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Designation:

VAB-1 Wolverine Veritech Heavy Bomber (-1A, -1B, -D, -1G, -1S, VABT-1) 

I. Dimensions:

Bomber Mode Guardian Mode Battloid Mode
Length : 26.1 meters 21.1 meters -
Depth : - - 6.3 meters
Height : 6.1 meters 9.2 meters 30.1 meters
Breadth :

-

 14.1 meters 14.1 meters
Wingspan : 62.1 meters 55.8 meters

-
Dry Weight : 35 metric tons
Operational Weight(*) : 68.8 metric tons    
*= loadout

II. Type:

III. Service History:

IV. Propulsion:

(VAB-1A, -1D)

(VAB-1B, -1G, -1S, VABT-1)

V. Performance:

A. Bomber Mode:

    
VAB-1A, -1D VAB-1B, -1G, VABT-1
Maximum speed (@ 18km) : 2710 kph
(Mach 2.5)		 2950 kph
(Mach 2.8)
                          (@ sea level) : 1040 kph
(Mach 0.97)		 1060 kph
(Mach 0.98)
Stall speed : 205 kph (VTOL rectification possible)
Initial climb rate : 10,000 meters per minute 12,000 meters per minute
Unboosted service ceiling : 

40,000 meters
     
B. Guardian Mode:
VAB-1A, -1D VAB-1B, -1G, VABT-1
Maximum speed (@ 10m) :   658 kph 720 kph
Service ceiling : 15000 meters
                                                  
C. Battloid Mode:
VAB-1A, -1D VAB-1B, -1G, VABT-1
Maximum flying speed (@ 10m) :  240 kph 280 kph
Maximum running speed :  64 kph 72 kph
Service ceiling :

3500 meters
                

D. General: 
VAB-1A, -1D VAB-1B, -1G, VABT-1
Delta-v(*) :

12.2 kps
Acceleration(*) : 1.4 G 1.5 G
* = Assuming typical operational weight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI. Electronics

Radar tracking:

Optical tracking:

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

(VAB-1D, VABT-1):

NOTE: Various sensor systems like Inverted Synthetic Aperture Radar, high-definition cameras, radiation sensors, motion scanners et cetera may be pod-mounted on the wing and center body hardpoints.

VII. Armament:

(VB-1D, VABT-1)

Cannon:

Two wing weapons bays can each carry:

Missile launchers:

NOTE: The weapons bays can also carry recon and cargo pods other than the above.

Six wing hardpoints (three per wing) can each carry:

NOTE: The hardpoints can also carry recon and cargo pods other than the above.

  Outer Wing Hardpoint Mid Wing Hardpoint Inner Wing Hardpoint Leg Mounted Missile Pallet Fuselage Mounted  Missile Pallet Wing Weapon Bay x 2 Fuselage Mounted  Missile Pallet Leg Mounted Missile Pallet Inner Wing Hardpoint Mid Wing Hardpoint Outer Wing Hardpoint
Ground Attack I:                      
Ground Attack II:                      
Ground Attack III:                      
Ground Attack IV:        
Ground Attack V:                  
Ground Attack VI:          
Ground Attack VII:              
Ground Attack VIII:                      
Ground Attack IX:                      
Ground Attack X:                      
Ground Attack XI:                      
Ground Attack XII:                      
Ground Attack XIII:                      
Ground Attack XIV:                      
Ground Attack XV:                      
Ground Attack XVI:                      
Ground Attack XVII:                      
Ground Attack XVIII:                      
Ground Attack XIX:                      
Ground Attack XX:                      
Anti-Airfield I:                      
Anti-Airfield II:                      
Anti-Airfield III:                    
Anti-Airfield IV:                      
Anti-Airfield V:                      
Naval Strike I:                      
Naval Strike II:                      
Naval Strike III:                      
Naval Strike IV:                      
Naval Strike V:                      
Naval Strike VI:                      
Naval Strike VII:                      
Naval Strike VIII:                      
Naval Strike IX:                      
Naval Strike X:                      
Reconnaissance I:                      
Reconnaissance II:  
Anti-Starship I:                      
Anti-Starship II:                      
Anti-Starship III:                      
Flying Tanker I:                      
Flying Tanker II:

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the VAB-1 is a low-mass lunarium tungsten composite plating that is the standard for most Terran veritech fighters. Aside from the good protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and fair against, particle guns too, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon's energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms fire, and has good resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.

The Wolverine provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for one day maximum.

IX. Development:

Following the end of the 3rd Robotech War, the REF conducted a top down review of both their mission and equipment.  Without a clear and present threat, the RDF needed to retool and redefine itself into an actual defense force for the first time since its inception in the early 21st century.  One of the largest changes was to the Veritech Fighters.  VFs had always been multi-purpose machines, jacks of all trades, masters of none.  Very few dedicated purpose veritechs had been designed and implemented over the years.  The review concluded that single role dedicated veritechs would prove useful in the future as both resources and manpower were not in limited supply as they had been since the 'Rain of Death' in 2009.  The RDF agreed with this review and began to develop dedicated types of Veritechs.  The VAB-1 Wolverine sprang from this concept as a heavy bomber capable of carrying an incredible payload larger than any previous design while still maintaining the ability to defend itself against hostile interceptors.  Lockheed Martin delivered in a record time of six months from drawing board to prototype, the first VAB-1 veritech heavy bomber. The VAB-1 is an absolutely huge mecha. With a wingspan of over 60 meters and over 30 meters tall in battloid mode, it was by far one of the largest veritech designed to date. It uses a distinct construction that gives a stealth profile making difficult to track using radar guided systems.

The VAB-1 is primarily an offensive strike craft using a large payload of cruise missiles or guided bombs to destroy heavy targets.  Its primary weapons system is a pair of internal weapons bays located on either side of the fuselage.  These bays allow the bomber to retain its stealth profile regardless of the munitions being carried.  Usually the VAB-1 is armed with several MER (Multiple Ejection Racks) carrying long range cruise missiles or for heavy strike missions it can carry several long range nuclear cruise missiles. While the internal weapons bays can carry air to air missiles, usually they do not or are limited to long range missiles as the Wolverine is not agile enough to dogfight at close range in bomber mode. For air to air combat the Wolverine relies only on a pair of large caliber gunpods and an anti-aircraft laser located on the head.

Adopted initially by the REF Air Force and subsequent RDF Air Force in 2046, the VAB-1A and -1S served during the Global Unification War and easily disabled the Anti-UTG and EBSIS airbases and vessels. In action the Wolverine served quite well when it was escorted even though the target was heavily defended. However, an unescorted squadron of bombers facing heavy fighter defenses, the Wolverine is outclassed even with its passive stealth design.  Even with the shortcomings, the Wolverine, like the Invader, served well as a proving ground and testing arena for the next generation of dedicated attack veritechs. The VAB-1 was withdrawn from service during 2055 when it was replaced by the VAB-5 Pirate.

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Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner, Ron Ferrara, Charles Jesse Casimir
Copyright © 1998-2001 Jeffrey R. Spillner,  Ron Ferrara, Charles Jesse Casimir 

Page Last Updated on January 21, 2001 @ 01:00 GMT