The Himalaya-class was an aircraft carrier used by the Earth Federation Forces that first appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam.[1]
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The Himalaya-class was a class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.[2] It was armed with a twin gun turret near the front, several missile launchers, a single gun behind the bridge, and six anti-aircraft turrets. It could carry around 30 Don Escargot anti-submarine aircraft, and had four landing spots for VTOL aircraft.[3] In order to perform take-off and landing under Minovsky particle interference, it was equipped with a powerful guidance system.[4]
By U.C. 0096, it appears to have been modernized, with its anti-aircraft guns replaced with rotary CIWS and different equipment on its deck.
Armament[]
- 2-barrel Main Gun Turret
- The Himalaya-class mounts a twin-barreled main gun turret in front of the bridge as its main armament. It is unknown if it is a projectile-based weapon or a mega particle cannon.
- Single-barrel Secondary Gun Turret
- A secondary single-barreled gun turret is mounted at the rear of the bridge.
- Missile Launcher
- The Himalaya-class is armed with multiple missile launchers for anti-submarine warfare. They are mounted in the bow of the ship, in font of the 2-barrel main gun turret.
- Anti-Aircraft Turret
- The Himalaya-class is armed with multiple single-barreled gun turrets for anti-aircraft defense. There are two on each side of the rear of the ship, while another two are mounted portside of the main flight deck. Some refits like the Westmoreland mounted an additional two on the bow of the ship, in front of the missile launchers. Later designs had the single-barreled gun turrets replaced by rotary CIWS turrets.
History[]
One Year War[]
The Himalaya-class entered service before the One Year War. After the outbreak of the war, they became the flagships of anti-submarine groups - special formations created to counter the Principality of Zeon's submarine fleets. Several dozen new ships were constructed during the middle stage of the war.[1]
In late May, U.C. 0079, a Himalaya-class carrier, the Westmoreland, served as the flagship of a Federation fleet tasked with retaking the Port Moresby base. The ship, along with much of the rest of the fleet, was sunk by Zeon's new MSM-03 Gogg mobile suits.[5]
On November 24, Zeon's Mad Angler Team, led by Char Aznable, attacked a Federation anti-submarine group while tracking the White Base, sinking a Himalaya-class.[6][7]
Third Neo Zeon War[]
The Himalaya-class would still be in service in U.C. 0096, when a ship of this class, along with a team of RAG-79 Aqua GMs, were destroyed by the AMA-X7 Shamblo off the shore of the Torrington Base in an attempt to counter an attack by Zeon Remnants.[8]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Mobile Suit Gundam[]
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn[]
Manga[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- In Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, the bridge layout of the Himalaya-class was based on the Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer.
- The Himalaya-class was the only water-based aircraft carrier appearing in the Universal Century until the introduction of Gopp's aircraft carrier in Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island.
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Episode 28, Across the Atlantic Ocean
- First Appearance
- Episode 28, Across the Atlantic Ocean
- OVAs and ONAs
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 MS Encyclopedia NO.15 - Strategy Encyclopedia, p.92
- ↑ Mobile Suit Variation 3 - Federation Edition (1983), p.165
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam - Ship & Aerospace Plane Encyclopedia - Revised Edition (2015), p.91
- ↑ Roman Album Extra 42 - Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow (1981), p.72
- ↑ Gundam Legacy
- ↑ Across the Atlantic Ocean
- ↑ MS Encyclopedia NO.15 - Strategy Encyclopedia, p.93
- ↑ At the Bottom of the Gravity Well