Tirolian Missiles

(Version 1.01 - Last Modified: 08/12/2005)

• Introduction
• Missile Size
• Missile Drive
• Missile Type
• Missile Guidance Systems
• Missile Warhead
• Missile Design
• References

Introduction

Like everywhere in the Palladium Books megaverse, missiles used in Robotech have not been well defined. While the system used by Palladium Books is good enough for those that do not want to dwell on every little detail, especially with a weapon that is destroyed seconds or minutes after it is first launched, this document provides greater detail to the missiles used in the Robotech universe. This document uses the information in the Modern Missile Design document and tries not to duplicate too much information. Generally, this document will detail what can and cannot be used from the original document and adds new information that is unique to the Robotech universe, such as new guidance systems and missile designs.

The missiles used by the Tirolian Mercantile Empire, and their servants, the Zentraedi, are the basis for the missiles used by the RDF, REF, and the Armies of the Southern Cross. While the Tirolian Mercantile Empire lack many innovative features common to Human missiles, they are still quite powerful and useful. In many ways, the Tirolian missiles are not as advanced as Human missiles, this is mainly because the Tirolians never required their missiles to do many of things that Human missiles are capable of.

Each missile is composed six components: size, drive, type, guidance systems, warhead, and design. The size of a missile determines its durability and how much internal space it has for a drive, guidance systems, and a warhead. The drive determines the missiles range, atmospheric speed, and its rate of acceleration in space. The missile type will determine what warheads are available, may require specific guidance systems, and can give special bonuses or penalties to the missile. A missile's design will often determine its size, type, and sometimes even its guidance systems and warhead. A missile's design could also provide modifications to a missile, such as to its speed and range. The number of guidance systems that a missile can hold also depends on its size. The most important component of a missile is its warhead. The warheads available for a missile vary widely in strength, but the larger the missile size, the stronger the warhead available.

Missile Size

All of the same basic missile sizes are available to the the Tirolian Mercantile Empire and the Zentraedi, but neither group uses Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles or bombs of any type. Missiles available to the Tirolian Mercantile Empire use the same statistics as missiles from Rifts Earth.

Missile Drive

The Tirolian Mercantile Empire uses a chemical drive identical to the one used on Rifts Earth to propel its missiles.

Missile Type

As with missile guidance systems, the Tirolian Mercantile Empire has a more limited selection of missile types available to them. Only the following missile types can be chosen: Anti-Spaceship, Multipurpose, and Space-to-Space. Due to the versatile nature of many of the mecha used by the Tirolian Mercantile Empire, the multipurpose missiles are the most popular.

Missile Guidance Systems

The Tirolian Mercantile Empire does not have all of the standard guidance systems available, instead they can choose from any of the following guidance systems: Active Radar Homing, Anti-Radiation, Infrared Homing, Optical Guidance, Semi-Active Radar Homing, and Simple Guidance. Simple guidance systems are only available for long range and cruise missiles. The number of guidance systems that can be placed on the missiles used by the Tirolian Mercantile Empire is the same.

Missile Warhead

The warheads used by the Tirolian Mercantile Empire are not as advanced as those from Rifts Earth or from the Three Galaxies. While many of the same basic technologies exist, the Tirolian Mercantile Empire lack the more powerful and more unusual warheads. With the standard warheads, the Tirolian Mercantile Empire does not have access to any warhead stronger then "light" or "medium." Also, the Tirolian Mercantile Empire does not have access to any of the special warheads, except for the Kinetic Energy warheads. The Tirolians did develop a weapon of mass destruction, called the Reflex warhead, which is described below.

1. Reflex:

   Using Protoculture as an explosive agent creates a Reflex warhead that can devastate a large area, just like a nuclear explosion. While the resulting explosion is generally smaller then a nuclear explosion, it generates a very strong EMP and concussion wave. As the originators of this technology the Tirolian Mercantile Empire has reflex warheads that are even more powerful then what the Earth defense forces could develop.

   • Anything within the Total Destruction Radius (TDR) is gone. Not hurt, not damaged, but totally destroyed. Nothing useful will survive the explosion. All living beings will be instantly killed; all buildings, robots, power armor, vehicles, etc. will most likely be obliterated outright. If not, they are wrecked beyond any possible use.
   • Damage is applied differently at different ranges. Apply full listed damage from the TDR to the normal Blast Radius (BR). One-tenth damage is applied out to 1.5xBR (1.5 times the Blast Radius). One-hundredth damage is applied out to 1.75xBR. One-thousandth damage is applied out to 1.875xBR. Damage beyond this is generally SDC damage.
   • In space, reflex weapons operate very differently. Reduce damage by 25%, total destruction radius by 50%, and blast radius by 25%.
   • Refer to Gary Gore's article on nuclear weapons for information on additional and more in-depth effects such as radiation, fallout, and EMP. Alter the details for reflex warheads by eliminating radiation and fallout and doubling all ranges and power of the generated concussion wave and EMP.
     
     

     Warhead	Missile Size	Damage	Total Destruction Radius	Blast Radius	Weapon Rating
     Reflex Weapon	SRM	3D4x1000 M.D.	1.4 miles (2.3 km)	2.1 miles (3.4 km)	10
     Reflex Weapon	MRM	3D6x1000 M.D.	2.9 miles (4.7 km)	4.6 miles (7.4 km)	10
     Reflex Weapon	LRM	4D6x1000 M.D.	4.7 miles (7.6 km)	7.3 miles (11.7 km)	10
     Reflex Weapon	CM	5D6x1000 M.D.	6.3 miles (10.1 km)	9.8 miles (15.8 km)	10

Missile Design

Missile designs are very important to the Tirolian Mercantile Empire and the Zentraedi and all the missiles they developed were from a missile design. The Tirolians wanted their missiles to be as versatile as possible, so most were built so they could use any of the possible missile types, although this did require some modification to change. The codes and names listed are from the designations given to the missiles by the Humans, the names inside the parentheses are the original Tirolian names.

1. MPA-1 Mitten (Whernid Awhaug):
   Serving as the missile armament of the Raulonve Fighter Pod, the Mitten missile is a small missile, given its capabilities. It is also one of the "newer" Zentraedi designs, despite being centuries old. As with most Zentraedi missiles, the engine section with the radar aerials is mounted behind the warhead and air-intake section.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1602 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Raulonve Fighter Pod
   • Missile Size: Medium Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: None


2. MPA-2 Megrim (Gluuk Awhaug):
   The Light Artillery Pod and the Assault Corvette use this missile against hardened targets, such as bunkers and mecha. The missile is usually equipped with an Armor Piercing warhead to inflict the most damage with the farthest range available. The Megrim is distinguishable from the other Light Artillery Pod's missiles by its unbroken design. The casing of the missile is thick and made from hardened alloys, which gives the missile the ability to penetrate armor and explode inside a target.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1480 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Light Artillery Pod and Roil Tiluvosen Class Assault Corvette.
   • Missile Size: Short Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: Increase warhead strength of Armor Piercing warheads by 25% and Weapon Rating of the warhead by +1.


3. MPA-3 Morgorth (Vlwheralt Awhaug):
   The most recent addition to the Light Artillery Pod's arsenal, the Morgoth is a missile with a large, thin cased warhead optimized for fragmentation and blast effect. It is typically used against area targets, though with its large impact, it is also quite capable against mecha and fortifications. The missile uses a segmented design, with the guidance and warhead up front, a wasp-waisted connecting section behind the warhead, and an engine section with the four standard radar aerials in the back.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1500 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Light Artillery Pod and Roil Tiluvosen Class Assault Corvette.
   • Missile Size: Short Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: Increase warhead strength and blast radius of Fragmentation warheads by 25%.


4. MPA-4 Miff (Gerluj Touwhaug):
   Oldest of the three missile types used by the Light Artillery Pod, the Miff is a hypervelocity kinetic missile, mostly used against aerial mecha. However, its hypervelocity design does limit its atmospheric range. Externally shaped very much like the Megrim, the Miff does not have the air intakes of the first, but does have the four radar antennas in the rear. Also, like the Megrim, the Miff is designed with a hard casing in order to penetrate its target.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1370 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Light Artillery Pod
   • Missile Size: Short Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Kinetic Energy Warhead only
   • Modifiers: Increase atmospheric speed by five times and space acceleration by three times, but reduce range by 25%. Triple the damage a kinetic energy warhead would would normally inflict and increase its Weapons Rating by +6.


5. MPA-5 Moloch (Seraum Awhaug):
   As the heavy, medium range artillery of the Zentraedi infantry and the Tirolian Assault Corvette, the Moloch missile is hard-hitting, accurate, and reasonably hard to intercept. However, to fully utilize its long range, the Heavy Artillery Pod requires a second target designator platform. This usually takes the form of orbital observation or a Recon Scout Pod. The Moloch missiles follow the standard for of Tirolian missiles with a wasp-waisted air intake section and an engine section with four deployable radar aerials.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1520 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Heavy Artillery Pod and Roil Tiluvosen Class Assault Corvette.
   • Missile Size: Medium Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: None


6. MPA-6 Maggot (Glatrlan Diwhaug):
   The Maggot is the smallest missile in the Tirolian inventory, A dedicated small dogfight missile, the Maggot is best compared to a very maneuverable anti-tank missile, as it does not have the range to be used against fast airborne targets. However, when used against slower moving targets and ground targets, the missile is quite lethal. A conical missile with flat radar aerials to the rear, the Maggot is launched almost exclusively in volleys of 6 to 12 missiles. Fortunately, a great number of these missiles can be carried, and its most important user, the Quaedluun-Rau Power Armor, carries no less than 126 of these missiles in ideal situations.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1479 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Glaug Battle Pod, Glaug Eldare (Space Booster), Quaedluun-Rau Power Armor, and Secondary Defense Drones (from the Super Space Factory).
   • Missile Size: Short Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: Increase atmospheric speed by 25%, but decrease range in an atmosphere by 50%.


7. MPA-9 Minstrel (Rotpaen Touwhaug):
   The newest Tirolian missile, the Minstrel is the sole missile armament of the Quel Quallie Cyclops Reconnaissance Scout and is used by the Assault Corvette. Available with multiple warheads, the Minstrel adds an impressive bite to the Quel Quallie's armaments. Unusual for a Tirolian missile, the Minstrel is a cylindrical missile, with only four tail fins, actually radar transceivers, projecting from its body.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1629 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Quel Quallie Cyclops Reconnaissance Scout and Roil Tiluvosen Class Assault Corvette.
   • Missile Size: Long Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: None


8. SAA-1 Granite (Gliquoun Touwhaug):
   The Granite is the main anti-mecha and anti-missile defense for Zentraedi warships. All Zentraedi capitol ships carry it in a standard pop-up turret, designed to release the missile immediately on an intercept vector. The missile is built with a thick guidance / warhead section up front, filled out with fuel tanks, and this followed by several large thrusters in what used to be the air intakes of the SAA-2 Goblin atmospheric missile. Immediately behind this is the section containing the other fuel tanks and rocket engine. Radar aerials are mounted at the rear. While capable of launch in an atmosphere, the Granite is optimized for space, and its performance will be degraded if launched within an atmosphere.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1410 and 2011.
   • Platforms: All Zentraedi capitol ships and all Tirolian Border Fleet capitol ships.
   • Missile Size: Long Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: Increase range in space by 25%, but reduce range in an atmosphere by 50%.


9. SAA-2 Goblin (Quudazak Awhaug):
   The Goblin, which was not observed by Human forces until the Pioneer Missile was launched and the search for Tirol began, was the main surface-to-air missile of the Zentraedi, and it replaced all previous such missiles. This missile is usually launched from fixed emplacements as well as from mobile launchers. Externally, the Goblin possesses a seeker head followed by the warhead, fuel, intake and engine sections, with the radar aerials mounted on the engine section.
   • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1340 and 2011.
   • Platforms: Fixed ground emplacements and various mobile launchers.
   • Missile Size: Long Range Missile
   • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
   • Missile Type: Any
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
   • Missile Warhead: Any
   • Modifiers: Increase atmospheric speed and range in an atmosphere by 25%, but reduce range in space by 50%.


10. SSA-1 Sniper (Lojredbeth Deuawhaug):
    As the regular anti-ship torpedo of the Zentraedi Fleet, the Sniper is equipped with the best engine available, a fusion-plasma propulsion engine. This gives the Sniper vastly superior range and speed compared to more conventional missiles. Also, the warhead on the Sniper is larger than normal and is capable of even more damage then most missiles the same size. The basic missile shape is that of an elongated cone, with twelve circumference thrusters and a thirteenth, central thruster. Eight sensor blisters are mounted around the body, giving the missile excellent sensor coverage and a very accurate guidance system. An additional four radar aerials are mounted further aft. The main disadvantage of the Sniper is that, compared to its conventional sibling, the Scrapper, it is slower and less ranged, and thus easier to intercept.
    • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1400 and 2011.
    • Platforms: All Zentraedi capitol ships and all Tirolian Border Fleet capitol ships.
    • Missile Size: Cruise Missile
    • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
    • Missile Type: Anti-Spaceship only
    • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
    • Missile Warhead: Any
    • Modifiers: Increase warhead strength by 25%, has a bonus of +2 to strike, increase range in space by 10%.


11. SSA-2 Scrapper (Letkes Deuawhaug):
    The Scrapper is a conventional torpedo, mounted on all Zentraedi fleet units. Although it cannot destroy another starship with one hit, it is fast, difficult to intercept, and carries a large conventional warhead. The advanced fuse further gives it the possibility of contact detonation or delayed action, in addition to targeting specific parts of a target. The main disadvantage of this system is that it is unreliable on occasion, and Scrappers have a higher "dud" rate than other Zentraedi missiles. The Scrapper has a large seeker head up front, followed by the warhead section. Behind this is the engine section, slowly increasing in diameter until the exhausts pipes. There is a thruster section between the warhead and propulsion sections. Four radar aerials are mounted on the warhead section.
    • Service History: Used by the Zentraedi between 1450 and 2011.
    • Platforms: All Zentraedi capitol ships and all Tirolian Border Fleet capitol ships.
    • Missile Size: Cruise Missile
    • Missile Drive: Chemical Drive only
    • Missile Type: Anti-Spaceship only
    • Missile Guidance Systems: Any
    • Missile Warhead: Any
    • Modifiers: Increase range in space by 25% and has a bonus of +3 to strike, but there is a 5% chance that each missile will fail to fully detonate, resulting in only half normal damage.