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SF-3A Lancer II Space Fighter |
BACKGROUND
The Lancer II Spacefighter was one of the first creations of the Unified Forces utilising the new technology found onboard the SDF-1 Macross. While the Variable Fighters and Destroids were being developed Lockhee put forward a proposal for a space borne fighter that was cheap to manufacture and easy to maintain. The Unified Forces approved the SF-3a Lancer II Space Fighter for use on board the ARMD platforms being developed and manufactured at the Lagrange Space Dry Docks. 78 Lancer II Space Fighters would be carried onboard each ARMD, their long range high powered laser cannons and medium range missiles making them excellent and agile fighters rivalling the agility of the VF-1 Valkyrie in Fighter Mode. However, unlike the VF-1, and later Variable Fighters the SF-3A Lancer II is limited to space operations only. It is not designed to enter an atmosphere, and it would burn up on re-entry and be reduced to a fireball, the Lancer II's heat and radiation sheilds only being designed to defend against natural radiation and heat found in space.
After Space War I, the Lancer II Space Fighter was still manufactured and fighters were assigned to the ARMD Space Carriers and the Factory Satellite, as well as the Apollo Moon base. As the Variable Fighter took precedence over other mobile weapons, the SF-3A Lancer II was gradually phased out, many of these fighters being scrapped or sold to Colony World space defence fleets. By the late 2020's, the SF-3A Lancer Space Fighter could only be found in the remote and poorly supplied Colony world defence forces, or in the hands of private collectors and museums.
RPG STATS
Vehicle Types:
Class: UN Spacy Manned Space Fighter
Manufacturer: Lockhee
Crew: One pilot wearing Light Tactical Life Support
MDC BY LOCATION:
(1) Main Body 175
(2) Engine (2) 75 each
(3) Radar Antenna 50
Cannons (2) 100 each
(4) Nose Aiming Camera 20
(5) Vernier Belts (6) 20 each
NOTES:
- Depleting the MDC of the Main Body will destroy the fighter, when fighter will automatically eject the pilot.
- Destroying one thruster will reduce the flight speed of the fighter by 50%. Destroying both thrusters will render the SF-3A immobile.
- Destroying the Radar Antenna will knock out the fighter's radar and communications.
- Destruction of the Nose Aiming Camera will negate the fighters strike bonus as this is the main sensor for locking onto targets and firing.
- The Vernier belts provide course alteration and adjustment. Destruction of the vernier belts will leave the SF-3A unable to make course alterations. Remove +1 from the dodge bonus for each vernier belt destroyed.
SPEEDS:
FLYING IN SPACE:
1,450 mph (Mach 2.2)
STATISTICAL DATA:
LENGTH: 25 ft (7.6 m)
WEIGHT: 9.3 ton's.
POWER PLANT: Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
- DUAL LASER CANNONS: (2)
The main weapon of the Lancer II Space Fighter are the two huge cannons mounted on its nose. The cannons give exceptional range and are designed to strike at distance in comparison to other mecha weapons, and work in conjuction with the Nose mounted aiming camera nestled at the rear of the cannons nestled between them giving them long range firing data. As the cannons are fixed the pilot can only fire at targets immediately in line with the cannons.
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
- SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
- RANGE: 5 miles (8 km)
- DAMAGE: 1D10x10 M.D. (Per Cannon) 2D10x10 MD for firelined blasts.
- RATE OF FIRE: 4 times per melee.
- PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited.
- MEDIUM RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS: (2)
Just behind and below the cockpit on either side of the SF-3A Space Fighter are two Medium Range Missile Launcher firing ports. Included as an afterthought they are intended for making strikes against targets outside of cannon range whilst the fighter closes to engage the target.
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
- MISSILE TYPE: Any Medium range missile
- RANGE: Varies with missile type
- DAMAGE: Varies with missile type
- RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of 1-6 missiles per melee
- PAYLOAD: 3 missiles per launcher, total of 6 missiles
STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE LANCER II:
- AUTO-PILOT: The SF-3A 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 Lancer II is equipped with a combat computer that can store and analyze data during combat with hostile forces. Data collected by the combat computer can be displayed on the HUD of the fighters cockpit, which allows the system to display large amounts of data to the pilot and even highlight enemies and missile attacks with overlaid graphics. The 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.
- EJECTOR SEAT: The pilots seat is an ejector seat that automatically fires when the Main Body reaches MDC 0. The ejector seat contains thrusters that operate only during the initial ejection. It also contains a powerful locator beacon. The combat computer is programmed to automatically eject the pilot if the mecha is destroyed (main body MDC reduced to 0), but this can be overridden if the pilot is feeling suicidal for some reason.
- 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 is a breach in the shields and what the levels of radiation are.
- HOMING SIGNAL: The ejector seat of the SF-3A 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 UN Spacy ships and variable fighters can locate and track homing signals, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected.
- LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the mecha's strike bonus.
- RADAR: 200 mile (321 km) range.
- 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.
- SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of a fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the SF-3A's self-destruct system, which will cause the craft 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 1D6x10 M.D. to everything within the radius of the explosion.
All internal systems are obliterated. The escape pod will be
automatically ejected prior to the explosion unless the pilot overrides the ejection sequence.
- TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The SF-3A's cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The UN Spacy 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 SF-3A LANCER II SPACE FIGHTER TRAINING:
SF-3A LANCER II SPACE FIGHTER COMBAT TRAINING
- +2 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot).
- Add one additional action/attack at levels four, eight, and twelve.
- +2 to strike
- +6 to dodge
- +2 to roll with an impact, reducing damage by half.
- Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.
REFERENCES
© Aaron Sketchley