SCVA-76 Nahel Argama
Carrier battleship developed by Anaheim Electronics for the AEUG and later refitted for Londo Bell service.
The SCVA-76 Nahel Argama was a carrier battleship developed by Anaheim Electronics for the AEUG as the flagship replacement for the damaged Argama. Later refitted and transferred to Londo Bell, it served with distinction during the Laplace Incident in UC 0096.
The ship’s name “Nahel Argama” meant “New Argama”, reflecting its role as the successor to the AEUG’s original flagship. Constructed at Granada during the First Neo Zeon War, it represented a significant advancement in mobile suit carrier design, combining heavy firepower with enhanced mobile suit support capabilities.
History
Development and construction
Following the Dublin colony drop in UC 0088, the crew of the battered AEUG flagship Argama was forced to abandon their ship on Earth for use by the AEUG’s sister organisation Karaba. Anaheim Electronics had anticipated this need and constructed the Nahel Argama at their Granada facility as a direct replacement.
The new battleship incorporated lessons learned from the Argama-class design whilst addressing its predecessor’s weaknesses, particularly its relatively light armament. Built with a focus on enhanced mobile suit operations and significantly improved firepower, the Nahel Argama was designed to serve as the AEUG’s premier assault vessel.
First Neo Zeon War service
The Nahel Argama was first deployed on 3 November UC 0088, awaiting the Argama’s crew at the Anaheim Electronics repair ship La Vie en Rose. Despite the AEUG leadership’s reluctance to engage Haman Karn directly in Side 3, Judau Ashta and his companions appropriated the vessel with the blessing of former Argama captain Bright Noa.
The ship’s first combat deployment occurred when Neo Zeon forces under Mashymre Cello attacked La Vie en Rose. The Nahel Argama successfully withdrew from the engagement but was forced to depart without Captain Bright Noa. Command fell to Beecha Oleg, with Torres serving as backup captain.
Throughout the remainder of the First Neo Zeon War, the Nahel Argama served as the sole AEUG representative, becoming entangled in Glemy Toto’s rebellion against Haman Karn’s faction. The vessel participated in numerous engagements until the conflict’s conclusion with the deaths of both Haman and Glemy in early UC 0089.
Londo Bell refit and service
After the AEUG’s dissolution and integration into the Earth Federation Forces, the Nahel Argama was transferred to the newly formed Londo Bell task force. The vessel underwent extensive modifications between UC 0089 and UC 0096, receiving the designation SCVA-76 within the Federation fleet structure.
The refit programme significantly enhanced the ship’s capabilities. Mobile suit capacity increased from 12 to 16 units, necessitating the addition of a sixth launch catapult. Armament upgrades included an additional 12 anti-aircraft gun turrets, bringing the total to 28, and the installation of vertical launch system (VLS) cells. The engine blocks were overhauled to incorporate elements similar to the Ra Cailum-class and Clop-class designs, improving fleet compatibility and performance.
Laplace Incident
By UC 0096, the Nahel Argama was under the command of Captain Otto Mitas and assigned to intercept Neo Zeon remnants known as “The Sleeves” at the Industrial 7 space colony. The vessel’s mission centered on preventing the opening of “Laplace’s Box”, a mysterious artifact that threatened the Federation’s stability.
During the initial engagement at Industrial 7, the Nahel Argama’s mobile suit complement suffered heavy losses to the NZ-666 Kshatriya. The situation was salvaged by the intervention of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and its pilot Banagher Links, who successfully drove back the Kshatriya.
Subsequent engagements included a fierce battle against Full Frontal’s forces in the debris fields near Industrial 7, where the Nahel Argama came under attack by the Rewloola-class battleship and Full Frontal’s MSN-06S Sinanju. The vessel later participated in the rescue mission at the asteroid mining facility Palau, where it deployed its hyper mega particle cannon against the Sleeves’ stronghold.
The Nahel Argama’s involvement in the Laplace Incident concluded with the final battle at Industrial 7, where the vessel used its main armament to destroy three Sleeves vessels whilst supporting the Unicorn Gundam’s decisive engagement.
Design
The Nahel Argama incorporated the fundamental design principles of the Argama-class whilst addressing its predecessor’s limitations. The vessel featured a distinctive layout with foldable main wings extending from the central hull, incorporating built-in solar panels that supplemented the ship’s power systems for both propulsion and weaponry.
The ship’s design emphasised mobile suit operations, featuring multiple launch catapults, expanded hangar facilities, and a dedicated recovery deck at the stern. The original configuration included five launch catapults and accommodation for 12 mobile suits, later expanded to six catapults and 16 mobile suits following the Londo Bell refit.
Unlike the Argama-class’s relatively modest armament, the Nahel Argama was designed from the outset as a heavily armed vessel. The concentration of mega particle cannons and beam weapons provided substantial offensive capability whilst maintaining the vessel’s primary role as a mobile suit carrier.
Armaments
The Nahel Argama’s weaponry represented a significant advancement over previous AEUG vessels, combining ship-to-ship combat capability with enhanced point defence systems.
