ROBOTECH

Historical Essays of the Robotech Period

Research and Analysis by Lowell Silverman,
RRG and essay adaptation by Pieter Thomassen

An enumeration of kills by some (in)famous characters in the Robotech wars

Home Separator
Home Aircraft Armor/Weapon Mecha Naval Veritech

The following are excerpts from documents that have been released on the Internet by Lowell Silverman around 2050, at the end of a long Usenet discussion about the effectiveness of the mecha combat skills of various (in)famous military personel and resistance fighters.

While the author does not claim that his listings are complete, he does point out that they were made after hours of research in the recently de-classified government archives, in many cases this involved the study of gun camera material and other mecha recordings, while in others the after-mission reports of various military personel and interviews with civilian participants could be correleated with one another.

Until new material is released or discovered, these listings may well be the final word on kill numbers.

Contents:

Lieutenant Commander Scott Bernard


Scott Bernard shot down 67 Invid mecha (confirmed):
  • 34 utilizing the Alpha’s (also Beta’s, once) Hammerhead missiles (expending an estimated 158 missiles in salvos at these targets).
  • 12 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 27 bursts at these targets).
  • 8 utilizing the Cyclone’s Scorpion missiles (expending an estimated 11 missiles at these targets).
  • 2 with a melee attack with the Alpha in Battloid mode.
  • 2 utilizing the Cyclone’s EP-37 cannon (expending 2 bursts).
  • 2 with the Beta’s bombs (expending 10 bombs).
  • 1 by 2 Alpha nose laser bursts
Note: In one instance near the end of the war Scott Bernard and Rand both fire missiles at a group of targets at the same time, resulting in 5 Iigaa destroyed. Arbitrarily, kills are assigned to Rand 3 and Scott Bernard 2, based on the side of the screen they were shown firing at in previous shots. Whether the two separate groups seen destroying the 5 targets were indeed separate salvos from the two pilots, or one salvo (left and right sides) of a single pilot is a matter of debate.

Scott Bernard’s kills breakdown:
  • 25 Iigaa (armed) (21 Alpha, 2 Cyclone, 2 Beta) (12 Hammerhead, 8 EP-13, 2 EP-37, 2 bombed, 1 Alpha nose laser)
  • 17 Boosted Iigaa (17 Armored Alpha) (14 Hammerhead, 3 EP-13)
  • 18 Gurab (armed) (15 Alpha, 3 Cyclone) (7 Hammerhead, 6 EP-13, 3 Scorpion, 2 melee)
  • 5 Gurab (5 Cyclone) (5 Scorpion)
  • 2 Gosu (1 Alpha, 1 Beta) (1 EP-13, 1 Hammerhead)
Scott Bernard’s mode breakdown:
  • 34 kills were achieved in Battloid mode (33 Alpha, 1 Beta)
  • 19 kills were achieved in Fighter mode (17 Alpha, 2 Beta)
  • 4 were achieved in Guardian mode (4 Alpha)
  • 9 Cyclone kills were achieved in Armor mode
  • 1 Cyclone kill achieved in Cycle mode
Note: When flying the Alpha and Beta linked, credit is given to which module’s weapons were fired in the kill.
Scott Bernard also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
  • 80 hammerheads and six EP-13 bursts to neutralize 52 Gosu missiles tracking his Veritech
  • 16 Hammerhead missiles, 4 Scorpion missiles, 3 EP-13 cannon bursts, 1 EP-15 burst, and 1 melee attack using his Alpha’s cannon which resulted in damage to enemy craft
  • An estimated 21 EP-13 cannon bursts, 8 Hammerhead missiles, 7 EP-37 bursts, and 1 Scorpion missile in attacks which missed the enemy entirely
  • 16 Hammerhead missiles to break through gate and then the bulkhead in the Invid mountain fortress
  • 4 Scorpion missiles to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside “Denver”
  • 1 EP-13 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan internal hive power core support
  • 1 Scorpion missile that was blocked by the enemy and thus ineffective
  • 1 Scorpion missile that struck the target but inflicted no damage
Note: Scott Bernard is not credited with a kill for his melee attack with his cannon against the Invid RCB over Reflex Point because it is doubtful that one blow could destroy so heavily armored a craft. Scott Bernard may have fired on and destroyed the craft as it fell away from close quarters, but due to lack of evidence, no kill is recorded.
Scott Bernard may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:
  • At least 20 Iigaa (armed) as seen on screen, utilizing 16 Hammerhead missiles against an Invid mountain fortress’s main control matrix, destroying the entire hive
  • 3 Gurab (armed) by detonating cobalt limpet mines on a dam by remote control
  • An estimated 2 Iigaa (armed) using 16 missiles launched from two PT boats by remote control
  • ¼ of a Gurab (armed) from his contributed H-90 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction.
  • 2 Iigaa (armed) destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)
  • Destroying a renegade's attack cycle with repeated shots from his H-90 (in rifle mode).
  • 1¼ Iigaa (armed) and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-13 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Iigaa, resulting in the destruction of the hive)
  • (rumored) 3 Shadow Alpha Drones utilizing unknown means (3 Beta EU-35 bursts?)
Total verified kills (99½ victories, hives omitted):
  • 50¼ Iigaa (armed)
  • 17 Boosted Iigaa
  • 21¼ Gurab (armed)
  • 5 Gurab
  • 3 Shadow Drone Alphas?
  • 2 Gosu
  • 1 combat cycle
Total ordinance expended:
  • 294 Hammerhead missiles
  • 59 EP-13 bursts
  • 22 Scorpion missiles
  • 16 unspecified missiles launched from a PT boat
  • 10 bombs
  • 9 EP-37 bursts
  • 3 EU-35 bursts?
  • 2 nose laser bursts
  • 1 EP-14 burst
Scott Bernard’s mecha sustained the following damage:
  • 3 annihilation disc hits (1 from an Iigaa (armed) (light damage), 2 from a Gosu (light damage and moderate damage)) suffered by his Alpha on seperate occasions
  • 2 melee attack hits (1 from a Gurab (armed) claw (light damage), 1 from a Gosu kick (heavy damage)) suffered by his Alpha
  • In addition, Scott Bernard abandoned a Beta/booster module to destruction, crash landed and abandoned an Alpha (due to damage sustained on reentry), and crash landed his Alpha after sustaining the noted (1) disc and (1) kick hits from the Gosu
ANALYSIS

Scott Bernard is the group's ace-of-aces…something that shouldn’t be a surprise given that he’s the most experienced military man in his group of fighters! Scott Bernard has a remarkable ability to stay cool under fire; this is especially evident in his talent in operating a Cyclone in battle. Despite the length of time it takes for his Cyclone’s targeting computer to lock a target (a long few seconds with annihilation discs coming at him), Scott Bernard never wastes a round by snapping off a shot. Only 1 out of 22 of the Cyclone Scorpion mini-missiles launched missed its target. Even more impressively, no Invid laid a finger or a disc on him while operating a Cyclone; Rook Bartley and Rand received grazes from discs and claw swipes.

Interestingly, despite his conservative use of Scorpions in the Cyclone (probably dictated by his limited 4-missile supply!), Scott Bernard uses the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (maximum load of 60) prodigiously. Use of these missiles account for half of Scott Bernard’s conventional kills. Under most circumstances, Scott Bernard would fire a standard salvo (about 8 missiles) at each target. While the sheer number of missiles he expends compared to his comrades might appear absurdly high, it’s important to note that only one salvo of missiles missed its target entirely…and that was Corg’s Gosu, no less. Aside from two salvos which damaged an Iigaa (armed), and the missed one, each and every salvo aimed at Invid mecha resulted in the destruction of at least one Invid craft.

Some do argue that Corg outwitted Scott Bernard twice (the surprise attack above the streets of Manhattan, and above Reflex Point when Corg’s Gosu followed his missile salvo in with a melee attack), but the final score is Scott Bernard 1, Corg 0. While Scott Bernard did take a few hits in the course of the series, there were no instances in which he was hit because he was careless or inattentive in battle (like Rand and Lancer).




