VHT-1(A1,A2,A3) "SPARTAS" VERITECH HOVERTANK

(Version 2.00 - Last updated: 08/07/03)

Background and RPG Statistics by Kenneth Olson

Background Information derived from Robotech Technical Files and Robotech.com

Robotech Research Picture archive for VHT-1 "Spartas"

BACKGROUND

The VHT-1 “Spartas” was developed by the United Earth Government in 2015 to fill the armored reconnaissance role, a role which had previously been carried out by the VBT-1 "Centaur"; however, by 2015 technological improvements had made the design dangerously obsolete.  The new design was required to have superior maneuverability over the older RDF Destroid and VBT-1 “Centaur” models but retain the armor and firepower to directly confront the most powerful Zentraedi mecha.  Two designs were placed forwarded as prospective candidates.  The first was an upgraded version of the venerable Centaur, dubbed the VBT-1A1 “Centaur-II” and the other was the VHT-1 “Spartas” hovertank.  Although the Centaur-II provided protection for the crew in all modes and possesses slightly greater firepower, the VHT-1 “Spartas” ultimately won the competition with its greater maneuverability and dedicated battloid mode. 

The VHT-1  “Spartas”, like most of the other variable fighter designs, has three modes each of which fulfills a different role for the unit.  The hovertank is used when the unit is operating in its reconnaissance role and provides the Spartas with the highest speed and greatest maneuverability.  The while in hovertank mode the Spartas is powered by four Pratt and Whitney HJ-800 fanjets, which propels the mecha to speeds up to 161 kph.  The guardian, also known as tank, configuration sacrifices speed but allows the unit to fire its 105mm smoothbore cannon with improved accuracy and allows the autoloaders to reload the weapon.  Finally battloid mode, gives the Spartas all the advantages of a humanoid form.

The Spartas is armed with an impressive load out of direct attack weaponry.  The primary weapon for the VHT-1 is a 105mm smoothbore cannon mounted in an armored housing on the right arm.  The 105mm cannon can only be fired while the mecha is in guardian or battloid mode.  Ammunition is supplied to the cannon via an autoloader which is only functional while the Spartas is in guardian mode.  Hence, while in battloid mode the mecha can only fire the shell that is currently loaded.  The type of ammunition is chosen by the pilot or picked automatically by the onboard computer with the autoloader providing up to 20 shells per minute.

The left armored housing mounts an Oerlikon PP-36 triple-barreled plasma pulse cannon capable of firing 5 MJ bursts of annihilation disks, similar to those found on Invid mecha, out to an effective range of 1200 meters.  The weapon is provided plasma directly from the main protoculture energizers, which allows the weapon to fire up to twenty bursts per minute.  Unlike the 105mm smoothbore, the PP-36 can fire either in battloid or guardian without penalty but cannot be used in hovertank mode.

The primary weapon of the VHT-1 in battloid is a single EU-11 laser gun pod, which is carried in either arm and mounted in the center of the unit while in hovertank.  The EU-11 cannot be used while the Spartas is in guardian, as it is mounted underneath and blocked by the units internal structure.  The EU-11 is powered directly from the main protoculture energizers and can fire 13.5 MJ bursts of laser energy out to an effective combat range of 3.5 km. 

The Spartas was armored with the latest generation of Chobham low-mass composite plate providing immunity from all anti-personnel and light anti-mecha weaponry.  The armor was so resistant that the unit could be disabled only by multiple hits from medium (55mm) or heavy anti-mecha weaponry.  In addition to the heavy armor, the Spartas was provided with two heavily armored arm shields in which the 105mm smoothbore and PP-36 cannons were mounted.  These arm shields could be used to parry incoming attacks while the Spartas is in battloid mode and are capable of deflecting attacks that could penetrate the main armor and thus disable the unit.  The heavy armor and arm shields give the Spartas nearly 50% the armor protection over the earlier RDF series of Destroids.

