NP-BP-22 Veritech "Alpha" Fighter FAST PACK Booster Units

(Version 1.00 - Last updated: 10/20/03)

Background and RPG Statistics by Kenneth Olson

Based on an original mecha design by Bill Spangler, Tim Eldred, and Fred Perry
Published in Eternity Comics "Robotech:  Invid War #2"

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.  If there was a single weakness to the VF-6, it was the lack of 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 TREAD booster that attached directly to the rear of the VF-6 and could boost the VF-6 into orbit.  The TREAD booster program was eventually merged with the VF-X-7 heavy assault variable fighter.  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 concept was revived.  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.  As most of the TREAD units were to be deployed with the 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 alternative that they decided in 2022 to develop their own series of veritechs and deploy ASC VF-6 “Alphas” in atmospheric operations only. 

Military engineers for the RDF and REF decided to combine their expertise and develop an inexpensive booster for the VF-6.  Design of the NP-BP-22 model FAST pack was finalized after only six months and greatly improved the combat radius of the VF-6.  The design is reminiscent of the FAST PACK boosters for the VF-1; however, the VF-6 would mount four of the boosters units mounted in over/under mounts on each wing which does provide the VF-6 with tremendous thrust and fuel reserves, but does not allow the mecha to transform out of fighter mode while the boosters are attached.  The primary engine for each booster is a single Pratt & Whitney +EF-2020 providing 250 kN of primary thrust.  Each engine is fueled with 6,000 liters of D20 and with all four boosters a fully armed and fueled VF-6 has a maximum range of nearly 24 kps.  To augment the firepower of the VF-6 while in fighter mode, each of the boosters have a MM-24 multi-missile system mounted on the front.  Each launcher has twenty-four short range hammerhead missiles which can fire from four tubes on either side of the booster.  Unfortunately, the inner launchers are partially blocked by the VF-6 structure and any missiles exiting those ports could hit the rear of the Alpha fighter.  As a result, each booster can safely fire missiles in volleys of two; however in desperate situations, the pilot can override the safeties on the launcher and fire missiles from the inner two missile launching ports albeit at some risk to himself and the mecha.

The NP-BP-22 boosters were first delivered to the REF in October 2022 with approximately 2,000 booster units ultimately produced before the REF's departure in December of 2022. The introduction to the RDF occurred later that same year; however, with the departure of the REF the RDF was placed in a secondary role without a well-defined mission to the ASC which had already decided to replace the early model VF-6  veritechs with their own VF-8 “Logans” and VFH-10 ”AGACS”.  In the years leading up to the 2^nd Robotech War, the RDF stockpiled VF-6 veritechs and booster units on lunar depots.  The RDF largely stayed out of space combat during the 2^nd Robotech War and therefore booster mounted VF-6 did not see large-scale action at that time.  At the conclusion of the 2nd Robotech War, the depots were resupplied albeit at a much-reduced rate. 

The first and only large-scale deployment of the NP-BP-22 boosters occurred after the Invid invasion of Earth.  By 2031 nearly 2,000 VF-6 fighters were deployed on the moon.  RDF commanders in an effort to destroy the initial Invid beachhead on Earth launched a massive combined assault with Earth resistance groups.  As few united Earth Forces capital ships survived the initial assault, the Lunar attack squadrons of Alpha fighters used NP-BP-22 boosters, in addition to larger FP-BP-01 multi-ship boosters, to travel between the moon to Earth.  Unfortunately, the assault failed and less than 100 units escaped the Invid counter attack. 

Meanwhile in deep space, the REF would use the NP-BP-22 on a more limited scale.  For a majority of spaceborne operations REF capital ships would transport their VF-6 combat squadrons and engage the Invid either in low orbit or within several hundred kilometers of their base ships.  However, REF Special Forces or long-range reconnaissance squadrons used the NP-BP-22 booster units on a regular basis.  The NP-BP-22 was placed into a reserve role with the introduction of the VFB-12 “Beta” fighter, which provided similar fuel capabilities with the added benefit that the booster was now a heavy assault variable fighter and saw little action after 2039.  

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:  NP-BP-22 Booster

Class:  VF-6 FAST PACK 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. The FAST pack will violently explode when the MDC of the unit reaches zero.  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 4D6*10 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 : Use of four boosters will propel VF-6 into low orbit around Terran standard planets

DESIGNED G LIMITS:

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

MAX ACCELERATION:  SPACE

4.25g (with four boosters)

DELTA V:

23.8 kps (with four boosters in addition to delta-v on board VF-6)

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:

2.0 m

WIDTH:

2.0 m

LENGTH:

6.2 m (adds 4 meters to length of VF-6)

WEIGHT (per booster):

1,500 kg (dry)

8,000 kg (with reaction mass and missile load out)

POWER PLANT:

None power supplied by the VF-6 onboard protoculture energizer

MAX ENGINE THRUST

1 x Pratt & Whitney +EF-2020 [Main]:  Fusion plasma-air/reaction turbines.  Max thrust 250 kN each  (specific impulse of 3500 sec).

2 x NAKAJIMA MBS-2 [Auxiliary]:  Two high maneuverability miniaturized fusion plasma-ramjets providing 65 kN of standard thrust and max overboost to 101 kN each are mounted perpendicular to the central axis of each booster.

FUEL CAPACITY (per booster):

1 standard canisters of Protoculture
6,000 liters of  D₂0 for reaction mass

WEAPON SYSTEMS FOR THE NP-BP-22 FAST PACK BOOSTERS:

1. NP-BP-12 MM-24 FAST PACK MULTI-MISSILE SYSTEM: Mounted on the front of each of FAST packs is a single MM-24 multi-missile system.  Each launcher can hold twenty-four hammerhead short range missiles.  Unfortunately, the inner launchers are partially blocked by the VF-6 structure and any missiles exiting those ports could hit the rear of the Alpha fighter.  As a result, each booster can safely fire missiles in volleys of two; however, the pilot can override the safeties on the launcher and fire missiles from the inner two missile launching ports.  Pilots usually viewed the boosters as more of a hindrance forcing them to remain in fighter mode and would often fire one or two missile volleys when contact was made with the enemy and then quickly eject the boosters to allow the VF-6 full use of both guardian and battloid configurations.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault/Defense
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
   • RANGE: 5.2 km
   • DAMAGE: Varies on warhead type (typically 1D6*10 for plasma)
   • RATE OF FIRE: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, six, or eight,, pilots can fire missiles at twice the rate but risk hitting the back of the VF-6 (see NOTES)
   • PAYLOAD:  24 short range hammerhead missiles per launcher
   • NOTES:  The pilot can fire volleys of four missiles per booster however on strike roles of 1-4 the missiles exiting the inner ports will hit the rear of the alpha fighter
   • NOTES-2:  The NP-BP-12 boosters precludes the use of the VF-6 hardpoints

ADDITIONAL COMBAT BONUSES FOR VF-6 WITH FAST PACK BOOSTERS:

• Subtract one attack per melee while the boosters are 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 while in the atmosphere, +0 while in space
• -3 to dodge in the atmosphere, +0 while in space

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"
• Macross: Perfect Memory © 1983 by Minori Library, Big West and MBS
• Macross: The Movie, a.k.a. The Macross Gold Book, © 1984 Shogakukan. ISBN4-09-170501-4
• Palladium Books:  "The Sentinels"
• Robotech.com:  Veritech Alpha Fighter VF-6
• Robotech Technical Files: Veritech Alpha Fighter VF-6

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