Jukon-class (Refit)
Refit submarine variant operated by the Principality of Zeon.
The Jukon-class (Refit) was a submarine variant operated by the Principality of Zeon, based on captured Earth Federation Forces Juneau-class submarines.
History
During the early stages of the One Year War, Zeon forces captured several Earth Federation Juneau-class submarines and converted them into the Jukon-class to support their amphibious mobile suit operations. The refit variant represented an evolution of the original conversion, featuring a longer and sleeker profile compared to the standard Jukon-class submarines.
The refit submarines proved particularly valuable for covert operations and mobile suit transport missions throughout the war. Their modified design allowed them to operate more efficiently in Earth’s oceans whilst maintaining the submarine stealth capabilities essential for Zeon’s underwater doctrine.
In December UC 0079, the U-99 transported Zeon’s elite Cyclops Team for their assault on an Earth Federation research base in the Arctic as part of Operation Rubicon. This mission represented one of the final major operations of the One Year War.
Even after Zeon’s defeat, some Jukon-class refit submarines remained in service with Zeon Remnants. In October UC 0083, the U-801 was used by remnant forces to transport Anavel Gato from Australia to Africa after he successfully stole the prototype RX-78GP02A Gundam GP02A “Physalis” from Torrington Base during Operation Stardust.
Design
The Jukon-class refit featured several improvements over the original conversion. Most notably, the hull was redesigned with a longer, sleeker profile that enhanced the submarine’s hydrodynamic characteristics and underwater performance. This streamlined design reduced the vessel’s underwater signature whilst improving its speed and manoeuvrability.
The refit submarines retained the ability to carry amphibious mobile suits, continuing Zeon’s doctrine of deploying mobile weapons from underwater platforms. The internal layout was optimised to accommodate the storage and deployment of these specialised units, though the exact mobile suit capacity remains unknown.
Armaments
The Jukon-class refit was equipped with eight missile bays mounted on the main body. These weapons provided the submarine with offensive capability against both surface vessels and underwater targets.
Missile bays
Eight missile bays were integrated into the submarine’s hull, providing substantial firepower for a vessel of its class. These weapons could engage surface ships, submarines, and coastal installations as required by the tactical situation.
Ships and captains
- U-99
- U-331
- U-567
- U-801 captained by Dreiser
Behind the scenes
Izubuchi Yutaka was the original mechanical designer for the Gundam 0080 version, whilst Akitaka Mika designed the variant seen in Gundam 0083.
Appearances
See also
External links
- Jukon class (refit) on MAHQ
- Jukon-class on the Gundam Wiki