REF ZENTRAEDI Z2 OFFICER'S POD

(Version 1.02 - Last updated: 08/11/01)
Concept and Background by Kenneth Olson
Background Information from Robotech Technical Files
HTML form provided by Dave Deitrich

BACKGROUND

z-2.gif (20537 bytes)The Z2 REF Officer's Pod was originally designed to be the replacement for the Zentraedi Glaug weapon system in the REF. Because of the same considerations as those that drove the  Z1's development, the Z2 Battle Pod was designed to accommodate a micronized Zentraedi NCO or officer. Additionally, the Z2 was to replace in some measure the Light and Heavy Artillery versions of the Regult Battlepods. As with the Z1, the development teams responsible for the design of this mecha began with an analysis of the Glaug armament effectiveness. This analysis showed that the three particle beam cannons were the most valued weapons, with the Light Impact Cannon in the arms only used as a close-assault secondary to the PB-10s. The autocannons in the nose were almost never used. Therefore, they started out with a design that had hands on the arms as well as Earth-designed particle beam cannons, with two heavy beam cannons on top in a movable turret, and as extra over the Glaug, the same anti-aircraft laser installation as was installed in the  Z1 was placed in the rear of the Z2. However, Breetai suggested the inclusion of autocannons here also, and so two GU-13S triple-barrel 35mm autocannons were installed on the Z2, replacing the hands in the process. The heavy beam cannons were the PBC-12, a development of the PBC-11 as installed on the Tomahawk, which was an improved re-engineering of the Glaug's PB-19. Therefore, the heavy beam cannon had come full circle. Like the Zentraedi mecha of old, theZ1  and Z2 featured protoculture cells rather then a protoculture generator, because this decreased the size of the mecha, and thus enhanced its survivability, which partially offset the lower armor protection. The Z2 was slower than the Glaug because of a different leg construction, but even so the Z2 could keep up with the Z1 , and was more maneuverable than its Zentraedi predecessor.

Because of the expanded role of the Z2, and the relatively high percentage of non-commissioned and full Zentraedi officers selected for the REF forces, fully a third of the Zentraedi were issued this mecha. Additionally, the Z2 was, piloted by Terran crew, used as a direct fire support and flank protection Destroid by most of the human units as well.

Like the Z1, the Z2 pod served everywhere with the REF. Compared with the Excalibur and Tomahawk, the Z2 had almost the same long range armament, and more powerful short range armament, but lacked in armor protection and missiles, even with a MM-12 missile pod. But the human pilots of this mecha thought this of little consequence, since the Z2's particle beams often killed Invid mecha with one salvo. In addition, the smaller size and higher speed of the Z2 could get the mecha more easily out of trouble than the slower Destroids

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: One man, all weather ground and space combat mecha
Class: Destroid
Manufacturer: Robotech Expeditionary Forces
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System.
 

MDC BY LOCATION:

Location Z2
Top-Mounted Particle Beams 75
Rear Lasers (2) 50 each
Weapon Forearms (2) 100 each
Searchlight (2) 25 each
Upper Arms (2) 70 each
Retractable Hands (2) 25 each
Legs (2) 150 each
Rear Engine Thrusters (2) 100 each
(1) Sensor Eye 50
(2) Main Body 300
Reinforced Pilot's Compartment 175


NOTES:

  1. Destroying the sensor eye of the Z2  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. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING:
120 kph
LEAPING:
70 meters without thrusters.
FLYING:
250kph for two minutes
MAX ENGINE THRUST:
2 x Pratt & Whitney ZBPT-2 vectorable reaction thruster each with an output of 70 kN. Thrusters point to the rear.
1x Pratt & Whitney ZBPT-1: vectorable reaction thrusters with a max output of 130 kN.  Located in the lower-rear edge of the main body.
Assorted maneuveringn thrusters
 

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
10.0m 
DEPTH:
7.6m
BREADTH:
5.7m
WEIGHT:
29.5 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:
2 x RRL-1Z Miniaturized Protoculture-cell energizer
16 standard canisters of Protoculture
200 liters of  D2O reactant for fusion engines.
Delta V:
50kps
 
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:
None

 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. 2x RRG PBC-12b PARTICLE BEAM CANNONS: each cannon fires 25 MJ of particle energy.   These cannons can fire at twice the rate but only at 75% of the range and 50% of the damage potential.  Each cannon can rotate 30 degrees to each side in tandem, rotate up to 10 degrees to each side, and -10 to +30 degrees independently.

     

  2. 2x RRG PBC-15c PARTICLE BEAM CANNONS: are mounted in both arms of the Z2.   Each cannon draws power directly from the main protoculture generator, thus giving them effectively unlimited ammunition.  Each cannon fires beams of 10 MJ up to 50 times a minute; however twice as many shots many be fired at 1/2 the power setting, divide damage by 1/2.  This gun is the carbine version of the RRG PBC-15 particle beam cannon found on the Z1.  However, due to its shorter barrel, accuracy, penetration, and range are appreciably reduced. 

     

  3. 2x COLT E-19A LASER CANNONS: are located in the back of the Z2.  Each laser cannon can fire 4.5 MJ pulses every 1.5 seconds, 10 times per melee.  These weapons are designed to protect the mecha from attacks from the rear.

     

  4. 2xGU-13S THREE-BARRELED 35MM GUN POD: are located in the bottom of each of the two weapon arms of the Z2.  Each cannon fires at a rate of 1400 rounds per minute, 1600 round capacity.  Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds.  This gun is the carbine version of the GU-13 gun pod found in the Alpha fighter.  However, due to its shorter barrel, accuracy, penetration, and range are appreciably reduced. 

     

  5. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Z2 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The Z2 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:  

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE Z2:


COMBAT BONUSES FOR Z2 TRAINING:


Random Hit Locations

When there is an equal chance of hitting both sides from 1d6

When there is a preferred side, roll 1d10

 

REF Officers Battle Pod

FRONT

BACK

SIDES

TOP

BOTTOM

Top Particle Beam Cannons (Main Body)

01-07 01-07 01-15 01-20 01-05

Rear Impact Cannons (Main Body)

- 08-20 16-20 21-25 06-10

Weapons Arms (Upper Arms)

08-20 21-30 21-35 26-32 11-20

Searchlight (Main Body)

21-24 - 36-37 33-34 21

Upper Arms (Main Body)

25-30 31-35 38-45 35-40 22-27
Retractable Hands (Weapon Arms) 31 - - 41 28-30

Legs (Main Body)

32-50 36-50 46-60 42-50 31-60
Rear Engine Thrusters (Main Body) - 51-65 61-64 51-58 61-68
Sensor Eye (Main Body) 51 - 65 59 69
Main Body (Pilot's Compartment) 52-00 66-00 66-00 60-00 70-00
Pilot's Compartment - - - - -

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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