Archangel class assault ship

The "Archangel"-class assault ship is a fictional ship class from the Cosmic Era (CE) timeline of the "Gundam" anime metaseries. They are functionally equivalent to the current day aircraft carriers; 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 battleship or "Agamemnon"-class carrier).

Design and construction

The "Archangel"-class 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 the Orb Union's "Izumo"-class battleship. Some elements of "Izumo"'s design which was also used in the construction of the "Archangel"-class assault ships include the "Lohengrin" positron blaster cannon and "Gottfried" Mk.71 dual high-energy beam cannon. She is also equipped with laminated armor, which provides protection against beam weaponry by dispersing them across the entire surface of the armor. Due to extensive automation, the "Archangel"-class can be operated even by a small crew.

Two "Archangel"-class ships were built during the war: the "Archangel" and the "Dominion". In addition, the "Archangel"-class had a special tender vessel designed for it, called the "Cornelius"-class. The prototype for the "Archangel"'s tender would later be acquired by the Junk Guild and modified into the ReHOME. The production vessels of "Cornelius"-class were seen with the "Dominion" when she was at the Earth Alliance Ptolemaeus lunar base.

Later, after the Bloody Valentine War ended, the "Archangel" was refitted with underwater operation capabilities, making her almost invincible underwater because most beam weapons (which is the main armament of mobile suits and ships) do not work underwater while she can use her "Valiant" Mk.8 110 cm linear cannon, a projectile based railgun, underwater. This is proven in underwater battles during the Second Bloody Valentine War. In addition, this capability makes the "Archangel" difficult to detect. After being refitted, the "Archangel" also had improved control systems that allowed it to be operated by an even smaller crew.

Characteristics

The "Archangel" is a trans-atmospheric ship. She is able to enter and operate in an atmosphere and launch back to outer space without the help of a mass driver. In Earth's atmosphere, she can fly low. Later upgrades on "Archangel" after the Bloody Valentine War's end enable her to submerge underwater, as well as operate in slightly higher altitudes.

At the time it launched, the "Archangel"-class ship was the largest warship in the Cosmic Era universe,Fact|date=November 2007 armed with two large-bore "Gottfried" Mk.71 beam cannons in forward turrets, two "Valiant" Mk.8 110 cm linear cannons in aft mounts, sixteen 75 mm "Igelstellung" CIWS turrets, 24 multi-purpose missile launchers (missiles include "Sledgehammer" anti-ship missiles, "Korinthos" M114 surface-to-air missiles, and "Wombat" atmospheric missiles), and a 16-cell "Helldart" surface-to-air missile launcher (located at the back of the bridge tower); however, the "Archangel"'s most powerful weapons are her two "Lohengrin" bow-mounted positron blaster cannons.

The heavy defensive and offensive armament of the "Archangel"-class, combined with the ship's laminated armor, made it almost impenetrable to all but the most determined assault. The firepower of the "Archangel"-class ship exceeds most warships in its era, making it difficult to be equalized as a pure aircraft carrier, as it features the hybrid of a battleship and an aircraft carrier.

The "Dominion" is similar in appearance to the "Archangel", except the fact that the "Dominion" has a dark appearance and has improved sensors.

In service

LCAM-01XA Archangel

Since its launch, the "Archangel" is commanded by Murrue Ramius. Her impressive capability, mobile weapon complements, and crews, made her survive all major battles in both the Bloody Valentine War and the Second Bloody Valentine War. Although launched as an Earth Alliance ship, she later became part of the Three Ships Alliance (which would later align themselves with Terminal). After the Second Battle of Orb, the "Archangel" is formally commissioned to the Orb Union's space fleet. The "Archangel" is known to ZAFT as the "Legged ship."

Earth Alliance service

The "Archangel"'s first combat action was on 25 January, Cosmic Era 71, when ZAFT was attacking the Heliopolis space colony, where she was stationed. Due to ZAFT's sudden attack, her original captain was killed. Natarle Badgiruel, one of her officers, then managed to gather the surviving crew to activate and launch the "Archangel" and put her into action. Soon later, the "Archangel"'s command was transferred to Lieutenant Murrue Ramius, after Lieutenant Mu La Flaga rejected the captain role because he is inexperienced in commanding a vessel (and also because only he and Kira Yamato were the ship's only mobile weapon pilots), despite his seniority.

With ZAFT stealing four of the five G Project prototypes, "Archangel" was left with only the GAT-X105 Strike and Mu's TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero to defend herself. After the assault ship linked up with Admiral Halberton's 8th Fleet, she took onboard two FX-550 Skygraspers, which were compatible with the Strike's striker packs. En route to the JOSH-A base in Alaska, the "Archangel" lost the Strike and one Skygrasper in combat and recaptured the GAT-X103 Buster.

Renegade service and forming of Three Ships Alliance

During the Battle of JOSH-A, the "Archangel" was saved from destruction by Kira. The event made the "Archangel"'s crew decide to desert the Earth Alliance and joined the Orb Union later. In addition, it added the stolen ZAFT mobile suit ZGMF-X10A Freedom to its complement, piloted by former Strike pilot Kira.

During the Battle of Orb, Athrun Zala, with his ZGMF-X09A Justice, joined the "Archangel". Both the Justice and Freedom later transferred to the "Eternal", after the "Eternal" joined the "Archangel" and Orb's "Kusanagi", forming the Three Ships Alliance. In the war's final days, "Archangel"'s mobile weapon complements were the repaired Strike, piloted by Mu, and the Buster, piloted by Dearka Elsman.

