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Pegasus-class

Assault carrier developed by the Earth Federation Forces.
Jenxi Seow Published 19 Mar 2013 Updated 9 Feb 2025
Pegasus-class

The Pegasus-class was a line of assault carriers developed by the Earth Federation Forces. It was the first Federation vessel class specifically designed to carry mobile suits, with the most famous ship being the White Base.

The Pegasus-class carriers were designated with a few model numbers. For example, the White Base was designated as LMSD-71 / MSC-02 / SCV-70. The carriers were initially designated as SCV (Space Carrier Vessel) but they were later on re-designated as LMSD (Landing Mobile Suit Deck). After the war, the ships were reassigned as MSC (Mobile Suit Carrier).

History

Prior to the One Year War, the Earth Federation Forces followed a “big ship, big gun” philosophy and did not see the need for spacecraft carriers. This changed when intelligence reports revealed the Principality of Zeon’s increasing military power, leading to the launch of the space carrier vessel development project “SCV-X”.

After considering several proposals, including an open-type FF-S3 Saberfish carrier, the Federation approved the SCV-27A project that would become the Pegasus-class. Following the outbreak of war and witnessing the effectiveness of Zeon mobile suits, the Federation modified the project to carry RX series mobile suits instead of space fighters. The vessels were then reclassified from space carriers to assault landing ships.

Construction of the first ship, the SCV-70 White Base, began in February UC 0078 at Dock 1 of Jaburo’s A Block, with the second and third ships starting construction simultaneously in Docks 4 and 5. The White Base was completed in September UC 0079, ahead of the namesake ship SCV-69 Pegasus, leading some to refer to the class as the White Base-class following naval tradition.

During and after the war, many ships of varying designs or improved technology were created, such as the SCVA-72 Thoroughbred, LMSD-76 Gray Phantom, and MSC-07 Albion. These vessels were sometimes classified as “Quasi-White Base-class”. After the One Year War, all such ships were officially reclassified as Pegasus-class assault landing ships.

Design

The Pegasus-class utilized an advanced block construction method that divided each ship into seven sections: the bridge, living quarters, central bow hangar, engine room, stern landing port, and two launch catapults. The living quarters were twice the size of earlier ships and included an artificial gravity area and an open deck running from bow to stern.

Unlike traditional spaceships that operated in groups for defense against mobile suits, Pegasus-class vessels carried their own mobile suits for protection. Each ship featured two leg-mounted hangars with launch catapults, capable of accommodating up to six mobile suits and four support craft.

The class incorporated a Minovsky craft system that enabled atmospheric flight and space launch without booster rockets. This system gave the ships exceptional versatility in both space and atmospheric operations.

Armaments

The Pegasus-class carried substantial armament that matched the firepower of Zeon’s Musai-class light cruisers.

Main gun turret

A twin 580 mm gun turret served as the primary armament, providing heavy firepower against enemy vessels and installations.

Mega particle gun turrets

Two twin mega particle gun turrets mounted on the port and starboard sides of the midship provided medium-range defensive capabilities.

Anti-aircraft machine guns

Eight twin anti-aircraft machine gun turrets were strategically placed around the vessel for close-range defense against enemy mobile suits and aircraft.

Missile launchers

Eight 3-tube missile launchers provided additional defensive capabilities and could be loaded with various missile types depending on mission requirements.

Mobile suit complement

The standard mobile suit capacity was six units, though the hangars could accommodate additional support craft such as Core Boosters or Gunperry transport craft. The proximity of the catapults to the central hangars allowed for rapid emergency launches and efficient repair and resupply operations during battle.

Ships and captains

  • LMSD-70 / MSC-01 / SCV-69 Pegasus, captain unknown
  • LMSD-71 / MSC-02 / SCV-70 White Base captained by Paolo Cassius and Bright Noa
  • LMSD-72 / --------- / SCV-71 White Base Jr
  • LMSD-73 / MSC-03 / SCVA-72 Thoroughbred captained by Kilstein Lombard and Stuart
  • LMSD-74 / MSC-04 / SCV-73 Blanc Rival
  • LMSD-75 / --------- / SCVA-73 Troy Horse
  • LMSD-76 / MSC-05 / --------- Gray Phantom
  • LMSD-77 / MSC-06 / SCVA-74 Stallion
  • LMSD-78 / MSC-07 / --------- Albion captained by Eyphar Sinapus
  • LMSD-79 / MSC-08 / --------- Spartan

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer, with additional designers contributing to later variants of the class.

Mobile Suit Variation 3 initially referred to the class as the White Base-class, with variants designated as “quasi-White Base-class”. However, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory established “Pegasus-class” as the canonical name. The change was explained in-universe as a post-war standardization of nomenclature.

Zeon forces nicknamed the White Base “Trojan Horse” due to its four leg-like projections, establishing a pattern of horse-themed names for the class and its ships.

Appearances

Anime

  • Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt

Games

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Side Stories