Technology of Macross

Several fictional technologies are utilized in the anime Macross. The Robotech adaptation of three Japanese animated series later utilized the same technologies.

Destroid
A Destroid is a type of mecha in the Super Dimension Fortress Macross anime series. Unlike the VF-1 Valkyrie and similar fighters, most Destroids are incapable of flight or transformation, and rely on heavy armor and sheer firepower rather than maneuverability. Exceptions include the transformable Octoss and VB-6 König Monster.

The heavy firepower and solid builds of the Destroids were one of the influences of the Battlemech designs of the Battletech tabletop game, and most of the Destroid designs, as well as other mecha, were reused as Battletech 'mechs.

Spartan

The MBR-07-Mk II Spartan Main Battle Robot was a frontline combat Destroid. Armed with a pair of shoulder-mounted missile racks, a dual-barreled laser turret mounted as the "head", and a TZ-IV multi-purpose gun cluster built into the chest, behind a flip-open panel. The Spartan was the only first-generation Destroid to have actual hands, save for a prototype version of the Monster.

The Spartan is known in some Robotech sources as the Gladiator. The Battletech 'mech based off the Spartan was known as the Archer.

Tomahawk

The MBR-04-Mk VI Tomahawk Main Battle Robot is a heavy combat Destroid. It is armed with a massive particle-beam cannon on each arm, taking up the entire forearms, machineguns in the head, missile racks on the shoulder, an additional six-shot missile rack over one shoulder, and two TZ-III gun clusters under the missiles. Tomahawks were instrumental in the SDF-1 Macross' Daedalus maneuver.

The Tomahawk is known in some Robotech sources as the Excalibur. The Battletech version was known as the Warhammer.

Defender

The MBR-04-Mk X Defender Anti-Aircraft Defense Robot is an air-defense Destroid, armed only with a pair of double-barreled autocannons for arms.

The Defender is known in some Robotech sources as the Raidar X. The Defender was known as the Rifleman in Battletech.

Phalanx

The SDR-04-Mk XII Phalanx Space Defense Robot is a long-range support mecha, armed with a huge pair of drum-shaped missile launchers for arms.

The Phalanx is known in some Robotech sources as the Spartan. The Longbow long-range missile Battlemech is similar to the Spartan.

Monster

The HWR-00 Monster Heavy Weight Robot is a massive artillery mecha that was more of a walking Land battleship than a traditional mecha. It was armed with four 40cm air-cooled cannons mounted over its back. The arms carried three-barrel missile launchers. Both the cannons and missile launchers were capable of firing nuclear warheads.

The Monster is known in some Robotech sources as the M.A.C. II. A BattleTech miniature clearly intended to represent a re-styled Monster was produced, but sold in a blister pack with no Battlemech name on it, and no matching design ever appeared in a rulebook.

Fold system
The Fold System is a fictional device that allows faster-than-light travel.

The Fold System is described as both allowing a ship to enter hyperspace (as described in Episode 1), and as causing time dilation (as described in Episode 10). Human scientists were initially unable to understand the fold system, and were therefore unable to test it. It is unknown whether it was the lack of understanding, or the fact that it was untested, that caused the Macross' Fold System to malfunction so spectacularly when first used (Episode 3). After the failure of the Fold System, it mysteriously vanished. No explanation for the system's vanishing is ever given in Macross or Robotech.

On the Macross, the Fold System appeared to form a vital part of the ship's energy distribution system. Its vanishing caused the ship to be unable to fire its main gun. A engineer took advantage of the modular nature of the Macross, and re-configured the ship to close the gap left by the missing Fold System, allowing the main gun to fire again.

With time, and the help of the Zentradi, the humans were able to create new Fold Systems, the first being installed in the colony ship under the command of Misa Hayase (Macross Flashback: 2012). Eventually, the system was refined sufficiently to allow its installation in small craft such as variable fighters (Macross Plus).

Grand Cannon
The Grand Cannon was a much more powerful energy weapon which built up the charge in a giant underground shaft secretly built in Alaska. The beam, whose energy is derived from the Earth's gravity, could be adjusted during firing and was great enough to destroy countless numbers of Zentradi warships orbiting the Earth. Unfortunately, the Grand Cannon was damaged shortly after obliterating a huge group of ships of the Zentradi's 4,795,122-ship Boddole Zer Main Fleet.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu