*Gray Phantom* – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam

The Gray Phantom was a Pegasus-class assault landing ship constructed by the Earth Federation Forces in UC 0079. Like other ships of its class, it was constructed from multiple blocks, including living quarters that featured an artificial gravity area. The ship served during the One Year War and Delaz Conflict, participating in several significant operations.

The ship was designated LMSD-76 during the war and later redesignated MSC-05 following post-war classification changes. The Gray Phantom was one of several Pegasus-class ships that featured variations in construction, resulting in different appearances compared to the original White Base design.

History

The Gray Phantom was constructed by the Earth Federation Forces in UC 0079 as part of the expanded production of Pegasus-class assault landing ships. Like other ships of its class, it utilised a Minovsky craft system, which allowed it to fly at low altitudes on Earth and escape unassisted from the planet’s atmosphere.

Side 6 incident

On 19 December UC 0079, the Gray Phantom was dispatched inside Side 6’s Libot Colony to respond to an attack by Zeon’s Cyclops Team. The ship was commanded by Captain Stuart during this operation. An MS-18E Kämpfer infiltrated the colony and wiped out the Gray Phantom’s mobile suit team, known as the Scarlet Team, before being destroyed by the prototype RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 Alex.

This engagement was part of Zeon’s Operation Rubicon, a desperate attempt to destroy the advanced Gundam prototype before it could be delivered to Amuro Ray. The loss of the Scarlet Team was a significant blow to the Gray Phantom’s combat effectiveness, though the ship itself survived the encounter.

Delaz Conflict

In November UC 0083, the Gray Phantom participated in the Earth Federation Forces naval review at Confeito, alongside other Federation vessels including the Troy Horse. This massive fleet review was intended to demonstrate the Federation’s military strength and technological advancement following the One Year War.

However, the naval review became the target of Operation Stardust, the Delaz Fleet’s plan to strike at the heart of Federation power. Anavel Gato launched a devastating nuclear attack using the stolen RX-78GP02A Gundam GP02A Physalis, which inflicted severe casualties across the assembled fleet.

The Gray Phantom survived the nuclear attack, demonstrating the robust construction of the Pegasus-class design. However, the devastation caused by the attack marked a turning point in Federation policy and contributed to the rise of the hardline Titans faction.

Final fate

At an unknown time following the Delaz Conflict, the Gray Phantom crashed on Earth. The exact circumstances of this crash remain unclear, but the ship’s wreckage eventually served as a base for Zeon remnants. These remnant forces used the crashed vessel as a staging ground for continued resistance operations against the Federation.

In UC 0096, Zeon remnants operating from the Gray Phantom’s wreckage launched an attack on Australia’s Torrington Base. This attack was part of the broader conflicts surrounding the Laplace Incident and demonstrated that even years after the war, Zeon forces remained active and dangerous.

Design

The Gray Phantom utilised the standard Pegasus-class construction method with modular blocks, but featured design variations that distinguished it from other ships in the class. The differences in construction resulted in Pegasus-class ships having radically different appearances, with the Gray Phantom representing one of these variations.

Like other ships of its class, the Gray Phantom incorporated a Minovsky craft system that enabled atmospheric flight and space operations without requiring booster rockets. This versatility made the ship valuable for both space and terrestrial operations.

The ship was capable of accommodating nine mobile suits, a larger complement than the standard six-unit capacity of earlier Pegasus-class vessels. This increased capacity reflected improvements in internal layout and storage efficiency as the class design evolved.

Armaments

The Gray Phantom carried armament typical of the Pegasus-class, with weapons designed to provide comprehensive defensive capabilities against various threats.

Mega particle guns

Two twin-barrel mega particle gun turrets were mounted on the port and starboard sides of the midship, providing the primary heavy armament. These energy weapons were effective against enemy mobile suits and vessels at medium to long range.

Missile launchers

The ship was equipped with numerous missile launchers throughout its hull, providing additional defensive capabilities and offensive firepower. These weapons could be loaded with various missile types depending on mission requirements and offered flexibility in engaging different target types.

Mobile suit facilities

The Gray Phantom featured two leg-mounted hangars with launch catapults, enabling simultaneous deployment of mobile suits from both sides of the vessel. The expanded capacity of nine mobile suits allowed for larger and more diverse mobile suit complements, including specialised units for different mission types.

During the Side 6 incident, the ship carried the Scarlet Team, which was wiped out by the MS-18E Kämpfer. The team’s destruction highlighted both the vulnerability of mobile suit teams to advanced enemy units and the importance of proper intelligence and preparation for combat operations.

Variants and sister ships

Several ships were designated as Gray Phantom-type vessels, indicating variations of the basic design used for different purposes:

The Forrestal was a Gray Phantom-type ship used by Federation official Grave. It participated in the attacks on Solomon and A Baoa Qu during the final phase of the One Year War but was destroyed by the rogue Slave Wraith team.

The Tribune served as the flagship of the Federation 7th Fleet and was also designated as a Gray Phantom-type vessel. This demonstrated the adaptability of the design for different operational roles within the Federation fleet structure.

The Troy Horse III was initially in the hands of True Federal forces but was later hijacked by BGST, showing how these valuable ships could become prizes in factional conflicts within the Federation sphere.

Behind the scenes

Yutaka Izubuchi was the original mechanical designer for the Gray Phantom variant of the Pegasus-class. The ship’s design reflected the evolution of the class during the One Year War, with variations in construction and capabilities that distinguished different vessels within the same class.

The Gray Phantom’s fate as a crashed vessel later used by Zeon remnants reflects the ongoing nature of conflict in the Universal Century, where even destroyed Federation assets could be repurposed by enemy forces for continued resistance operations.

Appearances

External links

Gray Phantom on the Gundam Wiki
Pegasus class (Gray Phantom) on MAHQ