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"Will this plumb the depths or torpedo the rest?"
— Jonathan Pearce in Series 7

Sub-Version was a robot that was first entered by the Submarine Service in the Forces Special of Robot Wars Extreme 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 Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars, but was eliminated in the first round, after being pitted by Trax seconds before the fight's conclusion.

Design[]

Sub-Version

The original Sub-Version in Extreme

In keeping with its navy-inspired theme, both incarnations of Sub-Version were designed to resemble a submarine. Common features included a black paint scheme, a periscope that acted as a self-righting mechanism, and a crow's nest complete with a uniformed Action Man figure resting inside. Weaponry consisted of pneumatic spikes at the front and a small cutting disc at the rear.

Sub-version 1

Rear view of Sub-Version 1.1

The Extreme 1 incarnation - additionally named Sub Version 1 and SV1 on the machine itself - featured two pneumatic spikes at the front, while Sub-Version 1.1 only had one, described as "torpedoes". The original Sub-Version, also carrying a Royal Navy logo, ran on a 24V electric drive system, whilst Sub-Version 1.1 was quicker, courtesy of its 1.5hp cart motors.

For Extreme 1 only, the Sub-Version team also created a buoyant mock-up of the original machine, which was seen to rise from the water during their introduction in the Armed Forces Special.

Etymology[]

The name Sub-Version is derived from the word subversion, which has various meanings, including definitions relevant to the military. Sub-Version builds upon this by highlighting the word 'Sub' within its own name, referencing the submarine design of the robot.

The Team[]

SubVersionTeam

Team Sub-Version in Extreme 1

Sub-Version was built by its team captain John Watson, a Scottish roboteer and navy engineering mechanic native to Argyll and Bute. His team represented The Royal Navy Submarine Corps, stationed at HMNB Clyde at Faslane on the Gare Loch in the Forces Special, and Watson was accompanied by fellow members of the Royal Navy CPO Russell Scott and Gordon Walker. When Sub-Version 1.1 entered Series 7, John Watson was instead joined by Jamie Walker and Mitchell Hamilton. Gordon Walker and Hamilton worked in the Department of Engineering at HMNB Clyde, and were both involved in the initial construction of Sub-Version. Chief Petty Officer George Hyde joined the team at live events, but was not seen on television[1].

Qualification[]

The Extreme 1 incarnation of Sub-Version was also intended to enter The Fifth Wars, attending the Glasgow leg of the 2001 Live Event tour in an attempt to qualify. In its only known qualifier, it fought fellow Scottish hopeful Corkscrew, which was forced to fight without an active full-body spinner. However, Sub-Version still had its spinning disc disabled following a one-on-one collision, with Corkscrew going on to win the fight. Sub-Version would thus fail to qualify for The Fifth Wars.[2] By contrast, Sub-Version 1.1 successfully qualified for The Seventh Wars.

Robot History[]

Extreme 1[]

Anvil vs Shockwave

Sub-Version hits the pit button while Anvil puts Shockwave onto the pit's edge

Shockwave vs Sub-Version

Shockwave is pitted by Sub Version

Sub-Version fought in the Forces Special. Its first match was against Anvil of the R.A.F. and Shockwave of the Police. On "Activate", Sub-Version rammed into Anvil, however the spikes were too high to hit it. Sub-Version was then attacked by Sergeant Bash, which was in the process of moving to another CPZ, but Sub-Version was not damaged. Sub-Version then released the pit just as Anvil pushed Shockwave onto the lip. Sub-Version then pushed Shockwave fully into the pit, eliminating the Police team from the competition. Sub-Version and Anvil then qualified for the next round.

"We're going to beat them into sub-mission!"
— Petty Officer Dave Robson of Team Mega-Hurts on Sub-Version
Mega-Hurts vs Sub-Version

Mega-Hurts coerces Sub-Version into the angle grinder

Sub-Version vs Mega-Hurts

Sub-Version breaks down against Mega-Hurts

Mega-Hurts vs Sub-Version

Shunt attacks the submariners' mascot

Sir Killalot vs Sub-Version

Sub-Version sinks into the pit without a trench

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 Steel Avenger and Shredder Evolution, alongside fellow newcomer to the main competition, Trax, the successor to Hell's Teeth.

Subversion gets rammed

Sub-Version 1.1 gets rammed by Trax

Subversions lucky escape

Sub-Version 1.1 nearly pits itself

Shredder Subversion

Sub-Version 1.1 is ripped into by Shredder Evolution

Subversion gets pitted

Trax pits Sub-Version 1.1

Sub-Version 1.1 started by taking a piggy-back over Trax, before being hit by Shredder Evolution. It then retaliated towards the spinners, but it was able to avoid Sub-Version 1.1. The two robots clashed again, being separated by Steel Avenger. Trax then got under Sub-Version 1.1, drove it to the arena wall, and thrust it into the wall. 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.

"I was worried about Shredder Evolution for a while, but it's come back strongly! Oh! Sub-Version has gone down, just before cease was called!"
— Jonathan Pearce

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 Forces Special, Round 2
Series 2 Did not enter

Gallery[]

Outside Robot Wars[]

Ahead of competing in Robot Wars Extreme, and after having made its first public appearance as the Faslane Fair in 2001, Sub-Version travelled to HMS Collingwood in Hampshire to compete alongside fellow military robots Mega-Hurts and Anvil, as well as Bigger Brother and The Grim Reaper. Sub-Version lost in its first round fight against Anvil via a Judges' Decision[3].

Trivia[]

Sub-Version S7

Official Series 7 photo

  • Sub-Version is one of only ten robots to debut in Extreme 1 and to fight in one of the main competitions, excluding Typhoon. The others were 3 Stegs 2 Heaven, Axe-Awe, Comengetorix, Fighting Torque, Fluffy, NEAT Machine, Spawn Again, The Executioner and Draven.
    • Of these, Sub-Version 1.1 held the record for the longest between its debut and main competition appearance, until Draven took the record in Series 8.
  • 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.
  • Sub-Version was one of two robots from the Extreme 1 Forces Special to compete in a main competition, the other being Shockwave (Extreme 1), whose team competed in Series 2 and 3.
  • Jonathan Pearce only referred to Sub-Version 1.1 as Sub-Version throughout its Series 7 appearance.
  • The Steel Avenger was the only robot to beat Sub-Version and not lose its next battle.
  • Both of Sub-Version's first round melees featured Sgt. Bash as one of the House Robots.
  • All of the teams that Sub-Version fought appeared in another episode.
  • Sub-Version 1.1's defeat in Series 7 is notable for being one of a small number of occasions in which a robot was defeated in the last ten seconds of a battle.

References[]

  1. October 2001 edition of Navy News
  2. 'team corkscrew web 1', Team Corkscrew website (archived)
  3. October 2001 edition of Navy News

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