Ikazuchi
Affiliation:	Robotech Expeditionary Force
Type:	Carrier/Cruiser
Appearances:	{{{appearances}}}
dimensions
Length:	702 m
Beam:	154 m
Draft:	177 m
specifications
Armaments:	8 x triple beam cannon turrets 8 x single barrel point defense cannons
Carried mecha:	144 Alpha fighters ~440 additional mecha Numerous auxiliary craft and shuttles
Crew:	1117 crewmen, 600 pilots and air group personnel, plus additional troops

The Ikazuchi class forms the backbone of the later Robotech Expeditionary Force fleet. Equipped with effective anti-ship beam cannons, a number of long range Alpha/Beta fighter combinations and over 140 Alpha close-in defense fighters, the class only lacks a substantive close-in defensive armament, as all later Robotech Expeditionary Force vessels do to some extent. The cannons installed on the Ikazuchi ships are too few to beat off a determined Invid attack.

The Ikazuchi has a narrow profile that appears hourglass shaped from the front of the vessel. Six reaction engines are in the back, and the ship is commanded from a command superstructure on top of the upper deck. The eight cannons of the main armament are also located on the upper deck, and the defensive Alpha Veritech fighters are launched from six quick-response bays set into the flanks. Horizont dropships and other mecha launch from the hangars amidships on the three lowest decks.

As the standard capital ship of the Robotech Expeditionary Force in the Third Robotech War, the Ikazuchi class saw much service over Earth and elsewhere. Among other duties, an Ikazuchi-class vessel was docked to each of the Neutron-S missiles to ensure their safety and correct use. Many of the Ikazuchi class ships fell in combat with the Invid.