Dogosse Giar – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

The Dogosse Giar was the lead ship of the Dogosse Giar-class battleships and served as the flagship of the Titans during the Gryps Conflict. One of the largest battleships ever fielded by the Earth Federation Forces, the vessel represented the pinnacle of Federation naval power during the mid-Universal Century period.

The ship’s massive size and unprecedented mobile suit capacity made it a formidable opponent on the battlefield, whilst its role as the Titans’ flagship made it a symbol of the organisation’s military supremacy. The Dogosse Giar ultimately became a casualty of internal Titans politics when it was destroyed during Paptimus Scirocco’s successful coup in early UC 0088.

History

Construction and Early Service

The Dogosse Giar was constructed by the Titans as part of their military expansion programme following the events of Operation Stardust. Based on the earlier Birmingham-class design but extensively modified for mobile suit operations, the ship represented a new generation of Federation battleships optimised for the realities of modern warfare.

The vessel entered service in UC 0087 and immediately became the flagship of the Titans fleet. Unlike previous Federation battleships that relied primarily on their own firepower, the Dogosse Giar was designed as a mobile suit carrier, featuring extensive hangar facilities and launch systems that allowed it to serve as a mothership for large mobile suit formations.

Service Under Scirocco

Initially, the Dogosse Giar served as the flagship of Paptimus Scirocco, the mysterious technical officer known as “The Man from Jupiter.” Scirocco used the ship as his mobile headquarters whilst pursuing his agenda within the Titans hierarchy, taking advantage of its massive size and comprehensive facilities to coordinate his various schemes.

During Operation Apollo, the ship demonstrated its effectiveness as both a command vessel and combat platform. The Dogosse Giar’s extensive mobile suit complement allowed Scirocco to deploy forces across multiple objectives simultaneously, whilst its heavy armament provided devastating fire support when required.

However, Scirocco’s growing influence and suspected ulterior motives caused increasing concern amongst the Titans leadership. Jamitov Hymen, the supreme leader of the Titans, began to question where Scirocco’s true loyalties lay, particularly given his Spacenoid origins and rapid ascension through the ranks.

Transfer to Bask Om

As suspicions about Paptimus Scirocco’s activities intensified, Jamitov Hymen made the decision to transfer command of the Dogosse Giar to Colonel Bask Om, one of the Titans’ most trusted and ruthless officers. This transfer represented a significant blow to Scirocco’s influence within the organisation and marked the beginning of open tensions between the two factions.

Under Bask Om’s command, the Dogosse Giar served as an escort vessel for the Gryps II colony laser, one of the Titans’ most devastating weapons. The ship’s massive firepower and mobile suit complement provided crucial protection for the superweapon during its operations against AEUG and civilian targets.

Bask Om also used the ship’s facilities to conduct Cyber-Newtype research, taking advantage of its extensive laboratory spaces and isolation from Federation oversight. These experiments, conducted in conjunction with the Gryps II project, represented some of the Titans’ most controversial activities.

Operation Maelstrom and Final Destruction

Following Operation Maelstrom, the tensions between Paptimus Scirocco and Bask Om reached a breaking point. Scirocco, having successfully eliminated other rivals within the Titans hierarchy, decided to make his final move to seize complete control of the organisation.

In early UC 0088, Scirocco launched a carefully coordinated attack against the Dogosse Giar. Using his loyal followers, including Reccoa Londe, he orchestrated a devastating assault on the massive battleship whilst it was conducting operations with Rosamia Badam in the MRX-010 Psycho Gundam Mk-II.

The attack caught Bask Om and his forces completely off guard. During the confusion of the mobile suit operation, Reccoa was able to approach the Dogosse Giar undetected and deliver a direct hit to the ship’s bridge with her mobile suit’s weapons. The precision strike killed Bask Om instantly and crippled the ship’s command systems.

With its command structure destroyed and facing attacks from multiple directions, the Dogosse Giar was quickly overwhelmed. The massive battleship, once the symbol of Titans power, was completely destroyed along with most of its crew. This decisive victory allowed Scirocco to assume complete control over the remaining Titans forces, though his triumph would prove short-lived as the Gryps Conflict neared its conclusion.

