The Exeter-class Escort has perhaps the most intriguing background of any capital ship class in the REF fleet. Originally named the Ark Angel-class, the escorts were built shortly after the first REF engagement with the Invid over Tirol in 2022. During this battle enormous numbers of Invid mecha overwhelmed REF Veritech squadrons and did serious damage to the SDF-3 Pioneer and other REF capital ships before being forced to withdraw. This near-defeat pointed out a fundamental flaw in the REF's war strategy. Based on their experiences with the Zentraedi the REF had expected to encounter a large number of capital ships around Tirol and had built up the expeditionary force fleet accordingly. However, the forces of the Invid Regent were based on hit-and-run tactics using large numbers of smaller mecha such as Scouts and Troopers. Unprepared for assaults by large numbers of mecha, the REF fleet took heavy losses in the early battles of the Sentinels War due to inadequate anti-mecha defenses.
The Ark Angel-class escorts were designed to counteract this weakness. The ship is armed with 40 retractable laser turrets and 8 retractable missile turrets, double the anti-mecha defenses of larger capital ships such as the Warrior-class destroyers and the Tokugawa-class cruisers. In addition, the escorts can carry four wings of Veritechs in their enormous launching bays located on each wing. Designed by the same engineers who built the Horizont-class troop shuttles, the escorts have the same graceful "flying swan" body style that makes them look too delicate for warship duties. However, the ships are surprisingly
durable and, more importantly, agile enough to surprise many mecha pilots. The vessels are even fold-capable, allowing them to keep up with large convoys and protect them from Invid attacks. The only glaring weakness of the class is that it lacks heavy weaponry for ship-to-ship combat. Aside from a single heavy laser, the escort must rely on its fighter wings to protect itself from enemy warships.
The RSS Ark Angel, the prototype ship for the design, was the first starship produced by the REF at the recently captured Tirolian shipyards. However, shortly after the warship's initial test flights were completed the Ark Angel was hijacked by Colonel Jonathan Wolff and a group of officers and crew loyal to Rick Hunter and the Sentinels, who were trapped on the dying planet Praxis. After Wolff rescued the Sentinels the freedom fighters commandeered the ship and used it to defeat the Invid on Gaurda and Haydon IV. Following the Sentinels victory at Haydon the grateful Haydonites gave the heroes the last surviving Haydonite cruiser, which Admiral Hunter ironically decided to also name Ark Angel. Both Ark Angels were used by the Sentinels throughout the rest of the Sentinels War. Unfortunately the escort Ark Angel was destroyed above Optera during the final battle of the war.
Eventually the charges against Jonathan Wolff and his associates for stealing the original Ark Angel were dropped. However, not wishing to glorify the hijacking of one of their ships the REF decided to change the name of the class to Exeter, which was the second escort produced at Tirol. The name Ark Angel was officially assigned to the Sentinels' haydonite cruiser when it became part of the REF fleet in 2033.
Exeter-class escorts served as an important part of the REF fleet throughout all three Invid wars. The class was eventually retired in 2052, although escorts continued to serve in the RGF fleet until the late 2070s. Several ships have been purchased by commercial interests and are now used as cargo vessels, a job in which they perform extremely well since they have both space fold and atmospheric re-entry capabilities. Exeters were produced at the Fantoma Orbiting Shipyards, Karbarran Space Works and Peryton IV Shipyards, sometimes reaching production rates as high as 25 per year.
Government: Robotech Expeditionary Force, later Sentinels Alliance
Ship Type: Super Dimensional (Space Fold) Escort
Class: Exeter SFE-2000 (originally Ark Angel Class)
Manufacturer: Tirol (Fantoma Orbiting Shipyard), Karbarra (Karbarran Space Works), Peryton (Peryton IV Shipyards).
