ROBOTECH Technical Files
by Pieter Thomassen and Peter Walker

Designation:

(Flight 1) Garfish class Super Dimensional Scout Cruiser (SCS)
(Flight 2) Shillelagh class Super Dimensional Light Cruiser (SCL)
(Flight 3) Anaconda class Super Dimensional Assault Transport (SLA)

REF Seal
Garfish
Naval Separator
HomeAircraftArmor/WeaponMechaNavalVeritech

Names and disposition:

All ship names are prefaced by "UES", for "United Earth Ship". Until 2031, all ships of this class were labelled as SDS-type vessels (Superdimensional Scout Cruiser).

Flight 1:

HullNameCompletedFate HullNameCompletedFate
SCS-01Garfish2025Destroyed, 2043 SCS-02Blowfish2025Destroyed, 2031
SCS-03Piranha2026Destroyed, 2031 SCS-04Barracuda2026Destroyed, 2032
SCS-05Sting Ray2026Destroyed, 2031 SCS-06Great White2026Destroyed, 2042
SCS-07Tiger Shark2027Destroyed, 2044 SCS-08Hammerhead2027Destroyed, 2042
SCS-09Espadon2027Destroyed, 2032 SCS-10Queen Grouper2027Destroyed, 2042
SCS-11Puffer2027Destroyed, 2042 SCS-12Man-o-war2027Destroyed, 2044
SCS-13Cuttlefish2028Destroyed, 2042 SCS-14Pickerel2028Destroyed, 2029
SCS-15Carp2028Destroyed, 2044 SCS-16Salmon2028Destroyed, 2042
SCS-17Octopus2028Destroyed, 2028 SCS-18Thresher2028Destroyed, 2035
SCS-19Tuna2029Destroyed, 2031 SCS-20Nautilus2029Destroyed, 2042
SCS-21Haddock2029Destroyed, 2042 SCS-22Skate2029Destroyed, 2042
SCS-23Skipjack2029Destroyed, 2042 SCS-24Cachalot2030Destroyed, 2042
SCS-25Grampus2030Destroyed, 2042 SCS-26Mako2030Destroyed, 2037
SCS-27Tarpon2030Destroyed, 2043 SCS-28Squid2030Destroyed, 2036
SCS-29Trout2030Destroyed, 2044 SCS-30Bass2031Destroyed, 2044
SCS-31Catfish2031Destroyed, 2031 SCS-32Sturgeon2031Destroyed, 2035
SCS-33Moray2031Destroyed, 2031

This flight was constructed on board the Robotech Factory Satellite and the Robotech Repair Factory from 2025 through 2031.

Flight 2:

HullNameCompletedFate HullNameCompletedFate
SCL-34Shillelagh2031Destroyed, 2044 SCL-35War Hammer2031Destroyed, 2044
SCL-36Bardiche2031Destroyed, 2044 SCL-37Voulge2031In service
SCL-38Spetum2032In service SCL-39Lance2032Destroyed, 2044
SCL-40Mace2032Destroyed, 2044 SCL-41Flail2032Destroyed, In service
SCL-42Fauchard2032Destroyed, 2044 SCL-43Schiavona2032Destroyed, 2044
SCL-44Flamberge2033In service SCL-45Glaive2033Destroyed, 2044
SCL-46Lochaber Axe2033Destroyed, 2044 SCL-47Bill-Guisarme2033Destroyed, 2044
SCL-48Ranseur2033Destroyed, 2044 SCL-49Bec de Corbin2034Destroyed, 2044
SCL-50Halberd2034Destroyed, 2044 SCL-51Bill2034Destroyed, 2044
SCL-52Crossbow2034In service SCL-53Ballista2034Destroyed, 2044
SCL-54Hurlbat2034In service SCL-55Scramsax2035In service
SCL-56Pilum2035In service SCL-57Catapult2035In service
SCL-58Long Sax2035Missing, presumed destroyed SCL-59Knife2035Destroyed, 2044
SCL-60Trebuchet2036In service SCL-61Verutum2036Destroyed, 2044
SCL-62Stiletto2036In service SCL-63Aklys2036In service
SCL-64Tachi 2036In service SCL-65Falchion2036Destroyed, 2044
SCL-66Pike2037Destroyed, 2044 SCL-67Suan Tao Fung2037Destroyed, 2044
SCL-68Sap2037Destroyed, 2044 SCL-69Foil2037In service
SCL-70Sling2037Destroyed, 2044 SCL-71Shuriken2038In service
SCL-72Quarterstaff2038Destroyed, 2044 SCL-73Epee2038Destroyed, 2044
SCL-74Kris2038Destroyed, 2044 SCL-75Longsword2038In service
SCL-76Chi2038Destroyed, 2044 SCL-77Saber2039In service
SCL-78Ton-fa2039Destroyed, 2044 SCL-79Rapier2039In service
SCL-80Khopesh2039In service SCL-81Tetsubo2039Destroyed, 2044
SCL-82Atlatl2040Destroyed, 2044 SCL-83Gladius2040In service
SCL-84Dirk2040Destroyed, 2044 SCL-85Garrote2040Missing, presumed destroyed
SCL-86Tau-kien2040In service SCL-87Tzikopion2040In service
SCL-88Dagger2041In service SCL-89Targe2041In service
SCL-90Spathion2041In service SCL-91Coutarion2041Destroyed, 2044
SCL-92Sai2041Destroyed, 2044 SCL-93Riptaria2041Destroyed, 2044
SCL-94Parang2042In service SCL-95Paramerion2042In service
SCL-96Trident 2042Missing, presumed destroyed SCL-97Spear2042Destroyed, 2044
SCL-98Katana2042Destroyed, 2044 SCL-99Wakizashi2042Destroyed, 2044
SCL-100Yari2042Destroyed, 2044 SCL-101Masakari2043Missing, presumed destroyed
SCL-102Boku-toh2043Missing, presumed destroyed SCL-103Nodachi2043In service
SCL-104Ono2043In service SCL-105Magari Yari2043In service
SCL-106Naginata2043In service SCL-107Broadsword2044Missing, presumed destroyed
SCL-108Bastard Sword 2044In service SCL-109Battleaxe2044Missing, presumed destroyed
SCL-110Claymore2044Destroyed, 2044 SCL-111Longbow2044Destroyed, 2044
SCL-112Scimitar2044In service SCL-113Javelin2045In service
SCL-114Cutlass2045In service