Design

The Dogosse Giar was based on the Birmingham-class battleship design but incorporated significant modifications to support mobile suit operations. The ship’s massive 600-metre hull provided space for extensive hangar facilities whilst maintaining the heavy armament expected of a frontline battleship.

Mobile Suit Operations

The defining feature of the Dogosse Giar was its unprecedented mobile suit capacity. The ship could accommodate more than 40 mobile suits across multiple hangar bays, making it one of the largest mobile suit carriers ever constructed. This massive complement was supported by 12 launch catapults strategically positioned throughout the hull.

The ship’s design allowed for rapid deployment and recovery of mobile suit squadrons, enabling it to function as a mobile base for extended operations. The extensive maintenance facilities and ammunition storage ensured that mobile suit operations could be sustained for prolonged periods without external support.

Command Facilities

As the flagship of the Titans, the Dogosse Giar featured comprehensive command and control facilities. The ship’s bridge was equipped with advanced communication systems and strategic planning centres that allowed senior officers to coordinate fleet operations across multiple star systems.

The vessel also contained extensive officer quarters and meeting facilities, enabling it to serve as a mobile headquarters for the Titans leadership. These spaces were used for high-level planning sessions and political meetings that shaped the course of the Gryps Conflict.

Armament

The Dogosse Giar carried a devastating array of weapons that made it one of the most heavily armed vessels in the Universal Century. The ship’s armament was designed to engage targets at all ranges, from long-distance bombardment to close-in defence against mobile suits.

Primary Weapons

The main armament consisted of three main gun turrets mounted on the underside of the hull. These massive weapons provided the ship with long-range bombardment capability equivalent to dedicated battleships, allowing it to engage enemy vessels at extreme distances with devastating effect.

Two 2-barrel main gun turrets were positioned on the port and starboard sides of the middle section, providing broadside firepower for fleet engagements. These weapons allowed the ship to engage multiple targets simultaneously or concentrate fire on particularly resilient opponents.

Secondary Armament

The secondary battery included four secondary gun turrets mounted on the top of the middle section and on the port and starboard rear hangars. Four 2-barrel secondary gun turrets were positioned above and below the main hangars, whilst two 3-barrel secondary gun turrets were mounted in the middle section.

This extensive secondary armament allowed the ship to engage multiple targets simultaneously whilst maintaining defensive fire around its vulnerable hangar sections. The overlapping fields of fire ensured that approaching enemies would face concentrated firepower from multiple directions.

Defensive Systems

For close-range defence, the ship mounted 20 2-barrel and 10 3-barrel tertiary gun turrets throughout the main body. These weapons provided comprehensive protection against mobile suits and small craft, ensuring that enemies could not approach the ship without facing intense defensive fire.

Six rail missile launchers were positioned throughout the main body, providing additional firepower and the ability to deploy various munition types depending on the tactical situation. These systems could engage both mobile suits and larger vessels with appropriate ammunition.

Known Commanding Officers

Paptimus Scirocco – Initial commanding officer during early service
Bask Om – Final commanding officer until the ship’s destruction

Legacy

The destruction of the Dogosse Giar marked a significant turning point in the Gryps Conflict and the internal politics of the Titans. The loss of their flagship and the death of Bask Om effectively ended organised resistance to Paptimus Scirocco’s takeover of the organisation.

Despite its ultimate fate, the Dogosse Giar proved the effectiveness of the large mobile suit carrier concept. The ship’s design influenced subsequent Federation vessel development, leading to the construction of the General Revil and other large carriers in the post-war period.

The vessel’s service record demonstrated both the potential and the vulnerabilities of massive capital ships in the Universal Century era. Whilst the ship’s firepower and mobile suit complement made it a formidable opponent, its size and political significance also made it a prime target for enemy action.

Behind the Scenes

The Dogosse Giar was designed for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam as the ultimate symbol of Titans military power. The ship’s massive size and extensive armament were intended to demonstrate the overwhelming resources available to the organisation.

The ship’s name has appeared in various forms in English translations, including “Dogosse Gier” and “Dogos Gear.” The spelling “Dogosse Giar” has become the accepted standard following its use in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

External links

Dogosse Giar class (Dogosse Giar) on MAHQ
Dogosse Giar-class on the Gundam Wiki