MBR-13 Salamander Main Battle Battloid

(Version 1.0 - Last updated: 11/09/01)  
Concept and Background by Kenneth Olson
Background Information derived from Robotech Technical Files

BACKGROUND 

In the late 2016, the Armies of the Southern Cross consisted of older RDF model destroids and many conventional vehicles and aircraft that dated as far back as the Global Civil War of the 1990's.  Unable to marshal the resources necessary to field armies of large RDF style destroids, Southern Cross battloids would be smaller, inexpensive to produce, and lack many of the internal weapon systems that their larger brethren posses.  Towards this goal, the ASC designed most of their battloids to use a common internal structure.

The MBR-13 Salamander was the ASC first attempt to produce a combat only battloid.  As a result, the Salamander possesses nearly 50% more armor than earlier combination than the dual use civil/military units produced early. All MBR-13 units possess limited flight/spaceborne capabilities mounting a single Nakajimi-13 thruster on the rear of the mecha. However, the system is somewhat underpowered, providing a top speed of 200 kph for up to 15 minutes before overheating.  

The Salamander was produced with three variants.  The MBR-A was assigned to all enlisted personnel and was equipped with the standard sensor package, descried later in this file.  The MBR-B was issued to all Non-commissioned officers and possessed an upgraded E-5 pulse laser system in addition to the upgraded Westinghouse TPG-145-X upgraded X-band pulse Doppler system.  Officers were issued the MBR-C model, with an upgraded C3I system, Westinghouse TPG-154 battlefield surveillance system.

Like earlier models, the Salamander mounts few internal weaponry.  Instead firepower is increased through the use of hand-held gun pods.  Initially all of the MBR-13 Salamanders were equipped with GU-13 gun pods; however, the standard equipment to the MBR-13 was changed to the EU-20 and later the EU-22 in late 2025.  By the time of the Second Robotech War, all Salamanders had been upgraded to accept any of the energy based 'EU' systems of the Southern Cross.  

The armor on the Salamander is a low-mass composite Chobham plating which provides excellent protection from all light anti-mecha weaponry.  However, the armor is easily pierced by medium or higher class weapons and often a single shot from such a weapon will disable the unit.  The Salamander does posses two arm shields which are capable of parrying direct blasts from medium or higher class weapons.  The Salamander is protected from all biological and radiological hazards using a fully enclosed environmental system.  The system can protect the pilot indefinitely; however, the internal oxygen supply will only last up to one week.

Over 40,000 units were produced between 2019 and 2033.  The Salamanders proved to be and extremely easy unit to operate and maintain.  In addition, the combat capabilities of the Salamander proved itself to be an extremely durable unit and could with stand a fight with Robotech Masters Bioroids if the pilot possessed sufficient skill.  At the end of the Second Robotech War, the ASC lacked the resources to rebuild their veritech squadrons and decided to replenish their depleted ranks with relatively inexpensive battloids.  Although the remaining ACS troops fought valiantly defending Earth, the shear number of Invid overwhelmed most ASC strongholds.
 

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: Main Battle Battloid
Class: Non-transformable Destroid
Manufacturer: Bofors
Crew: One
Service History: 
MBR-13A ASC Tactical Corps from 2019-2033 for enlisted personnel
MBR-13B ASC Tactical Corps from 2019-2033 for non-commissioned officers
MBR-13C ASC Tactical Corps from 2019-2033 for officers
 

MDC BY LOCATION:

Location Salamander
* Head 50
Head Lasers (2) 15 each
Head Sensor 10
Upper Arms (2) 100 each
Forearms/Shields (2) 175 each
Legs (2) 150 each
Hands (2) 30 each
Thrusters Rear (3) 50 each
Reinforced Pilot's Compartment 150
** Main Body 250
Optional GU-13 or EU-20 50
Optional EU-10, EU-11, or EU-22 75
	 
NOTES: 
  1. *Destruction of the head will destroy all of the external sensors for the unit, except for seismic and acoustic.
  2. ** Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha. 

