Tow ship
Civilian space tugboat used for towing spacecraft.
The Tow ship was a civilian space tugboat used for towing spacecraft in the Universal Century timeline.
History
The Tow ship was one of many civilian spacecraft designs developed to support space colony operations. In UC 0079, the neutral government of Side 6 employed these vessels to guide ships into its space colonies.
The Tow ship played a vital role in colony maintenance and logistics, helping to manoeuvre larger vessels that either lacked their own propulsion systems or needed to conserve fuel. They were particularly useful for guiding transport trailers and assisting ships during docking procedures when main engines needed to be powered down.
Design
The Tow ship was a compact utility vessel, roughly comparable in size to a mobile suit. Its design prioritised functionality, featuring six external fuel tanks that supplied power to its three main rocket thrusters. Despite its robust fuel capacity, the vessel had a limited operating range due to the high energy demands of towing operations.
The ship’s primary tool was a heavy-duty towing cable mounted at its rear. This cable could securely attach to various spacecraft, allowing the Tow ship to guide vessels safely through space. The vessel was capable of towing up to three standard-sized mobile suits simultaneously, demonstrating its considerable pulling power despite its relatively small size.
Equipment
The Tow ship carried no weapons, being strictly designed for civilian use. Its key equipment consisted of:
- Six external fuel tanks for extended operations
- Reinforced towing cable system
- Standard space navigation sensors
- Docking clamps and interface equipment
Behind the scenes
Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer.