Background (as per Macross Mecha Manual)
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Following success of the VF-11 Thunderbolt in the late 2020's, Shinsei Industries was determined to remain an industry leader when the Project Super Nova Advanced Variable Fighter (AVF) began. When the UN Air Force (UNAF) and UN Spacy (UNS) announced the final demonstration/validation phase contractors, Shinsei was suddenly required to build a different type of fighter equipped with technologies much more complex than the old VF-11. Producing two prototypes and a ground based avionics test bed, Shinsei built the YF-19 for competition; a larger variable fighter with a completely unique transformation system. Rather than reinvent a control system for variable fighter craft, Shinsei opted to use a conventional control cockpit with an innovative wrap-around imaging monitor system. This new imaging system covered opaque sections of the cockpit interior, recreating a perfect window-like view of the surrounding environment and granting the pilot superior situational awareness. With Super AI control avionics and motion sensitive controls to reduce pilot workload, the YF-19 made it possible for a conventionally controlled craft to maintain parity against any competing Human-Machine Interface (HMI). In September 2034 the first flight of the YF-19 prototype No. 1 was completed (Macross Chronicle states YF-19 development begins in 2034). Utilizing forward canards once again and a forward swept main wing that could achieve stable high supersonic speeds, the YF-19 was poised to prove itself against the competing YF-21 made by rival company General Galaxy.
The YF-19 was designed with several technologies that would become the standard for those next generation variable fighters built to fulfill the operational demands of the UNAF/UNS. These technologies included an active stealth system, an anti-projectile shield, an optional fold booster for interstellar travel and a fighter-scale pin-point barrier system which sheathed portions of the variable fighter in an energy barrier that could move across the hull to intercept and defeat incoming fire. Installed Shinnakasu thermonuclear engines provided the YF-19 with unparalleled thrust, also allowing the variable fighter to attain orbital velocity over an Earth-class planet unassisted. The VF-11 achieved much for Shinsei Industries with a stripped-down, basic design but the YF-19 benefited from advances such that Shinsei built the craft with much greater standard ordnance. Superior miniaturization and the larger airframe of the YF-19 created space for internal missiles mounted in the engine/leg units that maintained the variable fighter stealth capabilities. With two internal missile palettes, the YF-19 additionally utilized a fixed rearward anti-aircraft laser gun turret, two semi-fixed converging energy cannons in each wing (optionally laser cannons) and a new Howard GU-15 standard external Gatling gun pod (with field-replaceable magazines). The YF-19 transformation time is 20% less than the VF-11 Thunderbolt and pilot survivability in Battroid is improved over traditional VFs due to the cockpit being stored inside the body rather than at the front of the body. The YF-19 was initially a difficult craft to operate in the testing phase and was flown by seven different test pilots during various trials. Shinsei was nonetheless determined to move forward and the YF-19 achieved incredible success in the Super Nova AVF, proving that Shinsei could rely upon practical proven methods for a superior next generation variable fighter.
Many UNS analysts argued that Shinsei's next generation fighter was too traditional in the face of groundbreaking advances implemented in the competing General Galaxy YF-21. Yet by January 5, 2040 the YF-19 (flown by the seventh test pilot, Isamu Alva Dyson) produced consistently higher test scores in the variable fighter competition. Late in the development of both fighters the UN Spacy halted the Super Nova AVF in favor of a secret unmanned fighter project producing the Ghost X-9. Isamu Dyson was furious over the decision as was lead Shinsei designer Jan Newman and the two stole the YF-19 with the intention to disrupt introduction of the X-9 Ghost at the 30th Anniversary Armistice ceremony on Earth. Guld Bowman in the YF-21 was sent in pursuit of the YF-19 and the three craft eventually battled in what became known as the "Sharon Apple Incident". With the YF-21 and X-9 Ghost prototypes destroyed in combat, the YF-19 was ultimately declared winner of the Project Super Nova AVF in 2041. The craft was then re-designated the VF-19 Excalibur and entered mass production as the UNAF/UNS main variable fighter.
Note - in the end the difficulties in training on the VF-19 led to it being passed over as main VF in many fleets for the VF-171 Nightmare Plus.
