By Andering REDDSON. With technical advise from Daniel HENWOOD
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United Nations/RDF.
Terran United Nations
Robotech Defense Forces.
ARMOR-Class Space Carrier.
United Nations/RDF.
Terran United Nations
Robotech Defense Forces.
ARMOR-CLASS SPACE CARRIER
ARMOR-Class Space
Carrier Hull Veiws.
The RDF originally built a collection of 8 ARMD (Armored Reflex Missile Defender) Space Platforms to defend Earth. The first of these was commissioned in July of 2008. The plan was that a ring of 10 ARMD platforms would encircle the Earth to protect against "alien" invaders. The UN thought that this would be adequate to protect Earth. They were proved woefully wrong on 7 February 2009 when ARMD-01 and 02 were destroyed by BREETIA Tull's Fleet as they pursued what they believed to be a Supervision Forces Gunboat carrying secrets Zor refused to hand over to his masters- Including THE Protoculture Matrix. When the SDF-1 MACROSS vanished a further 6 ARMD platforms were made to bolster Earths defenses. These ARMD platforms would become embroiled in the final climatic battle of the First Robotech War, several surviving the battle as watchful guardians. They would remain as bases for Squadrons of Veritech Fighters attached to the SDF-1 or UN Headquarters until their decommissioning years later, when they were sold practically for scrap value, with 2 becoming private (for profit) space stations (one in lunar orbit), the rest being towed to scrapping yards. The design was thought to be obsolete, incompatible with any modern battlewagon, and the blueprints retired (and misplaced for several decades).
The UGC, however, recently took a second look at the "obsolete" design; Simple and robust, it offered MANY advantages not found in many other vessels; And it could be produced CHEAPLY. This was a major consideration, as the REF wanted to start giving UGC-allied systems more protection, especially after a long series of Fehran, Tiresian, and T'sentraedi malcont raids in the mid-23rd Century. Field trials of the new design proved HIGHLY promising, including a live-fire exercise with one from the original fleet of 8 (ARMOR 06), upgraded with the new component systems (superior armor, variable force fields, etc). ARMOR 06 withstood a PUNISHING 24-hour bombardment fairly unscathed. She was then boarded, and found to be battle-ready. Her skeletal crew of 20 Military Specialist officers began pounding at a meteorite to see how long it would take to destroy it; 03 hours later the once-Texas sized rock was a vaporous cloud in space. There wasn't even dust left.
This new breed of Space Station is now in service in MOST systems, and all systems have been authorized to build up to 10 per habitated body in their system.
One critical change is the widening and SLIGHT lengthening of the hull to allow 02 PLANET MASTER-Class Assault Shuttles to be carried on the ARMOR-Class's underside like oversized bombs. This gives it the ability to land MASSIVE amounts of Combat Mecha on an enemy target at no risk to the larger force; However, few systems have elected to do so.
Note: The designs of the new ARMOR-Class platforms differ greatly from the original, ARMD-Class platforms on which they were based.
Notable Hulls:
UGC WAYLAND POINT: One of Earth Colony Wayside's Defense Forces' ships, the WAYLAND POINT was built BACKWARDS, with her flight operations on her starboard side; For reasons wich will never be fully clear, the computer systems that were building her and the rest of Wayside's ARMOR Fleet inverted the deck plans, building them backwards. This is the only time this particular effect has been noted, and is known colloquially as "the Wayside non-plan."
UGC Chairman, Senate, and Hall: Literally, a trio of ARMOR-Class hulls comprising the Senate, the Hall, and the Chairman's Home. In the event President's Point is attacked, these three vsls will eject from the station, taking with them those members of the governance as can be rescued in the time allowed.
Name: ARMOR-Class Cruiser
Model Type: Battle Station
Class: ARMOR-Class Cruiser
Crew: 160 officers, 2,900 enlisted men, 600 fighter pilots plus flight crews.
Passengers: None.
MDC By Location:
* Main Hull-
** Main Engines (2)-
*** Command Tower-
*** Sensor Array (rear of Command Tower)-
Twin Reflex Cannons (5)-
10,000
5,000 each
1,000

500
1,000 each
Anti-Ship LRM Launchers (2)-
Anti-Mecha Laser Turrets (12)-
Airlocks/Access Hatches (40)-
Outer Hull (per 402 ft area)-
Interior bulkheads per 202 ft area, hatches, scuttles, and doors-
700 each
200 each
200 each
700

