Archangel class assault ship - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Archangel-class assault ship
LCAM-01XA Archangel

LCAM-02XD Dominion

Fast facts
Ship type	Assault ship Aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations... and submarine Submarine A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
Class:	Archangel
Launched:	Archangel – 25 January, CE 71 Dominion – June CE 71
Manufacturer:	Earth Alliance/Orb Union
Operator:	Earth Alliance (Atlantic Federation), Three Ships Alliance/Terminal, Orb Union
Ships of class:	LCAM-01XA Archangel, LCAM-02XD Dominion
General characteristics
Length:	420 meters (Archangel) 345 meters (Dominion)
Propulsion:	unknown
Armor:	Laminated armor, unknown thickness
Armament:	"Gottfried" Mk.71 225 cm dual high-energy beam cannon x 2 "Valiant" Mk.8 110 cm linear cannon x 2 "Lohengrin" positron blaster cannon x 2 "Igelstellung" 75 mm automatic multi-barrel CIWS x 16 "Sledgehammer" anti-ship / "Korinthos" M114 surface-to-air / "Wombat" atmospheric missile launcher x 24 "Helldart" surface-to-air missile launcher x 16 Anti-beam depth charge and flare multi-purpose launchers
Mobile weapon complement:	Archangel, early CE 71 GAT-X105 Strike TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero FX-550 Skygrasper x 2 Archangel, mid to late CE 71 GAT-X105 Strike GAT-X103 Buster ZGMF-X10A Freedom ZGMF-X09A Justice TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero FX-550 Skygrasper Dominion, CE 71 GAT-X131 Calamity GAT-X252 Forbidden GAT-X370 Raider GAT-01 Strike Dagger x unknown Archangel, CE 73 ZGMF-X10A Freedom MBF-02 Strike Rouge MVF-M11C Murasame x 1 Archangel, CE 74 FX-550 Skygrasper ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom ORB-01 Akatsuki MVF-M11C Murasame x unknown
Linear catapults:	Two

The Archangel-class assault ship is a fictional ship class from the Cosmic Era (CE) timeline of the Gundam
Gundam
The is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....

anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

metaseries. They are functionally equivalent to the current day aircraft carrier

Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...

s; 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). The design is based on the White Base

White Base

The White Base is a fictional spaceship from the Japanese science fiction anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. It serves as the mothership of the protagonist crew members and the famous mobile suit Gundam...

of the Universal Century

Universal Century

is the original timeline of the Gundam anime metaseries. The official English name U.C. is often used instead in recent production like MS Igloo and Master Grade model instructions and official pages is the original timeline of the Gundam anime metaseries. The official English name U.C....

Mobile Suit Gundam

is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...

mothership of the protagonists. It was originally intended to be different, but the mechanical design of this ship received order before completion to specifically design this ship to match the designs of the first protagonist ship of the metaseries.

Design and construction

The Archangel-class assault ship was developed to support the mobile suits developed under the G Project

Cosmic Era technology

This is a list of fictional technology from the Japanese science fiction franchise Mobile Suit Gundam SEED- G Project :The G Project was the Earth Alliance's crash program to develop mobile suits that could be piloted by Naturals. First-generation mobile suits were too complex for Naturals to...

. 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

Cosmic Era technology

and "Gottfried" Mk.71 dual high-energy beam cannon. She is also equipped with laminated armor

Cosmic Era technology

, which provides protection against beam weaponry by dispersing them across the entire surface of the armor. Due to extensive automation

Automation

Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...

, 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 Archangels 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

Railgun

A railgun is an entirely electrical gun that accelerates a conductive projectile along a pair of metal rails using the same principles as the homopolar motor. Railguns use two sliding or rolling contacts that permit a large electric current to pass through the projectile. This current interacts...

, 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
Mass driver
A mass driver or electromagnetic catapult is a proposed method of non-rocket spacelaunch which would use a linear motor to accelerate and catapult payloads up to high speeds. All existing and contemplated mass drivers use coils of wire energized by electricity to make electromagnets. Sequential...

. 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, 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
Cosmic Era technology
This is a list of fictional technology from the Japanese science fiction franchise Mobile Suit Gundam SEED- G Project :The G Project was the Earth Alliance's crash program to develop mobile suits that could be piloted by Naturals. First-generation mobile suits were too complex for Naturals to...

.

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
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...

, as it features the hybrid of a battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...

and an aircraft carrier.

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

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." until it communicates its name to the ship under the command of Rau Le Creuset and the stolen Gundams, indicating that Lacus Clyne is aboard the vessel in an attempt to get them to stop their pursuit. In the translated novelization of Gundam SEED, ZAFT also refers to the Archangel as "The Paw." This remains the case until the same incident depicted within the anime takes place, at which point ZAFT uses the ship's actual name in both the anime and novels. In the Manga, the ship is referred to as the "Legged Ship" as in the anime up until the incident with Lacus Clyne.

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
Kira Yamato
is a fictional character first introduced as the protagonist from the 2002 Japanese anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED by Sunrise, part of the Gundam franchise. In the series, Kira is a first-generation Coordinator, a genetically enhanced human being born of normal humans...

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 on board 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 Archangels 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

Athrun Zala

is a fictional character from the Japanese science fiction anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and its sequel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, part of the Gundam franchise. In the former, Athrun Zala is introduced as a member from the military organization ZAFT, composed of...

, 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

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

-esque capability, an indoor hot spring

Hot spring

A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...

, and hidden in a secret hangar at Orb. After ZAFT commandos failed in an attempt to kill Lacus Clyne

Lacus Clyne

is a fictional character introduced in the Japanese science fiction anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and appearing in the sequel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, both part of the Gundam franchise by Sunrise. In the start of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Lacus is a good natured and popular...

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

Cagalli Yula Athha

is a fictional character introduced in the Japanese science fiction anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED by Sunrise, part of the Gundam franchise. In the series, Cagalli is one of the regular humans, labeled as Naturals, fighting against genetically enhanced humans known as Coordinators...

, and a newly customized MVF-M11C Murasame transformable mobile suit piloted by Andrew Waltfeld in his desert tiger color scheme.

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

Dardanelles

The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...

and again off the coast of Crete

Crete

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...

. 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 Minervas "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 Minervas 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

Flagship

A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...

, 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 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 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 Minervas 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
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...

Dominion is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Natarle Badgiruel (formerly Archangel's Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...

). 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. All of which were destroyed during the final battle.

First action
The Dominions 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 on board relax, namely hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...

s. It is the only warship in the series to have such an outlandish feature and regarded only as an explanation for fan service
Fan service
, fanservice, or , is a term originating from anime and manga fandom for material in a series which is intentionally added to please the audience. It is about "servicing" the fan - giving the fans "exactly what they want"...

scenes.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Design and construction

Characteristics

LCAM-01XA Archangel

Earth Alliance service

Renegade service and forming of Three Ships Alliance

Terminal

Formal commission on Orb's space fleet

LCAM-02XA Dominion

First action

Battle of Boaz

Final action

Related development

See also

External links