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Columbus-class

Transport ship mass produced by the Earth Federation.
Jenxi Seow Published 22 Jun 2014 Updated 9 Feb 2025
Columbus-class

The Columbus-class was a line of transport ships mass produced by the Earth Federation Forces prior to the One Year War. Originally designed as supply ships, many were later converted into fighter carriers and mobile suit carriers.

History

The Columbus-class ships served as supply ships for the Earth Federation Forces before the One Year War. When the war broke out, the Federation converted many of these ships to serve as carriers for FF-4 Toriares and FF-S3 Saberfish spacefighters.

After the Federation began mass producing mobile suits late in the war, many Columbus-class ships were modified to carry and resupply mobile weapons from the RGM-79 GM and RB-79 Ball lines. Some were modified to transport Public-class gunships into battle. The Anatum of the 23rd Independent Fleet could carry up to 12 RGM-79 GM units, with three units per cargo compartment.

During the New Desides rebellion in UC 0088, both the Federation and New Desides forces used Columbus-class transport ships. A modified Columbus-class ship served as a control ship for both Solar System superweapons.

The Columbus-class ships remained in service until at least UC 0096, when they were deployed during the Laplace Incident.

Design

The Columbus-class transport ship featured a catamaran-style design with large cargo bays on both sides for transferring supplies. When resupplying other vessels, the hull sides deployed and connected via supply tubes. The forward hatch could also open for resupply operations.

The Federation chose to refit existing Columbus-class ships rather than design and manufacture dedicated mobile suit transport ships. However, these conversions performed poorly as the ships lacked adequate support and launching facilities. They had no armaments and required armed escorts.

Notable ships

  • Columbus
  • L3
  • Srinagar
  • Diagonal
  • Angle
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Anatum

Variants

Beehive

A heavily modified variant that appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt. It combined two Columbus-class ships stacked vertically with one inverted. As the flagship of the Moore Brotherhood fleet, it featured enhanced offensive capabilities including mobile suit facilities, mega particle guns, and anti-aircraft weapons.

Behind the scenes

Tomino Yoshiyuki was the principal mechanical designer, with Okawara Kunio assisting by cleaning up the design.

Appearances

Anime

  • Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

Manga

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Outer Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: Legend of the Universal Century Heroes
  • Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden
  • Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: The Troublemakers
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt

Games

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Pilot’s Locus
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: We’re Federation Hooligans!!
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The Blue Destiny
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Battlefield Record 0081: The Wrath of Varuna