Model Type - YF-19 Prototype No. 2 AVF
Class - Advanced Variable Fighter
Crew - 1 + optional space for a flight test engineer
MDC By Location
Main Body - 500
Arms (2) - 225 ea
Hands (2) - 120 ea
Legs (2) - 300 ea
Feet (2) - 150 ea
Wings (2) - 200 ea
Head - 140
Head Laser - 40
Gun Pod - 125
Converging Beam Cannons (Or Laser MG's) (2) - 80 ea
Shield - 350
AR - 17
Armour - automatically stops up to and including the equivalent of standard 75mm HE rounds (5d6/30md)
Speed
Running - 160kph
Leaping - 20m thruster assisted
Flying - Battroid - 800kph at all altitudes, Gerwalk - mach 1.2 at all altitudes, Fighter - mach 2.1 at sea level, mach 5.1 at 10km, Mach 21+ at 30km+, is capable of trans-atmospheric operations
Space - 25 MU
Range - unlimited in atmosphere, 7000km in space from reaction mass
Statistics
Height - Battroid - 15.48m, Gerwalk - 12.3m, Fighter - 3.97m
Length - Battroid - 4.3m, Gerwalk - 16.4m, Fighter - 18.62m
Width - Battroid - 6.2m, Gerwalk - 14.87m, Fighter - 14.87m
Weight - 7.954 tonnes empty, 14.32 tonnes standard load
PS - Robotic 50, Lift - 25 tonnes, Carry - 12.5 tonnes
Cargo - Minimal pilot and survival Gear
Power System - two Shinnakasu Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2500E (FF-2200 on the YF-19 No. 1) thermonuclear turbine engines
Weapons
Weapon Type - Head Laser (1)
Primary Purpose - Anti missile/mecha
Range - Atmosphere: 600m/1.5/3k. Space: 2/5/9mu
Damage - 6d6 per blast. 2d4x10+20 per short burst.
Rate Of Fire - equal to pilots attacks
Payload - unlimited
Weapon Type - 40mm Gunpod (1)
Primary Purpose - Anti-aircraft/mecha
Range - Atmosphere: 800m/2/4km. Space: 2/6/12mu
Damage - 1d6x10 per round, 4d6x10 per burst (10 rounds).
Rate Of Fire - semi-automatic or bursts equal to pilots attacks
Payload - 150 rounds per magazine. Typically 2 extra magazines carried in the shield. Use armour piercing rules
Weapon Type - Converging Beam Cannons or Laser MGs (2, useable in fighter and gerwalk modes only)
Primary Purpose - Anti-Fighter/mecha
Range - Atmosphere: 640m/1.6/3.2km. Space: 2/6/10mu
Damage - Converging Beam Cannons - 2d6x10 per gun. Laser MGs - 6d6 per blast, 2d4x10+20 per burst. Guns are fired in tandem.
Rate Of Fire - Converging beam cannons - semi automatic equal to pilots attacks, Laser MG's - bursts only equal to pilots attacks
Payload - unlimited
Weapon Type - Internal weapon pallets (2, 1 per leg)
Primary Purpose - anti-mecha
Range - Atmosphere: 2/5/10km. Space: 6/15/30mu
Damage - 2d6x10
Rate Of Fire - volleys of 1-24
Payload - 24 micro missiles total, 12 per leg
Bonuses - +3 strike
Weapon Type - Pin Point Barrier System
Primary Purpose - anti-missile/incoming fire or offensive enhancement
Range - na
Damage - when used defensively is typically directed onto the shield reinforcing it by taking 100mdc per melee. Fully recharges at the end of each melee. When used offensively it adds 5d6 to punches and kicks.
Rate Of Fire - na
Payload - unlimited
Bonuses - na
Bonuses and Penalties
Use Robot/Vehicle Combat Basic/Elite along with the following bonuses:
+2 disarm
+3 pull punch
+3 roll with punch impact at level 9
+1 parry/dodge at level 3, 6, 9 and 12
+1 reflexive at level 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 15
+1 strike ranged at level 3
+1 strike hand to hand level 5
Punch - 4d6+5
Restrained Punch - 2d6+3
Kick - 1d4x10+11
Body Block/Tackle - 2d6+3
Systems of Note
Engine Lifespan - The unit does not use fuel per se (using reaction mass while operating in space and reactant for the turbines) the unit does need it's engines (thermonuclear turbines) refurbished or replaced eventually. A new unit's engines, aside from regular maintenance or damage done, can last up to a decade under normal circumstances and use.
Capable of trans-atmospheric flight under it's own power over an Earth class planet.
Use of the Inertial Store Converter allows the pilot to withstand the G-forces put on their bodies in combat.
Radar - Range of 550km. Able to track up to 50 targets, display 30 targets and lock onto 8 targets at once.
Radar Warning Receiver - Warns of potential Radar Lock. Range - equal to radar.
Missile approach warning system - informs the pilot of a missile lock and attack. Range is is equal to the Radar.
Chaff/Flare Dispensers - 75% to cause locked on missiles to lose lock and fly off elsewhere. Carries 20 of each.