 

SPEEDS:

RUNNING:
120 kph
UNDERWATER PERFORMANCE:
20 kph
LEAPING:                              
30 m w/o boosters
Typically 90 m long and 26 m high with boosters
FLYING:
The Salamander can fly at low altitudes (less than 500 meters) for up to 2.5 hours at a maximum speed of 120 kph

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
6.1 m
DEPTH:
2.4 m
BREADTH:
2.8  m
WEIGHT:
15.0 metric tonnes
PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 60
CARGO:
None
POWER PLANT:
SCE-2P Micronized protoculture generator with a fuel capacity of 6 canisters
PROPULSION IN SPACEBORNE OPERATIONS: 
3 x BRT-3  Two thrusters mounted on the back on one on the rear waist  producing a maximum thrust of 60 kN each
DELTA V:
10 kps
GENERATOR ENDURANCE:
 250 hours of operational use
BOOSTER UNITS:
None

 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. 2 x EU-4 (-A Models) MAUSER PULSE LASER:  The only internally mounted weapon system on the MBR-13A are two EU-4 pulse lasers mounted on either side of the head.  Each EU-4 is capable of firing 500 kJ pulses up to 120 times per minute.

     

  2. 2 x EU-5 (-B,C Models) MAUSER PULSE LASER:  The only internally mounted weapon system on the MBR-13B or C are two EU-5 pulse lasers mounted on either side of the head.  Each EU-5 an upgraded version of the EU-4 and  is capable of firing 750 kJ pulses up to 100 times per minute

     

  3. (Optional) GU-13 THREE-BARRELED 35MM GUN POD: Although rarely used, the Salamander can mount a GU-133.  Each GU-13 is capable of firing 2000 rounds per minute, 600 round capacity stored in the pod itself and in a non-detachable 'clip'. 

     

  4. (Optional) 1 x MAUSER EU-10:   The EU-10 is the primary weapon of the Salamander.  The weapon can fire energy pulses of 10 MJ blasts up to 150 times per minute.

     

  5. (Optional) 1 x MAUSER EU-11:   The EU-11 was designed primarily as an upgrade to the VHT-2 hovertank.; however, the Salamander is capable of using the weapon.  The EU-11 is capable of accurate fire out to 3.5 kilometers.   The EU-11 can fire 12.5 MJ blasts up to 110 times per minute.

     

  6. (Optional) E-20 GENERAL ELECTRIC  PULSE LASER: Designed primarily for the VF-9 Logan, the E-20 is capable of firing a 10 MJ blast up to 60 times a minute.
    • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
    • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
    • RANGE: 1200 m
    • DAMAGE: 1D4*10 for each single shot or 2D4*10 for each short burst bursts
    • RATE OF FIRE: Single shots or bursts equal to the combined attacks of the pilot. (up to 15 single shots or 5 short bursts per melee)
    • PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited. 

     

  7. (Optional) E-22 GENERAL ELECTRIC  PULSE LASER:  The E-22 was specifically designed for use with the Armies of the Southern Cross non-transformable battloids.  The cannon is capable of firing 12 MJ pulses up to 130 times per minute.  The cannon uses adaptive pulse technology to decrease atmospheric attenuation effects and thus increasing the effective range of the unit over the similarly sized E-20.
    • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
    • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
    • RANGE: 2000 m
    • DAMAGE: 1D4*10 for each single shot or 2D4*10 for each short burst bursts
    • RATE OF FIRE: Single shots or bursts equal to the combined attacks of the pilot.
    • PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited. 

     

  8. HAND TO HAND COMBAT:.  The Salamander is capable of powerful hand to hand attacks. 

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR SALAMANDER


COMBAT BONUSES FOR SALAMANDER: 


RANDOM HIT LOCATIONS

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

When there is a preferred side, roll 1D10

Salamander

FRONT

BACK

SIDES

TOP

BOTTOM

Head (Main Body)

01-04 01-08 01-05 01-10 -
Head Lasers (Head) 05-08 09-13 06-09 11-15 -

Head Sensor (Head)

09-13 - 10 16-18 -

Upper Arms (Main Body)

14-20 14-20 11-20 19-33 01-06

Forearm/shields (Upper Arms)

21-34 21-34 21-35 34-40 07-20

Legs (Main Body)

35-50 35-50 36-50 41-50 21-50
Hands (Forearms) 51-53 51-53 51-54 51-52 51-55

Rear Thruster  (Main Body)

- 54-60 55-58 53-56 56-60
Directional Grill (Rear Thruster) - 61-65 59-60 57-58 61-63
Pilot's Compartment - - - - -
Main Body 54-95 66-95 61-95 59-95 64-95

Hand Gun

96-00 96-00 96-00 96-00 96-00

SOURCES USED IN CREATION OF DOCUMENT


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