Crew: 390 total
Officers: 20
Main Crew: 191
Flight Crew: 100
Mecha Pilots: 48 + 6 reserve
Troops: 25
Notable Ships of Class:
SDF-07 Ark Angel
launched 2024, hijacked by Jonathan Wolff same year, served with Sentinels 2024-2032
SFE-2002 Exeter
launched 2025, assigned to REF Venus Attack Group in 2033
MDC BY LOCATION:
Main Bridge: 500
Forward Command Section: 1,200
Neck Section: 600
Main Body/Engineering Section: 3,200
Flight Deck Nacelles (2): 3,500 each
Wings (2): 900 each
Main Engines (3): 1,500 each
Auxiliary Engines (2): 800 each
Guidance Thrusters (30): 200 each
Main Laser (1, bottom): 300
Retractable Laser Turrets (40): 100 each
Retractable Missile Launchers (8): 100 each
Pin Point Barriers (4): 5,000 each
Small Airlocks/Access Hatches (12): 250 each
Main Airlocks (2): 500 each
Outer Hull (per 40ft area): 200
Interior walls (per 20ft area): 20
Hangar Doors (4): 500 each
NOTES:
1.Destroying the forward bridge will instantly kill anyone on the command deck. However, there is an auxiliary bridge in the engineering section that the surviving crew can take command from. If the main bridge is lost the ship will be operating at -2 initiative due to having to rely on backup systems.
2.Depleting the MDC of the forward command section or neck section will seriously impair (practically destroy) the ship. (1D4x10)% of the crew will be killed, the main bridge will be lost (see above), the main laser will be destroyed, and 16 concealed lasers and 2 concealed missile launchers will be destroyed. The surviving crew can effectively command the ship from the engineering section, but will be at -5 initiative and -2 to dodge due to severe systems damage.
3.Depleting the MDC of the main body/engineering section will eliminate the escort. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. In addition, there is a 40% chance that the power systems will overload and the ship will explode, doing 1D6x1,000 M.D. to everything in a 1,500 ft (458 m) radius. Regardless of whether it explodes or not, the ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
4.Destroying the flight deck nacelles will greatly impair the escort's ability to deploy and recover mecha. Under normal circumstances the destroyer can launch or recover 8 mecha per nacelle, per turn. For every 400 points of damage a flight deck takes reduce this number by 1. If the flight deck reaches 0 MDC then it is destroyed; no mecha can be launched or recovered, (1D6x10)% of the flight crew will be killed, and any mecha that have already been launched will need to find another place to land.
5.Depleting the MDC of the main engines will force the ship to rely on its secondary engines. Depleting the MDC of the main engines AND secondary engines will leave the ship adrift in space. If in an atmosphere, the ship will crash (destruction of the main engines will render the antigravity system useless due to loss of power). The wings do not provide sufficient lift for the escort to attempt a controlled landing.
6.The Pinpoint Barriers regenerate at a rate of 1,250 MD per second (2,500 MD per melee round). If destroyed, a barrier will completely regenerate within four seconds (2 melee rounds). See the Pinpoint Barrier System entry for details.
SPEEDS:
Speed (sublight): 0.24 speed of light (38,400 miles/61,800 km per second)
Speed (Auxiliary Drives): Mach 15
Space Fold: Range Unlimited (1 light year every 6 minutes).
Planet bound:
Has vertical take off and landing (VTOL) capability. Can reach speeds of up to Mach 5 in an upper planetary atmosphere, but not designed for extended flight or maneuvering. Can also travel underwater at up to 100 mph (160 kmph) if absolutely necessary.
Maximum Range: Unlimited (powered by a protoculture reactor with an estimated life span of 20 years)
STATISTICAL DATA:
Length: 700 ft (233 m)
Width: 518 ft (158 m)
Height: 210 ft (64 m)
Weight: 19,200 tons (standard)
Fold System: Robotech Research Group (RRG) Mk. 2G fold system cluster
Sublight Drive: REF Naval Engineering Class VII macro nozzle cluster
Gravity Control System: REF Naval Engineering Class IV internal gravity control system
Auxiliary Engine: REF Naval Engineering Class VIII mass-conservation thrust system
Radar System: RRG Type X Hyperspace Sensor Cluster
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
1.MAIN LASER CANNON (1): The only anti-starship weapon the Exeter-class escort carries is a single heavy laser cannon mounted below the command section of the ship. The laser is fixed forward and can only fire at targets directly in front of the ship.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Heavy Assault
RANGE: 500 miles (805 km) in an atmosphere, 1000 miles (1609 km) in space
DAMAGE: 4D6x100 M.D. per blast
RATE OF FIRE: The laser can fire once every other round
PAYLOAD: Unlimited
2.RETRACTABLE LASER TURRETS (40): The escort's main anti-mecha weaponry consists of 40 retractable laser turrets mounted at various strategic places along the hull. These short-range are devastating against mecha and can do moderate damage against any enemy spacecraft that get too close. When not in use gun turrets are concealed within the hull underneath a sliding hatch. At most 20 lasers can be brought to bear on a single target.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Defense
RANGE: 30 miles (48.3 km) in an atmosphere, 60 miles (96.6 km) in space
DAMAGE: 1D6x20 M.D. each. Several lasers can be directed to fire in volleys of 3 or more. A
volley of 3 beams does 3D6x20 M.D., a volley of 6 beams does 6D6x20 M.D., and so on. A full volley of 20 beams aimed at a single target does 1D6x400 M.D. (!) if it hits.
RATE OF FIRE: Each laser can fire once per melee, and can be combined in any volley
combination of 3 or more lasers, up to 10 lasers. Volleys can be directed at different targets.
PAYLOAD: Unlimited.
NOTE: The lasers can be set on automatic during combat, during which time they have a +3 to
strike due to their advanced tracking systems. The lasers tracking systems will target incoming missiles first and attacking mecha/aircraft second.
3.RETRACTABLE MEDIUM MISSILE LAUNCHERS (8): In addition to the retractable lasers, the Exeter escorts carry eight medium range missile launchers which are also intended for anti-mecha defense. Each launcher contains 10 missile tubes allowing volleys of up to 10 missiles to be fired at a single target per launcher. Once depleted, the missile launchers are reloaded by an automated loading system that takes 15 seconds (one melee round) to reload all 10 missiles. Armor-piercing smart missiles are usually used to avoid chances of friendly fighters being shot down by the missiles.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
MISSILE TYPES: Any type of REF Medium Range Missile can be used. Smart missiles are
commonly used to avoid hitting friendly aircraft.
RANGE: Varies, typically 60 miles (80.4 km).
SPEED: Varies, typically 1600mph (2571kmph) in an atmosphere.
DAMAGE: Varies, typically 2D4x10 M.D.
BLAST RADIUS: Varies, typically 15 feet.
RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 missiles per launcher.
PAYLOAD: Each launcher holds 10 missiles. Once the missiles are expended the launcher is
reloaded within 1round via an automated system. The reload system holds 60 missiles per
launcher.
4.DS-1 PINPOINT BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: Originally developed by Dr. Emil Lang onboard the SDF-1 during the First Robotech War, the Pinpoint Barrier System is a standard defense system on board most REF starships, including the Exeter escorts. The system generates four small disc-shaped force fields that can be positioned anywhere along the ship to deflect missiles, energy beams or projectiles. Each pinpoint barrier is about 200 ft (61 m) in length and can absorb up to 5,000 MD in damage, which then regenerates within five seconds (3 melee attacks). The barriers can also be layered on top of each other to generate a field which provides 20,000 MDC and can even deflect heavy particle beams (usually).
The four barriers are controlled by operators in the command tower of the carrier. These operators are instructed to defend (1) the command section, (2) main engines, (3) flight decks, and (4) engineering section, in that order. The operators primarily concentrate on defending the ship against larger spacecraft and leave defense against mecha attacking the destroyer to the Veritechs and retractable weapon systems.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Defense (the pinpoint barrier system cannot be used as a weapon)
RANGE: Up to 100 feet (30.5 m) from the surface of the vessel.
DAMAGE CAPACITY: Can sustain up to 5,000 MD per round. Regenerates at a rate of 2,500
MD per melee round.
RADIUS: 200 ft (61 m)
DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT: Can move from one end of the destroyer to the other in less than a
single round. Trained operators can attempt to block attacks up to 8 times per melee (counts as a parry) and are at +7 to block. Untrained characters can parry up to their number of hand-to-hand attacks with their normal parry bonuses only.