The VHT-1 “Spartas” was declared the winner of the UEG armored reconnaissance competition and the first combat squadrons of Spartas were formed in late 2015.  Although, the Spartas design was largely viewed as a success, only the Armies of the Southern Cross mass-produced the VHT-1.  The Robotech Defense Forces, and the later Robotech Expeditionary Forces, viewed the Spartas as overly complicated and not worth the expense of having a ground Veritech when the next generation of Destroid designs were arguably as or more effective.  Only 515 units were produced for the RDF/REF, however, they formed the famous Wolfe pack achieving great success in South America and later during the Sentinel campaigns.

Where the RDF/REF largely shunned the design, the Armies of the Southern Cross embraced the Spartas, so much so that the VHT-1 “Spartas” became intricately linked with the 2^nd Robotech War as the VF-1 did with the 1^st.  Over 7,500 VHT-1 were produced for the Armies of the Southern Cross from 2015 until the start of the 2^nd Robotech War in 2029.  After fourteen years in service the VHT-1 design remained largely unchanged; however, with the initial contact with the Robotech Masters, the ASC high command came to the realization that the VHT-1 design would have to be updated. 

Rushed into production the VHT-1A1 was the first major update to the Spartas design in nearly fourteen years.  The –1A1 design replaced the problematic 105mm smoothbore cannon with a 220mm laser cannon which is provided power from four dedicated protoculture canisters.  The weapon can fire 31.5 MJ bursts of energy out to an effective combat range of over 4 km.  While in guardian mode the laser cannon is hooked directly into the main protoculture energizers, which provide enough power for up to 32 shots per minute; however, in battloid the weapon is extremely unwieldy and limited to 8 shots per minute.  In addition to the enhanced weaponry, the –1A1 model was provided with upgraded armor and electronics over the older model.  The –1A1 model proved to be an extremely effective design and over 1,000 units were produced in the first six months of the 2^nd Robotech War.

As the war progressed, the ASC decided that another set of upgrades was necessary.  The most glaring fault with the Spartas was the lack of protection for the pilot while in guardian or hovertank mode.  During the last months of the war the –1A2 and –1A3 models were introduced with armored hoods and mounts for rocket thrusters to provide additional thrust for spaceborne operations.  The –1A2 model were not new units, but were upgraded original VHT-1 models with new electronics.  A total of 650 units were upgraded from the VHT-1 to VHT-1A2 standard during the 2^nd Robotech War.  VHT-1A3 models were either upgraded from the –1A1 standard or newly built models.  A total of 745 VHT–1A3 models were produced during the last two months of the war, 503 being upgraded –1A1 models and 242 newly constructed. 

After the end of the 2^nd Robotech War, production of the –1A3 continued during the seven months leading up to the Invid Invasion of March 2031, albeit at a much reduced rate of only 15 per month.  Only slightly over 1,000 VHT-1 Spartas of all models had survived the end of the 2^nd Robotech War, and were available for duty against the incoming Invid.  Although the remnants of the Armies of the Southern Cross fought valiantly, predictably most of Earth’s defenders were destroyed during the first 48 hours of the assault.  REF intelligence estimates that only 200 VHT-1 Spartas survived the onslaught and many of these found their way into various resistance groups.  During the subsequent years of Invid occupation, most of the remaining units were destroyed or were forced into retirement due to lack of spare parts and only a handful were still operational by the time the Earth Reclamation Forces arrived.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:  VHT-1 "Spartas", single seat-all-weather variable hovertank

Class:  Variable hovertank

Manufacturer:  Earth Defense Forces and Armies of the Southern Cross
Crew:  One pilot wearing tactical life support system

Service History

VHT-1:  Served with the REF Army and Marines from 2018 until retired in 2040, served with the Armies of the Southern Cross Tactical Division from 2018 until 2031

VHT-1A1:  Served with the Armies of the Southern Cross Tactical Division from 2029 until 2031

VHT-1A2:  Served with the Armies of the Southern Cross Tactical Division from 2030 until 2031

VHT-1A3:  Served with the Armies of the Southern Cross Tactical Division from 2030 until 2031

 

MDC BY LOCATION:

NOTES:

1. Destroying the head will knockout long range communications (reduced to 60 miles/96 km range), long range radar (reduce to 20 miles) and laser targeting (-1 to strike) and all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, and thermal)
2. Note that the rear, lower hover jets are located on the rear underbelly or bottom of the transport mode, rear underside in tank mode, and lower back when in battloid mode.   The front retractable hover jets are targets only in the transport mode.  Loss of both prevents movement in that mode.
3. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.
4. NOTE:  Armor is laser resistant (all lasers do half damage)

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

56  kph

LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

15 m high or 30 m  long without thrusters.

