The Salamander was the first ASC combat battloid designed from the ground up. The Southern Cross development group took lessons learned from the Dryad and Satyros refits as well as historical information from the RDF destroids to develop the Salamander. Due to the vulnerability of the RDF destroids, the Southern Cross research team wanted a smaller, faster design to improve its battlefield survivability.

The Salamander has three different head styles for enlisted, non-commissioned officers, and officers. NCO and officer models have a heavier E-5 head laser, since they are usually more experienced pilots and less likely to lose the expensive and sensitive laser. Officers also carry a more sophisticated sensor and control suite to assist in monitoring the battlefield situation. This is readily identifiable by the 'V' angled sensor array in the head of the officer's model compared to the flat, square array of the NCO and flat, circular array of the enlisted variant.

The "Sally" was by far the most mass-produced of the Southern Cross's battloid designs. Salamanders served the Tactical Corps worldwide performing a number of duties on the battlefield. The Salamander served the ASC well in the numerous local conflicts fought between the departure of the SDF-3 and the start of the 2nd Robotech War. Unfortunately, the Salamander was often outclassed by the Tirolian Bioroids- while the Salamander was better armed than the Bioroids, the Bioroids were faster and more agile. Many Salamanders were destroyed druing the Second Robotech War, and most of those remaining were destroyed by the Invid.

RPG STATS

M.D.C. BY LOCATION:

   	*Head			50
	Head Lasers (2)		20 each
	Hands (2)		30 each
	Shoulders/Missiles (2)	50 each
	Arms (2)		100 each
	Legs (2)		150 each
	**Main Body		250
	Rear Thrusters		50
	EU-10 or E-21 Gun pod	100

*Destroying the head of the Salamander will destroy all the mecha’s radar, communications and sensors. The mecha is now -2 to strike, parry and dodge.

**Destroying the main body will shut down the mecha.

SPECIFICATIONS

WEAPON SYSTEMS

1. EU-10 Gun Pod. The main weapon of the Salamander is a hand-held EU-10 Energy Rifle, very similar to the EU-11 used by the VHT-1 Hover Tank.
• Purpose: Assault.
• Range: 1800m
• Mega-Damage: 1D6 x 10 MD
• Rate of Fire: Equal to the total hand-to-hand attacks of the pilot.
• Payload: effectively unlimited.
2. 2 E-4 or E-5 Lasers. The Salamander is equipped with a pair of head-mounted lasers. The lasers can rotate 90 degrees up and down, and the head can rotate 90 degrees to either side. The lasers can be fired seperately or together. The Officer's model is equipped with a pair of more powerful E-5 head lasers.
• Purpose: Anti-mecha.
• Range: 1200m
• Mega-Damage: 2D4 MD per laser or 4D4 if fired together. The E-5 lasers do 2D6 MD each or 4D6 if fired toghether.
• Rate of Fire: Equal to the total hand-to-hand attacks of the pilot.
• Payload: effectively unlimited.
3. Short-Range Missile Launchers. The Salamander has a pair of SRM launchers, one in each shoulder.
• Purpose: Assault.
• Missile Type: Any type of SRM can be used.
• Range: Depends on missile type
• Mega-Damage: Depends on missile type
• Rate of Fire: One at a time, or in volleys of 3, 6 or 9.
• Payload: 9 missiles per launcher, total 18
4. Hand to Hand Combat. Rather than use any weapons, the Salamander can opt to engage in hand to hand combat.
• Punch: 2D4 MD
• Kick: 2D6 MD
• Leap Kick: 3D6 MD
• Body Flip/Throw: 2D4 MD
• Body Block/Tackle: 2D6 MD plus knockdown.
5. Optional E-21 Gun Pod. Rather than use the EU-10, the Salamander can use the E-21 Gun Pod. The E-21 has it's own built-in targeting system, adding a +2 bonus to strike with the gun pod.
• Purpose: Assault.
• Range: 1200m
• Mega-Damage: 1D4 x 10 MD
• Rate of Fire: Equal to the total hand-to-hand attacks of the pilot.
• Payload: effectively unlimited.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE SALAMANDER:

• Radar: Range: 50 km. Standard operation.
• Radio/Video Communications: Wide band, directional radio and video telecast capabilities. Range: 1000km, or can be boosted by satellite.
• Laser Targeting System: Close range; 3 km
• Combat Computer: Calculates, stores & monitors data on the control panel computer screen or Heads-up display
• External Audio Pickup: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away.
• Loudspeaker: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 90 decibels.
• Searchlight: All of the battloids have a high-powered searchlight mounted in their heads. Range: 50 meters.
• 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-colour 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.
• Protoculture Engine: The Salamander is powered by a Protoculture engine, giving is an average life span of 12 years. Constant use will cut that time to about half.
• 180 Degree Rotation: The Salamander can rotate its torso 180 degrees.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR OFFICER'S SALAMANDER:

• Enhanced Communications: Additional C3I suite providing command and communications with multiple battloids, as well as remote command posts.
• Special Bonus: +1 to initiative to all mecha in a group lead by an Officer’s Salamander.

HAND TO HAND COMBAT BONUSES:

Designers Notes

Japanese Name: TC-Salamander Super Dimensional Cavalry: Southern Cross

Episodes Seen in: #38, #45, #59, #60

The RPG Misidetified this mecha as the TC Reconnisance Battloid (Officer's Model), CDC Heavy Battloid (NCO Model) and CDC Light Battloid (Soldier's model). Needless to say, all three of these mecha are the one design. This mecha is the best illustrated and most frequently seen of all of the ASC Battloids.