VF-SGP-1 "ARMORED OSTRICH"

(Version 1.00 - Last updated: 04/09/01)
Background and RPG Statistics by Kenneth Olson
Background Information derived from Robotech Technical Files

BACKGROUND

During the trip back to Earth after the misfold to Pluto, designers on board the SDF-1 looked to improve their fire support units which provided the SDF-1 point defense against incoming waves of Zentraedi.  The MAC-II was designed to operate as an artillery unit within a planetary gravitation field and proved to be extremely unwieldy in zero-gravity.  As a result, the MAC-II would take up fixed positions on the surface of the SDF-1  were they would remain throughout the battle.  Unfortunately, they were relatively easy prey for Zentraedi pods that managed to break through to the surface of the SDF-1.

In order to provide long range fire support, designers turned towards the proven VF-1 "Valkyrie" as the basis for the new design.   The armored variant of the VF-1 proved to be widely successful, and designers were curious if the design could be modified to fill the fire-support role desperately needed.  The mecha would not need the versatility of a battleloid mode or the maneuverability of the fighter.  Thus designers built the "Super Ostrich" around the guardian mode which would provide a stabile firing platform with the excellent maneuverability.  Without the need for the complex transformation machinery, engineers were able to increase the armor in the main body, arms, and legs.   In addition, two CTB-5 conformal tanks were added as a permanent part of the mecha to the lower legs thus providing an additional 25kph of delta-v per leg.

The weapons compliment was radically changed over the standard VF-1.  Two turret mounted PB-11 particle beam cannons were added to the top of the unit.  The turret was capable of traversing a full 360 degrees and the particle beam cannons are capable of firing 30 MJ bursts up to 20 times per minute.  The VF-SGP-1 would permanently mount two EP-4 particle beam cannons and a single RRG L-3 light laser in the left arm.  The right arm normally carried a GU-11 gun pod.  In each shoulder a GPB-11s  multi-missile system, found on the armored veritech, was added to provide 24 short range missiles for use primarily as an anti-missile system.  Underneath the nose of the mecha are two Mauser RoV-20 light laser system.

The first five units were produced in May 2010 and were immediately pressed into action protecting the SDF-1.  Two of these units were destroyed later that month when elements of Khyron's fleet successfully destroyed the sensor suite on the SDF-1's command citadel.  The remaining three units proved to be incredibly successful.  The armored ostrich had sufficient mobility to move across the SDF-1 to the sector of the ship that was threatened.   On June 29 2010, two of the super ostrich units were able to repel a breakthrough of 5 female power armors which were attacking the #3 shoulder rail cannon.  

Upon the SDF-1's return to Earth on July 12 2010, the RDF high command was interested in the design and slated military engineers to study the design for possible mass production.  Unfortunately, the SDF-1 was forced to return to space before the design study was fully completed.  The remaining three units were stationed on the SDF-1 during the final battle of the First Robotech War.  Unit #2 and #4 were stationed near the command citadel and unit #5 was ordered to respond to any sectors which might have collapsed.  During the battle, unit #5 was unfortunately overwhelmed by incoming Zentraedi waves, only after destroying no less than 23 battle pods.  The remaining two units survived and were placed into mothballs several months later.

Five years later,  unit #2 was brought out for further study by the REF.  Military planners were looking at the "Super Ostrich" for possible use as a heavy artillery design.  They replaced the two PB-12 cannons with  two RRG PBC-15 particle beam cannons.  The protoculture energizer proved underpowered for the new modifications.  In addition the VF-1 production was shut down earlier that year.  This meant that the airframe of the "Super Ostrich" as well as 50% of the components were based on a design no longer in production.  The REF decided not to produce and an upgraded version and the final two units were placed back into mothballs at the RDF graveyard in Albuquerque.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: VF-SGP-1 "Armored Ostrich"
Class: Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Robotech Defense Force
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System.

MDC BY LOCATION:

Location Armored Ostrich
Head Lasers (2) 10
Head 75
Hands (2) 30 each
Arms (2) 100 each
Right Arm GU-111 100
Right Arm Mounted EP-4 (2) 50 each
Right ARM L-3 10
Legs/Engine Thrusters 250
* Sensor Nose 120
** Main Body 325
Shoulder GPS-11 missile system 150
Reinforced Pilots Compartment 200
Retractable Utility Arms 3
Turret  125
PB-12 Cannons (2) 100
High Maneuverability Thrusters (24) 1

NOTES:

  1. Destroying the nose of the Ostrich will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal) and radar. Communications will be unaffected.
  2. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.

SPEEDS (Rarely used in Atmosphere):

RUNNING, GUARDIAN CONFIGURATION:
30 kph
LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
50 ft (15 m) high or 70 ft (21 m) long without thrusters.
FLYING, GERWALK/SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
400 kph  maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.
Service ceiling:  10 km (unboosted)

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
15.3 m in guardian configuration.
WIDTH:
11.1 m at shoulders in guardian configuration
LENGTH:
12.3 m in guardian configuration.
WEIGHT:
26,000 kg empty.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 60
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings in addition to the cyclone storage compartment
POWER PLANT:
One Tirolian mecha protoculture-generators XF-8W  providing a total of 2500 MW
DELTA V:
100  kps
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:
None:  

 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. HUGHES GU-11 55MM THREE-BARRELED SMOOTHBORE ROTARY: firing 600 rounds per minute, 500 round capacity stored internally.   The GU-11 is carried in the right arm.  

     

  2. 2 x MAUSER PB-12 PARTICLE BEAM CANNONS: Mounted on the top turret of the Ostrich are two PB-12 particle beam cannons.  Each weapon can fire 30 MJ bursts of energy up to 20 times per minute out to a maximum range of 20 kilometers.  The turret provides the weapons with full 360 degree coverage and the weapons and be elevated from -10 to +70 degrees 

     

  3. 2 x EP-4 SINGLE-BARRELED PARTICLE CANNON:  Two EP-4 particle beam cannons are mounted in the lower left arm.  The EP-4 is capable of firing 9 MJ of particle energy every second and is powered by the main protoculture energizers.  The EP-4 was used in early models of the VF-4 Lightning.  

     

  4. 1 x ROBOTECH RESEARCH GROUP MK3 LASER:  A single RRG MK3 laser is mounted in the lower left arm between the two EP-4 cannons.  The RRG-MK3 can fire 3 MJ bursts of energy up to 40 times per minute. 

     

  5. 2 x MAUSER RöV-20 LASER CANNONS:  Each barrel is capable of firing up to 3MJ per second.  The cannons can either fire a single coherent one second beam or as 100 pulses with lower damage potential but greater accuracy.  The weapon is powered directly by the main protoculture generators. 

     

  6. GBP-1S MULTIMISSILE SYSTEM: Each shoulder mounts the GBP-1S multi-missile system found on the armored valkryie. Each launcher has eleven short range GH-100 armored piercing missiles ready to fire; although any standard RDF short range missile can be mounted in the shoulders. 

     

  7. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the VF_SGP-1 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. However, this is not the preferred combat mode.  The lack of a battloid mode limits the combat effectiveness of the Ostrich's punches and kicks. 

    DAMAGE:  

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE ARMORED OSTRICH:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR ARMORED OSTRICH TRAINING:

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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