LTV A-15 AVENGER II
ATTACK JET

(Version 1.0)

RPG Stats by Harvey Neil Johnston ([email protected])

Designed to replace the A-6 Intruder in the United States Navy, the A-15 Avenger II was developed in response to the need for a stealth design. LTV began to design the A-15 with the assistance of Grumman, when the latter company began to develop a radar absorbent skin cover that would later be installed on the F-24C/D/E Dragon II. An aircraft equipped with the cover would be rendered stealth capable, and was a cheap alternative to other stealth systems. The A-15 proved to be a rugged design and was later adopted by the UN  Navy on aircraft carriers and by the UN Air Force for use in its bomber wings. After being accepted into the UN Forces, the A-15 received additional armor and had its electronics and sensors replaced with the UN Forces standard.  The aircraft saw use during the Malcontent Zentraedi incursions following Space War I., during which it saw more service in a bomber role than in a fighter role. It served until 2020, and its role as a bomber was eventually taken over by the VA-3 Invader.

Two conformal hardpoints were mounted under the engine nacelles, and eight hardpoints were mounted under the wings for missile and bomb payloads. An internal bomb bay could hold several ordnance packages, as well as an optional 25mm cannon or an extra fuel tank. The design of the A-15 was often humorously referred to by pilots as appearing as if it were put together by a committee. The nose of the aircraft resembled that of a F-111 Aardvark, the tail resembled that of a Blackburn Buccaneer used by the British RAF, and the hull was reminiscent of the A-6. The F-400 engines were the same as those used by the F/A-18 Hornet. Despite the awkward appearance, however, the A-15 Avenger II proved itself with the same durability that earned Grumman its reputation. and nickname of 'Ironworks.'

RPG STATS

Vehicle Types:
      A-15A (served with United States Navy during United Nations Wars).
      A-15B (served with UN Air Force and Navy from 2003 until replaced by the -C).
      A-15C (served with UN Air Force and Navy from 2009 to 2020).
Class: Medium jet bomber
Manufacturer: LTV
Crew: Two pilots wearing Tactical Life Support System

MDC BY LOCATION:

 

* Main body	200
Reinforced pilot's compartment	100
** Engine thrusters (2)	100 each
*** Wings (2)	100 each
*** Tail	100

* Depleting the MDC of the main body will result in the destruction of the aircraft.
** Depleting the MDC of one engine will reduce maximum speed by half, and give the pilot -2 to dodge and -10% to piloting rolls. Destruction of both engines causes the aircraft to crash.
*** Depleting the MDC of one wing or the tail causes the aircraft to crash.

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
      21.0 ft (6.4m).
WIDTH:
      53.1 ft (16.2 m) wingspan.
LENGTH:
      60.0 ft (18.3 m).
WEIGHT:
      10.5 metric tons.

CARGO:
      Small compartment behind pilots' seats for personal belongings.
POWER PLANT:
     (2x) General Electric F-400-900 chemical turbofans, total afterburning thrust 88.3 kN.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1/ (2x) VENTRAL HARDPOINTS: The A-15 has possesses two conformal hardpoints mounted under its engine nacelles, that allow it to carry medium range missiles (MRMs), typically two AIM-120C Scorpion (A-15A/B models) or AMM-1 Stiletto (A-15C model) high explosive MRMs. It also could carry two BAe ALARM anti-radiation missiles.

• Primary purpose: Assault / anti-mecha.
• Missile types: Any type of MRM may be used, typically high explosive.
• Range: Varies with missile type, typically 40 miles (64.3 km)
• Damage: Varies with missile type, typically 2D6x10 MD.
• Rate of fire: Volleys of 1-2 missiles.
• Payload: One per hardpoint; up to two maximum.

2/ (8x) WING-MOUNTED HARDPOINTS: The A-15 has eight hardpoints under its wings, designed to hold missiles or various Multiple Ejection racks (MERs). Common payloads per hardpoint included a triple MER that carried three AMM-1 Stiletto high explosive MRMs, and a MER that could carry five mk81 113 kg GP bombs. Various payloads were possible. The maximum ordnance payload the Avenger II can carry is 9 tons.

    I/ MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES

Primary purpose: Assault / anti-mecha.

Missile types: Any type of MRM may be used, typically high explosive.

Range: Varies with missile type, typically 40 miles (64.3 km)

Damage: Varies with missile type, typically 2D6x10 MD.

Rate of fire: Volleys of 1-3 missiles per hardpoint, 24 maximum.

