Archangel class assault ship
From Free net encyclopedia
| Archangel class assault ship | |
|---|---|
| Archangel | |
| Image:Archangel class assault ship (archangel).jpg | |
| Dominion | |
| Image:Archangel class assault ship (dominion).jpg | |
| Fast Facts | |
| Ship Type | Assault ship |
| Class: | Archangel |
| Launched: | Archangel - 25 January C.E. 71 Dominion - June C.E. 71 |
| Manufacturer: | Earth Alliance/Orb Union |
| Operator: | Earth Alliance(Atlantic Federation), Three Ships Alliance, Orb Union |
| Ships of Class: | Archangel, Dominion |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | Unknown |
| Length: | 345 meters |
| Beam: | Unknown |
| Wingspan: | Approx. 280 meters |
| Draft: | Unknown |
| Propulsion: | Thermonuclear pulse thruster x 6
Small thermonuclear pulse thruster x 8 |
| Armor: | Laminated armor, unknown thickness |
| Armament: | Lohengrin Positron Blaster Cannon x 2 Gottfried Mk.71 225cm dual high-energy beam cannon x 2 |
| Mobile Suit Complement: |
(Archangel - C.E. 71) GAT-X105 Strike (Dominion - C.E. 71) GAT-X131 Calamity (Archangel - C.E. 73) ZGMF-X10A Freedom (Archangel - C.E. 74) FX-550 Skygrasper x1 |
| Linear Catapults: | Two |
In the fictional universe of Gundam SEED, the Archangel class mobile assault ship (the "White Base" of the series) was developed to support the mobile suits developed under the G Project. The Archangel class mobile assault ships are functionally equivalent to the current day aircraft carrier; their primary mission being to launch and recover mobile suits and mobile armors. However, based in part on the Orb Union's Izumo-class battleship design, she is also a very heavily armed battleship (more heavily armed than either the Nelson-class Warship or Agamemnon-class carrier).
Contents |
Design and Construction
Archangel class mobile assault ship was developed to support the mobile suits developed under the G Project. The G Project, which was initiated by Earth Alliance with support of Morgenroete. Inc, developed the base unit GAT-X102 Duel, heavy assault unit GAT-X103 Buster, stealth unit GAT-X207 Blitz, high-powered commander unit GAT-X303 Aegis and most famous of the five, the multi-mode GAT-X105 Strike. For this intent, she is equipped with two linear catapults for supporting launches of mobile suits.
Her design is based on Orb Union's Izumo-class battleship. Some elements of Izumo's design which also used in the construction of the Archangel class assault ships, are Lohengrin positron blaster cannons and Gottfried Mk. 71 dual beam cannons. She also equipped with the Laminated armor which provides protection against beam weaponry by dispersing them across the entire surface of the armor. It should be noted that the Lohengrin cannons have harmful effects to the Earth's atmosphere.
Two Archangel-class ships were built during the war: Archangel and Dominion. In addition, the Archangel class had a special tender vessel designed for it, however, only one was constructed before the destruction of Heliopolis. The prototype would later be acquired by the Junk Guild and modified into the ReHOME.
Later, after the Bloody Valentine War ends, the Archangel was upgraded with underwater operation capability, making her almost invincible underwater because most beam weapon (which is main armament of mobile suits and ships) don't work underwater while she can use her powerful Valiant Mk.8 110cm linear cannon which is projectile based Railgun underwater. This is proven on several battle later, mainly when she annihilated ZAFT's submarine fleet and surface ships fleet at ZAFT's Invasion of Orb while forcing supporting Minerva to retreat. In addition, this capability may also make Archangel difficult to detect.
Characteristics
The Archangel is a Trans-Atmospheric ship. She is able to enter and operate in an atmosphere and launch back to outer space with the help of mass driver. In earth's atmosphere, she can fly low. Later upgrades on Archangel after the Bloody Valentine War ends, enable her to submerge underwater.
At the time it launched, the Archangel class ship was the largest warship in the Cosmic Era universe. Armed with two large-bore "Gottfried Mk. 71" beam cannons in forward turrets, two "Valiant Mk. 8" 110cm linear cannons in aft mounts, 16 75mm "Igelstellung" CIWS turrets, 24 multi-purpose missile launchers (missiles include Sledgehammer anti-ship missiles and Korinthos and Wombat heavy anti-aircraft missiles) and a 16-cell Helldart anti-aircraft missile launcher(located at the back of the bridge tower). However, the Archangel's most powerful weapon was her two Lohengrin bow-mounted positron cannons.