MAX SPEED, TANK CONFIGURATION:

13 kph

MAX SPEED, HOVERCRAFT CONFIGURATION :

161 kph with maximum sustained hover height of 2.5 meters

DESIGNED G LIMITS:

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

MAX ACCELERATION:  SPACE

0.94g  (although rarely used in space)

DELTA V:

0.7 kps with 500 kg of D₂0 stored internally

Drop Tanks count be mounted on the rear of the unit which will provide an additional delta v of:

• 1300 liters - 1.9 kps
• 2310 liters - 3.2 kps
• 4000 liters - 5.4 kps

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT

6.2 m (battloid)

4.5 m (guardian)

2.25 m (hovertank)

WIDTH:

4.4 m (battloid-breadth)

2.25 m (guardian)

2.7 m (hovertank)

LENGTH:

2.0 m (battloid-depth)

7.75 m (guardian)

6.0 m (hovertank)

WEIGHT:

26,400 kg empty.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Equal to a P.S. of 60

CARGO:

Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings

POWER PLANT:

2 x RRL-2 Miniaturized protoculture-cell energizer

MAX ENGINE THRUST

[Main] 4 x Pratt & Whitney HJ-800:   Four hover jets are mounted in the undercarriage of the Spartas in hovercraft mode or in the bottoms of the feet in battloid and tank providing 71 kN of ground-effect thrust each.

[Auxiliary] 2 x Turbo-Union ATF-480 miniaturized fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix ramjets:  Two fusion plasma engines are mounted on the rear of the unit for spaceborne operations.  Each engine is rated to 63.1 kN standard thrust, max overboost to 121.2 kN each (specific impulse of 4000 sec).

[Auxiliary] 2 x Turbo-Union RP-2S Rocket Pods:  Two rocket pods are attached to the lower legs while the Spartas is in hovertank mode and provide additional maneuverability for spaceborne operations.  Each engine can produce 103 kN of thrust for up to 70 seconds.  These rocket pods could be used by all models but were only intoduced into the ASC during the last year of the 2nd Robotech War

FUEL CAPACITY

8 standard canisters of protoculture 

500 liters of D₂0 for reaction mass (used only for spaceborne operations)

COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:

None

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. (VHT-1) RHEINMETALL M2014 120mm LIQUID-PROPELLED SMOOTHBORE CANNON: A single 120 mm cannon extends from the right arm-shield in tank mode.  The cannon is autoloaded at a rate of 32 rounds/minute, with 20 rounds stored in the right ammunition bin.  An additional 30 rounds may be stored in the left ammunition bin; however, the shells have to be transferred by hand to the cannon.  The mix of shells is dependent on the mission; however, the typical anti-mecha load is: 50% HEAP, 30% MKEP/SMDM-C/FAE, 20% SPIGOT (see table below for full description).  The weapon can be used in Battloid, however the weapon will be disconnected from the autoloader and can only fire the shell currently loaded.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault/Defense
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft
   • RANGE: Varies on Warhead
   • DAMAGE: Varies on Warhead
   • RATE OF FIRE: In guardian mode it can fire as many times equal to the pilots hand to hand attacks up to eight times per melee.  In battloid mode, the autoloader will not function and the weapon can only fire the currently loaded shell at -5 to strike.
   • PAYLOAD: 20 shells in the right ammunition bin with an additional 30 in the left.   There is enough liquid propellant for 60 shots.
   • NOTES:  This weapon is incredibly unwieldy and can not shoot at incoming missiles.  The autoloader with

