The Destroid Cheyenne II (デストロイド シャイアン II, Desutoroido Shaian II) or commonly known as Cheyenne II is a Destroid used by New United Nations Spacy that appeared in television series Macross Frontier and Macross Δ.
Technology and Combat Characteristics[]
An overhauled and modernized version of the ADR-03 Mk III Destroid Cheyenne that was deployed during the Unification Wars in A.D 2008. Its appearance was largely similar with its predecessor, but its external appearance was slightly modified and internally it was equipped with various state of the art internal components. One of the major modification the Cheyenne II had is the usage of MT901 Thermonuclear Engine, that gave it almost triple the amount of generator output from its predecessor that used the Gas Turbine Generator which only capable of generate power 1200 SHP.[1] Another major internal modification is the inclusion of magnetic-attachment system, that gave it the capabilities of moving around on a starship's hull at high speed while still magnetically attached to the ship's hull.[2] Then externally the most noticable difference is the redesigned chest, radar pod on right chest unit, shoulders, and improved rocket thruster, and additional verniers on each shoulders.[1] The addition of these verniers was to gave the Cheyenne II better maneuverability, primarily for space combat, since the predecessor unit lack such equipment that gave it limited performance to do so.[Footnotes 1]
When it comes to armaments its still retain mostly the same weapon type as its predecessor, but with upgraded Gatling Guns caliber from 25mm to 30mm rounds, combined with PBG-17 Beam Cannons mounted underneath the gatling gun unit. The usage of PBG-17 beam cannon itself was possible thanks to the usage of the MT901 Thermonuclear generator, which gave it the much needed firepower that its predecessor lack of due to technological limitations.[Footnotes 2] Additionally the PBG-17 can be swapped with various equipment such as Flamethrower units or Ceremonial Guns. In addition, the Cheyenne II can also mount the AA/AS-SAM-22 Mk.16 Missile Launcher on top of its shoulders via a connector on the backside, gave it additional firepower against anti-air attack, without the need to swap its arm unit like its predecessor did.[Footnotes 3]
With these feature the Cheyenne II is a high-speed, high performance Destroid, packed with high amount of firepower compared to the previous Destroid models. With the amount of firepower it can carry, make it an excellent multi-role unit, that combined the capabilities of Space Defense Robot (SDR) such as the Destroid Phalanx with Main Battle Robot (MBR) Destroid Tomahawk, and act as subtitute for those Destroid models. In addition since Cheyenne II main method to move around is using its foot rollers make it a much preferable unit to be used inside the colony ships, since the Foot Rollers was relatively safe to use on the colony ships' urban environment. The amount of firepower it can carry also make it an excellent unit to be used in special operations such as the Macross Attack.[2]
Armaments[]
Guns
- 2 x GE 30mm Gatling Gun
- A pair of six-barrel gatling type weapon that shoot 30mm caliber round. These weapon act as the Cheyenne' IIs main weapon, and mounted on its forearms.
- 2 x PBG-17 Charged Particle Beam Cannon
- A high output beam cannon mounted underneath the 30mm Gatling Gun. This weapon can also be detached or swapped with various weapon type depending on combat situations.
- 1 x Machine Gun Turret
- A triple-barrel gatling gun mounted on the Cheyenne's front crotch section.
Optional Guns
- 2 x Flamethrower Unit
- A pair of large-bore Flamethrower gun mounted underneath the Cheyenne II's 30mm Gatling Gun. This weapon acted as alternate weapon for PBG-17 Beam Cannon, and mainly used to clear out tunnels infested with Vajra swarm.[3]
- 2 x Ceremonial Gun
- A pair of large-bore cannon that shoots confetti projectile, mounted underneath the Cheyenne II's 30mm Gatling Gun. It was exclusively used for ceremonial purposes, and was particularly used during Aimo Day.[4]
Missiles
- 2 x AA/AS-SAM-22 Mk.16 Missile Launcher
- A pair of four-tube missile launcher mounted on top of the Cheyenne II's shoulder via a connector on the backside. Unlike the Destroid Cheyenne's RIM-116 RAM Missile Launcher, Cheyenne II's missile launcher hatch must be ejected via explosive bolt, in order to fire the missiles.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- 1 x Searchlight
- This equipment is mounted on the right side of the chest unit.
- 1 x Radar Dome
- This equipment mounted on the right side of the Cheyenne II's head unit.
- 2 x Manipulator unit
- A pair of five-finger manipulator unit mounted on the rear side of the GE 30mm Gatling Gun .
History[]
It is unknown when the Cheyenne II was rolled out, but per A.D 2059 it was widely adopted by both New United Nations Spacy (NUNS) and private military contractors such as Strategic Military Services (SMS) contractor as their defensive unit for various role ranging from anti-air attack, colony and base defense. One of the particular known user of the Cheyenne II was 55th Long Distance Colony Fleet and the fleet's branch of SMS during the Vajra War. where it used as their main defensive against the Vajra. During the war it manage to served its role as anti-air interception unit, but many of them was destroyed by the Vajras due to the nimbler, agile and highly adaptive physiology.[5] In A.D 2067, due to the Cheyenne II reliable performance, it was still in service and used by the NUNS forces to guard its colony world such as Al Shahal to fend off enemy attacks.[6]
Variants[]
- Destroid Cheyenne II (Light Type)
- A variant of Cheyenne II that lacks the PBG-17 Beam Cannon that is used for combat inside Island-type ship.[7]
Gallery[]
Linearts[]
Anime[]
Macross Frontier[]
Macross Frontier Movie: The False Songstress[]
Macross Delta[]
Macross Δ Movie: Absolute Live!!!!!![]
Manga[]
Macross Delta (Manga)[]
Macross Δ: Ginga wo Michibiku Utahime[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Game[]
Macross Triangle Frontier[]
Model Kit[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Destroid Cheyenne II is the one of the Destroid that had no additional linearts in the entirety of Macross franchise.
- The Missile Launcher on Cheyenne II's lineart is also clipped through the shoulder unit.
- The Cheyenne II's GE 30mm Gatling Gun is likely based on real-life General Electric GAU-8 Avenger Gatling Cannon.
- This can be seen with the Gatling Gun shape, and the weapon manufacturer GE.
- Like the Destroid Cheyenne, the real life version of Cheyenne II's 30mm Gatling Gun had the rate of fire 2100-4200 round per minute (RPM), while the Cheyenne II's version can shoot up to 600-1200 RPM.
- It is never explained the exact reason why Cheyenne II's 30mm Gatling Gun RPM are much slower compared to the real-life version, but it is either animation error or intentionally reduced the to prevent its notorious ammo depletion issue.
Destroid Cheyenne draft design (Note: the 4th draft had some elements resembles the Cheyenne II)
- Some elements of the Cheyenne II is carried over from the 1st and 4th draft design for Destroid Cheyenne, from the book "Junya Ishigaki Works: Robo no Ishi".
References[]
- ↑ In the Macross Chronicle New Edition, Macross Zero Mechanics Sheet, UN Spacy 06A, Page 02, it is mentioned that the Destroid Cheyenne lack of vernier unit limits its maneuverability, especially when its hovering mid air. This examples can be seen in the OVA Macross Zero Episode 3, where a Cheyenne was easily destroyed by enemy SV-51 due to the lack of such verniers.
- ↑ In Macross Chronicle New Edition, Macross Zero Mechanics Sheet, UN Spacy 06A, Page 02, it is mentioned that since there is development issue during the development of Thermonuclear Reaction Engine, forced the Destroid Cheyenne to use the conventional Gas Turbine Generator, and prevent it from using Beam weaponries due to the low output of said generator.
- ↑ In the Macross Zero Episode 3, a Destroid Cheyenne can be seen with a pair of RIM-116 RAM Missile Launcher mounted on its arm unit.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Macross Chronicle New Edition, Macross Frontier Mechanics Sheet, NUNS 05A, Page 01.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Macross Chronicle New Edition, Macross Frontier Mechanics Sheet, NUNS 05A, Page 02.
- ↑ Macross Frontier, Episode 21.
- ↑ Macross Frontier, Episode 19.
- ↑ Macross Frontier, Episode 7, 20, 21. 25.
- ↑ Macross Delta, Episode 1: Battlefield Prologue.
- ↑ Macross Frontier Movie: The False Songstress.
External Links[]