TRans-EArth Deployment (TREAD) VF-6 Booster

(Version 1.00 - Last updated: 02/17/04)

Background and RPG Statistics by Kenneth Olson

Based on an original mecha in Artmic Design Works (pg 15)

Animedia Genesis Climber Mospeada Color Graffiti (pg 117)

BACKGROUND

With the introduction of the VF-6 “Alpha” fighter in 2019, the Earth Defense Forces had a formidable fighter to replace the aging VF-1 and VF-4 series of veritechs.  The single weakness to the VF-6 was its lack of onboard fuel for spaceborne operations.  In order to rectify this problem the United Earth Government, ordered several booster concepts which would attach to the rear of the VF-6 and provide additional fuel and firepower while the unit was in space.  Several design concepts were considered; however, the most promising was the TRans-EArth Deployment (TREAD) booster which attaches directly to the rear of the  VF-6 and could boost the mecha into orbit.  The early production designs of the TREAD were little more than an upscale booster with aerodynamic shaping and lift surfaces (see pre-production picture) and without any onboard weaponry.  The TREAD booster program was eventually merged with the VF-X-7 heavy assault variable fighter program; unfortunately, two years of testing proved that the technology for the VF-X-7 “Beta” fighter was still premature and the project was canceled and the TREAD booster-only concept was revived.

The newly revived TREAD program took many of its design features from the cancelled VF-X-7 program, such as the two onboard DD-16 multi-missile systems and the three massive Pratt & Whitney JG100A Fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix turbines mounted on the rear of unit.  The basic shape of the TREAD booster was also borrowed from the "Beta"; however, the surface area of the wings were increased to improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the booster while attached with an VF-6 fighter.  The new TREAD design, like the Beta Fighter, allows the VF-6 to transform into battloid mode while attached to the booster.  By 2022 approximately 400 TREAD units had been completed; however, the cost of producing a TREAD proved to be extremely high as the booster itself was as complicated as some contemporary space superiority fighters, albeit still less than a fully transformable veritech fighter. 

As most of the TREAD units were to be deployed with the Robotech Expeditionary Forces (REF), the remaining Earth based Armies of the Southern Cross (ASC) and Robotech Defense Forces (RDF) still needed a space booster which could raise operational range of the VF-6 to near that of the VF-1 and VF-4 units which were rapidly reaching the end of their operational lifetime and in desperate need of replacement.  The ASC was so disappointed with the range of the VF-6 and lack of an immediate inexpensive booster alternative that they decided in 2022 to develop their own series of veritechs and deploy ASC VF-6 “Alphas” in atmospheric operations only, placing the remaining squadrons in reserve by 2028. 

Meanwhile in deep space, the REF would use the TREAD to increase the combat range and firepower of its VF-6 veritech fighters.  As the number of TREAD boosters were limited, only REF deep-space reconnaissance and special forces were normally assigned the TREAD booster units as normally  REF capital ships would transport their VF-6 combat troops and engage the Invid in either low orbit or within several hundred kilometers of the REF fleet.  Although the TREAD booster only saw limited combat action during its two decades of combat service, most VF-6 pilots gave the TREAD high ratings as it substantially increased their range and firepower.  The TREAD continued to serve for another five years after the introduction of the VFB-9 "Beta" in 2039, as military planners felt that the booster provided similar performance improvements while attached to an alpha fighter at a far cheaper price and without the need to endanger a second pilot.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:  TRans-EArth Deployment (TREAD) Booster

Class:  VFA-6 "Alpha" Fighter Booster

Manufacturer:   Earth Defense Forces and Robotech Expeditionary Forces
Crew:  None

Service History: 

Served with the RDF Spacy and the Southern Cross Tactical Forces from 2020 until the Invid Invasion of 2031 and with the Robotech Expeditionary Forces from 2020 onward.

 

MDC BY LOCATION:

NOTES:

1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the TREAD and the booster will violently explode.  If the VF-6 main computer is functioning it will automatically eject the booster; however, if it is not the pilot has 5 seconds to eject the damaged unit or the mecha will take 2D6*100 MDC.

SPEEDS:

FLYING: At sea level / at 15 km (used only to boost VF-6 into orbit)

250 kph / 1820 kph
Initial climb rate : over 20,000m per minute
Service ceiling : The TREAD can boost the VFA-6 into orbit around Terran standard planets

DESIGNED G LIMITS:

+12.0/-6.5 (Computer overrides at 9.5g)

MAX ACCELERATION:  SPACE

3.41g

DELTA V:

21.5 kps (in addition to delta-v on board VFA-6)

25.7 kps with 8,000 kg of D20 in bomb bay instead of weapons

Drop Tanks will provide an additional deltav of:

• 1300 liters - 0.6 kps
• 2310 liters - 1.1 kps
• 4000 liters -  2.0 kps

 

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT

6.1 m (fighter)

WIDTH:

19.5 m wingspan

LENGTH:

9.7 m (fighter)

WEIGHT:

18,000 kg (dry)

39,850 kg (with reaction mass and full weapons compliment)

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Equal to a P.S. of 60

CARGO:

Up to 8,000 kg of equipment can be stored in the bomb bay instead of weapons

POWER PLANT:

RRL-2D Miniaturized protoculture-cell energizer

MAX ENGINE THRUST

[Main] 3 x Pratt & Whitney JG100A Fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix turbines. Max thrust, 356 kN of static thrust (400 kN augmented) in the atmosphere or 356 kN using internal reaction mass in space (specific impulse of 4125 sec).

[Auxiliary] 4 x Turbo-Union ATF-401 miniaturized fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix ramjets. Engines are mounted in pairs near the elbow joint of the arm for VTOL operations in jet mode.  Each engine is rated to 46.9 kN standard thrust, max overboost to 91.1 kN each

FUEL CAPACITY:

24 standard canisters of protoculture

30,000 liters of D₂0 for reaction mass

(Optional) 8,000 liters of D₂0 in bomb bay instead of weapons

 

WEAPON SYSTEMS FOR THE TREAD BOOSTERS:

1. 2 x DD-16 MULTIMISSILE SYSTEM:  Located on the ventral side of the TREAD are two pop-up DD-32 short range Coralsnake launchers.   Each carries eight missiles in ready position with one reload of eight missiles.  These missiles can fire from the TREAD while the VF-6 is either in battloid or fighter configuration..
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault/Defense
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
   • RANGE: 8.2 km (ballistic trajectory) or 3.5 km (direct trajectory)
   • MAX SPEED:  Mach 1.5
   • DAMAGE:
     • High Explosive Armor Piercing (A,C):  2D4*10 MDC per missile
     • Plasma (B,D):  2D6*10 MDC per missile
   • RATE OF FIRE: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, eight, or sixteen (from both launchers)
   • PAYLOAD: Sixteen Coralsnake missiles per launcher for a total of thirty two
   • NOTES:  HEAP have critical strikes on 17-20, Mark -A and -B are +2 to strike, Mark -C and -D are +3 to strike against Invid mecha.  Subtract -5 for ballistic strikes.

   
   

2. UNDERWING ORDNANCE:  Similar to the Beta fighter, three hardpoints are mounted on either wing of the TREAD boosters.  Weapons can only be placed for spaceborne operations as the placement of weapons affects the aerodynamics of the mecha drastically in the atmospheric flight.  Available payloads include, but are not limited to the following:
   • MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES: Eight medium range Diamondback missiles can be stored on an AMER (Articulating Multiple Ejection Rack) on each inner hardpoint and six on each outer hardpoint for a total of 14 missiles.  The middle hardpoint can not mount an AMER as the other two hardpoints block its line of sight.
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Assault/Defense
     • SECONDARY PURPOSE:  Anti-Mecha
     • MAX SPEED:  Mach 3.0 / Mach 6.0 (high speed)
     • RANGE:  65 km / 22 km (high speed)
     • DELTA-V:  2.0 kps
     • DAMAGE:  2D6*10 MDC per missile
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One at a time or in volleys or two, four, eight, or fourteen
     • PAYLOAD:  Eight missiles on inner hardpoint and six on the outer
     • NOTES:  +3 to strike, Statistics given for Diamondback Mk-B missile see missile readout for other options
   • LONG RANGE MISSILES: Each hardpoint can carry one standard long range missile (see Palladium Robotech RPG Books for statistics) or a single CBM-200 cluster missile. 
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Assault/Defense
     • SECONDARY PURPOSE:  Anti-Mecha
     • MAX SPEED:  Mach 3.2
     • RANGE:  65 km
     • DELTA-V:  3.5 kps
     • DAMAGE:  200 bomblets each does 3D6 MDC, effective blast radius 100 meters
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One at a time
     • PAYLOAD:  One long range missile or CBM-200 per hardpoint
     • NOTES:  +3 to strike. To determine the number of cluster bombs going after a single target.  Divide the number of bomlets (200) by the total number of targets with the effective blast radius (100 m).  Consider that to be the number of bomblets that will attack each target in a random spread up to a maximum of twenty bomblets per mecha.
   • RF/IR JAMMER PODS:  Each hardpoint can carry up to one RF or one IR jamming pod used to divert guided missiles.  Only apply the bonuses to
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Anti-Missile
     • RANGE:  5 km
     • NOTES:  Subtract -5 from the natural die roll of the missile attack (before missile bonuses applied) for dumb missiles (+2 to strike bonus or less), -3 from  standard missiles (+3 to strike), -1 from intelligent missiles (+4 to strike or greater).  Bonuses do not stack from multiple jammer pods. 
     • NOTES-2:  Bonuses do not stack from multiple jammer pods and only apply 
   • PROTOCULTURE FLARE PODS:  Each hardpoint can carry up to one Protoculture Flare pod.  Each Protoculture jammer produces waveforms in band to the Invid's protoculture sensors so great that it effectively blinds them to other inbound signals.
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Anti-Invid Sensor
     • RANGE:  10 km
     • NOTES:  Although the Invid will know the direction and distance of the mecha carrying the Protoculture flare; however, the flare will blind the Invid from detecting any other targets within the 10 km effective range.
   • CHAFF AND FLARE DISPENSER PODS: Each pod can carry up to 30 chaff or 30 flares in addition to the onboard systems.
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile
     • RANGE:  100 m
     • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to 10 decoys per attack
     • PAYLOAD:  30 decoys per dispenser
     • NOTES:    In game play only chaff bundles will affect RF missiles and flares affect IR missiles.  The player must declare after the missile strike, without knowledge of the natural strike roll of the missile attack,  which type of decoy he/she is deploying.  For each effective decoy deployed subtract -3 from the natural die roll for dumb missiles (those with strike rolls +2 or less), -2 from the natural die from for standard missiles (+3 to strike), -1 from the natural die roll from intelligent missiles (+4 or greater to strike).  If the natural die roll, with out any strike bonuses added falls below +5 then the decoys are effective and the missile(s) will miss their intended target