Hyper mega particle cannon
The vessel’s primary armament was a hyper mega particle cannon mounted in a fixed forward position beneath the central mobile suit catapult. This weapon, first tested on the Argama, possessed sufficient power to sever space colony docking arms and vaporise targets in close proximity to the beam path.
The hyper mega particle cannon required the vessel’s entire power output to charge, preventing the use of other weapons systems or propulsion during the charging sequence. Following discharge, the weapon required substantial cooling time before subsequent use, making careful tactical planning essential for effective deployment.
The weapon’s range extended beyond conventional sensor capabilities, allowing engagement of targets at extreme distances. This capability proved particularly valuable during the siege of Palau, where the Nahel Argama could engage the asteroid facility without endangering civilian areas.
Sub mega particle cannons
Two sub mega particle cannons were housed within retractable “shutter” sections on the port and starboard sides of the hull. These weapons, similar in design to the Pegasus-class mega particle cannons, deployed when the protective shutters opened, providing the vessel with significant broadside firepower.
Twin beam cannons
The original configuration featured two twin beam cannon turrets positioned on the dorsal hull forward of the bridge and on the ventral hull behind the hyper mega particle cannon. Following the Londo Bell refit, two additional twin beam cannon turrets were installed on the rear dorsal and ventral sections, doubling the vessel’s medium-range firepower.
Single-barrel beam cannons
Smaller single-barrel beam cannons were mounted on the outboard tips of the port and starboard catapults, providing additional coverage for mobile suit launch operations. Two secondary single-barrel beam cannons were initially mounted on the rear dorsal and ventral hull sections but were replaced by twin beam cannons during the Londo Bell refit.
Vertical launch system
The Londo Bell refit introduced three VLS cells strategically positioned around the vessel’s hull. One cell was located behind the bridge, with additional cells positioned behind each lateral catapult. Each cell contained 24 individual launch tubes arranged in four rows of six, capable of firing various projectiles including anti-ship missiles and defensive countermeasures.
Anti-aircraft armament
The original configuration included 16 anti-aircraft gun turrets distributed across the hull for point defence against mobile suits and fighters. The Londo Bell refit expanded this to 28 twin-barrel machine gun emplacements, providing comprehensive coverage against small craft.
The anti-aircraft guns possessed extremely high rates of fire and could inflict damage on mobile suits, though skilled pilots could evade their targeting. The weapons were distributed strategically: four mounted on each engine block’s outward-facing surfaces, six positioned near each sub mega particle cannon, six surrounding the bridge, and two on the bridge tower.
Mobile weapons complement
The Nahel Argama’s original mobile suit complement included 12 units, later expanded to 16 following the Londo Bell refit. During the First Neo Zeon War, the vessel typically carried the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam, MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki, and support units including the FXA-08R Mega Rider.
By UC 0096, the mobile suit complement had been standardised around Federation designs, including five RGM-89D Jegan Type D units, five RGZ-95 ReZEL units, and the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. Additional units were deployed as mission requirements dictated, including the MSN-001A1 Delta Plus and RGM-89S Stark Jegan.
Launch and recovery systems
The vessel’s mobile suit operations were facilitated by five launch catapults in the original configuration, expanded to six following the Londo Bell refit. The central catapult was positioned beneath the hyper mega particle cannon, with lateral catapults providing additional launch capacity.
A dedicated recovery deck at the stern allowed mobile suits to return to the vessel without interfering with launch operations. The hangar facilities featured multiple levels with maintenance bays and support equipment necessary for sustained mobile suit operations.
Ships and captains
SCVA-76 Nahel Argama
The sole vessel of its class, the Nahel Argama served under multiple commanding officers throughout its operational history:
- Beecha Oleg (UC 0088-0089) - Assumed command following the departure of Bright Noa during the vessel’s first combat engagement
- Torres (UC 0088-0089) - Served as backup captain alongside Beecha Oleg
- Otto Mitas (UC 0096) - Commanded the vessel during its Londo Bell service and the Laplace Incident
The vessel’s executive officer during the Laplace Incident was Commander Liam Borrinea, with medical services provided by the veteran physician Hasan, who had previously served aboard the original Argama.
Behind the scenes
The Nahel Argama was originally designed by Mika Akitaka for Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. The design was later updated for Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, incorporating the extensive modifications reflecting the vessel’s Londo Bell refit.
The vessel’s hull number “SCVA-76” was first introduced in the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA series, with the designation becoming official canon despite its origins in fan speculation. The “SCVA” prefix follows Earth Federation naming conventions for assault carriers, whilst “76” continues the numerical sequence established by earlier Federation vessels.
The ship’s name “Nahel Argama” translates to “New Argama”, directly reflecting its role as the successor to the AEUG’s original flagship. Some early translations rendered the name as “Near Argama”, though this version was not adopted in official materials.
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ - Episode 37 onwards
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096
See also
External links
- SCVA-76 Nahel Argama on the Gundam Wiki
- Nahel Argama on MAHQ