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Big Tray-class

Mass-produced commander-use land battleship developed by the Earth Federation Forces.
Jenxi Seow Published 19 Mar 2013 Updated 7 Feb 2025
Big Tray-class

The Big Tray-class was a mass-produced commander-use land battleship developed by the Earth Federation Forces before the One Year War. Notable ships of the class included the Bataan, Marquetia, and Queen Turtle.

History

The Earth Federation Forces constructed the Big Tray-class before the One Year War to serve as mobile command centres, supplementing their existing network of static bases which could not provide complete coverage of Earth. During the war, this role became even more critical as Minovsky particle interference disrupted long-range communications, forcing commanders to issue orders from the frontline.

Twelve Big Tray-class ships participated in Operation Odessa, including General Revil’s flagship, the Bataan. Several Big Trays served as decoys for the Bataan. One of these decoy ships was destroyed in the mountains of Lithuania by Zeon forces, though proper planning by Federation mobile suit pilot Captain Matt Healy prevented any personnel losses while destroying an MS-09B Dom and two MS-07B Gouf mobile suits.

The class continued to see frontline service throughout Operation Odessa, with several ships providing artillery support alongside the 44th Mechanized Composite Regiment.

In Southeast Asia, a Big Tray-class ship commanded by Captain Isan Ryer served as a mobile command centre, protected by several RGM-79(G) GM Sniper mobile suits. This ship engaged the Apsaras III but was ultimately destroyed during the Southeast Asia Campaign.

After the One Year War ended and large-scale offensives became less common, the strategic value of the class declined significantly. One ship, the Queen Turtle, participated in defending the New Guinea base during the Gryps Conflict in UC 0087.

Design

The Big Tray-class was a hovercraft-based land battleship, propelled by thermonuclear jet engines that allowed rapid traversal across various terrains, including water. However, its movement became hampered over uneven terrain.

The vessel’s primary role was to serve as a mobile command centre for generals, featuring a large command room in its bridge. Under Minovsky particle interference, it relied on embarked Dragonfly reconnaissance aircraft for enemy detection. These aircraft were typically carried on a landing deck behind the bridge.

While the Big Tray-class was not originally designed to carry mobile suits, some variants were equipped with aft-mounted hangars capable of transporting tanks and trucks in a support role.

Armaments

The Big Tray-class’s standard weapons were bow-mounted large guns for long-range artillery fire, triple gun turrets for medium-range engagement, and twin machine gun turrets for close-range defence.

Large bow guns

Two large shell-firing cannons were mounted on the lower part of the bow. These fixed weapons could not traverse independently of the ship. Some variants replaced these with mega particle cannons for increased firepower.

Triple gun turrets

Three triple gun turrets were mounted on the ship—one each on the port and starboard overhangs, and one at the rear. Each turret could rotate 180 degrees, providing clear firing arcs in all directions. The conventional artillery-style guns could traverse upward to fire high-explosive shells in long-range arcs.

Twin machine gun turrets

Eight twin machine gun turrets provided close-range defence: two at the bridge tower’s base, two behind the bridge, two atop the bridge, and two at the rear of the ship.

Ships and captains

  • Bataan captained by Johann Ibrahim Revil
  • Marquetia captained by Elran
  • Queen Turtle, captain unknown
  • Unnamed ship captained by Isan Ryer

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer for Mobile Suit Gundam, while Yamane Kimitoshi designed the version seen in The 08th MS Team.

During the production of Mobile Suit Gundam, the complex camouflage pattern of the Big Tray made it very difficult to animate. As a result, most scenes featuring the ship either showed it stationary or simply sliding across the screen.

Variants

  • Heavy Fork-class

Appearances

  • Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
  • Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front