The Archangel-class is a class of mobile assault ship introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. The first christened ship of this class was entitled by its namesake, the LCAM-01XA Archangel. The second ship of this class was given the name LCAM-01XB Dominion.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
Based upon the Orb Space Fleet's Izumo-class battleship, the Archangel-class mobile assault ship was jointly developed by the Atlantic Federation of the Earth Alliance and Orb Union's Morgenröte. The first ship of the class, the LCAM-01XA Archangel, was created to support the five prototype mobile suits developed under the G Project, and during operations, it was meant to deploy the GAT-X102 Duel Gundam and GAT-X103 Buster Gundam, Lieutenant Mu La Flaga's TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero, and two TS-MA2 Moebius for defense, while the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam, and GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam took the battle to the enemy.
Besides the capacity to carry at least 8 mobile weapons, the Archangel-class is also an effective battleship, capable of confronting enemy warships and providing fire support to its mobile suit forces during combat. The ship is well-armed, with two "Lohengrin" positron blaster cannons, two "Gottfried" dual high-energy beam cannons, sixteen 75mm CIWS, two "Valiant" linear cannons, sixteen surface-to-air missile launchers, and twenty-four surface-to-ship missile launchers. This makes the class the most heavily armed warship of the Earth Alliance at that point in time, surpassing vessels such as the Nelson-class battleship and Agamemnon-class carrier. The Archangel-class also featured Laminated Armor, providing it better protection against beam weaponry, Ablative Gel dispensers for protection against the heat during atmospheric entry, and a number of multipurpose launchers for deploying flares, anti-beam depth charges, etc.
With the use of extensive automation, the Archangel-class can be operated even by a handful of crew members. In terms of operating environment, the Archangel-class can travel in space, in the air, and on water. After the First Alliance-PLANT War, the LCAM-01XA Archangel has the added ability to submerge and cruise underwater. Lastly, a tender vessel, the Cornelius-class was designed to specifically resupply Archangel-class ships.
Armaments[]
- "Lohengrin" Positron Blaster Cannon
- The most powerful weapon of the Archangel-class are its two "Lohengrin" positron blaster cannons, which are retractable and mounted inside the two front "legs" of the ship, directly below the launch-bays and the hangar.
- "Gottfried Mk.71" 225 cm Dual High-Energy Beam Cannon
- The only other beam weapon carried by Archangel-class ships are two "Gottfried Mk.71" 225cm dual high-energy beam cannons, which like the ones of the Izumo-class ships, are rotatable and the cannon barrels are movable. The beam cannons are retractable and mounted on top of the two "legs".
- "Igelstellung" 75mm Automatic Multi-Barrel CIWS
- The Archangel-class is armed with an array of 16 "Igelstellung" 75mm automatic multi-barrel CIWS guns for intercepting incoming missiles or enemy units. The CIWS guns are movable to shoot down targets from several directions.
- "Valiant Mk.8" 110 cm Linear Cannon
- At the back of the ship, on each side, mounts a single "Valiant Mk.8" 110cm linear cannon, which are retracted when not in use. It could operate underwater after the Archangel was altered and was effective against underwater MS and submarines.
- Surface-to-air Missile Launcher
- The Archangel-class ships have 16 surface-to-air missile launchers located at the rear of the bridge tower. These launchers are loaded with small, short range "Helldart" anti-aircraft missiles, which are generally ineffective at damaging targets with Phase Shift armor, but useful for intercept incoming missiles and the like.
- Surface-to-ship Missile Launcher
- 24 surface-to-ship missile launchers are located in the two oval sections trailing from the stern of the Archangel-class ship, behind its vertical stabilizers and directly above its engines. These retractable launchers are housed in pairs, with three pairs on either sides of the oval sections. The launchers on the outer side are installed facing forward, while the launchers on the inner side face aft. Despite facing different directions, the missiles can be redirected after firing, enabling them to attack enemies in almost any direction. A variety of large missiles such as "Sledgehammer" anti-ship missiles, "Korinthos M114" anti-air missiles, and "Wombat" atmospheric missiles are available for use to suit the target and circumstances.
- Torpedo Launcher
- After the Archangel was upgraded to submerge and function underwater, torpedo launchers were added to improve its underwater combat effectiveness. The Archangel has four torpedo launchers located at the front of the ship, between the catapults and the front hatch.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- Ablative Gel
- A special heat-absorbing gel used by the Archangel-class ships to protect itself from the heat of atmospheric entry. This substance evaporates away as the ship descends, so it must be continually replenished by the gel dischargers on the underside of the hull.
- Anti-Beam Depth Charge
- Defensive devices that can be fired from the multipurpose launchers distributed around the hull of the Archangel and other space warships. They detonate between the ship itself and the enemy vessels, creating a cloud of beam-absorbing particles that temporarily decrease the energy of incoming beams. However, the particles have the same effect on the beam weapons of the ship which deployed the depth charges, so they aren't appropriate for all tactical situations.
- Laminated Armor
- The outer hull of the Archangel-class ship is made up of a single piece of laminated armor, which protects the ship from beam shots by dissipating their energy across the entire surface of the ship. This enables the ship to survive several direct hits from beam weapons, but because the beam energy is converted to heat, the armor can be fatally damaged when the accumulated energy overloads the ship's heat management systems.
- Plasma Booster
- A reusable external booster designed to help Orb's Izumo-class warships launch into space. Once the vessel has reached the desired velocity, the plasma boosters detach and return independently to Earth. The Archangel, which shares many design elements with the Izumo class, is able to use these boosters when it launches into space from the Orb Union.
History[]
First Alliance-PLANT War[]
The first ship of the class, the Archangel, was created at Orb Union's resource satellite and space colony Heliopolis and rolled out on January 25, CE 71, under less than ideal circumstances: it was in response to ZAFT attacking Heliopolis with the intention of capturing or destroying both the Earth Alliance's newest warship (the Archangel) and the G-Weapons. Most of the primary crew of the Archangel Corps were killed during the initial siege, which included the pilots of the G-weapons, leaving only a few junior officers and mechanics to operate the ship.[1] As the highest-ranking officers present, Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Commander) Murrue Ramius captained the ship while Ensign (later Lieutenant Junior Grade) Natarle Badgiruel acted as the ship's Executive Officer.[2] ZAFT succeeded in stealing four of the five G-Weapons and destroying two TS-MA2 Moebius, and although the Archangel survived the initial assault, it was left with only the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam and Lieutenant Mu La Flaga's TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero. With the aid of Kira Yamato piloting the Strike and Mu's Moebius Zero, the Archangel escaped Heliopolis, and began its frantic trek to the Atlantic Federation headquarters, carrying civilian refugees along the way. The ship's main pursuers, the Le Creuset Team, continued to trail the ship after their encounter at Heliopolis, in an attempt to sink the ship and/or the Strike.
