Endra-class – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

The Endra-class was a light cruiser used by Neo Zeon during the First Neo Zeon War. Based on the older Musai-class, it featured improved performance and mobile suit capacity compared to its predecessor.

History

Axis developed the Endra-class as the successor to the Principality of Zeon’s Musai-class light cruisers. The class entered service in early UC 0088 near the end of the Gryps Conflict between the Titans and the AEUG. After the conflict’s end, Axis renamed itself Neo Zeon and initiated the First Neo Zeon War.

The Endra-class served as the primary ship type utilised by Neo Zeon forces during this conflict. Multiple vessels participated in various operations, including diplomatic missions to space colonies and combat engagements throughout the Earth Sphere.

In March UC 0088, Mashymre Cello’s Endra made overtures to space colonies in Side 1 whilst also pursuing the AEUG flagship Argama. The ship was later commanded by Chara Soon and destroyed in combat near the Moon Moon Colony.

Several ships, including the Sandra and Mindra, participated in Neo Zeon’s invasion of Earth and the attack on the Earth Federation capital of Dakar in Africa.

Design

The Endra-class featured improved performance compared to the Musai-class, with enhanced mobile suit capacity and better defensive systems. The vessels maintained the distinctive Zeon design philosophy whilst incorporating lessons learned during the One Year War and Gryps Conflict.

The ships could operate in both space and Earth’s atmosphere, utilising a Minovsky craft system for atmospheric flight. They also featured a ballute system for atmospheric re-entry, allowing them to deploy ground forces directly to planetary surfaces.

Each Endra-class vessel carried a Komusai shuttle docked behind the bridge, providing additional transport and reconnaissance capabilities.

Armaments

The Endra-class mounted a comprehensive weapons array designed for both ship-to-ship combat and mobile suit support operations.

Mega particle guns

The primary armament consisted of five single-barrel mega particle guns mounted below the bridge, on the underside, and on the bow. Additionally, two mega particle guns were mounted below the bridge on the port and starboard sides, providing the ship with effective firepower against enemy vessels.

Anti-aircraft laser guns

Six anti-aircraft laser guns were distributed across the hull in domed turret mounts. These weapons provided defence against enemy mobile suits and fighters, addressing a key weakness of earlier Zeon vessel designs.

Missile systems

The vessels carried multiple missile launchers for both anti-ship and anti-mobile suit purposes, though the exact number and configuration varied between individual ships.

Mobile suit facilities

The &-class could accommodate six mobile suits internally, launching them using a pair of crossed catapults built into the bow. This represented a significant improvement over the original Musai-class design, providing greater mobile suit support capability for fleet operations.

Ships and captains

Endra captained by Mashymre Cello
Endra II captained by Mashymre Cello
Mindra captained by August Gidan
Sandra captained by Glemy Toto
Milandra captained by Artonaige

Behind the scenes

Nagano Mamoru was the original mechanical designer. The class was designed to serve as Neo Zeon’s primary cruiser type, filling the role previously occupied by the Musai-class during the One Year War.

After the First Neo Zeon War, the Endra-class continued to be utilised by Neo Zeon remnant groups such as The Sleeves. In UC 0096, The Sleeves deployed two Endra-class vessels from their headquarters in the asteroid Palau to engage the Nahel Argama, with one ship being sunk and the other crippled and retreating.

Appearances

External links

Endra-class on the Gundam Wiki
Endra-class on MAHQ