The "Archangel" was severely damaged on the war's last day, 26 September, at the Second Battle of Jachin Due. During the course of the battle, however, she destroyed the "Dominion".

After the Bloody Valentine War ended, the "Archangel" went into hiding for two years.

Terminal

After the war, the "Archangel" was repaired, upgraded with submarine-esque capability, an indoor hot spring, and hidden in a secret hangar at Orb. After ZAFT commandos failed in an attempt to kill Lacus Clyne in CE 73, the "Archangel" left this facility. Its mobile suit complements at this point was the Freedom piloted by Kira, 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, the "Archangel" intervened in battles between the ZAFT battleship "Minerva" and a joint Earth Alliance and Orb Union task force near Dardanelles and again off the coast of Crete. After the second battle, six more Murasames from the Orb aircraft carrier "Takemikazuchi" were transferred to the "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 ZGMF-X56S Impulse, and its outer hull was damaged by the "Minerva"'s "Tannhäuser" positron blaster cannon.

The "Archangel" managed to reach 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 Roanoke and his Skygrasper. During the invasion of Orb by ZAFT, the "Archangel" was forced to engage "Minerva" head on in order to defend Orb against ZAFT's attacks. With both ships fairly evenly matched, Captain Murrue Ramius decided to submerge the "Archangel" into the ocean to break free from the "Minerva"'s relentless pursuit (realizing that once the ship was underwater, the "Archangel" was virtually unchallenged in terms of firepower because all the beam weapons from the "Minerva" cannot hit targets underwater). The "Archangel" then proceeded to fire the "Valiant" linear cannons (projectile based) against the "Minerva", which was still hovering above the ocean's surface. Afterwards, the "Archangel" destroyed ZAFT support ships and submarines one by one with the "Valiant" and 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 Second Battle of Orb, the "Archangel" was assigned to Orb's 2^nd 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 headed for ZAFT's mobile fortress Messiah.

During the last battle of the Second Bloody Valentine War, The Battle of Messiah, the "Archangel" was able to severely damage the "Minerva" by disabling the majority of the "Minerva"'s weaponry. Shortly afterwards, Athrun Zala disabled "Minerva"'s engines with the ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice's Fatum-01 subflight lifter.

LCAM-02XA Dominion

The Earth Alliance/Blue Cosmos flagship "Dominion" is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Natarle Badgiruel (formerly "Archangel"'s Executive Officer). Relatively short-living, the "Dominion" was destroyed by the "Archangel" on the last day of the Bloody Valentine War, 27 September, at the Second Battle of Jachin Due.

The "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

The "Dominion"'s first action was at the Battle of Mendel, where she also battled the "Archangel". The Earth Alliance's objective was to capture either the ZGMF-X09A Justice or ZGMF-X10A Freedom as well as to destroy the "Archangel", but failed both objectives. Increasing disadvantage of their forces made the Earth Alliance forces retreat. In this battle, the "Dominion" managed to retrieve a life pod, released by ZAFT's "Vesalius", where Flay Allster was inside, holding data about the Neutron Jammer Canceller.

Battle of Boaz

During the Battle of Boaz, the "Dominion" is assigned to defend the nuclear missile-equipped TS-MA2 Moebiuses and their support units. In the battle, Boaz was destroyed.

Final action

During the Second Battle of Jachin Due, the "Dominion" was assigned to the large scale assault on the PLANTs. During this battle, the "Dominion" was destroyed by the "Archangel".

Related development

* Orb Union's "Izumo"-class battleship, which is the base design of the "Archangel"-class assault ships.
* Earth Alliance's Girty Lue-class battleship, which has similar features with, possibly derived from, "Archangel"-class assault ships.
* After the end of the Bloody Valentine War, the "Archangel" is equipped with areas to help the officers onboard relax, namely hot springs. It is the only warship in the series to have such an outlandish feature and regarded only as an explanation for fan service scenes.

See also

;Similar mobile suit carriers
* SCV-70 "White Base" from "Mobile Suit Gundam".
* MSC-07 "Albion" from "Gundam 0083".
* "Argama" from "Zeta Gundam".

Trivia

* The "Archangel" and "Dominion" are named after angelic ranks in Christian cosmology. If other "Archangel"-class assault ships 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 "Lohengrin" positron blaster cannon is named after Richard Wagner's Lohengrin opera. At the Battle of Gulnahan Ravine, the same positron cannon is also deployed by the Earth Alliance against ZAFT.
* The "Gottfried" beam cannon is probably named after Gottfried von Strassburg, the Middle Ages German writer of the courtly romance, "Tristan". Ironically, ZAFT's equivalent to the Gottfried is also named "Tristan"
* The "Official SEED Destiny Guide Book volume 3" has the designation of the "Archangel" listed as LCAM-01XA. It is unknown whether that was its original identification code or an ID code assigned to it later by Orb.
* The design aesthetics and combat role is largely similar to the Pegasus-class ships seen in the Universal Century timeline, and can be seen as a clear tribute to the earlier series. (Such tributes being highly common in Gundam sequels).

References

External links

* [http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/seed/archangel.htm Mecha Anime HQ: "Archangel"]
* [http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/seed/dominion.htm Mecha Anime HQ: "Dominion"]