   Ammunition	Damage (Blast Radius)	Range (direct/indirect)	Other
   High Explosive Armor Piercing -- Self Guided (HEAP-SG)	3D6*10 (3m)	5.0 km / 15 km	-4 to strike moving targets, crits on 17,18,19,20
   Self Propelled Intelligently Guided Ordnance Thermite (SPIGOT)	3D4*10 (2m)	5.6 km / 18 km	-
   Multiple Kinetic Energy Penetrator (MKEP-SG)	2D4*10 (5m)	5.6 km / 18 km	+1 to strike, crits on 19,20
   Seek Mecha Destroy Mecha -- Cluster (SMDM-C)	2D4 per bomblet (10m)	3.5 km / 10 km	+1 to strike, Divide the total number of mecha by the number of bomblets (10) and attack each in a random spread.
   Hypervelocity Airburst Flechette Explosive (HAFE)	3D6 (30m)	4.0 km / 12 km	+1 to strike, crits on 19,20
   Fuel Air Explosive (FAE)	2D6 (100m)	4.0 km / 12 km	-
   Seek Mecha Destroy Mecha --  Minefield (SMDM-M)	1D4 per bomblet 30m	3.5 km / 10 km	Divide the total number of mecha by the number of bomblets (30) and attack each in a random spread
   Tactical Nuclear Shell	1 kilotonne	5.8 km / 19 km	See Nuclear Weapon Data
   Sensor Artillery Delivered (SAD)	N/A (1000m)	6.0 km / 20 km	Seismic and Passive EM sensor and Radio link to an area

 

2. (VHT-1A1,-1A3) RRG mk13 220MM PULSE LASER CANNON: The RRG mk 13 extends from the left arm shield in tank mode and from the left arm in battloid.  The cannon can fire 31.5 MJ pulses at a rate of 6 shots per melee.  The maximum range is 4.2 kilometers; however, unlike the older smoothbore the RRG mk13 can not fire indirectly.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault/Defense
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft
   • RANGE: 4200m
   • DAMAGE: 3D4*10 per each individual blast
   • RATE OF FIRE: In guardian mode it can fire as many times equal to the pilots hand to hand attacks up to eight shots per melee.  In battloid mode, each gun can fire up to 2 times per melee at -5 to strike
   • PAYLOAD: Conditionally Unlimited.  The main gun can shoot up to 60 times within one hour or less.  Unfortunately the energy drain is incredible, the dualist uses the same energy generator as the standard hovertank.  The particle beam cannon recharges at a rate of 60 shots per hour.
   • NOTES:  This weapon is incredibly unwieldy and can not shoot at incoming missiles.

    

3. 1 x MAUSER EU-11 28MM LASER GUN POD:  A Mauser EU-11 can be carried in either arm while the Spartas is in battloid mode or mounted on the front of the mecha while in hovertanks mode.  The EU-11 is powered directly from the main protoculture and is capable of firing 13.5 MJ short bursts out to an effective combat range of 3.5 km. 
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE:  Anti-mecha
     
   • RANGE:  3500 m
     
   • DAMAGE:  1D6*10 per short burst
     
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Single shots or bursts equal to the number of hand-to-hand attacks
     
   • PAYLOAD:  Effectively unlimited
   • NOTES:  The weapon is not capable of firing while in hovertank mode

    

4. 1 x OERLIKON TRIPLE BARREL 36MM  PULSE PLASMA BEAM CANNON:   A single Oerlikon 36mm pulse cannon is mounted in the left armshield.  The Oerlikon can fire 5 MJ bursts of plasma annihilation discs, similar to that found on Invid mecha, out to an effective combat range of 1.2 km.  The weapon is powered directly from the main protoculture energizers with  plasma taken directly from the protoculture cell energizers with each weapon storing enough plasma for up to 20 short bursts per minute.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
   • RANGE:  1200 m
     
   • DAMAGE: 6D6 MDC per short burst
     
   • RATE OF FIRE: Short bursts equal to the number of hand-to-hand attacks of the pilot
     