Rand

Rand shot down 53 Invid mecha (confirmed):
  • 18 utilizing the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (expending 60 missiles in a salvo at these targets)
  • 14 (best on screen estimation) with the Synchro Cannon (expending three salvos)
  • 9 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 13 bursts at these targets)
  • 5 utilizing the Cyclone’s EP-40 cannon (expending approximately 12 bursts in these attacks)
  • 3 using the Beta’s EU-35 cannons (expending an estimated 36 bursts in these attacks)
  • 3 using the Beta’s Coralsnake missiles (expending 8 missiles in this attack)
  • 1 using a handheld RL-6 (expending 1 Recluse rocket at this target)

Note: Determining just how many Iigaa (armed) were destroyed by the 2 Alpha salvo in “Hired Gun” is tricky as the battle footage is unreliable. Rand states: “We’re outgunned 30 to 1”, but it is unlikely that he meant that as a literal number…it's rather difficult to count in a pitched battle. From the look of things, each salvo (Rook Bartley’s and Rand’s) streaked towards a separate group of 18. It is implied that all 36 Iigaa (armed) were destroyed, and so half have been so credited to Rook Bartley.

Note: In one instance in “Reflex Point” Scott Bernard and Rand both fire missiles at a group of targets at the same time, resulting in 5 Iigaa destroyed. Arbitrarily, I assigned the kills of Rand 3 and Scott Bernard 2, based on the side of the screen they were shown firing at in previous shots. Whether the two separate groups seen destroying the 5 targets were indeed separate salvos from the two pilots, or one salvo (left and right sides) of a single pilot is a matter of debate. Even though about 23 out of ~30 EU-35 rounds missed (7 hits destroyed the RCB), they are acknowledged as being part of a successful attack rather than credited as outright misses.

Rand’s kills breakdown:
  • 40 Iigaa (armed) (23 Alpha, 10 Synchro Cannon, 5 Beta, 2 Cyclone) (18 Hammerhead, 10 Synchro blow, 5 EP-13, 3 Coralsnake, 2 EU-35, 2 EP-40)
  • 7 Gurab (armed) (4 Alpha, 2 Cyclone, 1 handheld) ( 4 EP-13, 2 EP-40, 1 RL-6)
  • 5 Gamo (4 Synchro Cannon, 1 Cyclone) (4 Synchro salvo, 1 EP-40)
  • 1 Gosu (1 Beta) (1 EU-35)
Rand’s mode breakdown (when applicable):
  • 27 kills were achieved in Battloid mode (21 Alpha, 6 Beta)
  • 6 kills were achieved in Fighter mode (6 Alpha)
  • All 5 Cyclone kills were achieved in Armor mode
  • 1 kill was achieved on foot
Rand also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
  • An estimated 34 EP-40 bursts which struck the enemy craft but failed to inflict any damage
  • An estimated 20 EP-40 bursts, 9 EP-13 cannon bursts, and 3 EU-35 bursts in attacks which missed the enemy entirely
  • 1 EP-40 burst which resulted in damage to enemy craft
  • 1 EP-40 warning shot into the ground to make Maxwell’s men surrender
  • 6 EP-40 bursts to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside the “Denver bunker city”
  • 1 EP-13 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan hive internal power core support
Rand may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:
  • 1 Gurab (armed) destroyed by firing the Beta Fighter’s three main engines at point blank range
  • 1 Gurab (armed) rammed and crushed under the Beta fuselage while crash landing.
  • 1/3 of a Gurab (armed) utilizing a log booby trap whose release cable he cut (credit Rook Bartley and Annie Labelle for also cutting release cables)
  • ¼ of a Gurab (armed) from his contributed H-90 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction.
  • 1/3 of an Gamo buried by the ice and destroyed by 4 already mentioned EP-40 bursts in concert with Rook Bartley and Lancer
  • 2 Iigaa (armed) destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)
  • 1¼ Iigaa (armed) and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-13 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Iigaa, resulting in the destruction of the hive)
  • 6 Iigaa (armed) destroyed using the Synchro Cannon’s self-destruct bomb (not exactly clear, but it looks like the fragments shredded all Scouts within view…and the Scouts were seen in formation moments earlier)
Total verified kills (65 1/6 victories, hives omitted):
  • 49¼ Iigaa (armed)
  • 8 7/12 Gurab (armed)
  • 5 1/3 Gamo
  • 1 Gosu
Rand eliminated 1 Invid infantryman while on foot:
  • 1 Malar Urban Enforcer unit with an H-90 pistol in the streets of Manhattan
Total ordinance expended:
  • 74 EP-40 bursts (estimate)
  • 60 Hammerhead missiles
  • 39 confirmed EU-35 bursts
  • 23 EP-14 cannon bursts
  • 8 Coralsnake missiles
  • 3 Synchro salvos
  • 1 RL-6 Recluse rocket
Rand’s mecha sustained the following damage:
  • 5 annihilation disc hits: 1 from a Gurab (armed) (light damage), 1 from a Gosu (light damage), and another 3 from the same Gosu at a latter date (heavy damage) suffered by his Alpha
  • 4 melee attack hits: 1 from a Gurab (armed) claw’s grab attack to his Cyclone (no damage), 1 from a Gurab (armed) swipe to his Beta (light damage), and 2 kicks from a Gosu (Alpha drops cannon, and moderate damage) suffered by his Alpha
  • 1 dismemberment by a Gosu which severed one of his Alpha’s arms
  • In addition, Rand was thrown from his Cyclone on two occasions as the result of annihilation disc near misses
ANALYSIS

Rand is a remarkable character, who over the course of the series is transformed from a reluctant fighter with no prior combat experience into a pilot with a bag second only to Scott’s. He might have done even better had he not stubbornly stuck with the poorest Cyclone weapon of all, the EP-40 cannon, instead of picking up something more powerful (at Point K for instance when Scott grabbed an EP-37 or “Hole in the Wall” when he was carrying an RL-6). Certainly, the fact that he missed about 20 bursts with the EP-40 demonstrates his lack of experience, but then again, another 34 rounds hit their target ineffectually.

The low total of 5 kills in his Cyclone aside, Rand performed well, thanks to the cannons he preferred of a bit higher power: A solid 12 Invid were downed with the Alpha and Beta’s cannons, and (having secured a rare privilege) another 14 Invid mecha at least were vaporized by his use of the Synchro Cannon artillery piece. Like Rook and Lancer, Rand is somewhat stringent on missile use, employing them on merely two occasions (though one, of course, he launched all 60 against 18 Iigaa!).

Rand’s enthusiastic “let’s go get them” style might well be the reason for his success in beating out his competitor, Rook (who usually hoarded her ammunition for precise strikes). At the same time, it probably is responsible for making the Invid use Rand for target practice! So too, Rand is a bit careless as a fighter, perhaps due to his lack of prior military experience. His getting shot in the (Battloid’s) back on the streets of New York by Corg was due in large part to his lack of situational awareness. He also took a while to learn that one should not stand still on a Cyclone when a Gurab’s cannons are glowing with a priming charge!




Rook Bartley

Rook Bartley shot down 36 Invid mecha (confirmed):
  • 18 utilizing the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (expending one salvo of 60 missiles at these targets)
  • 8 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 15 bursts at these targets)
  • 9 utilizing the Cyclone’s RL-6 Recluse rockets (expending 9 rockets at these targets)
  • 1 in a melee attack with the Cyclone‘s feet in Armor mode

Note: Determining just how many Iigaa (armed) were destroyed by the 2 Alpha salvo in “Hired Gun” is tricky. Rand says- “We’re outgunned 30 to 1” (unlikely that he meant that as a literal number…rather difficult to count in a fierce battle). From the look of things, each salvo (Rook Bartley’s and Rand’s) streaked towards a separate group of 18. It is implied that all 36 Iigaa (armed) were destroyed, and so half have been so credited to Rand.

Rook Bartley’s kills breakdown:
  • 28 Iigaa (armed) (25 Alpha, 3 Cyclone) (10 Hammerhead, 7 EP-13, 3 RL-6)
  • 7 Gurab (armed) (6 Cyclone, 1 Alpha) (6 RL-6, 1 EP-13, 1 melee)
  • 1 Gamo (1 Cyclone/RL-6)
Rook Bartleys’s mode breakdown:
  • 18 kills with the Alpha were achieved in Battloid mode
  • 6 kills with the Alpha were achieved in Fighter mode
  • 2 kills with the Alpha were achieved in Guardian mode
  • All 10 Cyclone kills were achieved in Armor mode
Rook Bartley also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
  • 10 EP-13 cannon bursts and 1 RL-6 Recluse rocket in attacks which resulted in damage to enemy craft.
  • 5 (estimated) Recluse RL-6 rockets in attacks which missed the enemy entirely
  • 8 Hammerhead missiles to break through a gate in an Invid mountain fortress
  • 4 RL-6 Recluse rockets to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside “Denver bunker city”
  • 1 EP-13 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan internal hive power core support

Note: From a distant view, Rook Bartley is seen to fire three blue (energy?) bursts at a Gamo during the battle inside “Denver bunker complex”. As such weapons fire is inconsistent with the Recluse rockets the RL-6 she was armed with fired, such a firing record is omitted.

Rook Bartley may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:
  • 1/3 of a Gurab (armed) utilizing a log booby trap whose release cable she cut (credit Rand and Annie for also cutting release cables)
  • ¼ of a Gurab (armed) from her contributed H-90 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction
  • 1/3 of an Enforcer buried by the ice and destroyed by 2 already mentioned rockets in concert with Rand and Lancer
  • 2 Iigaa (armed) destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)
  • 1¼ Iigaa (armed) and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-13 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Iigaa, resulting in the destruction of the hive)
  • 1½ Iigaa (armed) for her teamwork action near Reflex Point in concert with Lancer which disoriented 3 Invid, resulting in their colliding and exploding
Total verified kills (41 2/3 victories, hives omitted):
  • 32¾ Iigaa (armed)
  • 7 7/12 Gurab (armed)
  • 1 1/3 Gamo
Total ordinance expended:
  • 68 Hammerhead missiles
  • 26 EP-13 bursts (minimal estimate)
  • 19 RL-6 launched Recluse rockets
Rook Bartley’s mecha sustained the following damage:
  • 1 annihilation disc hit on her Alpha from a Gurab (armed), which caused moderate damage and personal injury. In addition, her Cyclone was grazed by a pair of discs on one occasion, causing her to lose control and tumble from the air, but without apparent damage
  • 4 melee hits: 1 backhand from a Gurab (armed) which sent her Cyclone tumbling, 1 from a Iigaa (armed) which stuck a claw through the Alpha Battloid’s head, 1 swipe from an Enforcer which deflated a tire, and 1 punch by Corg’s Gosu which caused light damage to her Alpha
ANALYSIS

Rook Bartley established a notable combat presence in the seriesm beginning with her miraculous rescue of Rand and Annie in “The Lost City”. Indeed, her use of the RL-6 rocket launcher is every bit as precise (if not more so) than Scott Bernard’s Scorpion use. Out of 10 direct hits in the course of the series on Invid mecha with the RL-6, 9 are destroyed and one damaged.

Her precise usage of ammunition extended to the Alpha. Indeed, every time she used her Alpha’s cannon to fire upon a target, that target was hit (I don’t mean that no shots missed, but rather that all attacks (sometimes 2-3 bursts) resulted in damage to the enemy).

Rook Bartley used Alpha missiles only a single time in the entire series. Remarkably enough, her suggestion was for both her and Rand to each use all 60 at once to clear the skies of a cloud of Invid Iigaa (armed). It worked too.

Rook Bartley‘s aggressive fighting style paid off as often as it nearly got her killed. In “Lonely Soldier Boy”, despite leaving her RL-6 at home, so to speak, Rook Bartley made two attempts to strike Gurab (armed) in their sensor eye weak spot with the Cyclone’s feet. The first time, the Gurab dodged and nearly immolated her with a pair of annihilation discs, but the second time she succeeded in scoring the kill.

Rook Bartley gets in the most trouble from hand-to-hand combat, perhaps a result of her love of getting in close to pummel the enemy. Rook Bartley sustained melee damage from each and every type of Invid mecha!




Lancer

Lancer shot down 14 Invid mecha (confirmed):
  • 8 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 11 bursts at these targets)
  • 4 using the Cyclone’s Recluse rocket propelled grenades (expending 9+ RPGs at these targets)
  • 1 utilizing the Beta’s EP-14 (expending 6 bursts at this target)
  • 1 using a handheld RL-6 (expending 1 rocket at this target)

Note: It is unknown how many RPGs Lancer used against the Gurab (armed) in “Survival” which is why the counted 9 Recluse rockets has the plus symbol, indicating a higher unknown quantity expended.

