by the fans for the fans

Condor Surface Assault Battloid, has been mired in controversy ever since its inception into RT-verse by a courtesy of a single flashback frame in RT: NewGen saga as Lancer reminisced his past to Clara.

For certain now, thanks to RT: Invasion comic series, we know that Lt. Lance Belmont was part of the 1st Earth Reclaimation Mission, attached to UEEF 10th Mars Division. The rest of 10th Mars Division were slaughtered by the Invid in the failed 1st wave of humanity assault on Invid-entrenched Earth in 2038, that the same tragedy would befell Lt. Cmmdr Scott Bernard's unit - the UEEF 21st Mars Division - of 2nd Earth Reclaimation Mission within 4 years later, 2042.

However, we're to discuss only about the Condor Battloid. the mecha previously only appeared very briefly in RT animation, albeit via still flashback. Only through pre-production art we do have a couple lineart of Condor, which yield two variants, the standard Condor & Armored Condor.

It is stated in GC: Mospeada OSM that Condor was among the 1st mecha used against the Inbit alongside Conbat Aerospace Fighter before the introduction of variable Legioss Armo-Fighter series (RT's VFA-6 Alpha).

From the lineart, Condor exhibited design similarities with VFA-6 Alpha's Battloid mode, thus led to fan speculation that Condor may've been an early variant of Veritech. The controversy flamed on, as RT purists (especially the RPG'ers) taking side each supporting & opposing "Condor is a Veritech" issue.

The controversy is further inflamed when canonical RT: Invasion comic miniseries appeared, giving hints that Condor may've Guardian mode. This give the "Condor is a VT" camp more mileage, as Tommy Yune also hinted on possibility of Condor's transformability.

However, with Art of RTSC & later on RT: TSC RPG are released, the matter has been laid to rest. It seems Condor is a mere Battloid, heavily used for atmospheric insertion within planetary orbital, served much like the famed paratroopers of today's military. With additional series like new Armored Condor variant, it indeed has limited transformability, seemly Flight & Battloid mode. However, it is still classified as Heavy Assault Battloid, much like the ol' Destroids of 1st RT War & SC Battloid series in 2nd RT War.

We know that Lancer's unit, 10th Mars Division utilised Conbat Fighter series as aero-bomber, while Condors serve the role as heavy assault ground mechanised infranty with several Alphas (as evidenced in RT: Invasion console game) serving in supporting aerial support role & aerial coverage.

This also opens the idea that Condor series should served intensively during early UEEF foray to deep space, that culminated conflicts from some quarters such as space pirates & surviving rogue Zentraedis. Later on, with discovery of Invid-occupied Tyrol, Condors would've been used more in the frontlines againts Regent's Invid Inorganic units in Sentinel campaign. Condor life service spans nearly two decades, from early 2020 - 2038 with UEEF.

It is a pity that Condors were retired as they performed poorly during 1st Earth Reclaimation Mission. Regess utilised Invid Iiga Scout Trans-Atmospheric Booster units to intercept the Condors at high Earth orbit & obliterate the famed UEEF mechanised paratroopers via Iiga's suicidal kamikaze tactics. Outnumbered, outmanouvered, the Condors suffered the 1st tragic defeat at the hands of Regess Invid & her children.

Salute to Earth's 1st Reclaimation Mission, alongside its unsung heroes, the Condor units of 10th Mars Division, that sacrifice their lives while trying to liberate Earth from Regess' tyranny in 2038.

They're the first UEEF heroes that come to liberate Earth from Invid & die trying.

Images of Condor Battloid

From RT:NG saga, this is the still screen cap of the 10th Mars Division's Armored Condor in high orbital insertion above Earth as 2038AD:

http://www.robotechresearch.com/picture_archive/Mospeada/Mecha/Condor/large/Condor_0_large.jpg

Below are the image of standard Condor Battloid unit:

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Armored Condor mk II

From GC: Mospeada pre-production artline, there's a new variant of Armored Condor, which has two modes, the Flight & Battloid modes.

Here are the links to Armored Condor Mk II's images:

Armored Condor Mk II (Battloid)
Armored Condor Battloid:

http://www.robotechresearch.com/rpg/mecha/ref/Condor_Mk_III/condar_heavy.GIF [/ol]

Armored Condor Mk II (Flight Mode)

http://www.robotechresearch.com/rpg/mecha/ref/Condor_Mk_III/condar_heavy2.GIF [/ol]

Armored Condor mk II

A Japanese graphic artist, Akira Tanizaki made a 3D rendition of Armored Condor mk II which designs are officially sanctioned by Tatsunoko.

Armored Condor Battloid & Flight Mode:

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/taichis/gallery/msp_afc/afc_desert.jpg [/ol]

Amored Condor Battloid:

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/taichis/gallery/msp_afc/afc_toon.jpg [/ol]

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/taichis/gallery/msp_afc/afc_real.jpg [/ol]

cool stuff. thanks for the info:laugh:

Since the Condor is a single configuration mecha with only a battloid form, could we consider it a destroid?

Veritech_IDEON wrote:

Since the Condor is a single configuration mecha with only a battloid form, could we consider it a destroid?

I think the same @Veritech


Saludos Lobi

According to this :

Destroids - Non-transformable bipedal Terran mecha

And this :

Destroid
Large ground-based walking weapons platform.

So I guess the original Super Condor can be considered a Destroid. I wonder if the REF ships sent to Earth in the Second Robotech War brought Condors with them, or if John Wolfe had any on his ship (if he arrived on Earth before the Invid Invasion, that is. If he arrived afterwards, then he obviously did).

Could be, however, by 2044, the multi-role VFA-6 Alphas simply outclassed & outperformed any new detroid series. As UEDF (United Earth Defence Forces - Southern Cross) in 2020-2031 ditched destroid development over to more nimble & small scale Battloid series, UEEF (United Earth Expeditionary Forces) by 2040 would do the same, destroid units may've been relegated as 2nd line of defence to protect off-world colonies or being kept as reserves. Condor Battloid & its advanced Armored Condor mk II will continued to soldier on, with Armored Condor mk II replacing the standard Condor model from 2040 onwards.

Well, Roger Harkavy had a discussion with Shinji Aramaki who, while he didn't design the Condor, certainly thought it probably was supposed to transform.

Well, Dave, it's still possible that the original creator of the Condor intended it to transform. I was corresponding with Aramaki-san about some other stuff and asked him about it, but he didn't have a definitive answer because he wasn't involved in the design:

---


Hello, Roger-san. I'm sorry, so late reply.


Condor was designed by Kakinuma san. I have no idea about the possibility of Condor's transformation. But I think it seems to transform to flying craft. Condor was designed as main battle robot for the operation of first "win back Earth". So, Condor might be prototype of Legioss.
SHINJI ARAMAKI

If Roger can ever track down Hideki Kakinuma, he said he will ask him. Of course, won't matter cause Tommy likely will come up with some reason for it not to do so in Robotech.