Chibe-class (Tibe-type)
Tibe-type variant of the Chibe-class heavy cruiser developed by the Principality of Zeon.
The Chibe-class (Tibe-type) was a heavy cruiser variant developed by the Principality of Zeon as an improved version of the Chibe-class heavy cruiser. The official Japanese designation is “チベ級ティベ型” (Chibe-kyū Tibe-gata), which is also known as the “Tivvay-class” in some English sources.
History
At the outbreak of the One Year War, the Chibe-class heavy cruiser was one of the oldest ships in the Zeon arsenal, and its capabilities were considered substandard compared to the newer Musai and Gwazine-class vessels. The Chibe-class Tibe-type was developed late in the war as a replacement for the ageing Chibe-class, incorporating all the lessons learned from mobile suit warfare.
The class was designed around mobile suit transportation and combat, representing a significant departure from the original Chibe-class which had been converted from a conventional warship. Very few of these improved vessels were built due to the late stage of the war and resource constraints.
The most notable vessel of this class was the Graf Zeppelin, which served as the flagship for Von Helsing and his small Zeon taskforce. This vessel was assigned to Operation Rubicon, a covert mission to capture or destroy the prototype RX-78NT-1 Gundam “Alex” under development at the Ribo Colony in Side 6.
The Graf Zeppelin and her two Musai-class Final Production Type escorts, the Siegfried and Valkyrie, were dispatched with orders to rendezvous with Zeon’s elite Cyclops Team. On 15 December UC 0079, the three ships launched a diversionary attack on Side 6 to allow the Cyclops team entry into the colony.
Later in the operation, these same three ships were tasked with ferrying nuclear weapons to Side 6 in preparation for destroying the Ribo Colony with nuclear missiles. Colonel Killing had ordered this extreme measure as punishment for the colony’s cooperation with Federation research and development of the RX-78NT-1 Gundam “Alex”.
However, the Graf Zeppelin and her escorts were intercepted by Federation forces en route to the colony before they could deploy the nuclear weapons. The three ships presumably either surrendered or were destroyed in late December UC 0079, marking the end of Operation Rubicon and one of the final major Zeon operations of the war.
Design
The Chibe-class Tibe-type represented a comprehensive redesign of the original Chibe-class, specifically optimised for mobile suit operations. The vessel was extensively modified based on the original Chibe-class but designed from the outset around mobile suit transportation and combat rather than being a conversion of an existing design.
The mobile suit deck was significantly expanded for greater efficiency in maintenance and repair operations. A pair of launch catapults were installed at the bow, enabling the vessel to deploy its mobile suits more quickly than vessels that relied solely on launch bays. This represented a major advancement in Zeon mobile suit carrier design.
The primary thermonuclear rocket engine was substantially improved in thrust output compared to the original Chibe-class. Supporting this enhanced propulsion system were an additional eight thrusters to further bolster the vessel’s acceleration rate. A pair of smaller thrusters were mounted on each side of the vessel midship, equipped with retrograde engines for deceleration and small manoeuvring thrusters pointing up and down on each side of the ship, providing improved manoeuvrability.
Armaments
The Chibe-class Tibe-type retained the twin triple mega particle gun configuration but with enhanced output compared to its predecessor.
Mega particle cannons
Two three-barrel mega particle gun turrets were mounted on the forward and midship sections of the vessel. While there were fewer turrets than on some earlier designs, the output of these guns was increased to compensate for the reduced number.
Anti-aircraft guns
The vessel featured retractable anti-aircraft guns for protection, though this design choice slowed their ability to rapidly engage enemy threats at close range. This represented a trade-off between protection of the gun systems and response time.
Missile launchers
The number of missile launchers was reduced to four, mounted on the lower hull in forward-firing positions. This reduction allowed for weight savings and provided more internal space for mobile suit operations.
Mobile weapons
The operational capability of the onboard mobile suits was significantly improved due to the Chibe-class Tibe-type’s purpose-built accommodations—a shortcoming that had been identified in the original Chibe-class, which was originally a warship converted to carry mobile suits. The class could accommodate a minimum of eight mobile suits, with the enhanced maintenance and deployment facilities designed to support sustained operations.
While very capable as a warship, the Chibe-class Tibe-type still fell short of matching a true battleship’s firepower, instead serving more effectively as a mobile suit mothership and fleet command vessel.
Ships and captains
- Graf Zeppelin captained by Von Helsing
- Tikal
Behind the scenes
Izubuchi Yutaka was the original mechanical designer for the Chibe-class Tibe-type. The official Japanese designation is “チベ級ティベ型” (Chibe-kyū Tibe-gata), though it’s sometimes referred to as the “Tivvay-class” in English translations due to romanization of “ティベ” (Tibe). MAHQ uses the designation “Chibe class (final production type)”.
The Graf Zeppelin takes its name from the famous German airship pioneer Ferdinand von Zeppelin, continuing Zeon’s tradition of naming vessels after historical figures and locations.
Appearances
See also
- Chibe-class
- Musai-class (Final Production Type)
- Operation Rubicon
External links
- Chibe class (final production type) on MAHQ
- Tivvay-class on the Gundam Wiki