Lancer’s kills breakdown:
  • 6 Iigaa (armed) (5 Alpha, 1 Beta) (5 EP-13, 1 EP-14)
  • 6 Gurab (armed) (4 Cyclone, 1 Alpha, 1 handheld) (4 RPG, 1 EP-13, 1 RL-6)
  • 2 Gosu (2 Alpha) (2 EP-13)
Lancer’s mode breakdown:
  • 8 kills were achieved in Fighter mode (7 Alpha, 1 Beta)
  • 1 kill was achieved in Battloid mode (1 Alpha)
  • 3 kills were achieved in Cyclone Armor mode
  • 1 kill was achieved in Cyclone Cycle mode
  • 1 kill was achieved on foot
Lancer also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
  • 9 EU-35 cannon bursts (approximately) and 16 rocket propelled grenades against heavy Invid targets in attacks which were ineffective against their armor despite direct hits.
  • 2 Hammerhead missiles against turrets in the Invid mountain fortress (one hit, one destroyed)
  • 8 Hammerhead missiles to break through gate in the Invid mountain fortress
  • 18 Recluse RPGs to rain ice on top of Invid mecha inside “Denver bunker complex”
  • 1 EP-14 cannon burst against the Invid Manhattan internal hive power core support
Lancer may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:
  • 2 Iigaa (armed), expending 7 naval cutter missiles
  • 1 Gamo (as a result of the 12 RPGs that were ineffective against the Gamo’s armor, ice dropped and trapped it. In the end, the Enforcer destroyed itself attempting to escape this trap, so Lancer might well deserve the credit for its destruction)
  • 1/3 of a Gamo buried by the ice and destroyed by 12 already mentioned RPGs in concert with Rook Bartley and Rand.
  • 2 Iigaa (armed) destroyed by cobalt limpet mines in a Bioemulator booby trap (8 destroyed in total, split up among the 4 team members who part in setting up the trap)
  • 1¼ Iigaa (armed) and ¼ Invid hive (The already mentioned single EP-14 beam out of the 4 the team used to drop the Manhattan hive core on 5 pursuing Iigaa, resulting in the destruction of the hive)
  • 1½ Iigaa (armed) for his teamwork action near Reflex Point in concert with Rook which disoriented 3 Invid, resulting in their colliding and exploding
  • 2 (rumored) Shadow Alpha Drones utilizing 4 RPG rounds
Total verified kills (26 1/12 victories, hives omitted):
  • 12¾ Iigaa (armed)
  • 6 Gurab (armed)
  • 2 Gosu
  • 2 (rumored) Shadow Drone Alphas
  • 1 1/3 Gamo
Lancer eliminated 2 Invid infantrymen while on foot:
  • 2 Malar Urban Enforcer units using H-90 pistol fire in Manhattan
Total ordinance expended:
  • 47+ Recluse RPG rounds
  • 11 EP-13 bursts (estimate)
  • 10 Hammerhead missiles
  • 9 EU-35 bursts (estimate)
  • 2 EP-14 bursts
  • 1 RL-6 launched Recluse rocket
Lancer’s mecha sustained the following damage during the series:
  • 2 annihilation disc hits (both from Corg’s Gosu): 1 to his Beta (ineffective) and 1 to his Alpha (heavy damage)
ANALYSIS

Lancer takes part in surprisingly few battles during the course of the series, making analyzing his skills and style difficult. Like Rook Bartley and Rand, he is stringent with missile use; despite often flying an Alpha or Beta loaded with firepower, he preferred to use his Veritech’s cannons in battle. He is the antithesis of Scott Bernard in this matter: He conserves Veritech missiles, but saturates targets (in a Cyclone) with rocket propelled grenades.

One notes that Lancer never missed a target altogether (in other words, not a single round from a salvo of RPGs or cannon found their mark). Of course, in so few battles, that doesn’t mean much.

Lancer might not be as attentive a flier as Scott Bernard; letting his guard down in “Dark Finale“ very nearly cost him his life, but for “the power of human emotions“ on impressionable Invid. Surprisingly, as often as Lancer flew the Beta, only one of his conventional kills was achieved while flying that mecha. In Veritechs, Lancer preferred for the most part to stay in Fighter mode, though his one Battloid kill is an enviable achievement: A Gosu




Jim “Lunk” Austin

As Jim Austin is not a pilot, it should come as no surprise that all his victories were achieved through non-mecha, or unconventional means:

