The following material is an adaptation of the starship design from the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech here in the U.S.) and the Macross Movie (1984). Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit to me and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

THE OVERLORD-CLASS SUPER DIMENSIONAL BATTLECRUISER

(Last modified: 4/24/01)
RPG Stats by KAMIKAZI
Background info provided by the MACROSS ONLINE COMPENDIUM

 


UNS Overlord on builders' trials in March, 2051

BACKGROUND

The UN Spacy/Varuta War of 2045-46 showed that Earth's Colonization Fleets were under gunned in capital ship engagements and planetary assaults. A New Macross Battle Carrier was sufficient when facing small task forces and medium fleets. However when up against a force the size of the main Varuta fleet, even when combined with other escorts, the UN Spacy lacks the firepower to win with acceptable loses, as seen with the Macross 07 fleet. In addition, when faced with a planetary assault, a New Macross Battle Carrier is not able to bring enough firepower to bare, unless backed by Marine Assault Units (Tarawa LPA, Whidbey Island LSD, Glorious LCV).

It was also seen twice that if a colonization fleet were caught planet-bound by an orbiting nemesis, that they would be hard pressed to defend themselves or escape. Thus planning began on a new class of colonization escort to complement the New Macross Battle Carrier in 2046. This new ship would have sufficient firepower to face a medium sized (30-120 ships) fleet alone, and would back the New Macross Battle Carrier of whatever fleet it was assigned to. Additionally, the ship would be extremely capable of assaulting a planetary target. She carries over 600 variable fighters and almost 200 Destroids as well as shuttles and other support craft.

In 2051 the UNS Overlord slipped her moorings on a 6 week shakedown cruise before folding out to rendezvous with the Macross 13 fleet. The Overlord-class is nearly the same size as a Megaroad Class-class colony vessel, making them over 30% longer than Zentraedi Nupetiet-Vernitzs command cruiser and with immense internal volume. However, the ship is designed on the SDF-01 Macross Battle Fortress and is a combat vessel pure and simple. Like her predecessor, the Overlord is transformable (has two modes of operation, Cruiser and Attack mode), and has two aircraft carriers attached that form the arms of the ship in Attack mode. Two Maizuru-class Stealth Carriers take the place of the original ARMD-class carriers. Unlike the original Macross, the two carriers are able to separate from the Overlord, and are fully functioning ships in their own right. Usually, the ship will be configured into Attack if landing on a planet while under hostile fire. If there is no direct threat from space, the ship will remain in Cruiser mode when landing.

One of the most unusual features of the Overlord is its capability to carry a Prometheus-class submersible aircraft carrier or Daedalus-class submersible assault landing vessel. This gives a commander an unprecedented capabilities that were not available any time in the past. The CVS is docked in a special bay on the ventral side of the battlecruiser. While in Cruiser mode, the Overlord can launch the carrier in a body of water. The launch bay, which is already submerged, floods when the bay doors are opened, surrounding the carrier with water. The Prometheus/Daedalus would submerge below the battlecruiser without anyone's knowledge.

Simultaneously with the launch of the Overlord the UN Spacy began construction of the Victory and Juggernaut, both to be completed in 2052. Limited production with commence, with 2-3 ships begin commissioned a year. A planned production run of 25 ships is scheduled, with one Overlord rendezvousing with each older New Macross Colony Fleet and launching with each new fleet as well.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Class: Overlord-class Colony Ships
Type: Long Distance Colonization Fleet Escort & Planetary Assault Battlecruiser
Government: New Unity Government (Earth)
Manufacturer: ORTEC Company/UN Spacy
Crew (Includes attached Maizuru-class carriers): 13,316 total
Command Tower: 150
Ship Crew: 6,830
VF Pilots: 772 + 336 reserve
Destroid Pilots: 376 + 188 reserve
Support Craft Personal: 816 + 408 reserve
Troops: 1,240
    Prometheus-class CVS Personnel: 2,200
            Command Tower: 30
            Main Ship: 1,615
            VF Pilots: 300 + 25 reserve
            Troops: 150
            Daedalus-class SLV Personnel: 1,965 total
            Command Tower: 30
            Main Ship: 1,450
            Destroid Pilots: 160 + 25 reserve
            Troops: 300

Notable Ships of Class:

MDC BY LOCATION: 

(1) Forward 1/3 of Ship (Reflex Cannons)(2)                   20,000 each
(2) Rear 2/3 or Ship (Command Section, Main Engines)          80,000
    Prometheus/Daedalus Launch Bay                            20,000
    Left Maizuru-class Stealth Carrier                        15,000
    Right Maizuru-class Stealth Carrier                       15,000
(3) Command Tower                                             10,000
(3) Sensor Array (Top of Command Tower)(2)                     5,000 each
(4) Main Engines/Leg Units (2)                                20,000 each
(4) Secondary Thrusters (40)                                   1,000 each
    Guidance Thrusters (30)                                      300 each
    Small airlocks (120)                                         400 each     
    Large airlocks (30)                                          800 each 
    Armored outer hull per 40ft area                             150
    Interior walls (per 20ft area)                                40
    Rail Cannons (4)                                           2,500 each
    Heavy Anti-Warship Missile Launchers (12)                  1,000 each  
    Retractable Laser Turrets (60)                               150 each   
    Long Range Missile Launchers (18)                            500 each     
    Medium Range Missile Launchers (48)                          200 each    
(5) Pin Point Barriers (8)                                     5,000 each

NOTES:

  1. Depleting the MDC of the front 1/3 section of the Overlord will destroy the reflex cannons. The ship can still function and is maneuverable.
  2. Depleting the MDC of the rear 2/3 section of the Overlord will destroy the ship, due to loss of the power systems and main engines. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The Overlord itself will be unsalvageable.
  3. 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-11 Thunderbolt. 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 instantly.
  4. 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. In an atmosphere, the Overlord will still be able to land using antigravity engines (provide the rear 1/3 of the spacecraft is intact) but will not be able to take off again.
  5. The Pinpoint Barriers regenerate at a rate of 1,250 MD per second (2,500 MD per melee round). If destroyed, a barrier will completely regenerate within four seconds (2 melee rounds). See the Pinpoint Barrier System entry for details.

