8th Space Fleet

8th Space Fleet
8th Space Fleet (第8艦隊)
Data
Purpose	Military Fleet
Led by	Rear Admiral Duane Halberton
Parent	OMNI Enforcer
Subdivisions	Archangel Corps
Enemies	Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty Le Creuset Team
Last Seen	February 13, 71 C.E.
Mobile Weapons/Armors/Workers
TS-MA2 Moebius
Vehicles
Drake-class Agamemnon-class Nelson-class Archangel-class
Miscellaneous

The 8th Earth Alliance Space Fleet is a military unit of OMNI Enforcer, introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

Overview

Originally the Atlantic Federation’s 4th Space Fleet, the force was reorganized into the 8th Space Fleet following the establishment of the Earth Alliance. The fleet's commander is Rear Admiral Duane Halberton, with Captain Hoffman as his second-in-command. The fleet is composed of several Drake-class Escort Ships and Nelson-class Battleship, centered around Admiral Halberton's flagship, the Agamemnon-class carrier Menelaos.

History

Pre-War

In C.E. 69, the 4th fleet participated in the failed Attack on the Junius Colonies ordered by the Sponsor Nations. After witnessing the defeat of their Moebius mobile armors at the hands of ZAFT’s newly unveiled mass-production mobile suit, the ZGMF-1017 GINN, Captain Halberton proposed a development program to create a series of mobile suits for use by the Earth Forces, the G Project. Despite initial being rejected, the project was reconsidered a year later, and personnel of the Fleet, along with Morgenröte Inc., secretly began development of five mobile suits and a new prototype warship, the Archangel-class, at the Orb Union space colony Heliopolis.

First Alliance-PLANT War

Following the Tragedy of Copernicus and the formation of the Earth Alliance, the fleet was integrated into the newly formed military coalition, OMNI Enforcer, and designated as the Earth Alliance's 8th Space Fleet, with Captain Halberton being promoted to Real Admiral.

Battle near Junius Seven

After receiving word that Heliopolis had been destroyed in a ZAFT attack, Admiral Halberton dispatched an advance force to locate the Archangel. Led by Captain Koopman aboard the Nelson-class Battleship, the Montgomery, and escorted by the Drake-class vessels, Law and Bernard, the force made contact with the Archangel after the ship had left the Debris Belt and informed them at they intended to rendezvous and escort the Archangel to the main fleet. However, before they could meet, the advanced force was attacked by the Le Creuset Team. Despite gaining assistance from the Archangel after it arrived, the advanced force was no mach for ZAFT’s mobile suits and was completely wiped out. In addition to the loss of the advance force, the additional crew meant for the Archangel the ships were transporting, as well as Atlantic Federation Vice-Minister George Allster, were all killed in the battle.

Battle of Orbit

After the Skirmish towards Earth, the Archangel successfully met with the 8th Space Fleet. Once in a safe position in Earth’s upper orbit, the Archangel’s officers met with Admiral Halberton and Captain Hoffman to discuss the events during and following the Battle of Heliopolis, as well as the Strike Gundam’s pilot, Kira Yamato. After the discussions had ended, Halberton ordered the Archangel to prepare to descend to Earth, to arrive at Earth Alliance Headquarters, JOSH-A, Alaska, and deliver the Strike and its combat data for eventual mass production of EA mobile suits. During this time, Halberton promoted the Archangel’s officers, Murrue and Mu to Lieutenant Commander and Natarle to Lieutenant. As the 8th Fleet began resupplying the Archangel, the ship received two new FX-550 Skygrasper atmospheric support aircraft for use on Earth.

Before the Archangel could descend, the 8th Fleet was attacked by a ZAFT taskforce led by Commander Le Creuset. While the ships of the 8th Fleet fought to halt their attackers, it was a losing battle. In an ironic twist of fate, it was the four stolen Gundams of the Le Creuset Team, mobile suits that Halberton pushed to be developed, that led the charge in the 8th Fleet’s destruction. During the battle, the Archangel intended to draw ZAFT’s attention away from the 8th fleet by descending to Earth, and Admiral Halberton positioned the remainder of his fleet to protect the Archangel as it descended. At the battle’s climax, the Menelaos engaged the Laurasia-class frigate Gamow, in a fierce assault. As the two ships continued to exchange blows, they fell closer into Earth’s orbit and both were destroyed in the extreme heat. In the end, while the Archangel successfully arrived on Earth, the battle saw the complete destruction of the 8th Space Fleet.

Personnel

Commanding Officers

• Rear Admiral Duane Halberton - (KIA)
• Captain Hoffman - (KIA)
• Captain Koopman - (KIA)
• Lieutenant Commander Murrue Ramius

Units of the 8th Space Fleet

Ships

• 1 x Agamemnon-class
  • "Menelaos"

• 12 x Nelson-class
  • "Montgomery"
  • "Cassandros"
  • "Ptolemaios"
  • "Paris"

• 18 x Drake-class
  • "Bernard"
  • "Law"
  • "Seleukos"
  • "Antigonos"
  • "Xerxes"
  • "Belgrano"

• 1 x Archangel-class
  • "Archangel"

Mobile Weapons

• TS-MA2 Moebius

Gallery

The 8th Fleet's Advanced Force

The Menelaos engaging the Gamow during the Battle of Orbit

The destruction of the Menelasos

Notes & Trivia

• The 8th Space Fleet's name appears to have been inspired by that of the 08th Mobile Suit Team from the Universal Century.

Appearances

Television Series

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
  • PHASE-08, The Songstress of The Enemy Forces
    • First Mentioned
  • PHASE-09, The Fading Light
    • First Appearance
  • PHASE-10, Crossroads
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-11, The Awakening Sword
  • PHASE-12, Flay's Decision
  • PHASE-13, Stars Falling in Space
    • Destroyed
  • PHASE-16, Burning Sandstorm
    • Mentioned only
  • PHASE-32, In the Promised Land
    • Mentioned only
  • PHASE-33, Gathering Darkness
    • In Flashback(s)
  • PHASE-34, Seen and Unseen
    • In Flashback(s)

References

This article is part of Project: SEED

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Please read the linked project page before editing this article.

Project Leader: User:CD Freedom