The following material is an adaptation of a vehicle from MACROSS XV, an internet RPG sequel to the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech here in the U.S.). Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

U.N. Stealth Transport 
MS-42 Sky Mule

RPG Stats by Rob Morgenstern ([email protected])

ES-42 Sentry Mule by Michael Seaman-Huynh ([email protected])

Layout Style Adapted from DAVE DEITRICH([email protected])

Background info and animation images adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

BACKGROUND

The replenishment module includes collapsible booms for refueling fighters and bombers in mid-flight whether in an atmosphere or in space. There are also grappler arms for securing a fighter and bringing it into the cargo bay for replenishment of armaments as well as refueling. Usually, only two fighters are serviced at a time to allow space for fuel and ordinance storage. In space, additional fighters as well as bombers can be resupplied via EVA operations.

The forward C³I module includes a significant number of sensors and jammers as well as permanent bays for two VEFR-11 Cyclops Electronic Warfare Valkyries.

The gunship module provides the transport for significant firepower to provide fire support to ground troops.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:

MS-42 Sky Mule Stealth Transport

KS-42 Tanker Mule Stealth Replenishment Transport

AS-42 Kicking Mule Stealth Gunship

ES-42 Sentry Mule Early Warning and Control System (EWACS) Aerospacecraft

Class: Stealth Transport

Manufacturer: Rockwell / Raytheon
Crew: 12; pilot, copilot, navigator, 2 engineers, 1 communications specs, 3 gunners, 3 payload specs. Can carry 4-6 combat ready mecha, half a company of combat ready power armor infantry, or 36 power armor and a dozen or more ground vehicles and their crews in the MS configuration. The KS and ES modules can store up to 2 combat ready mecha internally. If internal stores are ejected, the KS module can accommodate up to four for short durations. The AS configuration cannot carry any additional vehicles or crew beyond module requirements.

 


Main cannon	300
(2) Laser Turrets	200 ea
Missile Launcher	200
(2) Engines	800 ea
Reinforced Bridge	400
Reinforced Engine Room Compartment	300
*Main Body ( hull )	150 per 30sq. ft.
*Total Main Body	6000
Cargo Hatch ( top, bottom )	600
Side Hatches ( 2 )	200 ea
Small Hatches ( 4 )	80 ea
Wings (2)	300
Tail Fins (2)	100

1. Depleting the MDC of a 30 ft. sq. area of the hull will punch a 30 ft. hole in the shuttle. The cockpit and engineering compartments have additional reinforcement.
2. Depleting the MDC of the main body will wreck the ship and set it adrift. If the Pilot and crew compartments are left intact they may survive on an 18 hr. supply of oxygen. Destroying the engines will set the craft adrift. Destroying the wings or fins in space has little effect, but will cause the transport to become uncontrollable and likely crash.

SPEEDS:

CRUISING:

Mach 1.6

MAXIMUM:

Mach 3.2 without boosting. Can exceed this for a short time to attain orbit over an Earth class planet.

RANGE:

600,000 mi

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:

21m (17m at hull)

WIDTH:

56m (42m at hull).

LENGTH:

95m.

WEIGHT:

2,587 metric tons (unloaded). 2,797 metric tons (loaded).

CARGO:

150 metric tons

Bonuses:

+1 to strike with lasers, +3 to dodge.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. MASS DRIVER CANNON: Nose mounted and can be fired by either the pilot, or copilot.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• RANGE: 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in an atmosphere, no limit in space
• DAMAGE: 1D4x30 M.D.
• RATE OF FIRE: 30 per melee
• PAYLOAD: 3000
2. RAPID-FIRE TWIN LASER TURRETS(2): Mounted on the sides behind the cockpit. Each is operated by a gunner from within the shuttle. 360 degree rotation with a 170 degree arc.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE:Defense
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
• RANGE: 25 miles (40 km) in an atmosphere. Double in space.
• DAMAGE: 2D8x20 M.D.
• RATE OF FIRE: Four per melee per turret.
• PAYLOAD: Unlimited
3. VERTICAL LAUNCH MISSILE SYSTEM (1): Mounted near the rear in front of the engines. The VLS contains 10 launch tubes and have two reloads each. The artillery specialist inside the shuttle operates the VLS missile system.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Defense
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
• MISSILE TYPE: Any UN Spacy Medium-ranged missiles, except the new IRHMM( Intermediate Range High Maneuverability Missile ) may be used. Some form of cluster munition is frequently used to provide a defensive screen for incoming missiles or mecha.
• RANGE: Varies with missile type.
• DAMAGE: Varies with missile type.
• RATE OF FIRE: The launcher can fire one to ten missiles at a time, with a slight delay between each launch to prevent them from interfering with each other.
• PAYLOAD: 10 missiles per launcher. Reloading requires one melee and each launcher can be reloaded twice times for a total of 30 missiles.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE STEALTH TRANSPORT:

• PASSIVE STEALTH: +3 to initiative
• TARGETING COMPUTER: +1 to strike with lasers ( listed above in "bonuses" section).
• RADAR: Can identify and track up to 30 individual targets simultaneously within 200 mi.
• LONG RANGE SATCOM AND HF COMMUNICATIONS: Range: 2000 miles depending on atmospheric effects). HF communications is subject to atmospheric effects that can render it useless.
• MEDIUM RANGE DIRECTIONAL LASER AND NON-DIRECTIONAL UHF/VHF COMMUNICATIONS: Range: 600 miles (or radio horizon) standalone, or indefinite through network relay.
• SELF-DEFENSE POD: contains flares and chaff for confusing IR and radar-homing missiles, respectively.
• EMERGENCY OXYGEN SYSTEM: 18 hour supply.
• AVIONICS BAY: The avionics bay has room reserved for expansion and upgrade of standard equipment. This has allowed the creation of specialized variants with enhanced C3I capability and others with enhanced optical arrays to name a few of the packages that have been installed.
• U.N. STANDARD EQUIPMENT: The Sky Mule has the standard equipment load found on all U.N. Spacecraft. Including but not limited to: homing beacons, heat and radiation shields, self-destruct capability, and numerous survival, first aid, and repair kits.
• HOWARD PBS-03S PIN-POINT BARRIER SYSTEM: [For Block 2 and later versions] The Block 2 refit included the new small-scale pinpoint barrier system for defense as standard equipment. The system can generate a single pinpoint barrier that can be moved anywhere on the ship and used as a shield against incoming attacks. The barrier provides 100 MDC of protection, and regenerates at a rate of 50 MDC per round when damaged. Even if destroyed by combined attacks, the shield will regenerate itself within 2 rounds. In order to use the shield, the operator must make a successful parry roll to intercept an incoming attack. This system can be used in conjunction with any PBS system in the module to provide additional defense, although the regeneration rate is reduced to 30 MDC/round for each.
• Primary Purpose: Defense
• Protection: 100 MDC total
• Regeneration Rate: 50 MDC per round.
• Size: The barrier can be up to 20 ft (6 m) in diameter.
• Duration: Unlimited.

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY KS TANKER MODULE:

• COLLAPSIBLE REFUELING BOOMS: (4) There are four booms that can fold and retract into the cargo module that allows up to four fighters or bomber to refuel reaction mass at a time. Two arms are mounted dorsally and refuel above the Tanker Mule and two mounted ventrally for refueling below.
• GRAPPLER ARMS: (2) The grappler arms allow the Tanker Mule to secure a fighter and bring it into the bay for refueling and rearming. One arm is mounted on the top door access and one for the bottom bay. The top arm is slightly longer to allow it to reach to the top of a fighter for its mounting point.
• LASER TRACKING SYSTEM: This system allows the Tanker Mule to provide detailed directions to the craft's flight management system to bring it in for docking.

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY ES EWACS MODULE:

• Crew: 16 replacing 3 payload specialists; Mission Commander, Area Control Officer, 4 Surveillance Techs, Communications Officer, 4 Communications Techs, ECM Officer, 2 ECM Techs, Chief Engineer, Assistant Engineer.
• Improved Battlefield Management System: located in the external sensor canoes and internal equipment bays. RANGE: 800 miles (or radio horizon)

DETECTION CAPABILITIES: The radar and tactical computer of this system can detect and track up to 1200 targets simultaneously and can record position and calculate velocity vectors for all targets. The system also includes electromagnetic and visual spectrum sensors for detecting spatial disturbances in the immediate area, such as incoming and outgoing folds or stealthy designs (50% chance of detecting a ship protected by passive stealth, 80% chance with active stealth (although will be unable to lock)). The system can also fusion sensor data from the Cyclops and surrounding Valkyries for transmission to other ships. The system also includes a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for short range imaging and target identification. RANGE: 20 miles.
• ALQ-197 ECM Suite: RANGE: 200 miles

The Sentry Mule's module houses a powerful electronic countermeasures suite that is capable of blacking out entire regions as well as selectively attacking surveillance systems. This system is located on the dorsal and ventral surface near the engines, and is most often used for standoff jamming operations. When activated, radio communications, radar, and electromagnetic sensors are reduced in range by 80%. Laser communications and light-based sensors are unaffected by EM jamming. This system also includes IR and UV jammers that are capable of selectively jamming up to 10 targets.
• ADQ-203 ECCM Suite: RANGE: 150 miles

