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Gwanban-class

Battleship developed by Axis Zeon as successor to the *Gwazine*-class.
Jenxi Seow Published 20 Jun 2025 Updated 20 Jun 2025
*Gwanban*-class

The Gwanban-class was a battleship developed by Axis Zeon as the successor to the Principality of Zeon’s Gwazine-class. Though slightly smaller than its predecessor, it was well-armed and could carry and maintain up to 18 mobile suits.

History

Developed by Axis Zeon’s engineers following the One Year War, the Gwanban-class represented an evolution of Zeon battleship design. The first deployment occurred in UC 0083, when Yuri Hasler’s Gwanzan served as the flagship of an Axis fleet that supported the Delaz Fleet’s Operation Stardust. The Gwanzan delivered the AMX-002 Neue Ziel mobile armor to Anavel Gato, marking the first significant intervention by Axis forces since the end of the One Year War.

Near the end of Operation Stardust, the Gwanzan was able to retreat back to Axis, taking with it several survivors of the Delaz Fleet, including Cima Garahau and other key personnel who would later serve in subsequent Zeon movements.

During the Gryps Conflict, the namesake vessel Gwanban served as the flagship of Axis Zeon after the destruction of the Gwadan-class flagship Gwadan. The vessel continued to serve through the transition into the First Neo Zeon War.

During the First Neo Zeon War, Glemy Toto rebelled against Haman Karn and took the Gwanban as his flagship. During the Battle of Axis, the Gwanban was destroyed, marking the beginning of the end for both Glemy’s rebellion and Haman Karn’s Neo Zeon movement.

Design

The Gwanban-class was designed as an intermediate step between the Gwazine-class and the massive Gwadan-class battleships. At 415 metres in length, it was slightly smaller than the 440-metre Gwazine-class but incorporated more advanced weapon systems and mobile suit facilities.

The vessels maintained the distinctive Zeon design philosophy whilst incorporating lessons learned during fleet engagements of the One Year War. Unlike later designs, the Gwanban-class featured a more compact profile optimised for both firepower and manoeuvrability.

A large mobile suit deck located behind the bow provided sufficient space for storing and maintaining large mobile weapons such as the NZ-000 Queen Mansa or the AMX-002 Neue Ziel. The vessel also featured a large recovery deck at the aft for mobile suit retrieval operations.

Armaments

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

Mega particle cannons

Three mega particle cannons served as the primary armament. One was mounted atop the ship’s midsection, whilst the other two were mounted on the sides of the ship near the aft, close to the ventral weapons. These cannons were mounted in retractable mounts shielded by armoured shutters and capable of rotating 360 degrees, providing excellent firing arcs.

Secondary guns

Six single-barrel main guns provided additional firepower and defensive capabilities. These weapons were distributed throughout the hull to provide multiple firing arcs and sustained combat capability.

Mobile suit facilities

The Gwanban-class could carry and maintain up to 18 mobile suits, representing a significant improvement over earlier Zeon cruiser designs. The large mobile suit deck could accommodate various types of mobile weapons, from standard mobile suits to large mobile armors.

The recovery systems allowed for efficient deployment and retrieval of mobile units during combat operations, making the Gwanban-class an effective flagship for mobile suit-centric fleet actions.

Ships and captains

  • Gwanban captained by Glemy Toto
  • Gwanzan captained by Yuri Hasler

Behind the scenes

Nagano Mamoru was the original mechanical designer. The Gwanban-class was designed to fill the gap between the Gwazine-class and the massive Gwadan-class, providing Axis forces with a versatile fleet flagship.

The class appeared prominently in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, establishing the connection between the Delaz Fleet and Axis Zeon. The design reflected the evolution of Zeon military technology during the inter-war period.

Various sources provide different mobile suit capacities for the class, ranging from 18 to 24 mobile suits depending on the configuration and mission requirements.

Appearances

See also