20
Notes:
* Depleting the MDC of the main hull will put the ship out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The carrier will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
** Depleting the MDC of the main engines will force the ship to rely on its secondary engines. Depleting the MDC of the main engines AND secondary engines will leave the ship adrift in space.
*** Destroying the command tower will instantly kill the command staff and deprive the ship of all forms of long range communications, radar and targeting. The range and targeting capabilities of the secondary systems are equal to that of a VF-1 Veritech. The ship can still operate, but is at -3 on initiative, -3 to strike, and number of attacks per melee of the weapon systems are reduced by half.
*** Destroying the main sensory array on top of the command tower will have the same effect, but the command staff will not be killed.
Speed and Statistical Data:
Space Fold: Equipped.
Sublight: O.20 speed of light (37,200 miles per second)
Auxiliary Drives: Mach 25
Maximum Range: Unlimited within system only.
NOTE: The ARMOR-Class are TOTALLY space bound: They are not designed for atmospheric use. Any attempt to take the ARMOR-Class vessel into an atmosphere would cause it to crash, and create TONS of debris; Furthermore, it will cause an atmospheric shockwave felt world-wide, and millions would die.
Length: 2000 ft (430 m
Beam: 500 ft (220 m)
Clearance: 300 ft ( m)
Weight: 174,000 tons
Cargo: Crew supplies.
Power Systems:
Primary: GHA-216 Heat Piles Lifespan: 60 Years
Secondary: Solar Sails Lifespan: 25 Light-Hours
Sublight Drive: Standard Tech GHA-216 Advanced Heat Pile System Clusters
Gravity Control System: Standard Internal Gravity Control System
Auxiliary Engine:
Primary: DTT-466 Traction Drives Range: 250 Light-Hours
Secondary: Bleed off from GHA-216 Heat Piles via nozzle cluster Range: 25 Light-Hours
Cost and Availability: 250 million credits; One can be built in about 3 to 6 months.
Estimated Black Market Cost and Availability: Between 20 and 100 million credits, depending on quality. NOTE: Cost and Availability under each system refers to the black market.
Weapons Systems:
1. Twin Reflex Cannons (2): Several beam cannons adorn the surface of the Space Carriers. Identical in design to the Converging Beam Cannons that the SDF-1 features these are the main anti-ship weapons of the ARMOR- Class. Due to the placement of the beam cannons, (four facing forward, and four facing aft on both the top and bottom of the carrier,) only four cannons maximum can be brought to bear on any target.
Purpose: Anti-Warship
MD: Absolutely destroys EVERYTHING in it's path without mercy. Against a planet, they do the equivalent of 10D6 MILLION MDC
Rate of Fire: Each cannon can fire once every 5 minutes (20 melees).
Range: 200,000 miles (320 thousand km)
Payload: Unlimited.

2. Anti-Ship LRM Launchers (2): The primary weapon of the ARMOR-Class Space Carriers is a missile launcher designed to destroy celestial objects such as asteroids that may threaten a planet or station, or enemy spaceships moving to invade. Each missile launcher is roughly 40 meters in length for an effective rail gun effect when firing the weapon.
Purpose: Anti-Ship
Missile Type: Any LRM, though most Captains prefer Reflex, Multi-Warhead.
MD and Range: Varies by type used.
Rate of Fire: Each launcher can fire once every two rounds.
Payload: Unlimited.
3. Heavy Beam Cannons (4): This was the main beam weaponry of the ARMD Platforms, and remains a critical component in the ARMOR-Class. The weapons are mounted in front of the platform and have a full 360 degree rotation by 180 degree arc.
Purpose: Anti-Warship
MD: 2D4 times 100 MD
Rate of Fire: Each cannon can fire up to 5 times per melee.
Range: 200 miles (320 km)
Payload: Unlimited.

4. Anti-Mecha/Fighter Laser Turrets (12): Arrayed with four on the port and starboard hull. Designed to defend against any close in threats to the platform.
Purpose: Anti-Mecha/Fighter
MD: 1D4 times 20 MD each.
Rate of Fire: Each laser can fire four times per melee.
Range: 60 miles (96 km)
Payload: Unlimited.

5. Mecha: About 500 to 1,000 various types of Aero-space, Space, Guardian, or Veritech fighters are carried; However, these are the standard varieties, as "exotic" systems (such as the VF-19 or S/R-2000 Veritechs) are too sensitive to risk the capture of.

Features:
  • ESM: Radar Detector. Passively detects other radars being operated.
  • Radar: Combat grade radar. Range 100 miles, can track up to 50 individual targets. 95% reliability (24% against unfriendly stealthed vehicles).
  • Blue Force Tracker: Identifies friend from foe. Overlays the information on both the radar and HUD, ensuring that friendly forces are not accidentally targeted.
  • GPS: Standard tracking device. Ties into the Blue Force Tracker.
  • Anti-Jamming System: Reduces Electronics Countermeasure by 25% (decrease skill level appropriately).
  • HUD: Displays maps, radar, targeting information, and any OTHER information the wearer wants directly in front of the user. One is located at each weapons control station, and another makes up the majority of the bridge.
  • FLIR/SLIR: Forward and Side Looking Infrared. Allows pilot to get visuals on targets at night.
  • Virtual Map: Displays a continuously-updating map of local terrain for the bridge. Takes data from and gives data to other friendly units in the area. Effective navigation of 85% as updates come. Good to 500 miles. Specific range can be adjusted in 10,000 mile increments.
  • 1 MC: Internal loudspeaker.
  • Video Camera: Records from the HUD. 5,000 hours of recording available.
  • Full range optic sensory suite: Infrared, ultra violet, Magnification, night sight, color filters, thermal imager.Range: About 200 miles for MOST sensors.
  • Escape Pods: 300 20-man escape pods. Each has 60 survival kits.

  • Combat Bonuses from ARMOR-Class Space Carrier Combat Elite:
  • 3 additional attack per melee.
  • +1 on initiative
  • +2 to strike
  • +3 to parry
  • No dodge (only parry and roll)
  • +3 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
  • WCDS WAYLAND POINT.
    The ARMOR-Class vessel UGC WAYLAND POINT, part of Earth Colony Wayside's Defence Forces.
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