Himalaya-class
Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier used by the Earth Federation Forces.
The Himalaya-class was a class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers used by the Earth Federation Forces. These vessels served as flagships for anti-submarine groups during the One Year War.
History
The Himalaya-class entered service before the One Year War. After the outbreak of the war, they became flagships of anti-submarine groups—special formations created to counter the Principality of Zeon’s submarine fleets. Several dozen new ships were constructed during the middle stage of the war.
In late May UC 0079, a Himalaya-class carrier, the Westmoreland, served as the flagship of a Federation fleet tasked with retaking the Port Moresby base. The ship, along with much of the rest of the fleet, was sunk by Zeon’s new MSM-03 Gogg mobile suits.
On 24 November, Zeon’s Mad Angler Team, led by Char Aznable, attacked a Federation anti-submarine group while tracking the White Base, sinking a Himalaya-class carrier.
The Himalaya-class remained in service through UC 0096, when one vessel, along with a team of RAG-79 Aqua GMs, was destroyed by the AMA-X7 Shamblo off the shore of Torrington Base during an attack by Zeon Remnants.
Design
The Himalaya-class was equipped with a powerful guidance system to perform take-off and landing operations under Minovsky particle interference. Each carrier could support up to 30 Don Escargot anti-submarine aircraft and featured four landing spots for VTOL aircraft.
By UC 0096, the class had been modernised, with its anti-aircraft guns replaced with rotary CIWS and updated deck equipment.
Armaments
The Himalaya-class carried an array of weapons for both offensive and defensive purposes.
2-barrel main gun turret
The primary armament was a twin-barreled main gun turret mounted in front of the bridge.
Single-barrel secondary gun turret
A secondary single-barreled gun turret was mounted at the rear of the bridge for additional firepower.
Anti-submarine missile launchers
Multiple missile launchers were mounted in the bow, forward of the main gun turret, specifically for anti-submarine warfare.
Anti-aircraft turrets
For air defence, the vessel had six single-barreled gun turrets — two on each side of the rear and two portside of the main flight deck. Some refits like the Westmoreland had two additional turrets on the bow. Later designs replaced these with rotary CIWS turrets.
Mobile weapons
Each Himalaya-class carrier could accommodate up to 30 Don Escargot anti-submarine aircraft.
Known ships
- Westmoreland
Behind the scenes
Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer.
The bridge layout of the Himalaya-class in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn was based on the Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer.1
The Himalaya-class was the only water-based aircraft carrier appearing in the Universal Century until the introduction of Gopp’s aircraft carrier in Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island.
Appearances
Anime
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
External links
- Himalaya-class on the Gundam Wiki
- Himalaya-class on MAHQ