Targeting Computer - +2 to strike with all on board weapon systems. Range is equal to the radar system.
Laser Targeting System - Assists in selecting and locking on to enemy targets. Additional +2 to strike using ranged weapons. Smart Missiles are excluded from this. Range is equal to the radar system.
Combat Computer - Calculates, stores and transmits data onto a HUD (heads up display) of the pilot's (or other crew members) helmet. Typically tied into the units targeting computer. Can hold hundreds of entries about various enemies.
Multi-Lock capability - Unit can lock on to and fire at multiple targets (max of radar capability) targets using semi-active radar homing and passive infra-red homing (IE Guided) missiles at one time through it's radar tracking system. This is used if the Look and Lock system is incapacitated.
Look and Lock capability - Unit can lock on to and fire at multiple targets (max of radar capability) using semi-active radar homing and passive infra-red homing (IE Guided) missiles at one time through it's helmet mounted eye movement recognition cuing system.
LIDAR/LADAR - This system uses lasers to detect and image items as small as 10cm at 8km, as small as 150cm out to 14km, and as small as 500cm out to 35km. This system also assists the other sensors in detected and identification. This is not typically a passive system and but to be directed at specific targets.
Motion detector/Collision Warning System - Range 750m
FLIR - Advanced forward looking infra-red system for night operations. Range - 30km
Standard instrumentation - Speedometer, altimeter, distance traveled, inertial mapping system (zeroed on your deployment location/home base), power system temperature, ammunition counters, damage assessment indicators.
Fly by Light Control systems - If the craft takes more than 50% damage the systems may fail (60% chance). Loss of the control system gives a penalty to the pilot of -50% to all piloting rolls to maintain control of the aircraft. While functioning the systems give a bonus of +25% to all piloting rolls.
Radio Communications - long-range direction communication systems out to a range of 1400km that can be boosted if proper signal towers or relay systems are in place. Also a directional short-range radio with a range of 80km. Both radios have full encryption capabilities.
Satellite Uplink capability - This allows the craft to communicate over vast distances by connecting to and communicating through the various satellites in orbit or other comm boosting systems.
Complete Environmental Pilot and Crew Compartment - A completely computer controlled life support system that includes: internal cooling and temperature control, air purification and circulation systems (gas filtration, humidifier/dehumidifier) that engages when needed and can recirculate breathable air for up to 2 days if necessary, computer controlled independent oxygen supply and purge system that has up to 24 hours of breathable air that automatically engages in low oxygen or contaminated air environments, insulated high temperature resistant shielding for up to 400 degrees centigrade (normal fires do no damage though nuclear, plasma and magical fires do full damage), radiation shielded up to several hundred rads, and polarized and light sensitive/adjusting tinted viewport.
Ejection System - Ejects crew out from the craft in emergency circumstances. System ejects the occupants about 300m away to safety.
Limited Electronic Countermeasures Capability - With a Electronic Countermeasures skill roll (or Sensor operations at -20%) the pilot/crew can impose a penalty of -3 to strike and a -20% to all sensor skill rolls of any opponents within radar range depending on terrain. Range is equal to the radar system.
Passive Stealthy design - -20% to opposing sensory equipment roll to detect the aircraft beyond visual range and negates any sensor bonuses to strike. However for every 10% damage taken reduce opponents penalties by 5% and after 30% the strike penalties no longer apply.
Self destruct System - System that destroys the unit and all of its internal components. Blast is relatively contained however to a radius of 20m doing 3d6x10md to anything within the radius. Also a 75% chance the power supply is leaking radiation.
Voice Actuated locking System - Units hatch is locked by a voice actuated system that is programmed to a specific voice (up to 8 can be programmed at once) that must recite a 8 digit access code. There is a manual over-ride keypad in case of systems failure.
Active Stealth System - When active the system renders the unit completely invisible to radar. However if the unit takes more than 50% damage in one attack there is a 65% the system will fail.
Anti-Beam coating - reduce all beam weapon attacks damage by 20%
Note - the YF-19 Prototype No. 1 was destroyed in testing. The only real difference between the two was the No 2 prototype had some improved control systems/programming but otherwise the two units are functionally the same.
References Used
Robotech.com
Unofficial Robotech Reference Guide
Macross Mecha Manual
Fantasy and Animation HQ
Macross Compendium
Macross Earth - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Macross_Earth
Macross (Palladium - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Macross_(Palladium)
My Gaming Material - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/My_Gaming_Material
World of Jaymz - https://worldofjaymz.fandom.com/wiki/Worldofjaymz_Wiki