The Sentry Mule also houses an extensive electronic counter-counter measure system that allows the vessel to locate and target hostile jammers. This system includes various signal detectors, processors and direction finding equipment.
• Enhanced Self-Defense Pod: that provides additional flares and chaff.
• HOWARD PBS-03S PIN-POINT BARRIER SYSTEM: The ES-42 is equipped with a new small-scale pinpoint barrier system for defense. The system can generate a single pinpoint barrier that can be moved anywhere on the ship and used as a shield against incoming attacks. The barrier provides 100 MDC of protection, and regenerates at a rate of 50 MDC per round when damaged. Even if destroyed by combined attacks, the shield will regenerate itself within 2 rounds. In order to use the shield, the operator must make a successful parry roll to intercept an incoming attack.
• Primary Purpose: Defense
• Protection: 100 MDC total
• Regeneration Rate: 50 MDC per round.
• Size: The barrier can be up to 20 ft (6 m) in diameter.
• Duration: Unlimited.
• VALKYRIE BAYS: (2) There are two bays for VEFR-11 Cyclops which accompany the ES-42 on missions.

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY AS ASSAULT GUNSHIP MODULE:

• Crew: 10 replacing 3 payload specialists; Commander, Artillery Officer, 6 Gunners, Ammunition Specialist, and Defensive Specialist
• IMPROVED BATTLEFIELD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: The BMS allows the Kicking Mule to individually target and track over 200 targets.
• REINFORCED CARGO MODULE: The AS cargo module is armored on the lower side to reduce damage from ground fire. (Increase armor of Cargo module to 250 MDC per 30 ft² area and main body to 6500 MDC)

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. VERTICAL LAUNCH MISSILE SYSTEM (2): Mounted in the top of the Kicking Mule module. Each VLS contains 10 launch tubes and six sets of reloads each. An artillery specialist inside the shuttle operates the VLS missile system.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Defense
• MISSILE TYPE: Any UN Spacy Medium-ranged missiles, except the new IRHMM( Intermediate Range High Maneuverability Missile ) may be used. Some form of cluster munition is frequently used to provide a defensive screen for incoming missiles or mecha.
• RANGE: Varies with missile type.
• DAMAGE: Varies with missile type.
• RATE OF FIRE: Each launcher can fire one to ten missiles at a time, with a slight delay between each launch to prevent them from interfering with each other.
• PAYLOAD: 10 missiles per launcher. Reloading requires one melee and each launcher can be reloaded six times for a total of 70 missiles each.
2. 155mm Recoilless HOWITZER: The howitzer is mounted in the ventral centerline and can recess and be covered by a heat shield for re-entry.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• RANGE: 30 km.
• DAMAGE: [3D6x10] MD.
• RATE OF FIRE: Once per melee.
• PAYLOAD: 100 rounds.
3. QUAD-BARRELED GATLING CANNON (4): The AS-42 uses the same gatling cannons as the VB-2 Spirit. These cannons are mounted in retractable turrets on the bottom of the vessel.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Defense
• RANGE: 4,000 feet (1,200 m)
• DAMAGE: 5D6 M.D. per short burst, 2D6x10 M.D. per long burst, or 3D6x10 M.D. per full melee burst.
• RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the combined number of attacks of the gunner.
• PAYLOAD: 2000 rounds per cannon equals 200 short bursts, 100 long bursts, or 50 full melee bursts.
4. MAULER REB-22B LASER TURRETS (2): Two turreted laser gun clusters are mounted on the dorsal side of the AS-42. These weapons are primarily intended to protect the Kicking Mule against attacking aircraft and mecha.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
• RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m)
• DAMAGE: 1D4x10 M.D.
• RATE OF FIRE: The laser can be fired in rapid pulses up to 4 blasts per round. A rapid fire blast counts as a burst of up to 4 shots.
• PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited.
5. HOWARD PBS-03S PIN-POINT BARRIER SYSTEM: The AS-42 is equipped with a new small-scale pinpoint barrier system for defense. The system can generate a single pinpoint barrier that can be moved anywhere on the ship and used as a shield against incoming attacks. The barrier provides 100 MDC of protection, and regenerates at a rate of 50 MDC per round when damaged. Even if destroyed by combined attacks, the shield will regenerate itself within 2 rounds. In order to use the shield, the operator must make a successful parry roll to intercept an incoming attack.
• Primary Purpose: Defense
• Protection: 100 MDC total
• Regeneration Rate: 50 MDC per round.
• Size: The barrier can be up to 20 ft (6 m) in diameter.
• Duration: Unlimited.

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This page is maintained by Kamikazi & Rob Morgenstern.