Nazca-class

In the Cosmic Era timeline of Gundam SEED, the  Nazca-class high speed mobile destroyer is a fast, well-armed space warship in the ZAFT forces. It is heavily armed with two large beam guns, two medium dual railguns, and 10 CIWS turrets, and has room in its hanger for up to six mobile suits. The Nazca-class destroyer was superior in firepower to the Alliance's 250 meter class warships, carried the flag capabilities of an Agamemnon-class carrier, and was even faster than an Archangel-class assault ship. Ships of the Nazca-class commonly battled Archangel in space, though they - unlike their quarry - could not enter Earth's atmosphere.

One Nazca-class vessel was the Vesalius, which served as the flagship of Rau Le Creuset's task force. After several battles with the Archangel, Vesalius was destroyed late in the war. In CE 73, another Nazca-class destroyer, the Voltaire, served as the flagship of Yzak Joule, and was accompanied by its sister ship Rousseau in a failed attempt to destroy Junius Seven before it fell to Earth. Another Nazca-class destroyer, refitted with the experimental Neutron Stampeder, was instrumental in thwarting a nuclear attack by Earth Alliance forces.

The class itself is named for the Nazca culture of ancient Peru. The Vesalius is named for the 16th century physician Andreas Vesalius, who wrote the first complete textbook on human anatomy. The Heusinger is possibly named for Edmund Heusinger von Waldegg, who invented the steam engine valve gear independently in 1849. The Voltaire takes its name from the pen name of 18th century philosopher François-Marie Arouet. The Rousseau is most likely named for 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The Holst is named for Gustavus Theodore von Holst, who was an English composer whose best-known work is his orchestral suite The Planets. The Caernarfon is named for the famous Caernarfon Castle in Wales. It was built by Edward I as a military stronghold and also as a seat of government and royal palace. It was the setting for the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.