Musai-class (Final Production Type)
Final production variant of the Musai-class light cruiser developed by the Principality of Zeon.
The Musai-class (Final Production Type) was a light cruiser variant developed by the Principality of Zeon near the end of the One Year War.
History
The final version of the Musai-class light cruiser represented the culmination of Zeon naval engineering experience gained throughout the One Year War. This variant featured an extensively redesigned hull incorporating all the lessons learned from combat with the standard Musai-class cruisers.
The Final Production Type entered service far too late in the One Year War to make any significant difference to the conflict’s outcome. Only a small number of these advanced vessels were constructed before the war’s end, with most resources being directed towards the ongoing battles at Solomon and A Baoa Qu.
Despite their limited numbers, the Final Production Type vessels saw action in some of the war’s final operations. At least two ships, the Siegfried and the Valkyrie, were assigned to escort the Tivvay-class battleship Graf Zeppelin as part of a special forces unit based at Granada.
On 15 December UC 0079, these three ships launched mobile suits at the Side 6 Ribo Colony as part of Operation Rubicon. The attack was intended as a diversionary assault to allow the elite Cyclops Team to infiltrate the colony and capture or destroy the prototype RX-78NT-1 Gundam “Alex” under development there.
Following the failure of Operation Rubicon, Colonel Killing ordered the Graf Zeppelin and her escorts to destroy the Ribo Colony with nuclear weapons. However, the three ships were intercepted by Federation forces en route to the colony and presumably either surrendered or were destroyed before they could carry out their orders.
Design
The Final Production Type represented the most advanced evolution of the Musai-class design. The hull underwent extensive redesign, featuring a much sleeker profile with sharp triangular shapes and angular lines throughout. The engine pods and main hull adopted sharp fins and angular surfaces that gave the vessel a distinctly different appearance from earlier variants.
Most notably, the bridge featured much larger vents on either side, and the mobile suit hangar bay doors aft of the bridge were significantly enlarged. This allowed the vessel to store more mobile suits in purpose-built hangars rather than the converted cargo bays used by the original Musai-class.
The vessel’s cruise distance, acceleration rate, and manoeuvrability were all improved compared to previous versions. Two large thrusters were installed in each engine pod, alongside an additional three engines mounted on the main body, providing enhanced performance characteristics.
The Final Production Type notably abolished the atmospheric entry capsule Komusai, allowing for much more internal space in the main body for crew quarters and supply storage. This design choice reflected the late-war reality that atmospheric operations were becoming increasingly difficult for Zeon forces.
Armaments
The Final Production Type retained the twin mega particle cannon configuration of the late-war Musai variants but with considerably stronger output than its predecessors.
Mega particle cannons
Two twin-barrel mega particle cannon turrets were mounted in the aft section of the vessel. These beam cannons featured at least 180-degree pivot capability and were capable of destroying enemy warships and mobile suits with their enhanced power output.
The Final Production Type notably lacked missile launchers, likely to reduce the need to carry missiles and provide more storage space, or to reduce the vessel’s overall mass.
Mobile weapons
The improved mobile suit launching and maintenance facilities were designed to accommodate the late-war high-performance units such as the MS-09R-2 Rick Dom II and MS-06FZ Zaku II FZ. The vessel featured two catapults in its mobile suit hangars, allowing for rapid deployment of its mobile suit complement.
While some vessels carried groups of four MS-06F Zaku II units, others were configured to carry two of the heavier MS-09R Rick Dom or MS-14 Gelgoog mobile suits. Like its predecessors, the Final Production Type lacked comprehensive anti-aircraft and anti-mobile suit defensive systems.
Ships and captains
- CC-101 Siegfried
- CC-103 Valkyrie
- Wimmel
- Kimel
Behind the scenes
Izubuchi Yutaka was the original mechanical designer for the Final Production Type variant.
Appearances
See also
- Musai-class
- Musai-class (Late Production Type)
- Tivvay-class
External links
- Musai class (final production type) on MAHQ
- Musai-class Final Production Type on the Gundam Wiki