SDF-4 Izumo

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The SDF-4 Izumo is the fourth Super Dimensional flagship of the United Earth Forces that was seen in the finale of the fictional Robotech universe. The 1985 animated adaptation uses the onscreen name Izumo from the Mospeada anime series, although the vessel has also been referred to as the Liberator Shadow Dimension Fortress 04 in the "Completing the Journey" endnotes to the 2005-2006 Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles comic series.

This article specifically deals with Robotech continuity. See the article about Mospeada more general information about the original Japanese anime storyline.

1 History and background
2 Final Outcome
3 Details
- 3.1 Dimensions
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History and background

The last episode of the original Robotech series (1985) presented the SDF-4 leading a final assault to liberate the Earth from Invid alien occupation in the year 2044. With the mysterious disappearance of Admiral Hunter aboard the SDF-3, the commanding officer of the SDF-4 (identified as General Gunther Reinhardt in Prelude to Shadow Chronicles) takes charge and desperately relays orders to launch the Neutron S missiles on the Earth when the mission goes badly. The Neutron S missiles are powerful enough to wipe out life on the surface, including that of troops on Earth, making these "scorched earth" tactics one of the most controversial of the Robotech wars.

[edit] Final Outcome

In apparent anticipation of the Neutron S missiles, the Invid fled the Earth and consolidated their life forces into an energy burst that destroyed the Neutron S missiles and a portion of the human fleet. Though a number of vessels - not, as some materials asserted, the entire fleet - are shown to have disintegrated by the final Invid move, whether the SDF-4 was also destroyed is never actually seen and had previously been open to speculation. The Jack McKinney novels do mention that Reinhardt, the Izumo, and all the fleet were destroyed except Ark Angel, the ship which Vince Grant commanded.

The 2006 Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles revealed that Reinhardt, the SDF-4 and the fleet survived. The portions of the fleet that were disintergrated during the Regess' departure were the deadly Neutron S missiles and the orbiting Invid war machines that were being left behind by the Invid during their transformation to a higher plane.