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Designation:

Varauta Vanguard Frigate

Note: While Varauta ships have been assigned Terran naval/space type designators, it must be stressed that their size and armaments placed them in a class of their own, matched only by contemporary construction of like designations. As such, their designations must be viewed as indicators of intent and use rather than absolute strength. In addition, the proper translation of the Varauta vessel designations into English was never completely agreed upon. Most of this file is pure speculation based on reconnaissance photos and footage and eyewitness accounts and similar designs.

Names and disposition:

Unknown. Approximately 200 where seen during the Varauta War in 2064 though it is possible many more could exist.

Ship's complement:

• Ships' crew (200 men)
• Mecha Pilots (12 men)

Note: The given numbers are approximations; the exact number varied somewhat due to operational realities and different ships.

Dimensions:

• Length: 160 m
• Height: 20 m
• Width : 32 m
• Mass : 700,000 metric tons empty

Propulsion systems:

• Main Power System(1): Unknown at this writing. Thought to be anti-matter powerplant.
• Maneuvering Thrusters (62): Unknown type at this writing. Layout appears to be as follows: Ten on the bow, twenty on each side with six more on the top and bottom.
• Reaction-mass Thrusters (2): Power unknown at this writing.
• Anti-gravity System (1): Propulsive power unknown at this writing.
• Space Fold (1): Very advanced hyper space fold drive. Able to conduct ultra high speed folds at extreme range as well as accurate near gravity well folds.
• Planetary Capabilities: Unknown as of this writing.

Endurance and mobility limits:

• Max atmospheric speed: Mach 5 or about 5110 kph.
• Max observed space acceleration: 62.8 G
• Range: Unknown.

Weapon systems

• Main Beam Cannons (2): The frigate's primary weapons are mounted in an 'eye-shaped' lens array on either side of the vessel. The weapons is directly fed by numerous power conduits from the cruiser's main reactor, and combined with the focusing lens, adds tremendous firepower to the ship. Each cannon has an omni-directional focusing lens, allowing it to fire in any path within its fire arc (port/starboard). The beam is of an unknown type though it has been guessed to be a particle cannon by some experts though there is no concrete evidence to prove this.
• Light Beam Cannons (4): Four light beam Cannons complement the Heavy Beam Cannons in the defence of the Frigate against other Capital Ships. Positioned equally to port and starboard the Frigate is capable of creating an adequate defence against attackers, especially those dead ahead.
• Light Laser Cannons (8): Part of the frigate's defense system is formed by retractable laser turrets housed within the superstructure. Highly accurate and yet very powerful, these weapons can destroy incoming missiles or hostile fighters with ease. 3 turrets are mounted on the port and starboard sides and 2 towards the aft. Each turret has a 180 degree arc of fire towards its respective direction.
• Missile Launchers (2): A heavy anti-ship missile launcher is mounted on either side of the frigate's hull. The twelve-tube launcher can fire devastating volleys of long-ranged anti-ship missiles, with enough missiles to last a short engagement.

Air group and mecha complement:

• 12 Fz-109 Elgerzorene Varauta Veritech Fighters

Note: The given numbers are approximations; the exact number and type of mecha varied somewhat due to operational realities and different ships.

Electronics:

• Omnidirectional Barrier Defense System(1): An advanced forcefield system which covers the full four pi steradians around the ship with a yellow-greenish forcefield (or if desired, only part of the ship). This field will stop all solids and directed energy weapons (except lasers through a narrow band). However, excess energy which cannot be shunted from the field will be stored in the virtual structure of the field itself. The Varauta design seems to have a extremely high capacity, much higher than contemporary Terran designs. However there is a drawback it appears as though no energy weapons may be fired while the shield is up leaving Varauta power systems to be often thought of as rather weak.

Design notes:

Like other Varauta ship designs, the vanguard frigate is presumed to be ancient, dating back to the Protoculture era. Believed to have been first built by Supervision Army forces under control of the Protodeviln, the frigate was the smallest such vessel, or at least the smallest that has survived to current times. The frigate shares the elongated, almost fish-like appearance of Varauta ships, featuring a row of fins on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces. Surface panels are in actuality two-dimensional radar-absorbing material, effectively making the vanguard frigate a stealth warship. This design scheme is seen in almost every Varauta warship.

The vanguard frigate is by no means intended for heavy ship to ship combat. Instead, using its high speed and maneuverability, the frigate can harass large fleet groups with virtual impunity. The advanced fold capabilities found in Varauta ships allows the frigate to fold in right in the middle of a fleet, deploy its small contingent of variable fighters, then fold out. A vanguard frigate led the diversionary attack on UES Germany during the early stages of Ivane Geperuniti's Spiritia Farm project, while a larger Varauta cruiser de-folded on the other side of the colony ship, transporting the team of infiltrators.

History:

Unknown. Sketchy details exist but nothing concrete. Most information has been classified top secret by the RDF and UN Government.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner
Copyright © 2000, 1999, 1998 Jeffrey R. Spillner

Page Last Updated on February 3, 2000 @ 11:00 GMT