RBOZ-030 PALADIN - 2007 Phenotype Contest Entry
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SEA SABER
Chassis: Sailfish
Power Plant: RMZ-161 (Royal Marine Zoid, Class 1)
Primary Mission: Marine Interceptor
Secondary Mission: Screen
Crew: 1 (minimum rank requirement: sergeant)
Statistics
Length: 17.5 meters
Width:
Sea Mode: 5.0 metersAir Mode: 7.5 metersHeight: 11.0 meters
Mass: 21 tons
Performance
Speed:
Sea: 230 knotsAir: MACH 2 Crush Depth: 2,000 Fathoms
ARMAMENT
Tthe RMZ-161 is extremely effective as an interceptor but limited in prolonged combat. Its weapons are balanced to be truly effective against one heavy target and its defensive units. Its capabilities made it the obvious choice for the primary Sea Wing Zoid for the RBOZ-1000 Galant Mariner.
"Barricuda" Mk3 Undersea Rocket (x4) – torso, integrated construction, 2 fixed rear, 2 fixed forward
For destroying lighter Zoids, such as the EHI-01 Wardick, the Sea Saber is armed with four light underwater rockets, one pair mounted fore and one aft. These have a range of 4 kilometers and a speed of 250 knots, they are highly maneuverable and carry a warhead with enough power to kill a target up to 50 tons and to heavily damage units to 100 tons.
"Sea Hammer" Heavy Missile – torso, integrated construction, fixed forward
The heavy punch of the RMZ -161 is a heavy missile carried under the fuselage within the underside intake, ingeniously designed to act as a ramjet while stored. This weapon has a range of 50 kilometers and carries a warhead capable of destroying a hardened target up to 200 tons, seeking it with an intelligent guidance system.
100mm Linear Particle Cannon (x2) – torso, integrated construction, forward arc,20° rotation
The Sea Saber carries a pair of 100mm linear particle cannon within its port and starboard engine cowls on either side of the cockpit. When deployed they half the top speed and substantially reduce maneuverability, but offer the RMZ -610 direct firepower without ammunition limitations. The guns have a range of 500 meters submerged and up to 3 kilometers out of water and are capable of moderate to heavy damage to most hardened targets.
Energized Impact Blade – head mounted, integrated construction, fixed forward
The last weapon of the Sea Saber is the energy-charged, micro-edged sword blade. While requiring a skilled pilot, the blade can eviscerate virtually any target, compromising structural integrity and allowing the crushing weight of the sea to finish the enemy.
HISTORY
As the three way conflict escalated once again between the Helic Republic, the Zenebas Empire and the Guylos Dynasty, the balance of power began to sway. Helic had long since dominated the skies wielding a host of avian Zoids; Jet Falcons (heavy fighter/air suppression), Buster Eagles (attack) , Pteras (light fighter and bomber variations), Battle Cougars (fighter/attack), Storm Sworders ( interceptor), SS-Special Jet (interceptor/reconnaissance), Raynos (light fighter) and Salamanders (heavy attack/support/reconnaissance). But Zenebas and Guylos had begun to dominate the oceans, effectively cutting off the ability for Helic to move forces and supplies by sea. The Republic accepts contracts to develop a sea-borne Zoid to hinder enemy progress and protect allied shipping.
CAPABILITIES
Seastorm Industries won the Republic defense contract and developed the RZX-610 Sea Saber, redesignated RMZ-161 upon its acceptance by the Republic. Designed as a dual-role Zoid, the Sea Saber perfectly fulfills the mission objectives of interceptor and attack unit. Using five hydrojet engines that constitute almost half of its mass, the Sea Saber can achieve a linear cruise speed of 230 knots; by far the fastest aquatic Zoid ever produced. While submerged it maintains exceptional maneuverability at a maximum speed of 160 knots. The engines are instantly adaptable to low altitude flight upon launching from the water. In the air the Sea Saber can break MACH 2, however, the Zoid lacks any dogfighting capability as maneuverability is all but lost out of water. It can, however, close on a target in flight and dive for attack. Further, at attack speeds the Sea Saber cannot rely on sonar or detection systems and is only fully effective against large, slow or stealth deprived targets. It can obtain a depth of 6,000 meters (2,000 fathoms)
DEFENSES
The Sea Saber’s speed and agility comes at the cost of armor; the RMZ-161 has virtually none aside from its frontal surfaces. It does find some protection in the form of a small radar signature in flight and the ability to outmaneuver most torpedoes while submerged. The Zoid is also equipped with an array of countermeasures mounted in the tail that can reduce the effectiveness of most common undersea tracking systems.
AI-2 PROFILE
Sea Sabers have extrmely simple AI-2 systems. Most of its mental power is focused on its perceptive acuity and defensive instincts. Often Saber pilots will point the Zoid in the right direction and allow it to react to threats while the pilot formulates a counter attack using his arsenal. The AI-2 is so simplified, however, that the system instantly surrenders control to the pilot on the slightest manipulation. This usually produces confusion and stress for new pilots, but veterans boast of no better system for an in-fighter.
SUMMARY
The RZ-610 was a sleek, agile weapon platform that excelled at its interceptor role. Lightning fast, long ranged, and carrying enough firepower to deliver a resounding blow against almost any target. It maintains its reputation as a competent and efficient combat unit.
SUMMARY
The RZ-610
(original model)
The RZ-610 was originally painted in the honored scheme of the Golden Age of the Helic Republic; brilliant white, regal blue and gleaming gold. Some command units still bear this scheme, and the RZ-610 chassis continues to patrol the inner realm even as the RMZ-161 maintains the front.
SUMMARY
The RMZ-161
(current era)
The upgraded RMZ-161 shows both its age and its excellent engineering. It boasts a new armor matrix that offers 10% improved damage resistance and a greater crush depth of another 100 meters. Though speed and maneuver-
ability have remained unchanged, there has been some improvement in weaponry; the latest version sports 4 additional 25mm pulse lasers for aerial combat.
THE CONCEPT
The concept behind the Sea Saber is a simple one... I needed a new custom, and I wanted to do a fish. Further, I wanted to do something smaller than my usual huge artillery platforms. I had a stack of parts and one was the Dimetra Ptera wing... to use it as a fin didn't impress me, but as a sailfish it would rock. The sailfish is the fastest fish in the sea (clocked up to 110 km/h or 68 mp/h), making for an ideal undersea interceptor. I also wanted the Zoid to have a limited flight capability; this was brought on by watching sailfish catch serious air but also the positioning of their fins. By keeping form and weapons simple, I feel I acheived a smashing successful custom.
THE BUILD
THE CONCEPT
In actuality this Zoid grew out of the pile of spare parts that accumulated as I was building my Angstmorder. In finality, it was completed long before the Angstmorder. The hodge-podge of parts came together rather quickly, but a number of things required correction. In this case, for such a small Zoid it required a bit of sheet styrene. The dorsal sail was filled in, the tail fins, the long pelvic fins hanging from the ramjet intake, and the sword itself had to be cut from scratch. Sprue was cut and rounded to allow the lateral fin/wings to pivot into flight position. The huge missile fitting into the ramjet was a difficult trick; it's far too large for the hole, so the body had to be cut through the belly and into the back to allow the missile to lock into place.
Parts List
Dimetra Pteras
Fusilage, head, sail
Aquadon
Fins
Bear Fighter
Dorsal vents
CP-xx (Flexible Booster)
Fore & aft torpedo batteries
Macross VF-Alpha
Lateral weapon bays and boosters
Gundam Model (unknown)
Aft boosters
USS Enterprize Aircraft Carrior
Ramjet intake, ramjet exhaust
Styrene Card
Fins, sword
