Main Battle Mecha MBR-12 Mk III "SUPER CONDOR"

(Version 1.00 - Last updated: 5/23/00)
RPG Translation and Background by Kenneth Olson
Background Information derived from Robotech Technical Files
Based on an original mecha design in Artmic Design Works:  B-Club Special

BACKGROUND

The original MBR-12 Mark II was designed as the premier cavalry mecha for the REF during the Sentinels campaign.  The Condor internal structure was taken from the Alpha fighter.  Additional armor was added using the newer armor plating developed for the Z2 Battlpod.  Although, the protection was not as extensive as that given to the REF destroids, the quick strike mission of the Condor mandated that the design be maneuverable first and foremost.  The MM-60 missile launcher was taken from the VAF-6 design; however, engineers had to reduce the number of missile to 54 in order to fit into the more heavily armored chasse.

In practice, the Mark II design proved problematic.  The mecha was not nearly maneuverable as the VAF-6 or even the VBF-1 in the air, and did not have the firepower nor the armor of the destroids on the ground.  As pilots in the MBF-12 Condor continually suffered casualty rates twice as high as their veritech and destroid brethren, the REF high command decided to remove the Condor and assign all the remaining unit to ship board defense, reconnaissance, and for use by the REF Marines as an air cavalry mecha. 

Surprisingly, the MBR-12 Condor Mark II, proved to be extremely adept as a ship board defensive unit.  In space borne operations, the Condor was nearly as maneuverable as the Alpha fighter and had the greater armor and firepower. Small squadrons of Condors were formed onboard larger capital ships to provide an extended defensive capability.  The standard defensive tactic was to form a strong defensive perimeter several kilometers form the ship where they would break up incoming waves of Invid mecha before they reached the the inner defense perimeter of the ship.  The REF was desperately looking for a stop gap measure to overcome the woeful lack of anti-mecha weapons mounted on their capital ships. 
 
The Condor proved so successful, that an upgraded version was ordered in limited quantities.  The Mark III was designed for space based defensive operations of capital ships only.  The mecha would have only have limited mobility in terrestrial atmospheres and gravities.  The Mark III was to use the same chases; however, armor was to be increased another 25% over that of the Mark II.  An additional Pratt and Whitney JG95D engine was added to the rear of the Mark III in order to offset the additional mass from the armor and increased weaponry.  Designers felt that the Mark II, needed longer range weaponry and upgraded short range capability.  Three DDI-6 medium range missile launchers were added to the shoulders of the mecha.  These launchers would primarily be used to carry the new Diamondback Mod G cluster missile designed to destroy large formations of Invid at distances greater than 20 kilometers.  Four EP-13 (taken from the VAF-6) were added to replace the original EP-12.   These weapons would quickly make short work of any Invid that managed get into range.  The MM-54 system was scaled back to 16 hammerhead missiles in order to improve the armor on the arms and to compensate for the increased power drain caused by the EP-13's. 

Production began in early 2044, near the end of the Sentinel campaign.  The Mark III proved its worth in the campaign on Xylos IV.  At the time squadrons (some 20 Mark III's) were assigned to the the SS. Victorious.  Approximately 100 Invid Armored Scouts were able to break through the RDF blockade of the planet and closed on the command ship.  The 20 Mark III's were not only able to save the ship but destroyed 93 of the incoming units before the veritech squadrons were able to engage.  

Some 259 units were produced and most were set back to Earth for the final battle of the Third Robotech War.  The design proved extremely useful protecting the capital ships on their assault on Earth; however, the shear number of Invid mecha quickly overwhelmed the limited numbers of Mark III's.  Production stopped in 2045, as the REF felt that VBF-1's dedicated to shipboard defense provided similar protection and did not introduce another mecha into the supply chain.  All the surviving Mark II's and Super Mark III's were placed into storage either at the REF graveyard outside of Archimedes base or on Tyrol. 
 

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:  One manned enhanced maneuverability mecha
Class: Destroid
Manufacturer: Robotech Research
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System.
 

MDC BY LOCATION:

Location Super Condor
* Head / Sensor 150
Hands (2) 30 each
Forearms (2) 175 each
Shoulder / Missile Pods (3) 100 each
Rear Thrusters (3) 75 each
Upper Legs (2) 150 each
Lower Legs (2) 200 each
**Main Body 350
 EP-13 Gud Pods (4) 100 



NOTES: 


    
  
  1. * Destroying the head of the Condor  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. 
  
  2. ** Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.
    3. 




SPEEDS:




  
RUNNING: 

  
185 kph

  
LEAPING: 

  
300 meters without thrusters. 

  
FLYING:

  
350 kph for two minutes

  
MAX ENGINE THRUST: 

  
3 x PRATT & WHITNEY JG95D [Main] fusion plasma-air/reaction mass
    intermix turbines in the legs. Max thrust, 118 kN each. 

  

  
 





STATISTICAL DATA:




  
HEIGHT: 

  
9.00m 

  
DEPTH: 

  
6.0m 

  
BREADTH: 

  
5.5m

  
WEIGHT: 

  
35.7 metric tons

  
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: 

  
4 x RRL-2P Miniaturized Protoculture-cell energizer 

  
32 standard canisters of Protoculture 

    1 dedicated canister for main weapon (if applicable) 

    98 lit. D2O reactant for fusion engines.

  
Delta V:

  
35 kps 

  
 

  
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS: 

  
None








WEAPON SYSTEMS:



    
  
  1. 4 x EP-13 THREE-BARRELED 80MM PARTICLE GUN POD: Can fire 170 rounds
    per minute in full automatic mode, also capable of firing all three barrels
    simultaneously in semiautomatic mode at approximately one shot per second. 
    This weapon fires 3.2 MJ pulses per barrel with its own dedicated
    protoculture cell and capacitor banks in the 'clip'.  This weapon,
    built into an external shell identical to that of the GU-13, was developed
    in 2032 by the REF, but did not see wide use until 2037.  By 2041, the
    EP-13 had almost completely replaced the GU-13 as the main cannon of the
    Alphas in the REF's inventory.
    
    
     
    
  
    2. 
  
  2. MM-16 MULTI-MISSILE SYSTEM: In order to supply the power to all
    four EP-13's simultaneously, additional protocutlure cells were added. 
    This reduced the missile compliment from the Mark II by removing all the
    missiles in the shoulders and lower arms.  However, the Mark III does
    retain the lower leg compliment of 16 hammerhead
    short range missiles.  These were used only as a weapon of last resort,
    as the EP-13's were designed to take out any Invid that came within
    range. 
    
     
    
  
    3. 
  
  3. 3 x DDI-6 MEDIUM RANGE MISSILE SYSTEM:   The Super Condor's primary
    long range system are three DDI-6 medium range missily launchers. 
    These launchers are mounted over the shoulders on the Super Condor.  Each launcher can hold
    six  260mm x 1.2m  Diamondback MRM.  
    
     
    
  
    4. 
  
  4. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Super Condor can engage in melee combat rather
    than use a weapon. The Super Condor is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand
    combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc. 
    DAMAGE:
      
    
  
    5. 




STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE SUPER CONDOR:








COMBAT BONUSES FOR SUPER CONDOR TRAINING:








REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN





Back to Mecha Home