   • PAYLOAD:  Effectively unlimited, up to 20 short bursts per minute

    

5. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the VHT-1 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon..
   • Restrained punch:  3D4
   • Full Punch:  6D6
   • Power Punch:  6D6+18
   • Kick:  6D6
   • Leap Kick:  6D6
   • Body Block/Tackle: 6D6.
   • Stomp: 3D4 MDC (only effective against small objects)
     

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR VHT-1 "SPARTAS":

• ACTIVE SENSOR JAMMER: Westinghouse ALQ-250(V) internal ECM providing broadband protection.  Estimated system effective radiative power 50 dBW
• AUTO-PILOT: The Spartas is equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will alert the pilot when the fighter is near its destination, and can also be set to automatically signal when sensors detect objects near the mecha. The auto-pilot was designed with long intra-system space journeys in mind.
• COMBAT COMPUTER: The IBM-210 combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 10,000 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 250 targets simultaneously. 
• EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away.
• HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening head and radiation. A radiation detection and alarm system are linked with the shields and will sound an alarm if there is a rupture in the shields and what the levels of radiation are.
• HOMING SIGNAL: The VHT-1  is equipped with a homing device that enables rescue teams to locate a disabled craft or ejected life pod. The range of the signal is 400 miles (640 km). Most REF ships and veritechs can locate and track a homing signal, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected.
• INFRA-RED COUNTERMEASURES:  Westinghouse QRC-100 providing protection from IR guided missiles
• INFRA-RED WARNING RECEIVER:  OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR) providing rear aspect coverage from IR guided missiles
• LASER COMMUNICATIONS: Long range, directional communication system. Effective range: 100,000 miles
• LASER RANGE FINDER / TARGETING SYSTEM:  Thomson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator (Range 30 kilometers)
• LOUDSPEAKER: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 100 decibels.
• OPTICS (INFRARED):  Phillips All-View multi-band camera system range 1000 meters.  This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the mecha's sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.
• OPTICS (NIGHTVISION): Phillips All-View multi-band camera system range 1000 meters.  A passive light image intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture.
• OPTICS (THERMAL IMAGER):  Phillips All-View multi-band camera system range 1000 meters. A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke, and also adds a +10% bonus to pilots using a tracking skill.
• RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 600 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
• RADAR (SHORT RANGE / FIRE CONTROL):  Westinghouse TPG-113 X-band pulse-Doppler, providing spherical long-range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes. (Range 40 km against a 0 dBsm "Invid sized" target)
• RADAR WARNING RECEIVER:  Marconi Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of an advance variable fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the  VHT-1 self-destruct system, which will cause the fighter to explode after a delay of up to 60 minutes (time is set by the pilot). The explosive damage is contained within a 20 foot (6 m) area and inflicts 1D6*10 M.D. to everything within the radius of the explosion. All internal systems are obliterated.  The pilot will be automatically ejected prior to the explosion unless the pilot overrides the ejection sequence.
• STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT: All Southern Cross veritechs come equipped with a portable survival kit. Inside the small reinforced box is a medium-sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food (can be stretched into a five day supply for one person) and basic first aid items (aspirin, bandages, disinfectants, etc.)
• TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The VHT-1 cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The Southern Cross flight suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation even during high-g turns, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot's blacking out in combat.

COMBAT BONUSES FOR VHT-1(-1A2) "SPARTAS" COMBAT TRAINING:

• 3 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot)
• Add one additional action/attack at levels five and ten
• +2 to strike
• +4 to parry
• +3 to dodge in battloid, +0 in hovertank, and +4 in hovercraft
• +3 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand

COMBAT BONUSES FOR VHT-1(-1A1,-1A2,-1A3) "SPARTAS" BASIC TRAINING:

• 1 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot)
  
• Add one additional action/attack at levels seven and thirteen
  
• +0 to strike
• +1 to parry
• +1 to dodge in battloid, +0 in hovertank, and +2 in hovercraft
• +1 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand

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