Veritechs: Alpha (VAF-6C, VAF-6J, VAF-6R, VAF-7A), Beta (VBF-1A, VBF-1S), Cyclone (VR-052, VR-041, VR-038-LT, VR-055, VR-057, VR-060), LRV-588 Veritech Car, Garland, Hargun, Silverback (VM-9L, VM-9H, VM-9E)
Destroids: Excaliber Mk VII, Gladiator Mk III, Mac Mk III, Raider X Mk XI, Spartan Mk XIII, TBP-Z1 Regult, OBP-Z2 Glaug, CRP-Z3 Theatre Scout, ZBR-01 Bioroid Interceptor, MBR-12 Condor
REF Mecha
REF Mecha Cyclone Series
The Cyclone series is the Robotech name equivalent for the Mospeada Ride Armor series. With the inclusion of the Robotech: The Untold Story movie, this expands to include the Garland and Hargun series of Cyclones.
Development
Cyclone Series 1 – Developed in 2017 at the Robotech Research Center in Japan by Dr. Emil Lang and Dr. R. Burke from a modified RDF motorcycle using a hybrid gasoline/micronized protoculture engine. Tested with the XEP-40 energy pulse cannon.
Both were declared satisfactory. Dismantled in 2018.
Cyclone Series 2 – Developed in 2017 at the Robotech Research Center in Japan by Dr. Lazlo Zand. This one uses a larger “Harley Hog” style frame with a hybrid
gasoline/nuclear engine. Minor leaks were found in the casing of the power cells and was fixed. Later it was declared satisfactory. Dismantled in 2018.
Cyclone Series 3 – Developed in 2018 at the Robotech Research Center in Japan by Dr. Lazlo Zand. Further development of Series 2 with XE-17 energy pistol and first transformation test device. The pistol explodes and kills the test pilot and mechanical technician. Destroyed in 2019.
Cyclone Series 4 – Developed in 2019 at the Robotech Research Center in Japan by Dr. Emil Lang and Dr. R. Burke. Standard motorcycle design incorporating a hybrid gasoline/micronized protoculture engine. This was the first to use the CVR-3 armor as
part of the transformation sequence. This series undergoes two years of thorough testing and declared a remarkable success and becomes the standard REF Cyclone (VR series).
Cyclone Series 5 – Developed in 2019 at the Robotech Research Center in Japan by Dr. Lazlo Zand using a large motorcycle frame incorporating a hybrid
gasoline/nuclear engine and mounting XGU-18 gunpod. The unit was designated SMS-18A and underwent 6 months of testing before being declared unusable because of glitches in the transformation sequence. Dismantled in 2022.
Garland – Developed in 2025 at the Robotech Development Center in Monument City by Dr. Lazlo Zand and Dr. Beckett. Developed as a “showcase piece” for recent development in Robotechnology. Glitches in remaining Cyclone Series 5 units resolved using the same technological processes as in the Veritech Logan series. Outfitted with a GU-18 gunpod and special MODAT computer. Designated SMS-18E. Prototype unit stolen and destroyed in 2027 (Robotech the Untold Story).
Hargun – Developed in 2026 at the Robotech Development Center in Monument City by Dr. Lazlo Zand and Dr. Beckett. Experiment in reducing production cost of Garland series units through separating their transformational systems. Outfitted with a GU-19 gunpod and standard sensory instruments. Designated SMS-17B. 320 units were produced and used by military police in testing stages; 3 destroyed during testing, 43 lost in combat, 164 disassembled, 110 in storage in UEG facilities
Garland 6 Series – Developed in 2027 at the Robotech Development Center in Monument City by Dr. Lazlo Zand and Dr. Beckett. This series utilized newer hybrid gasoline/nuclear/protoculture engine for greater level of performance. Some were equipped with three wheels for increased stability and were more heavily armored.
Outfitted with a GU-21 gunpod and standard sensory instruments. Designated SMS-18F.
460 units were produced and used by civilian and military police in Monument City; 88 lost to combat
Garland 7 Series – Developed in 2029 at the Robotech Development Center in Monument City by Dr. Lazlo Zand and Dr. Beckett. Application of technology developed in personal hovercycles gave newer development of Garland limited flight capabilities.
Outfitted with a GU-21 gunpod and standard sensory instruments. Designated SMS-18G.
200 units were produced and used by civilian and military police in Monument City; 37 lost to combat
Garland 8 Series – Rumored to be in development as of March 7, 2030 at the Robotech Development Center in Monument City. Development team is unknown and is expected to be designated SMS-18H. This model is also rumored to have a cybernetic jack control to allow the pilot to connect via headjack to gain better control of the unit.
Silverback Series
The VM-9 Silverback is a transformable hum-vee all terrain vehicle that provides more protection and firepower than the Cyclone series, but retains high mobility for forward scouting and covert operations as well as being able to function as a mobile weapon platform. The unit has a weapon mount on top for heavier weapons or a sensor suite, and each wheel hub has a weapon mount for one of the Cyclone weapon systems.
HWR-04 Tiger
Prior to the launch of the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) in 2022, strategic planners envisioned a limited campaign against a few strategic Robotech Master planets.
These planets would be bombarded from orbit and then massive quantities of ground and veritech fighters would mop-up any remaining resistance. The heavy artillery in any ground assault attempted by the REF was to be provided by the newly created HWR-03 Thundercracker. Although the the HWR-03 was smaller than its HWR-01 "Monster"
predecessor, only the largest REF capital ships had the capability of transporting the massive unit.
This strategic plan proved to be entirely inadequate, as the REF found itself sending fleets with relatively small numbers and correspondingly small cargo capacities to widely dispersed planets fighting a war of liberation against the Invid. These fleets would have limited numbers of Destroids and because of their small size would not be capable of carrying any heavy artillery Destroid units. Military planners soon came to the realization that an even smaller ground support Destroid was needed which could be carried by most REF capital ships and as a result the HWR-04 was designed. The first production models were produced on Tirol and introduced into the REF Army and Marine Corps in 2027.
The primary weapons of the HWR-04 are two massive PBC-21 particle beam cannons mounted on twin booms on either side of the main body. Each PBC-21 is a miniaturized version of the arm mounted PBC-20 found on the HWR-03 Thundercracker and is capable of firing 60 MJ blasts of energy out to effective combat range of 8
kilometers, well outside the defensive perimeter of most small Invid hives. For close in protection and also capable of providing assistance in destroying fortified static positions, a single DD-10 Coralsnake missile launcher is mounted between the two particle beam cannons. The single launcher carries ten Coralsnake missiles in ready position, with an additional single reload of ten missiles. In addition to the onboard weapon systems, the Tiger was normally provided with several Destroids to provide close in support should the Invid breakthrough into weapons range.
The HWR-04 Tiger was armored with the latest Chobham low-mass composite plating providing immunity from all light anti-mecha weaponry and excellent protection from medium class (55mm or less) and Invid annihilation disks. The Tiger was given nearly 200% additional armor over the VF-6 "Alpha" and was designed to take an incredible amount of punishment. However, the mecha was very slow and could not effectively engage Invid units which have closed to hand-to-hand combat range and thus was potentially quite vulnerable.
Approximately 250 Tigers were created during the Sentinel war and several units were sent back to Earth as part of the REF's attempt to reinforce the Armies of the
Southern Cross (ASC). The design proved to be incredibly effective in the roll for which it was designed, that of long range fire support. Unfortunately, many of the units were lost when superior numbers of Invid were able to overwhelm the limited short range defenses of the Tiger. By the time the REF was mounting its final assault to reclaim Terra, production of the Tiger had stopped in favor of the more maneuverable VBF-9 series veritech fighter, which could also be used in a similar fire support roll but had the maneuverability associated with a three form veritech.