   
   

3. WEAPONS BAY: The TREAD can carry a nominal load of 4,000 kg of ordnance; however up to 8,000 kg may be loaded double the existing loading.
   • LONG RANGE MISSILES:   The weapons bay can hold up to eight long range missiles of any type (see Palladium Robotech RPG Books for statistics).  Statistics are given for the Derringer Mk-D long-range missile.
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Assault/Defense
     • SECONDARY PURPOSE:  Anti-ship
     • MAX SPEED:  Mach 3.0
     • RANGE:  130 km
     • DELTA-V:  5.0  kps
     • DAMAGE:  6D6*10 MDC
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One at a time or in volleys of two
     • PAYLOAD:  Standard loadout of four long range missiles or up to a maximum of eight
     • NOTES:  +3 to strike
   • MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES:  The weapons bay can hold up to sixteen medium range missiles of any type (see Palladium Robotech Books for statistics).  Statistics are given for Diamondback Mk-B missile.
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Assault/Defense
     • SECONDARY PURPOSE:  Anti-Mecha
     • MAX SPEED:  Mach 3.0 / Mach 6.0 (high speed)
     • RANGE:  65 km / 22 km (high speed)
     • DELTA-V:  2.0 kps
     • DAMAGE:  2D6*10 MDC per missile
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One at a time or in volleys or two, four, eight, or fourteen
     • PAYLOAD:  Eight missiles on inner hardpoint and six on the outer
     • NOTES:  +3 to strike, Statistics given for Diamondback Mk-B missile see missile readout for other option
   • GRAVITY BOMBS:  The weapons bay can hold up to 8,000 kg of gravity bombs instead of missiles.  Up to sixteen 250 kg laser guided high explosive (HE) bombs, eight 500 kg cluster bombs, or four 1,000 kg armor piercing (AP) laser guided bombs may be carried.
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Assault/Defense
     • DAMAGE:  3D6*10 MDC for 250 kg HE,  1D4*10 MDC to everything within blast radius for the 500 kg Cluster Bomb, or 1D4*100 MDC for the AP bomb
     • BLAST RADIUS:  20 m for 250 kg HE, 50 m for 500 kg Cluster Bomb, and 10 meters for 1,000 kg AP
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One at a time or in volleys or two
     • PAYLOAD:  Sixteen 250 kg HE bombs, eight 500 kg cluster bombs, or four 1,000 kg armor piercing bombs
     • NOTES:  -5 to strike moving targets on the ground and can not be used to hit airborne platforms.

   
   

4. 2 x AN/ALE-55 CHAFF/FLARE DECOY DISPENSERS: Two chaff flare decoy dispensers are located on the rear of the TREAD booster.  The type and number of each decoy is triggered manually by the pilot.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile
   • RANGE:  100 m
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to 10 decoys per attack
   • PAYLOAD:  40 decoys per dispenser
   • NOTES:    In game play only chaff bundles will affect RF missiles and flares affect IR missiles.  The player must declare after the missile strike, without knowledge of the natural strike roll of the missile attack,  which type of decoy he/she is deploying.  For each effective decoy deployed subtract -3 from the natural die roll for dumb missiles (those with strike rolls +2 or less), -2 from the natural die from for standard missiles (+3 to strike), -1 from the natural die roll from intelligent missiles (+4 or greater to strike).  If the natural die roll, with out any strike bonuses added falls below +5 then the decoys are effective and the missile(s) will miss their intended target

ADDITIONAL COMBAT BONUSES FOR VF-6 WITH TREAD:

• Subtract two attacks per melee while the TREAD is attached to the VF-6, the additional weight of the boosters make the VF-6 unwieldy and more difficult to dodge or line up to engage enemies
• -1 to strike / -2 to roll / -2 to dodge

Random Hit Locations

When there is an equal chance of hitting both sides from 1D6

• 1-3 hits the right side
• 4-6 hits the left

When there is a preferred side, roll 1D10

• 1-8 hits the preferred side
• 9-10 hits the opposite side

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• Macross Mecha Designs:  "UN Spacy FAST Packs"
• Palladium Books:  "The Sentinels"
• Robotech.com:  Veritech Alpha Fighter VFA-6
• Robotech Technical Files: Veritech Alpha Fighter VF-6

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