Irish-class

The Irish-class was a space battleship initially manufactured by Anaheim Electronics for the AEUG during the Gryps Conflict. The class featured larger mobile suit carrying capacity than the modified Salamis-class vessels that formed the backbone of the AEUG fleet, while remaining smaller and more cost-effective than the Argama-class assault carriers.

History

The Irish-class was developed by Anaheim Electronics as part of their support for the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) during their conflict with the Titans. The class was designed to address the AEUG’s need for dedicated battleships with substantial mobile suit capacity, filling the gap between smaller escort vessels and the expensive flagship-type carriers.

Gryps Conflict service

The most prominent Irish-class vessel during the Gryps Conflict of UC 0087 was the Radish, commanded by Captain Henken Bekkener. The Radish frequently operated in concert with the AEUG flagship Argama, providing fire support and serving as a mobile suit platform during numerous engagements against Titans forces.

The Radish participated in multiple major operations throughout the conflict, including battles around the Earth Sphere and various space colonies. The vessel proved its worth as a reliable platform for mobile suit operations, with its complement of pilots achieving notable success against Titans forces.

However, the Radish was ultimately destroyed during the conflict’s final battle in February UC 0088. The loss of this vessel, along with heavy casualties suffered throughout the war, left the AEUG significantly weakened by the conflict’s conclusion.

Post-war development

Following the devastation suffered during the Gryps Conflict, the AEUG was unable to field any Irish-class ships during the subsequent First Neo Zeon War of UC 0088-0089. The organisation had been severely reduced in strength and lacked the resources to maintain or construct new vessels of this class.

However, as the AEUG was gradually reabsorbed into the Earth Federation Forces following the resolution of the Titans crisis, production of Irish-class vessels resumed. The Federation recognised the value of the design and incorporated it into their standard fleet structure.

Additional ships were produced after the war, with some vessels remaining in active service as late as UC 0120. This extended service life testified to the effectiveness of the design and its continued relevance in Federation naval doctrine.

Expanded service

Later sources indicate that the Irish-class became more widely deployed than initially believed. What was once thought to be a limited production run of four to five vessels expanded to include approximately twelve ships, with some potentially produced after the end of the Gryps Conflict.

Several additional vessels appeared in various conflicts and operations:

The Zwickau served as the mothership for Asuna Elmarit and was featured in École du Ciel operations
The Areion became the new command ship for operations following the loss of other vessels
Multiple ships served during the later F90 era, including vessels designated for deep space operations

Design

The Irish-class represented a balanced approach to battleship design, incorporating the lessons learned from earlier Federation vessels while addressing the specific needs of mobile suit-centric warfare. The class was designed to be more cost-effective than the Argama-class while providing superior capability compared to converted older vessels.

The ships measured 400 metres in overall length, making them substantial vessels capable of independent operations. The design emphasised mobile suit operations while retaining significant ship-to-ship combat capability through its beam weapon armament.

Mobile suit operations

The Irish-class was designed with mobile suit operations as a primary consideration. Each vessel could accommodate twelve mobile suits, representing a significant improvement over the modified Salamis-class vessels that had formed the backbone of the AEUG fleet.

Two launch catapults enabled efficient deployment of mobile suits during combat operations. The catapult systems were designed for rapid launch sequences, allowing the ship to deploy its entire complement in a relatively short timeframe when required.

The mobile suit hangars were equipped with comprehensive maintenance facilities, enabling the ships to conduct extended operations without requiring support from dedicated maintenance vessels. This capability proved essential during the AEUG’s often isolated operations against Titans forces.

Armaments

The Irish-class mounted a comprehensive armament suite designed for both offensive operations and defensive actions.

Main beam guns

Two twin-barrel main beam guns served as the vessel’s primary armament. These weapons were mounted on the top and bottom of the main hull, providing the ship with the ability to engage targets on multiple vectors simultaneously. The main guns possessed sufficient power to engage other capital ships effectively.

Secondary beam guns

Five additional beam guns were distributed across the middle and rear sections of the main hull. These weapons provided intermediate-range firepower and served as backup armament in case the main guns were disabled or required maintenance during combat operations.

The secondary weapons also enhanced the ship’s ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously, a crucial capability when facing the coordinated attacks typical of mobile suit formations.

Known ships and captains

Irish - Flagship of the class, captain unknown
Radish - Captained by Henken Bekkener, destroyed February UC 0088
Zwickau - Captained by Bernardo Ferre
Mustache - Captain unknown

Additional vessels mentioned in various sources include the Oasis, Dervish, Arlberg, Meteran, and Saint Ives, though details on these ships remain limited.

Operational assessment

The Irish-class proved to be one of the most successful battleship designs of its era. The balance between firepower, mobile suit capacity, and cost-effectiveness made it an ideal vessel for the diverse operations required during the Gryps Conflict and subsequent conflicts.

The class’s extended service life, with ships remaining active until UC 0120, demonstrated the soundness of the basic design. Even as newer vessel classes entered service, the Irish-class remained valuable for secondary operations and patrol duties.

The vessels proved particularly effective in supporting mobile suit operations, with their substantial hangar capacity and efficient launch systems enabling sustained combat operations. The combination of strong defensive armament and mobile suit complement made them formidable opponents for both Titans vessels and later Neo Zeon forces.

Behind the scenes

Kazumi Fujita was the original mechanical designer for the Irish-class as it appeared in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. The design drew inspiration from both the earlier Magellan-class by Okawara Kunio and the Argama-class by Namano Mamoru.

The class has been featured in numerous Gundam media beyond its original appearance, including the Advance of Zeta series, Gundam École du Ciel, and Gundam F90. This expanded presence in various stories has helped establish the Irish-class as one of the key vessel designs of the Universal Century era.

The name “Irish” follows the pattern of other Earth Federation vessel classes being named after nationalities or geographic regions, continuing the tradition established with classes like the Magellan and Salamis.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny
Mobile Suit Gundam École du Ciel
Mobile Suit Gundam F90
SD Gundam G Generation F