lines, don’t dodge, don’t use missiles, and rarely even tried firing with cannons at him; his weapon seemed significantly more accurate and powerful as well, instantly destroying each flier with a single hit (while up to 3 hits scored on Rand’s Alpha did not cause it to explode).  As seen by this example, the Mospeada animators made a fair appraisal of Corg’s abilities somewhat difficult, but not impossible to determine.  Corg’s flying style was heavily based on maneuver; he would utilize the high performance qualities of his RCB to full advantage, evading most fire with jukes and bursts of speed.  His style is quite attuned to his personality, aggressive and lacking in subtleness.  Whereas Scott will respond to an attack by missiles with evasive action and attempts to shoot them out of the air, Corg will merely dodge them and fire a burst in response.  This perhaps explains his ability to turn the tables on the REF attackers unfamiliar with such a quick counterattack.  On the other hand, Corg frequently became overconfident to a damaging degree.  He was buried in “Denver” for dividing his forces, which were defeated piecemeal by 4 lightly armed Cyclones, and nearly killed by cobalt bombs when he blundered confidently into a Bio-emulator trap.  His death occurred when he simply flew straight and slow, and neither dodged nor counterattacked when Scott fired a salvo of missiles at him.  Therefore, one may conclude that while a technically skilled pilot and warrior, Corg was subject to the fatal trait of carelessness.