SDF-3 Pioneer

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In the fictional world of Robotech, the SDF-3 is the third Super Dimensional flagship of the United Earth Forces that was first introduced in Robotech: The Sentinels (1986). In recent comics, it was identified by name as the Pioneer and was rebuilt as a "Shadow Dimension Fortress". It is commanded by Admiral Lisa Hunter, and later by her husband Admiral Rick Hunter.

This article specifically deals with Robotech continuity. See the article about the SDF-1 more general information from both Macross and Robotech.

1 History and background
2 Reconstruction
3 Mysterious disappearance
4 Details
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History and background

Robotech: The Sentinels depicted the SDF-3 under the final stages of construction within the giant Robotech factory in orbit around the Earth in 2022. Though human-engineered, the exterior is of Tirolian design as part of the Pioneer expedition's strategy of infiltrating the Robotech Masters' homeworld. The ship is introduced in the pilot feature of Robotech II: The Sentinels, but the launch is never seen because the rest of the series was never completed. The storyline is continued in a series of Robotech novels from Del Rey.

[edit] Reconstruction

The sequel Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles continues from both the end of the original Robotech television series and the unfinished Sentinels series. The first issue of Wildstorm's 5-part prequel comic series Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles shows the original version of the SDF-3 from the Sentinels video, but the ship is damaged and rebuilt as a "Shadow Dimensional Fortress" in later issues. This new look duplicates the general arrangement of the original design but has a look more in the style of the larger ship designs from Mospeada/New Generation, most specifically the SDF-4 Izumo/Liberator. This has been explained as a total systems rebuild, incorporating the shadow cloaking system to evade Invid protoculture sensors.

[edit] Mysterious disappearance

In the final episode of the original Robotech series, audiences anticipated the return of the SDF-3, but were left hanging by its mysterious disappearance. Command of the returning expedition was taken over by the SDF-4. Del Rey continued the story through the novel End of the Circle to a mixed reception by fans who preferred to see the Sentinels story completed by Harmony Gold.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In the Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles movie, it was revealed that the SDF-3 had been attempting to test-fire the new Neutron-S missiles. These malfunctioned badly, seriously damaging the SDF-3 and the science vessel Deukalion, and creating a black hole. The SDF-3 was immobilized and drifting near the new black hole. Captain Vince Grant and the Icarus attempted a rescue, but all three ships were attacked by hostile unknown forces and Admiral Hunter ordered the Icarus to return to Earth with the Deukalion and deliver a warning about the Neutron-S missiles.

The ultimate fate of the SDF-3 is unknown as it was crippled and had just survived a ramming by a hostile warship when it was last seen.

At the conclusion of the movie, the Ark Angel is dispatched to find out what became of the ship and her crew, and recover survivors, if any.

[edit] Details

[edit] Dimensions

Length: 1622 m (overall)
Height: 362.7m
Width: 281.6m
Displacement: 46.85 Million Tons (approximate)

[edit] Crew complement

Shipboard Crew: 10,000 (Includes the command crew, all officers, non-coms and enlisted ranks)
Troops: 3948 (Both combat ready and reserve)
Total Crew: 13,948

[edit] Weapons and defensive systems

Full Barrier System: This is a force field which encompasses the entire ship. It can be erected in as little as five seconds.
Barrier Defense System: Also known as the Pinpoint Barrier System, this uses smaller moveable force shields which are used to protect only the Command Tower.
Laser Turrets (Zentraedi style): Forty-eight laser turrets line the top, bottom and sides of the ship's hull. These are mainly point-defense should any enemy mecha close in on the ship.
Missile Bays: Twenty-four missile bays are strategically placed around the hull. They are retractable and remain hidden until use.
Laser Cannons: Located on either side of the main hull are appendages with laser cannons, two each. These can be used for point-defense, but their primary use is in ship-to-ship combat.
Reflex Cannons (Main guns): The forward portions of the main hull are comprised mostly of two large Reflex cannons. These are used in ship-to-ship combat, or for station/planetary assault. They can be used to devastating effect in clearing clusters of enemy mecha as the beams destroy everything in their path out to an effective range of 192,000km.
Synchro Cannons (Main guns): After the SDF-3 is severely damaged over Tirol and rebuilt, the destroyed Reflex Cannons were replaced with Synchro cannons that have similar range and firepower. Because they are Shadow tech, the Synchro cannons cannot be detected even when preparing to fire.
In addition to the above systems, the SDF-3 carries a full complement of Veritech fighters (1100+), Destroid Mecha (1600+, which includes over 1000 Zentraedi mecha) and Zentraedi Warriors (1000+).