Megaroad-class

The SDF-2 in cruiser mode.

Megaroad-class is a emmigration class of ship based on Macross-class UN Government around 2010s.

Development

With the devastation of Earth after the siege of Zentradi Bodolza's Fleet during Space War I, UN Spacy feared such tragedy would happen and launched the Humanity Seeding Project. In order to achieve said objective, they decided to convert under construction SDF-2 Megaroad into a ship that is capable of housing large amount of population inside its hull, resulted a ship class known as Megaroad-class.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The Megaroad-Class is a giant immigration ship created based on the combination of SDF-2 with Zentradi technology. Its size is nearly twice the size of the SDF-1 Macross, due to the design its based on, but unlike its predecessor, but this particular ship is specifically designed to as  colony ship, and omitted many features of its predecessor. To fit such role, its hull was massively overhauled to accommodate proper habitat for the ship passengers for long distance travel throughout the galaxy. The colonist habitat was placed in front half of its hull inside a close-type city block, protected by a glassed framed hull. Since its was designed for very long travel time, its overall passenger capacity reduced to 25,000 people from SDF-1's 50,000 people, but the capacity reduction was intentionally done to increased its cargo capacity. Because of this the Megaroad-class is much better suited for such role than the SDF-1, and designated as the mothership of early Long Distance Immigration Fleet.

Despite the Megaroad-class better capabilities as a colony ship, its design were flawed. First is the glass framed hull of the front half of the hull makes it vulnerable to enemy attacks or extrasolar threats, and gave its passenger less protections. Second due to the ship main emphasis as colony ship, it was minimally armed with defensive weaponry. Third is the overall hull design makes the ship integrity is less durable than its predecessors, which makes the Megaroad-class very unsuitable for combat situations. Because of those reasons, UN Spacy would designed a specialized ship that combined the SDF-1 combat capabilities and Megaroad-class carrying capabilities, resulting the New Macross-class that first launcher in 2030.

Ship of The Line

• Megaroad-01 (SDF-2): The first ship of the class launched in September 2012. Described as lost by 2016 Shown in the opening of Macross Frontier on animated map. Shown again in one of many folds and it was about to be fired by Battle Astrea, but not before interrupted by remaining forces of Chaos, saving the Megaroad.
• Megaroad-02 (SDF-3): launched in 2014. Shown in the opening of Macross Frontier on animated map.
• Megaroad-03: launched in 2014
• Megaroad-04: according to animation at the beginning of Macross Frontier, it has colonized Eden, which would suggest it should have reached it by November 2013 (which is the data Macross Chronicle gives for Eden's colonization). Megaroad-04 colonization of Eden is confirmed by a source. At some point it embarked on further exploration, reaching planet Windermere in 2027.
• Megaroad-05:
• Megaroad-06: listed as "under investigation" (lost?) Shown in the opening of Macross Frontier on animated map.
• Megaroad-07: 
• Megaroad-08:
• Megaroad-09: listed as "under investigation" (lost?) Shown in the opening of Macross Frontier on animated map.
• Megaroad-10
• Megaroad-11
• Megaroad-12
• Megaroad-13: launched in 2019. In 2025 colonized planet Varauta. At some point afterward the Varauta colony has been taken over by Protodeviln. Shown in the opening of Macross Frontier on animated map.

Gallery

Linearts

Front view (1)

Front view (2)

Rear view

Linearts (Macross Flashback 2012 Graffiti Pg 56)

Anime

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Flashback 2012

Departing Earth alongside Nupetiet-Vergnitzs-class (2012 Refit)

Illustrations & Artwork

Colored illustration (This is Animation Macross 7, Pg 03)

Notes & Trivia

• Megaroad was one of the preliminary names for the Super Dimensional Fortress Macross show and SDF-1 Macross.
• A Megaroad-class colony ship can be briefly seen landing on Ragna in a flashback sequence in Macross Δ.

References

Information & Profile (Macross Chronicle New Edition, Flashback 2012 Mechanic Sheet: UN Spacy 01A) (1)

Information & Profile (Macross Chronicle New Edition, Flashback 2012 Mechanic Sheet: UN Spacy 01A) (2)