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Originally Posted by Ithekro
Maybe the feet of the legs can grip the surface better than treds for when it is firing. Or if not, then so it can grip onto a ships hull in zero gravity. You can't do that with a tred. Remember it was designed based on a walking mech that didn't have a shuttle mode or any kind of transformation ability.
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The original Monsters were designed to be "
land battleships" to provide long-range heavy fire support. The one we see in
Macross Frontier, the VB-6, takes the basic concept and applies it to space combat. Remember, the SMS is a space escort service. Their main area of operation is space, not terrestrial. They can operate in atmosphere but the bulk of their work is in space. Treads and wheels would not be very effective in space other than used for landing (which Valkyries and the VB-6 do have). The feet of the VB-6 in GERWALK mode also double as a clamping apparatus so it can mount itself before firing to absorb the recoil and not get thrown back into a possible uncontrolled spin (which would make it vulnerable to enemy as well as friendly fire).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ithekro
It was not intended to move very far or very fast.
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The Shuttle mode was primary designed as a means of self-transportation to get it to the battlefield and back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ithekro
But it does seem to be intended to provide mobile weapons coverage in the orginal Macross, as these were used on deck and inside the Assault carrier arm for the Macross' punch-like attack (to deliver heavy ordinance to an enemy ship's interior).
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Well, the original Destroids were designed for ground assault and support. They weren't designed with the Macross Attack in mind since that battle tactic was 'developed' after the Destroids were deployed onto the SDF-1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ithekro
As for its battleroid mode....I have no idea really. Its GERWALK mode was the original standard mode and the shuttle gives it superior self deployment capability. I guess the battleroid mode is for its own personal self defense? Instead of being ripped up at close range where it's massive guns are useless (because it would take itself out in the blast), and it can't outrun whatever is attacking in shuttle mode, them it would have to have a means of defending itself. Fists and/or a mech sized rifle would do I suppose to get it to the standards of the various variable fighters.
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Pretty much. The original Monsters had no alternative forms or means to get to the battlefield other than a slow and dangerous walk or from transport vehicles. The Battloid mode of the VB-6 is primarily for self-defense in close-range combat. Since it only really has long-range weapons in GERWALK mode with limited mobility except the one 30 mm Vulcan small-bore anti-aircaft gun if an enemy fighter can get in close the VB-6 is fairly vulnerable. In addition it gains added mobility in Battloid mode like its smaller Valkyrie cousins. But it's still only really used in emergency cases since its roll is primarily long-range heavy artillery support.