After the ship pitted at the Eurasian Federation base, Artemis, and passed through the Debris Belt, the Archangel linked up with Rear Admiral Duane Halberton's 8th Space Fleet in Earth Orbit. She took on-board two FX-550 Skygrasper, which were compatible with the Strike's Striker Packs, while most of the civilian refugees disembarked from the ship before its descent to Earth.[3][4] On Earth, the ship plotted a course for the Atlantic Federation base JOSH-A at Alaska, traveling through the ZAFT-controlled African Desert, across the Red Sea, through Southern Asia, and into Orb Union's territory. At Orb, the ship was refueled and restocked for its final march towards Alaska. However, en route to the JOSH-A, the Archangel lost the Strike and one Skygrasper in combat, but recaptured the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam and defeated both the GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam and GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam.[5]
Arriving at JOSH-A, the Archangel was partially supplied while some of its crew, such as Natarle Badgiruel, Flay Allster, and Mu La Flaga, were reassigned. However, ZAFT's attack on JOSH-A led the ship to protect the base's main gate and prompted Mu to return and defend the Archangel. Escaping the ensuing explosion generated from the base's Cyclops System, the Archangel added the stolen ZAFT mobile suit ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam to its complement, piloted by former Strike pilot, Kira Yamato.[6] After the Battle at Alaska, the ship returned to Orb for resupply and repairs. But with the sequential fall of Panama Spaceport and the Battle of Orb occurring thereafter, the Archangel returned to space via Onogoro's Mass Driver, accompanied by the Orb Union's Kusanagi and adding both the restored Strike, now piloted by Mu, and the Freedom's sister unit, the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam, piloted by Athrun Zala.[7] Labeled as a renegade ship by the Alliance, the Archangel joined with the Kusanagi and the ZAFT renegade ship Eternal, led by Lacus Clyne, to form the Three Ships Alliance in the wake of the war's escalation.[8][9]
During this time, a second Archangel-class ship was built: the Dominion, commanded by recently-promoted Lieutenant Commander Natarle Badgiruel. Stocked with three GAT-01 Strike Daggers, as well as the GAT-X131 Calamity Gundam, GAT-X252 Forbidden Gundam, and GAT-X370 Raider Gundam, debuted in battle on July 12 at the Mendel colony, with the primary task of destroying its elder ship, the Archangel.[9] Both ships fought against one another at the Battle of Mendel, with the outcome being a stalemate and the Dominion retreating to the lunar base.[10] While the Archangel resupplied and prepared for the final battle, the Dominion led the Earth Alliance in a successful nuclear strike against ZAFT's base at Boaz.[11] Both ships once battled again when the Dominion led a second nuclear attack on the PLANTs, which prompted the Archangel, along with the Kusanagi and Eternal, to intercept the fleet at the Second Battle of Jachin Due on September 26. During this climactic fight, not only did the Dominion lose the Calamity, Forbidden, and Raider, the Dominion herself was destroyed by the Archangel's Lohengrin. While the ship itself was severely damaged in its fight with the Dominion, the Archangel also lost the Justice and Strike in combat and retrieved the massively crippled Freedom. With the war over, the ship returned to Orb for maintenance and repairs.[12]
Second Alliance-PLANT War[]
After the war, the Archangel was repaired and hidden in a secret hangar at Orb and was upgraded with submersible capabilities. Its crew had since been adopted to the Orb military and assumed aliases while living in the country. After a failed attack by ZAFT commandos in C.E. 73, the Archangel left the facility, and its mobile suit complement at this point was the restored Freedom piloted by Kira, the MBF-02 Strike Rouge piloted by Cagalli Yula Athha, and a custom MVF-M11C Murasame, a new transformable mobile suit piloted by Andrew Waltfeld.[13] Later that year, the Archangel intervened in battles between the ZAFT battleship LHM-BB01 Minerva and a joint Alliance/Orb task force near the Dardanelles and again off the coast of Crete.[14][15] After the second battle, six more MVF-M11C Murasames from the Orb aircraft carrier Takemikazuchi defected to the Archangel.[16]
Shortly after the exposure of the military-industrial complex Logos being the true warmongers of human civilization, ZAFT issued orders to destroy the Archangel, called Operation: "Angel Down". Being pursued by a team under Commander Willard and ultimately the LHM-BB01 Minerva, the Freedom was destroyed by the ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam, and the Archangel's outer hull was damaged by the Minerva's Tannhäuser. The Archangel returned to Orb and was repaired at a secret Morgenröte facility before ZAFT's attack on Orb (codenamed "Operation Fury").[17][18]
During ZAFT's invasion of Orb, the Archangel engaged the Minerva head-on.[19] With both ships evenly matched, Capt. Ramius decided to submerge the Archangel into the water to break free from the Minerva's relentless pursuit (realizing that once the ship was underwater, the Archangel was virtually unchallenged in terms of firepower because all the beam weapons from the Minerva cannot hit targets underwater). The Archangel then proceeded to fire its Valiant linear cannons at the Minerva which was above the water surface. Afterward, the Archangel destroyed ZAFT support ships and submarines (including the St. Helens which was the flagship of Operation Fury) one by one with torpedoes and forced a retreat of all ZAFT forces.[20]
Afterward the battle, the Archangel was officially adopted into the Orb military and assigned as the flagship of Orb's Second Space Fleet.[21] After being repaired and resupplied, the Archangel made its way to the Moon for an intelligence mission. After the mission was completed, the Archangel was joined by three Izumo-class battleships, including the Kusanagi, and headed for ZAFT's space fortress, Messiah, where it fought in the last battle of the Second Alliance-PLANT War.[22][23]
Post War & Foundation Conflict[]
The Archangel was chosen as one of two vessels to represent the new peacekeeping organization Compass, from which it received its secondary designation of "SCC-101". Once more under the command of Murrue Ramius, the Archangel would participate in multiple Compass operations to eliminate the remnants of Blue Cosmos; where its ZAFT counterpart the LHM-BB03S Millennium would primarily remain space-bound, the Archangel would be assigned Earth-side with a squadron of STTS/F-400 Murasame Kai mobile suits. One such operation saw the Archangel arrive in the aftermath of the Aldrin City invasion to assist in search and rescue efforts.
During a joint operation by Compass, the Eurasian Federation, and the Kingdom of Foundation to root out a Blue Cosmos presence in Eldore, the Archangel was deployed to provide fire support with its mobile suit contingent. The Black Knight Squad attacked the Archangel as part of a Foundation conspiracy, and despite fierce resistance, the Archangel was swiftly immobilized by the Black Knight Squad's attacks, and crashed into the ground. While all of its crew managed to escape the burning ship, the Archangel was destroyed afterwards by a nuclear missile detonation over Eldore.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Animation[]
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED[]
Archangel[]
Dominion[]
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny[]
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Asides from their color schemes, the Archangel and Dominion also have unique antennas attached to the left and right side of their bridge, as well as different vertical stabilizers at the rear of the ship.
- The Archangel and Dominion are named after angelic ranks in Christian cosmology. Interestingly, in Christian angelic hierarchy, the ranks are divided into three "spheres"; archangels belong to the first sphere, and dominions to the second; it is, therefore, possible that had a third ship of the class been produced (or more), its name would have been that of one of the ranks in the third sphere: seraphim, cherubim, or ophanim.
- ZAFT's nickname for the Archangel is the "legged ship", which is most likely due to the appearance of the ship's bow.
- The name of the Archangel-class' CIWS is German for "hedgehog".
- The name of the positron blaster cannons, "Lohengrin", is a reference to Richard Wagner's opera of the same name.
- Although not used in Gundam SEED Destiny, the Archangel's "Lohengrin" positron blaster cannons still exist as the crew wanted to attack the Destroy Gundam with it, but its use would cause damage to the environment and Berlin itself.
- In Gundam SEED Phase 44, the Archangel's starboard Gottfried was destroyed in battle with the Dominion, however, in Phase 45, the damage seemed to have been repaired despite only a few hours passing between the two episodes. This is possibly an oversight by production staff.
- The Archangel-class is very similar to the Pegasus-class ship. White Base, that belonged to the Universal Century timeline. It is one of the many shout outs to the original Mobile Suit Gundam series.
- For the Archangel to be able to submerge and operate like most submarines, it likely has improved pressure resistance. Pressure underwater increases by 1 atmosphere every 10 meters, while a spacecraft must withstand at most 1 atmosphere of pressure.
- In SD Gundam G Generation Advance, a third, non-canon, Archangel battleship is introduced, the Archangel Kai. Captained by Natarle Badgiruel, it is made part of the Titans fleet and, like its Dominion counterpart, it is sunk in battle. The Archangel Kai is, for all intents and purposes, just the Archangel, but for the enemy. The reason for the Archangel Kai's inclusion is unknown, though it is most likely because the Game Boy Advance couldn't handle another large graphic that was supposedly intended for the Dominion, thus the reusing of the normal Archangel.
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- PHASE-01, False Peace
- First Appearance
- PHASE-02, Its Name: Gundam
- PHASE-03, Collapsing Land
- PHASE-04, Silent Run
- PHASE-05, Phase Shift Down
- PHASE-06, The Vanishing Gundam
- PHASE-07, The Scar of Space
- PHASE-08, The Songstress of The Enemy Forces
- PHASE-09, The Fading Light
- PHASE-10, Crossroads
- PHASE-11, The Awakening Sword
- PHASE-12, Flay's Decision
- PHASE-13, Stars Falling in Space
- PHASE-15, The Respective Solitudes
- PHASE-16, Burning Sandstorm
- PHASE-17, Cagalli Returns
- PHASE-18, Payback
- PHASE-19, Fangs of the Enemy
- PHASE-20, On a Calm Day
- PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
- PHASE-22, The Sea Dyed Red
- PHASE-23, Fateful Encounter
- PHASE-24, War for Two
- PHASE-25, The Land of Peace
- PHASE-27, Endless Rondo
- PHASE-28, Kira
- PHASE-29, The Turning Point
- PHASE-30, Flashing Blades
- PHASE-31, Grieving Skies
- PHASE-32, In the Promised Land
- PHASE-33, Gathering Darkness
- PHASE-34, Seen and Unseen
- PHASE-35, The Descending Sword
- PHASE-36, In the Name of Justice
- PHASE-37, Divine Thunder
- PHASE-38, Decisive Fire
- PHASE-39, Athrun
- PHASE-40, Into the Dawn Skies
- PHASE-41, Trembling World
- PHASE-42, Lacus Strikes
- PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
- PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
- PHASE-45, The Opening Door
- PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- PHASE-49, The Final Light
- PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
- PHASE-01, False Peace
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-13, Resurrected Wings
- Mentioned only
- PHASE-14, Flight to Tomorrow
- PHASE-15, Return to the Battlefield
- PHASE-17, The Soldier's Life
- PHASE-20, Past
- PHASE-23, The Shadows of War
- PHASE-24, Differing Views
- PHASE-26, The Promise
- PHASE-27, Unfulfilled Feelings
- PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices
- PHASE-30, A Fleeting Dream
- PHASE-33, The World Revealed
- PHASE-34, Nightmare
- PHASE-38, A New Flag
- PHASE-39, Kira of the Skies
- PHASE-42, Freedom and Justice
- PHASE-43, A Call for Counterattack
- PHASE-44, Lacus Times Two
- PHASE-45, Prelude to Revolution
- PHASE-46, The Song of Truth
- PHASE-48, To a New World
- PHASE-49, Rey
- PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
- Movies
- Manga
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray
- Chapter 1, Parts-X12: The New G
- Image(s) Only
- Chapter 1, Parts-X12: The New G
- Games
References[]
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-01, False Peace
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-03, Collapsing Land
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-12, Flay's Decision
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-13, Stars Falling in Space
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-30, Flashing Blades
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-35, The Descending Sword
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-40, Into the Dawn Skies
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-42, Lacus Strikes
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-14, Flight to Tomorrow
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-23, The Shadows of War
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-30, A Fleeting Dream
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-37, Thunder in the Dark
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-40, Legacy of Gold
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-42, Freedom and Justice
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-43, A Call for Counterattack
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-45, Prelude to Revolution
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-49, Rey
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-50, The Final Power
External links[]