Payload: 3 missiles per hardpoint, 24 missiles total.

    II/ BOMBS

Primary purpose: Ground assault.

Missile types: Any type of bomb may be used.

Range: Immediately below.

Damage: Varies with bomb type.

Rate of fire: Volleys of 1-5 per hardpoint, 40 maximum.

Payload: 5 bombs per hardpoint, 40 bombs total.

3/ BOMB BAY: The A-15 possesses a bomb bay that allows it to carry a diverse number of payloads. Common payloads include an extra fuel tank, a sensor pallet, three 454 kg mk83 bombs, or a GAU-12/U 25mm cannon. The bomb bay may also to be used to carry other ordnance or cargo (1.5 tons maximum).

    I/ BOMBS

Primary purpose: Ground assault.

Missile types: Heavy high explosive bomb.

Range: Immediately below.

Damage: 3D6x10 MD w/ a 40 ft (12.2 m) blast radius.

Rate of fire: Volleys of 1-3 bombs.

Payload: 3 bombs total.

    or II/ GAU-12/U 25mm CANNON

• Primary purpose: Assault / defense.
• Range: 4000 ft (1200).
• Damage: 2D4 MD per round, 1D6x10 MD for a burst of 25 rounds.
• Rate of fire: Equal to pilot's number of attacks.
• Payload: 1000 rounds (40 bursts).

• AUTO-PILOT: The A-15 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 aircraft.
• COMBAT COMPUTER W/HUD DISPLAYS: The A-15 is equipped with a combat computer that can store and analyze data during combat with hostile forces. Data readouts and stats can be displayed either on the cockpit's HUD display or on the dashboard monitors of the aircraft. The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 1,000 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 75 targets simultaneously.
• EJECTOR SEATS: The seats may be ejected in case of emergency. The seats are equipped with parachutes to allow a safe descent. The combat computer is programmed to automatically eject the pilot seats if the aircraft is destroyed (main body MDC reduced to 0), but this can be overridden. The pilot may also eject the seat manually.
• HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening heat 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 A-15 is equipped with a homing device that enables rescue teams to locate a disabled craft. The range of the signal is 300 miles (480 km). Most UN ships and mecha can locate and track homing signals, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected.
• INTERNAL FUEL TANK: The A-15 has the option of carrying an internal fuel tank within its bomb bay. It can extend the aircraft's range by fifty percent.
• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the aircraft's strike bonus.
• OPTICS: INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). 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: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). 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: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). 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.
• PASSIVE STEALTH CONSTRUCTION: The A-15 was designed with a special skin covering that absorbed, to an extent, EM radiation. This gave the Avenger II limited stealth capability. These features provide +1 to initiative rolls. Note that this is a passive stealth system, and not an active one. The initiative bonus will continue so long as the mecha is functional. The covering also decreases the typical ranges of which the aircraft may be detected.
• RADAR: Can detect up to a range of 200 miles (321 km).
• 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 an aircraft by the enemy, the pilot can activate the A-15's 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 1D6x10 M.D. to everything within the radius of the explosion. All internal systems are obliterated. The ejection seat will be automatically ejected prior to the explosion unless the pilot overrides the ejection sequence.
• SENSOR PALLET: The A-16 has the option of carrying a sensor pallet within its bomb bay. The pallet increases radar range by an additional 50 miles (80 km), increasing radar range to 250 miles (400 km) total.
• STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT: All UN Forces fighters 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, disinfectant, etc.).
• TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The A-15's cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilots' flight suits that provides them with pressurized breathing. The UN Air Force 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 blacking out in combat.

BASIC FIGHTER COMBAT TRAINING

• Basic training for non-pilot military personnel.
• 1 attack per melee (plus those of the pilot).
• Add one additional action/attack at levels three, nine, and fifteen.
• +1 to initiative.
• +1 to strike.
• +5 to dodge.
• +1 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.

• Advanced training for pilots specializing in the A-15 Avenger II.
• 3 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot).
• Add one additional action/attack at levels three, six, eleven, and fifteen.
• +2 on initiative.
• +2 to strike.
• +6 to dodge.
• +3 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

Original name: LVT Avenger II
Appearances: Paradise Lost (Super Dimension Fortress Macross: episode 20)
References used:
      Macross Compendium by Egan Loo.
      Robotech Reference Guide by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen.
      Macross: Perfect Memory by Minori Library, Big West and MBS.

The LTV A-16 Avenger II was referred to as the LVT Adventurer II in the Robotech RPG.