SPEEDS:

Speed (sublight): 0.20 speed of light (32,000 miles per second)
Speed (Auxiliary Drives): Mach 3
Space Fold: Range Unlimited (1 light year every 6 minutes)
Planet bound:
Can land and take off if necessary but not designed to maneuver in an atmosphere for extended periods of time.
Maximum Range: Unlimited (estimated 30 year life span)

STATISTICAL DATA:

Length: 17,160 ft (5,200 m)
Length (command tower only): 792 ft (240 m)
Weight: 275,000,000 tons (empty) / 345,000,000 tons (standard)
Fold System:
ORTEC Heavy Duty Fold System Cluster
Sublight Drive:
ORTEC/Rolls Royce/Shinnakasu Impulse Drive Cluster
Gravity Control System: Internal
Auxiliary Engine:
ORTEC Rocket Motor Cluster
Radar System: Stealth Aegis Pod

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. HEAVY PARTICLE CANNONS (2): The most powerful weapon of the Overlord are two heavy particle cannons very similar to the one used  one the original SDF-01 Macross. The weapons fire a beam up to 120,000 miles (192,000 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide that essentially destroys EVERYTHING in its path. If both cannons are fired at once, the beam is 4 miles wide. The disadvantage of the weapon is the tremendous power it consumes. Once fired, the cannon takes a full 5 MINUTES (20 melee rounds) to recharge. Usually the cannons are not linked, so that the Overlord can fire once every 2 1/2 minutes (10 melee rounds). Unlike the original Macross, the Overlord can fire its main cannons in either Attack or Cruiser mode. 

  2. RAIL CANNONS: As a secondary weapon system the Overlord battlecruisers carry four large-caliber rail guns, two on each shoulder/side of the ship. These cannons are similar to those on the original SDF-01 Macross (though much more modern) and use magnetic accelerator technology to propel metal slugs at incredible velocities towards a target. The slugs fired by the cannons are much larger and much more accurate than previous rail guns, though the rate of fire of the cannons is slower than earlier versions due to the slug's size.

  3. HEAVY MISSILE LAUNCHERS (12): Overlord-class vessels contain twelve missile launcher tubes for launching ICBM-like missiles during combat. Resembling torpedo launchers, six are mounted on each side of the command tower recessed into the hull and fire forward only. Like the heavy laser cannons, the missile launchers are intended to be used in defense against enemy warships. 

  4. RETRACTABLE LASER TURRETS (60): The Overlord-class ships have retractable laser turrets mounted at various strategic places along the hull. These short-range lasers are intended primarily for anti-aircraft and anti-mecha defense, but can do moderate damage against enemy spacecraft if they get too close. When not in use gun turrets are concealed within the hull underneath a sliding hatch. At most 20 lasers can be brought to bear on a single target.

  5. LONG RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS (18): There are eighteen such launchers scattered across the ship, mostly across the "torso". They can use several types of missiles according to the mission at hand, but they generally us the most lethal warheads. The missiles are stored in reinforced, armored bunkers to prevent detonation due to battle damage; small robotic conveyors are used to load them in the launchers, reducing the danger to human life and greatly improving the rate of fire.

  6. MEDIUM MISSILE LAUNCHERS (48): In addition to the laser turrets, the battlecruisers are armed with four dozen medium missile launchers for additional anti-mecha defense. Each launcher contains 10 missile tubes allowing volleys of up to 10 missiles to be fired at a single target per launcher. Once depleted, the missile launchers are reloaded by an automated loading system that takes 15 seconds (one melee round) to reload all 10 missiles. Armor-piercing smart missiles are usually used to avoid chances of friendly fighters being shot down by the missiles.

     

  7. PINPOINT BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: Originally developed by researchers onboard the SDF-01 Macross during Space War One, the Pinpoint Barrier System is a standard defense system on board all UN Spacy starships, including the Overlord battlecruisers. The system generates four small disc-shaped force fields that can be positioned anywhere along the ship to deflect missiles, energy beams or projectiles. Each pinpoint barrier is about 200 ft (61 m) in length and can absorb up to 5,000 MD in damage, which then regenerates within four seconds (2 melee rounds). The barriers can also be layered on top of each other to generate a field which provides 20,000 MDC and can even deflect heavy particle beams (usually).

    Like the Megaroad vessels, the Overlord carries two PPB systems as opposed to a single system on most UN Spacy vessels. If one group of four is disabled or destroyed (e.g. by deflecting a heavy particle beam) the other will continue to function. The eight barriers are controlled by operators in the command tower of the battlecruiser. These operators are instructed to defend (1) the command tower, bridge, and sensor array, (2) main engines, (3) hangar bays, and (4) weapon systems, in that order. The operators primarily concentrate on defending the ship against larger spacecraft and leave defense against mecha attacking the battlecruiser to the VF pilots.


UNS Victory over Jupiter during a live-fire structural integrity test

SYSTEMS OF NOTE:

MECHA COMPLEMENT (STANDARD):

Aerospace Combat Group: 630 active duty plus 84 reserve

NOTE: The landing bays of the Overlord vessels have enough room to hold an additional 6 squadrons (72 fighters) if necessary, though the bays would be extremely cramped at that point.

Ground Combat Units: 181

Aerospace Support Group: 160

 

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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