Zanzibar-class
Limited production mobile cruiser produced by the Principality of Zeon.
The Zanzibar-class was a limited production mobile cruiser produced by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. It served as Zeon’s response to the Earth Federation’s Pegasus-class assault carrier.
History
The Earth Federation surprised the Principality of Zeon with its Pegasus-class carrier, the White Base, during the One Year War. In response, Zeon scientists rushed to develop their own mobile suit carrier and designed the Zanzibar-class mobile cruiser.
Prior to the development of the Zanzibar-class, Zeon relied on using unarmed heavy lift vehicles (HLV) to transport their mobile suits. The vulnerability of the HLV made it risky to transport mobile suits between Earth and space. The Zanzibar-class was armed and more maneuverable.
Due to the high cost of producing the Zanzibar-class cruiser, Zeon command preferred the more cost-effective Musai-class light cruisers. The only advantage the Zanzibar-class had was its ability to enter the Earth’s atmosphere and return to space.
Several Zanzibar-class cruisers were used to transport the majority of the remaining Zeon forces from Odessa into space. M’Quve captained the Madagascar, the Zanzibar-class cruiser that carried other top Zeon officials as they fled from Odessa.
Some of these cruisers survived the One Year War and remained in service after the war. A few were modified and designated as the Zanzibar II-class.
Design
The Zanzibar-class mobile cruiser was designed with a capacity for six mobile suits in its hangar. Unlike the HLV, the cruiser was able to repair and resupply the mobile suits. Like most Zeon ship designs, the Zanzibar-class cruisers did not have a launch catapult. Instead, its mobile suits were deployed through a hatch on its ventral hull.
Unlike the Pegasus-class cruiser that used a Minovsky Craft System, the Zanzibar-class line of ships used a conventional propulsion system. Hence, it could only operate for limited periods in Earth’s atmosphere before the thrusters overheated. It also required a rocket booster to launch it from Earth into space.
Armaments
The Zanzibar-class mobile cruiser was armed with a main gun and mega particle guns for long-range attacks, and machine guns for anti-aircraft and anti-mobile suit measures.
Main gun
A twin main gun turret was mounted at the top of the cruiser to the rear. This was more powerful than the mega particle guns. It was able to rotate 360 degrees and had a 180 degrees arc of fire that allowed it to cover the aft of the ship.
Mega particle guns
There were four mega particle guns mounted at the front of the Zanzibar-class cruisers, one on each side near its nose. These were fixed and had limited angle of fire individually. Together, the four guns had a firing range that covered the front of the ship.
Machine guns
The cruiser had five twin machine gun turrets for anti-aircraft and anti-mobile suit purposes.
Ships and captains
- Zanzibar captained by Ramba Ral
- Madagascar captained by M’Quve
- Kerguelen
- Chimaira
- Keraunos captained by Volker Merckx
- Ragnarök captained by Tokwan and Char Aznable
- Ingolstadt captained by Char Aznable
- Keraunos captained by Volker Merckx
- Anastasia captained by Yaroslav
- Tempest captained by Richie Clapton
- Vampire captained by Carl Johansson
- Cerberus captained by Okis Lezarye
Behind the scenes
Tomino Yoshiyuki was the principal mechanical designer. Katoki Hajime cleaned up the design.
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon DX
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Pilot’s Locus
External links
- Zanzibar-class on the Gundam Wiki
- Zanzibar-class on MAHQ