The heavy defensive and offensive armament of the Archangel class combined with the ship's laminated armor made it almost impregnable to all but the most determined assault. Archangel class ships' firepower even exceeds most warships on its era, making it difficult to be equalized as pure aircraft carrier, as it features a hybrid of Battleship and aircraft carrier.
The true power of Archangel class was hidden in the ship's cavernous hangar bay: Room for up to eight mobile suits or mobile armors. Combined with the G-series prototypes, Archangel was intended to be very nearly invincible. In operations, she was intended to hold the GAT-X102 Duel and GAT-X103 Buster, Lieutenant Mu La Flaga's TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero mobile armor, and two TS-MA2 Moebius mobile armors back for defense while the GAT-X105 Strike, GAT-X303 Aegis, and GAT-X207 Blitz took the battle to the enemy.
To take note, the Dominion has similar appearance to Archangel, except she has dark appearance. Other than that, she has improved sensor.
In Service
Archangel
Archangel for most of the time is commanded by Murrue Ramius. Her impressive capability, mobile suit complements, and crews, made her survived all battles in both Bloody Valentine War and Second Bloody Valentine War. Although launched as Earth Alliance ship, she later become part of Three Ships Alliance (which later become Terminal). After the Battle of Onogoro, Archangel is formally commissioned to Orb Union Space Fleet.
Earth Alliance Service
Archangel 's first combat action is on 25 January CE 71, where ZAFT was attacking Heliopolis, where she was stationed. Due to the ZAFT's sudden attack, her original captain was killed. Natarle Badgiruel, one of her officers, then managed to activate and launch Archangel and put her into action. Soon later, Archangel's command was transferred to Lieutenant (later Lt. Commander) Murrue Ramius, after Lieutenant Mu La Flaga rejected the captain role because he is inexperienced in ship's command, despite his higher rank.
With ZAFT stealing four of the five prototypes and destroying the two Moebius mobile armors, Archangel was left with only the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam mobile suit and Lieutenant La Flaga's Moebius Zero to defend herself. After the battleship linked up with Admiral Halburton's 8th Fleet, she took on-board two FX-550 Skygrasper fighters, which were compatible with the Strike's Striker Packs. En route to the JOSH-A base in Alaska, Archangel lost the Strike and one Skygrasper in combat, and recaptured the Buster.
Renegade Service and Forming of Three Ships Alliance
During Battle of JOSH-A, Archangel was saved from destruction by Kira Yamato. The event made Archangel 's crew decided to desert the Earth Alliance and joined Orb Union later. In addition, it got the stolen ZAFT mobile suit ZGMF-X10A Freedom to its complement, piloted by former Strike pilot Kira Yamato.
At the Battle of Orb, Athrun Zala with his ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam, joined Archangel. Both ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam and ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam, later transferred to the Eternal, after the Eternal joined her and Orbs's Kusanagi, forming Three Ship Alliance. At the war's last days, Archangel's mobile weapon complements were the repaired Strike Gundam, piloted by Mu La Flaga and the Buster, piloted by Dearka Elsman.
Archangel severely damaged on the war's last day, 26 September, at the Second Battle of Jachin Due. During course of the battle, she destroyed the Dominion.
Terminal
After the war, Archangel was repaired, upgraded with submarine-esque capability, and hidden in a secret hanger at Orb. After a failed attack by ZAFT commandos in CE 73, Archangel left this facility. Its mobile suit complement at this point was the Freedom Gundam piloted by Kira Yamato, the MBF-02 Strike Rouge piloted by Cagalli Yula Athha, and a new MVF-M11C Murasame transformable mobile suit piloted by Andrew Waltfeld.
Later that year, Archangel intervened in battles between the ZAFT battleship Minerva and a joint Earth Alliance/Orb Union task force near the Dardanelles and again off the coast of Crete. After the second battle, six more Murasames from the Orb aircraft carrier Takemikazuchi defected to Archangel.
However, shortly after the release of the information on the shady group 'Logos' being the true warmongers of human civilization, ZAFT issued orders to destroy the Archangel. Being pursued by a team under Commander Willard and ultimately the Minerva , its mainstay mobile suit the Freedom was destroyed by the Impulse Gundam, and its outer hull was damaged by Minerva's Tannhäuser main cannon.
The Archangel did arrive at Orb, and was repaired at a secret Morgenroete facility before ZAFT's attack on Orb (codenamed "Operation Fury"). Soon after she was repaired, she engaged the Minerva once again, but with the support of Neo Lorrnoke and his Skygrasper unit.
During the invasion of Orb by ZAFT, Archangel was forced to engage Minerva head on in order to defend Orb against ZAFT attacks. With both ships fairly evenly matched, Capt. Murrue Ramius decided to submerge the Archangel into the water to break free from Minerva's relentless pursuit (realizing that once the ship was under water, the Archangel was virtually unchallenged in terms of firepower because all the beam weapons from Minerva cannot hit targets underwater). The Archangel then proceeded to fire the Valiant linear cannons (projectile based) against Minerva which was still hovering above the water's surface. Afterwards, the Archangel destroyed ZAFT support ships and submarines one by one with torpedoes, including Operation Fury's flagship, the Vosgulov class submarine St. Helens, and forced a total retreat of all ZAFT forces.
Formal Commission on Orb's Space Fleet
After the Battle of Onogoro, the Archangel is assigned to Orb's 2nd Space Fleet under command of Kira Yamato, who was appointed as the commander of the Orb Space Fleet, and makes its way to the moon for an intelligence mission. After the mission is completed, the Archangel is joined by three Izumo class battleships, including the Kusanagi and head for ZAFT's mobile fortress Messiah.
At the last battle of Second Bloody Valentine War, The Battle of Messiah, Archangel was able to severely damaged The Minerva, by disabling the majority of Minerva's weaponry. Shortly afterwards, Athrun Zala disabled Minerva's engines.
Dominion
Earth Alliance/Blue Cosmos flagship, Dominion is commanded by Lt. Commander Natarle Badgiruel (formerly Archangel's XO). Relatively short living, Dominion was destroyed by Archangel on the war's last day, 26 September, at the Second Battle of Jachin Due.
Dominion carried the GAT-X131 Calamity, piloted by Orga Sabnak, the GAT-X252 Forbidden, piloted by Shani Andras, the GAT-X370 Raider, piloted by Clotho Buer, and a squadron of GAT-01 Strike Daggers.
First Action
Dominion first action is on Battle of Mendel, where she was also battle the Archangel. The Earth Alliance's objective was to capture of either the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam or ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam as well as the destruction of the Archangel, in which all were fails. Increasing disadvantage of their forces, made Earth Alliance retreated their forces. In this battle, Dominion managed to retrieve shuttle pod, released by ZAFT's ship, where Flay Allster inside, hold data about Neutron Jammer Canceller.
Battle of Boaz
In Battle of Boaz, Dominion is assigned to guard nuclear missile - equipped TS-MA2 Moebiuses and their support units. In the battle, Boaz was destroyed.
Final Action
At the Second Battle of Jachin Due, Dominion was assigned to large scale assault on PLANT. On this battle, Dominion was destroyed by Archangel.
Related Development
- Izumo class battleship, Orb Union's ship which is the base design of Archangel class assault ships
- Girty Lue, Earth Alliance's ship which has similar features with, possibly derived from, Archangel class assault ships
- LHM-BB01 Minerva, ZAFT's ship which has similar features with Archangel class assault ships. Gilbert Dullindal, who was chairman of PLANT Supreme Council, in one occassion, even state that Minerva is designed to take similar role of Archangel.
See also (Similar Mobile Suit carriers)
Trivia
- The Archangel and Dominion are named after angelic ranks in Christian cosmology. If other Archangel-class vessels had been produced, they most likely would have been named after the other angelic ranks, such as the seraphim, cherubim, etc.
- Izumo and Archangel Class Ships ' Lohengrin positron cannon is named after Richard Wagner's opera of the same name, see Lohengrin (opera)). At the The Battle of Gulnahan Ravine, the same cannon is also deployed by Earth Alliance against ZAFT.