- "Will this plumb the depths or torpedo the rest?"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sub-Version was a robot that was first entered by the Submarine Service in the Forces Special of Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1 to celebrate the centenary of the Submarine Service. It reached the second round of the Forces Special, where it lost to Mega-Hurts. An improved version of Sub-Version, known as Sub-Version 1.1, also fought in The Seventh Wars, but it was eliminated in the first round after being pitted by Trax seconds before the fight ended.
Design
Sub-Version, and by extension Sub-Version 1.1, was a black robot designed to resemble a submarine, complete with a periscope that acted as a self-righting mechanism and a crow's nest complete with a uniformed Action Man figure resting inside. Its weapons were a pair of pneumatic spikes at the front and a small cutting disc at the rear.
Qualification
Sub-Version originally attempted to qualify for Series 5, where it faced the fellow Scottish Corkscrew in the qualifiers.[1] However, Sub-Version lost the battle, and did not qualify for the Fifth Wars. Sub-Version 1.1 would later successfully qualify for the Seventh Wars.
Robot History
Extreme 1
Sub-Version fought in the Forces Special. Its first match was against Anvil of the R.A.F. and Shockwave of the Police. It didn't have to do much here, because Shockwave drove straight down the pit.
- "We're going to beat them into sub-mission!"
- — Petty Officer Dave Robson of Team Mega-Hurts on Sub-Version
In its next battle, Sub-Version faced Mega-Hurts of the Navy. The two robots attacked each other, Mega-Hurts being the quicker, but in the early stages, Sub-Version being the aggressor. It used its disc to attack Mega-Hurts, but the spikes didn't work. After a while, Sub-Version broke down and was pitted by Sir Killalot, but not before the captain doll was axed out of the crow's nest by Shunt.
- "Man overboard!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as the submariner mascot falls out of Sub-Version's "crow's nest"
Series 7
Sub-Version 1.1 made its main UK series debut in Series 7. Its first battle was against veterans The Steel Avenger, previous competitors Shredder Evolution, and newcomers Trax. Sub-Version 1.1 started by taking a piggy-back over Trax, before being hit by Shredder Evolution. It then retaliated towards the spinner, but it was able to avoid Sub-Version 1.1. The two robots clashed again, being separated by The Steel Avenger. Trax then got under Sub-Version 1.1, drove it to the arena wall, and nearly flipped it out. Sub-Version 1.1 nearly made the mistake of driving into the pit after opening it. It then drove onto the flame pit to attack Trax. With just two seconds remaining, Trax pitted Sub-Version 1.1, eliminating it from the competition.
Results
SUB-VERSION - RESULTS | ||
Extreme Series 1 | ||
Forces Special Round 2 | ||
Round 1 | vs. Anvil, Shockwave | Qualified |
Round 2 | vs. Mega-Hurts | Lost |
SUB-VERSION 1.1 - RESULTS | ||
Series 7 | ||
The Seventh Wars - UK Championship Heat, Round 1 | ||
Heat I, Round 1 | vs. Shredder Evolution, Steel Avenger, Trax | Eliminated |
Wins/Losses
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 2
Series Record
Main Series | Sub-Version Series Record |
---|---|
The First Wars | Did not enter |
The Second Wars | Did not enter |
The Third Wars | Did not enter |
The Fourth Wars | Did not enter |
The Fifth Wars | Failed to qualify |
The Sixth Wars | Did not enter |
The Seventh Wars | Heat, Round 1 |
Series 8 | Did not enter |
Series 9 | Did not enter |
Series 10 | Did not enter |
Robot Wars Extreme | Appearances |
Series 1 | Entered |
Series 2 | Did not enter |
Trivia
- Sub-Version is one of only nine robots to debut in Extreme 1 and to fight in one of the main competitions. The others were 3 Stegs to Heaven, Axe-Awe, Comengetorix, Fighting Torque, Fluffy, NEAT Machine, Spawn Again and The Executioner.
- Of these, Sub-Version (1.1) waited the longest between its debut and main competition appearance.
- Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit, Sub-Version 1.1, Malc 1.5, Iron-Awe 2.1 and Judge Shred 2½ are the only robots to name a robot part sequentially.
- During its Extreme 1 introduction, Sub-Version was "shown" rising from the water. However, this was actually a mock-up of Sub-Version, not the actual robot.
References
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