PAYLOAD: Nearly inexhaustible. Will work as long as system is functional (see below) and
engines are intact. If main engines are destroyed, the barrier will loose power and not function.
NOTE: If all four barriers are grouped in a single spot they can deflect a heavy particle beam
attack, such as the one generated by Zentraedi or Robotech Master warships. However, the beam will completely destroy all four barriers and put incredible strain on the pinpoint barrier system to the point where it may short out. After deflecting an energy beam, roll percentile dice on the table below to determine additional effects/damage.
01-15: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
16-30: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
31-45: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair (yes, DAYS of work).
46-60: Completely destroyed! System can be rebuilt, but will require new parts and 2D6 DAYS of
work to replace.
61-75: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair.
76-90: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
91-95: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
96-00: It's a miracle! Trivial damage only, system will be operational again in only 4D6 melee
rounds!
SYSTEMS OF NOTE:
ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION SYSTEM: The Exeter escorts are equipped with an anti-gravity propulsion system used for planetary landings and liftoffs. The system is good for vertical ascent/descent only and can lift the ship at speeds of up to 1,320 feet (400 m) per minute. The system will function so long as the main engines can supply energy to it.
HYPERSPACE COMMUNICATIONS: The escort is equipped with a hyperspace communications relay which allows faster-than-light communication between the ships and other vessels or planetary bases. Hyperspace communications are still not instantaneous, however. Audio/video communication travels through hyperspace at a rate of about 5 seconds per light year, so messages communicated over vast distances can still take days, weeks, or months to arrive.
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: The Exeter destroyers have sufficient life support to provide breathable air and comfortable temperatures for 500 people for up to 15 years (air is recycled). In an emergency the life support system can support up to 800 people at one time, though living conditions onboard will get extremely cramped at that point. The carrier also holds sufficient food and water to support 400 people for up to 6 months.
LONG-RANGE LASER/SATELLITE RELAY COMMUNICATIONS: The communications array of the escort can communicate with up to 500 craft simultaneously at ranges of up to 600 miles (960 km). This range can be boosted indefinitely by using satellites or other spacecraft to relay communications.
LONG-RANGE RADAR: The radar array of the Exeter can track and identify up to 500 craft simultaneously. The radar system has a 600 mile/960 km range.
SPACE FOLD SYSTEM: For FTL propulsion the escort is equipped with a fold drive, capable of propelling the ship through hyperspace at speeds up to 3.28x10^10 mps (5.25x10^10 kmps), or 1 light year per 6 minutes. When executing a space fold the Exeter will transport any ships within a 1 mile (1.6 km) radius with it, allowing it to transport up to about a dozen smaller ships with it, if necessary. The range of the fold drive is theoretically unlimited except by the life expectancy of the spacecraft.
SUBLIGHT ENGINES: As a backup to the Fold System, the escort is equipped with sublight engines that can propel the ship at speeds up to 0.24 speed of light (38,400 miles/61,800 km per second) in space. Note that these engines are mainly intended for rapid movement inside a planetary system and are not suited for long voyages between star systems. In a planetary atmosphere the carrier is limited to speeds of Mach 2 at low altitudes or Mach 5 at high altitudes due to hull stress.
SUBSPACE MASS SENSORS: The Exeter is equipped with subspace sensors which are based on the same principles as the hyperspace communications array. These sensors can essentially instantly detect mass readings and movement of objects up to 1 AU (93 million miles) distant from the ship, and the readings are used both for early warning and for navigation when travelling at sublight speeds. Readings taken with the subspace sensors are not very detailed (-25% penalty when trying to identify a detected object) and cannot detect objects of less than 60,000 kg (this includes most mecha).
MECHA COMPLEMENT:
Each landing bay nacelle can hold and support up to 24 veritechs/destroids of any type (48 total), as long as the mecha are smaller than 50 ft (15.2 m) and weigh less than 40 tons each. Destroids are rare on Exeter escorts since they are usually restricted to space duties, however the final mecha breakdown depends on the mission. An Exeter will also have 25 Cyclones of various types (for use by the troops), 8 TCH-4 Tractor-Haulers, 14 ML-3 Forklifts, and 4 REF Personnel Shuttles onboard.