This flight was constructed on board the Robotech Factory Satellite and the Robotech Repair Factory from 2031 through 2044.

Flight 3:

HullNameCompletedFate HullNameCompletedFate
SLA-01Anaconda2041In reserve SLA-02Boa2041Destroyed, 2044
SLA-03Cobra2041Destroyed, 2044 SLA-04Cottonmouth2042Destroyed, 2044
SLA-05Rattlesnake2041In reserve SLA-06Asp2042Destroyed, 2044
SLA-07Viper2041In reserve SLA-08Caiman2042In reserve
SLA-09Crocodile2041Destroyed, 2044    SLA-10Alligator2042In reserve
SLA-11Gila Monster2041Destroyed, 2044 SLA-12Komodo Dragon2042In reserve

This flight was constructed on board the Robotech Factory Satellite and the Robotech Repair Factory from 2041 through 2044.

Ship's complement:

(Flight 1, 2)

Note: When used as a troop carrier the Garfish is designed to carry:
(Flight 3)

Dimensions:

Propulsion systems:

Note: Because of the location of the hangar, the three main hull thrusters are capable of propelling the Garfish forward without inducing undesired attitude changes in the vessel only with great strain. For compensation, the three hangar thrusters are fired at appropriate outputs whenever the main thrusters fire. However, under no circumstances can the hangar engines compensate for their off-center location and propel the ship alone without destabilizing it.

Endurance and mobility limits:

Weapon systems:

Garfish Launch Bays

Air group and mecha complement:

Electronics:

Design notes:

Garfish Rear View

The Garfish cruisers, named for their main hull shape, were designed by the REF as multi-purpose vessels, with either additional sensors and long duration for long-range reconnaissance missions, a small troop contingent for commando assaults, with additional supplies to function as a tender for their sisters, or as fleet cruisers. Consequently, a Garfish's weaponry is heavy for its size, but, by compromise of design, concentrated for the most part in its heavy underbelly gun turret. Because in the first years of the class these ships were used almost exclusively for scouting missions, the first flight was designated as a Scout Cruiser.

The Garfish has a fish-like main hull with a six sided section in the middle that houses the internal mission-specific holds. The three large engines are mounted side by side in the back. A large, two-level hangar with three bay doors and the smaller thrusters is suspended from the section that houses the internal cargo holds. The main particle cannon is suspended from the main hull keel, fore of the hangar. Garfish class cruisers were built in three flights. Flights 1 and 2 were general-purpose cruisess, with flight 2 slightly larger, the additional volume and mass going into improved habitability and slightly increased armor. There were also many smaller changes to make the design more suited for mass production and fleet actions. Consequently, the Flight 2 vessels were no longer designated as Scout Cruisers, but as Light Cruisers, although the hull numbering simply went on without interruption. The infantry assault version (flight 3) of this class had a single-purpose hold with room for two full battalions of Cyclone infantry troops. Since they could no longer be reconfigured, the final flight were designated as assault transports.