  • 3 Gurab (armed) utilizing an armor-piercing cannon, fired from his jeep
  • 2 Iigaa (armed) utilizing Nader’s armor-piercing cannon, fired from his jeep
  • 1 Iigaa (armed) using the naval cutter’s cannon
  • 2 Gurab (armed) by creating a rocky avalanche booby trap
  • ¼ of a Gurab (armed) from his contributed SAL-9 fire in undermining its cliff top location, resulting in its fall to destruction
  • 1 Gurab (armed) utilizing 5 rocket propelled grenades fired from his jeep
Jim Austin also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
  • At least 1 missile fired from a launcher on the back of his jeep at the Invid mountain fortress’s main gate
  • Launched 6 missiles from his jeep launcher at the assault on Reflex Point
  • Sustained burst from an unknown weapon at Corg’s RCB to distract him (ineffective)
  • 12 Hammerhead missiles over Manhatten during his only combat flight in an Alpha, launched at Corg’s RCB (missed)
Total verified kills (9¼ victories):
  • 6¼ Gurab (armed)
  • 3 Iigaa (armed)
Jim Austin’s craft sustained the following damage during the series:
  • One jeep abandoned after an annihilation disc’s near miss caused it to roll.
  • One Jeep crushed under a building dropped on it by Gamo heat cannons weakening the foundation.
ANALYSIS

Jim Austin is not a pilot, but the fact that he survived his only combat flight (against Corg’s Gosu) is a distinction not earned by the majority of REF pilots in the final days of the war against the same opponent. Jim Austin’s aiming skills are impressive with the armor-piercing cannon…5 shots, 5 hits, 5 kills aimed while in motion! Unfortunately, it would appear that that was all the ammunition he had available. I guess it makes him an ace, though.




Annie “Mint” LaBelle

As Annie is not a pilot nor a fighter, it should come as no surprise that she has only a number of unconventional kills:

  • 2 hive protectors and 1 Invid brain destroyed utilizing a cobalt limpet mine.
  • 1/3 of a Gurab (armed) utilizing a log booby trap whose release cable she cut (credit Rand and Rook Bartley for also cutting release cables)
  • 0 Gurab (armed) from her contributed snow ball to a firefight which resulted in the destruction of 1 Gurab (armed) (but worthy of mention for the effort).
Annie also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
  • 1 RL-6 Recluse missile attempting to destroy a Gurab (armed)
  • 3 snowballs to distract a Gurab (armed) attacking Rook Bartley and Rand

Total verified kills: 2 1/3 (see above)

Annie received a Gurab (armed) claw swipe, which parted her jacket without injury.

ANALYSIS

For a noncombatant, 2 1/3 kills are pretty good.




Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

Colonel Jonathan Wolff (final fight only)

Colonel Wolff shot down 5 Invid mecha (confirmed):
  • 2 utilizing the Alpha’s EP-13 cannon (expending an estimated 2 bursts at these targets)
  • 2 in a pair of melee attack with Alpha‘s legs in Battloid mode
  • 1 utilizing the Alpha’s Hammerhead missiles (expending one salvo of 16 missiles at these targets)
  • Wolff’s kills breakdown:
    • 3 Gurab (armed) (3 Alpha) (2 melee, 1 EP-13)
    • 2 Iigaa (armed) (2 Alpha) (1 Hammerhead, 1 EP-13)
    Wolff’s mode breakdown:
    • 4 kills were achieved in Battloid mode
    • 1 kill was achieved in Guardian mode
    Wolff also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
    • 1 EP-13 cannon burst aimed at a Gurab (armed)’s claw in a successful attempt to free a Cyclone rider (Rand) in the Gurab’s grasp
    • 12 Hammerhead missiles and 2 EP-13 bursts in attacks which either missed or were blocked (thus doing no damage) by the enemy
    Wolff may also be credited with the following indirect or unconventional kills:
    • 2 Gurab (armed) which Wolff intentionally tricked a pair of Invid Iigaa (armed) into destroying
    Total verified kills (7):
    • 5 Gurab (armed)
    • 2 Iigaa (armed)
    Total ordinance expended:
    • 28 Hammerhead missiles
    • 5 EP-13 bursts
    Wolff’s mecha sustained the following damage:
    • 1 annihilation disc hit which dealt the Alpha he borrowed from Scott Bernard moderate damage. Cascading damage dealt Wolff himself a mortal wound, however.
    ANALYSIS

    Colonel Wolff’s combat style may reflect his long time as an infantryman on Earth. Observe how well he uses the Alpha as a melee weapon: Indeed, he dispatches two Gurab (armed) with blows from the Veritech’s legs, compared to only one Invid craft dispatched with two heavy salvos of missiles.

    Despite expending 28 missiles, Wolff’s one kill with them was not terribly impressive. His first salvo of 12 was too spread out, allowing a clever Gurab (armed) to block the one that came close enough to enough to cause damage. The second salvo of 18 might have caught both Iigaa (armed), but concentrated on only one (which was destroyed).

    Wolff used the Alpha‘s cannon precisely. Two Invid mecha were dispatched with single bursts each, one shot severed a Gurab (armed)’s arm (freeing Rand’s Cyclone), and the other two shots struck near a pair of Gurab (armed), perhaps convinced them to back off for a moment.

    It would seem though, that Wolff’s show[boating] of skill in operating the Alpha was his downfall. In taking the effort of making the fancy move of kneeing a Gurab (armed) in the sensor eye, another Gurab (armed) came up from behind and the two traded lethal shots. One rememberes that in his prime, however, Colonel Wolff was one of the deadliest pilots alive.




    Robotech New Generation Pilot’s Accomplishment Report

    Corg

    Corg shot down 9 REF mecha (confirmed):
    • All 9 utilizing the Gosu's forearm plasma (annihilation disc throwing) cannon
    Corg’s kills breakdown:
    • 9 Alpha (9 Gosu) (9 annihilation disc)
    Corg also expended ammunition for the following reasons:
    • Approximately 25 missiles from his Gosu’s back launchers which were intercepted and neutralized by the target’s fire
    • Approximately 11 missiles from his Gosu’s shoulder launchers which were intercepted and neutralized by the target’s fire
    • 8 annihilation discs which scored hits upon and inflicted damage to enemy mecha
    • 1 Protoculture shock which severed the arm of an enemy Battloid
    • 1 annihilation disc which struck an enemy target but was ineffective

    Note: Given the prodigious (and ineffective use) of annihilation discs on the part of Invid pilots, the number of rounds from this weapon that missed have not been recorded.

    Note: The hit that Corg is believed to have scored on Rand’s Alpha while flying a Gurab (armed) before transmutation to human form is omitted.

    Total verified kills (9 victories):
    • 9 Alphas
    Corg’s mecha sustained the following damage during the series:
    • 1 RCB hit repeatedly by Cyclone fire and buried under ice during action in “Denver”; whether this vehicle escaped along with its pilot is unknown.
    • His RCB was hit by an Alpha’s EP-13 blast (light damage) and approximately 5 rounds from a Beta’s EU-35 cannon (ineffective)
    • 1 RCB was destroyed by a Beta’s Hammerhead missile fire and its pilot killed
    ANALYSIS

    Corg is a highly talented pilot, proving a tough adversary against the Bernard Team even before he was transmutated to human form. Even when flying an Iigaa (armed) or Gurab (armed) against the Bernard team, he was able to survive (if not significantly damage them). Indeed, the clearest demonstration of Corg’s talents comes not from his victories against admittedly lackluster REF pilots but from his ability to engage (as seen in “The Big Apple”) 4 excellent pilots alone and score hits. He makes short work against the lesser experienced Alpha pilots. These pilots fly in straight lines, don’t dodge, don’t use missiles, and rarely even tried firing with cannons at him; his weapon seemed significantly more accurate and powerful as well, instantly destroying each flier with a single hit (while up to 3 hits scored on Rand’s Alpha did not cause it to explode). Corg’s flying style was heavily based on maneuver; he would utilize the high performance qualities of his Gosu to full advantage, evading most fire with jukes and bursts of speed. His style is quite attuned to his personality, aggressive and lacking in subtleness. Whereas Scott will respond to an attack by missiles with evasive action and attempts to shoot them out of the air, Corg will merely dodge them and fire a burst in response. This perhaps explains his ability to turn the tables on the REF attackers unfamiliar with such a quick counterattack. On the other hand, Corg frequently became overconfident to a damaging degree. He was buried in “Denver” for dividing his forces, which were defeated piecemeal by 4 lightly armed Cyclones, and nearly killed by cobalt bombs when he blundered confidently into a Bio-emulator trap. His death occurred when he simply flew straight and slow, and neither dodged nor counterattacked when Scott fired a salvo of missiles at him. Therefore, one may conclude that while a technically skilled pilot and warrior, Corg was subject to the fatal trait of carelessness.


    See additional notes.

    Go to Research Index.


    Go to Robotech Reference Guide Home Page.


    Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

    Content by Lowell Silverman, adaptation by Pieter Thomassen
    HTML by Robert Morgenstern (rmorgens@ieee.org)
    Copyright © 2002 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker