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HT-01B Magella Attack

Mass production attack tank developed by the Principality of Zeon.
Jenxi Seow Published 19 Mar 2013 Updated 11 Feb 2025
HT-01B Magella Attack

The HT-01B Magella Attack was a mass production attack tank developed by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. Its most distinctive feature was a detachable turret section capable of independent flight.

History

The Principality of Zeon developed the Magella Attack from the M1 tank to combat the Earth Federation Forces’s Type 61 Tank. It first saw action on 1 March UC 0079 during Zeon’s first Earth landing operations.

The Magella Attack proved effective against conventional forces but struggled against mobile suits. Despite this limitation, its 175 mm cannon could still destroy a mobile suit with a well-placed shot. This led Zeon engineers to adapt the cannon into a handheld weapon for the MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type.

On 23 September UC 0079, several Magella Attacks engaged the White Base during Garma Zabi’s North American operations. While their ability to continue fighting after losing their base sections initially troubled Kai Shiden in the RX-77-2 Guncannon, they were quickly destroyed by Amuro Ray in the RX-78-2 Gundam.

Design

The Magella Attack comprised two sections: the Magella Base and the Magella Top. The Magella Top housed the main cannon and cockpit, featuring a canopy design that gave the pilot excellent visibility. While this cannon provided significant firepower, it could not rotate independently, requiring the entire vehicle to move for targeting.

The tank’s most innovative feature was the Magella Top’s ability to separate and fly using rocket thrusters mounted in its wings. This allowed continued operation if the base was destroyed and enabled aerial attacks. However, the Magella Top’s flight capabilities were limited by poor accuracy while airborne and minimal fuel capacity.

Armaments

The Magella Attack’s standard weapons were a 175 mm cannon for anti-armor combat and a 3-barrel machine gun for anti-personnel defence.

175 mm cannon

The main armament was a 175 mm cannon mounted in the Magella Top. While it struggled against mobile suit armor at range, it could destroy them with direct hits at close range. The cannon’s fixed mounting meant the entire tank had to move to aim, though this arrangement provided excellent stability for firing while moving.

3-barrel 35 mm machine gun

A 3-barrel 35 mm machine gun mounted on the Magella Base provided defence against infantry and aircraft. While ineffective against mobile suit armor, it proved useful for suppressive fire and close-range defence.

Known pilots

  • Crowley Hamon
  • Bone Abust
  • Lunen
  • Barry
  • Ander Heaton

Variants

  • PVN.42/4 Magella Attack — European Front variant
  • Southeast Asian Front variant
  • Magella Eins

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer for the Mobile Suit Gundam version. Yamane Kimitoshi designed the version seen in Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.

The Magella Attack’s size varied significantly between different media. In Mobile Suit Gundam, it was almost as large as a Zaku, while in MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front it was closer to a conventional tank’s size. Later sources indicated these different sizes represented distinct variants based on the same concept.

The model number “HT-01B” originated from an unofficial addition to the Japanese Wikipedia page in 2006. This designation was later adopted officially by the Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team website and the 2011 Robot Damashii action figure release.

Appearances