After the war, the surviving members of the 2nd flight were refit with greatly enhanced anti-mecha batteries, and most of the hangar and troop space was replaced with increased anti-warship missile stores and vertical launcher banks, as well as a more robust generator for the primary turret, which, with the additional available power, was upgraded into an even more formidable weapon. The surviving 3rd flight vessels went into reserve. There were no surviving 1st flight Garfishes.

Like the Ikazuchi-class large cruiser, the Garfish-class cruiser was underpowered in the area of AAA (anti-aircraft artillery). Though the missiles and turret were more than enough to destroy any single attacking mecha, there were just not enough point defense weapons to repel a deluge by suicide runners. Again, to correct this problem after the Third Robotech War, the survivors of the Garfish-class incorporated extensive suits of dedicated point defense systems.

History:

The Garfish-class cruisers were developed shortly after the REF had received the Robotech Factory Satellite and Robotech Repair Factory for their logistical needs. Far smaller than the preceding Battle class, the Garfish class embodied a new design philosophy, where the mass was minimised, but part of the displacement was invested in a large hold which could be used for supplies, troop quarters, sensor equipment, or as cargo space. In this manner, the same ship could with minimal effort change missions without growing too large or expensive. The class was mostly envisioned to perform long-duration, long-distance scouting missions, for which they could carry an advanced sensor suite. Endurance in this form was about a year and a half. The Garfish could, with less than a week in dock, be converted into a fast troop transport, a tender or into a fast armed transport vessel. This multiple-purpose character was very suited for the diverse REF missions.

As a result of the smaller size, though, the armament suite was less than that of the Battle class. However, the REF design team partially offset this by giving the Garfish class a single, but extremely powerful particle cannon turret with a large field of fire. Indeed, this turret was used nowhere else except on the very large Izumo class vessels (with the barrels enclosed there). The result was a cruiser that packed an enormous punch for its size. The disadvantage of this setup was of course the non-existant redundancy for the main armament, and the large but still limited field of fire. In addition, the Garfish could carry very few fighters, and its missile systems were limited in number and reloads as well.

A few vessels of the first flight were destroyed during the REF missions before 2031, but in that year the wars over Earth began to claim more and more cruisers of this class. The Earth Reclamation Forces, send in against the Masters, lost numerous Garfish vessels against the Tirolian fleet and in the Invid Invasion. More were lost with the first wave of the Earth Liberation Forces, with a small number stranded on Earth in safe areas, where they were not destroyed by the Invid until 2043-2044. Only their heavy use on long-distance scouting missions and subsequent long mustering period prevented most of the Garfish cruisers from sharing this early fate. Three more fell to various causes during the REF built-up, mostly in probing attacks against Invid out of the Terran System. The last two years of the Third Robotech War saw the destruction of every 1st flight Garfish during the heavy fighting.

As part of the REF build-up from 2032 onwards, flight 2 Garfish class cruisers were built in large numbers. These vessels were slightly larger and marginally more habitable than the 1st flight, and more suited for mass production. Though officially known as the Shillelagh class, this sub-class is commonly referred to as a flight 2 Garfish. Eighty cruisers were build before 2045. Of these, seven are missing with the REF flagship, thirty-four are still in service with the Terran Navy, and the remainder were all destroyed in the 3rd Robotech War or declared constructional total losses and scrapped immediately post-war.

During the final years of the REF built-up, a specialised version of the Garfish was built in a small flight known also as the Anaconda class. The Anacondas served as high-speed, armed, Cyclone infantry transports. Though they are not suited to transport their troops for a longer period of time, the Anacondas make reasonably effective transports, far better suited to deal with Invid intercepting forces than the Horizont class dropships. Of the dozen vessels built, half were still destroyed by the Invid, and the other six were mothballed and placed in reserve soon after the war.

In a pitched fleet battle, the Garfish-class cruisers' main duty devolved to seeking-out and destroy the Invid troop-carriers before they could release their mecha into the battle, a task which, owing to the agility and speed of this vessel, they were uniquely adapted. Unfortunately, the sheer numbers of Invid on Earth exceeded the expectations of all the military planners, and, through little fault of their own (except perhaps insufficient AAA), these vessels were unable to carry the day for the Mars Group attack on Invid-occupied Earth, and were hard-pressed during the subsequent Main Fleet attacks even when equipped with shadow devices. Many of these cruisers were destroyed by the Invid life-energy as it fled Earth, in an attempt to prevent the Neutron-S bombardment. Other cruisers were largely lost during diversionary strikes against secondary hives, in an attempt to keep those hives from reinforcing Reflex Point.

See additional design notes.

Return to REF Naval index.


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

Content by Pieter Thomassen and Peter Walker
HTML by Robert Morgenstern (rmorgens@ieee.org)
Copyright © 2004, 2001, 1999, 1997 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker