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Gwadan-class

Massive battleship used by Axis Zeon during the Gryps Conflict.
Jenxi Seow Published 20 Jun 2025 Updated 20 Jun 2025
*Gwadan*-class

The Gwadan-class was a massive battleship used by Axis Zeon during the Gryps Conflict. As the successor to the Principality of Zeon’s Gwazine-class, it served as the flagship for high-ranking officers and represented the pinnacle of Zeon battleship design.

History

Axis developed the Gwadan-class as part of their military buildup following the One Year War. The massive vessels were designed to serve as fleet flagships, combining overwhelming firepower with extensive mobile suit support capabilities.

The lead ship, Gwadan, served as Haman Karn’s flagship during the Gryps Conflict of UC 0087. The vessel featured ornately decorated halls that highlighted the position of Mineva Lao Zabi as the last heir to the old Principality.

At least three Gwadan-class ships were constructed, with the original being destroyed by the Titans in January UC 0088 after the death of Jamitov Hymen. The destruction of the flagship marked a significant blow to Axis forces during the final stages of the Gryps Conflict.

Apart from the namesake vessel, three other ships were constructed: the Gwaley, which appeared briefly in Gundam Sentinel; the Inxs; and the Gwajar. In UC 0116, the Gwajar, operated by Neo Zeon remnant group “Legacy” under captain Rhein Dragun, was docked alongside Carrozo Ronah’s ship, the Zammouth Garr, in a backwater colony called Oak Leaf located on the far side of the Moon.

Design

The Gwadan-class was designed with excellent long-range cruising capability and the ability to engage multiple enemy ships simultaneously. At 600 metres long, the Gwadan matched the Titans’ equally large Dogosse Giar-class in scale, making it one of the largest warships of its era.

With its distinctive red paint scheme and external fuel tanks, the Gwadan’s design clearly resembled the Principality of Zeon’s old Gwazine-class. Like its predecessor, the vessel featured eight large external propellant tanks mounted near the stern to compensate for its massive fuel consumption during long-range operations.

The ships were propelled by twenty-one rocket engines of various sizes, providing the thrust necessary to move such massive vessels through space. Two large Komusai shuttles were docked below each of the side catapults, providing additional transport and reconnaissance capabilities.

Armaments

The Gwadan-class mounted a formidable weapons array designed for fleet engagement and mobile suit support operations.

Main guns

Four 2-barrel main guns were mounted on the top and bottom of the hull, providing the primary ship-to-ship firepower. These powerful weapons packed enough energy to decimate the thermonuclear engines of massive structures such as the Colony Laser.

Secondary armaments

Ten 2-barrel secondary guns were mounted throughout the main body, along with four additional secondary guns. This comprehensive weapons array provided the vessel with multiple firing arcs and sustained combat capability against enemy fleets.

Mobile suit facilities

One of the major upgrades over the Gwazine-class was the provision of enhanced mobile suit facilities. The Gwadan-class featured two mobile suit catapults mounted on the top of the vessel and a mobile suit launcher at the bottom that could launch mobile suits at any angle within its 270-degree forward sweep.

The vessels’ large hangar was believed to accommodate approximately 100 mobile suits, primarily AMX-003 Gaza-C units during the Gryps Conflict. This massive complement made the Gwadan-class as much a mobile suit carrier as a battleship.

Command facilities

With grand halls catered for Zabi family members, particularly Mineva Zabi, the Gwadan-class was designed to serve as the flagship of entire fleets. The vessels included extensive command and control facilities, befitting their role as flagships for the highest-ranking Zeon officers.

Ships and captains

  • Gwadan captained by Haman Karn
  • Gwaley, captain unknown
  • Inxs, captain unknown
  • Gwajar captained by Rhein Dragun

Behind the scenes

Nagano Mamoru was the original mechanical designer. The Gwadan-class was designed to represent the ultimate evolution of Zeon battleship design, combining the traditional Zeon aesthetic with enhanced capabilities.

Various sources have debated the exact specifications of the class. Some analyses suggest the vessels could be as long as 960 metres based on comparison with other ships, though official sources list the length at 600 metres. The mobile suit capacity has also been subject to interpretation, with some game sources suggesting 60 mobile suits rather than the commonly cited 100.

Appearances

See also