The Argama-class is a carrier/assault landing ship introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
Developed in secret at the Sweetwater colony by Anaheim Electronics with funding from the Anti Earth Union Group, the Argama-class was inspired by the successful Pegasus-class, White Base, from the One Year War. Instead of having a central centrifuge that would rotate to simulate gravity, the Argama has two rotating residential modules that can extend from the sides and rotate to simulate gravity for the crew. These modules are retracted when combat operations begin. The bridge of the Argama-class also featured a retractable design, providing the bridge crew with more protection during combat.
The ship's propulsion system included one main thruster, three secondary and two tertiary thrusters in each of the two engine blocks, and an additional pair of secondary thrusters under the main thrusters. Several maneuvering thrusters were also built into the ship, including a pair of ventral ascension thrusters under each engine block and several outward oriented control nozzles on each side of the ship. The Argama-class could carry more mobile suits than the Pegasus-class and had various weapons for offense and defense, including mega particle cannons, four single-barreled cannons, numerous missile launchers, etc.
Armaments[]
- Single Barrelled Cannon
- The Argama-class is armed with four single barreled beam cannons as its primary armament, with one mounted in front of the bridge and one aft of the bridge. The remaining two are placed in forward facing mounts on the underside of the ship, on either side of the Argama-class’s ventral cargo bay. Each cannon can swivel 90 degrees in either direction, and is capable of limited traverse upwards.
- Mega Particle Cannon
- The Argama-class is armed with a pair of high powered mega particle cannon stored in special circular compartments with one on the port side and the other on the starboard side. Because of their power, the mega particle cannons take some time to charge up before being fired. The mega particle cannons can rotate so that they can be fired forward or aft of the ship.
- Hyper Mega Particle Cannon
- During the First Neo Zeon War, the left mega particle cannon was replaced by a hyper mega particle cannon, the most powerful weapon installed on any EFSF/AEUG ship at that time. The purpose for the upgrade was so that the Argama could be used to attack Axis and destroy the asteroid with one use of the hyper mega particle cannon. However, because of its high output and enormous power requirements, the hyper mega particle cannon takes more time to charge up. Thus, it usage requires careful planning.
- Missile Launcher
- The Argama is equipped with multiple missile launchers that are used to launch anti-mobile suit and anti-ship missiles.
- Anti-Air Laser Gun
- Originally, the Argama is not equipped with any anti-air laser guns, but these weapons were added during the second refit. These defensive guns are retractable, with at least four mounted on the sides of each launch deck.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- Minovsky Craft System
- The Argama is fitted with the Minovsky Craft System prior to its descent to Earth during the First Neo Zeon War. A lift-generating system in use since the One Year War, it allows a vehicle to resist the pull of Earth's gravity. It is not installed on a standard mobile suit due to its power requirements and size. When Minovsky particles are released into the air, the positive and negative particles spontaneously align themselves into a three-dimensional cubic lattice. Because of the repulsive and electrostatic forces between the particles, this lattice resists compression, and the Minovsky Craft System uses this phenomenon to push the underside of the vessel away from the planet's surface. This allows the equipped vehicle to float over Earth's surface.
- Ballute System
- The Argama-class is capable of utilizing a ballute atmospheric re-entry system, in which an inflatable device is deployed from the back of the ship and allows heat and friction to be dispersed around and away from the ship, allowing for a safe entry into Earth's atmosphere.
- Supplemental Rocket Booster
- The Argama-class can equip a supplemental rocket booster system to obtain sufficient thrust to help it overcome Earth's gravity and leave the atmosphere.
History[]
Argama[]
The most famous of the Argama-class assault carriers was the Argama itself, which served as the flagship of the AEUG fleet during the Gryps Conflict. Originally captained by Henken Bekkener it was soon placed under the command of Bright Noa, who remained its captain till after the Gryps Conflict. Entering service on March, U.C. 0087, the first mission for the Argama under Henken Bekkener's command was to capture one of the new Gundams being developed by the Titans at a base on Green Noa I.[1][2]
Following the rescue of Bright Noa and his ship, the Temptation, the former White Base commander is given command of the Argama and remains its captain long after the Gryps Conflict and into the First Neo Zeon War. It was upgraded with the Hyper Mega Particle Cannon in the latter stages of the War, but after the Colony Drop of Dublin, the crew was forced to abandon it on Earth so Karaba could repair and use it. It was replaced by the SCVA-76 Nahel Argama for the final stages of the War.
Pegasus III[]
The second ship of the Argama-class to be developed, the Pegasus III was named in honor of the Pegasus-class assault carriers. The Pegasus III had several changes to its design, such as the residential modules are fixed into place and the radar antennas on the side of the bridge were replaced with those that resemble the Pegasus class ships of the One Year War.
Commanded by Eton Heathrow, the Pegasus III was launched from the Baikonur space base on February 25, UC 0088 as part of Task Force Alpha. Their mission was the suppress the New Desides during the Pezun Rebellion.
Mustache[]
Nikaya[]
Another Argama-class appears in MSV-R:The Return of Johnny Ridden. It intervened during the fight over the Sangre Azul in Jaburo, where it appeared in low earth orbit and descended to Earth. It launched Doms with special equipment to destroy Themis' Ram Z'Goks, then dropped depth charges to lure enemies to the surface, after which its forces proceeded to destroy any units that surfaced. The entry of the Nikaya into this battle wiped out the underwater Themis MS, and saved the allied submarine fleet. It later launched into space to pursue the Sangre Azul.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
.png "Argama Bridge Exterior 01 (Zeta Ep50).png (4.03 MB)")
.png "Argama Bridge 01 (Zeta Ep23).png (6.27 MB)")
.png "Argama Side View 02 (Zeta Ep25).png (4.71 MB)")
.png "Argama Underside 01 (Zeta Ep44).png (7.08 MB)")
.png "Argama Underside Hangar Hatch 01 (Zeta Ep27).png (4.03 MB)")
.png "Argama Single Barreled Cannon 01 (Zeta Ep45).png (2.94 MB)")
.png "Argama Single Barreled Cannons Firing 01 (Zeta Ep45).png (3.86 MB)")
.png "Argama Mega Particle Cannon 01 (Zeta Ep35).png (4.73 MB)")
.png "Argama Hyper Mega Particle Cannon 01 (ZZ Ep19).png (3.76 MB)")
.png "Argama Ballute Deployed 01 (ZZ Ep23).png (5 MB)")
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Game[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- In Around Thirty Office Worker Haman-sama, the Argama is a clothing company where Bright, Kamille, and Fa work at. It is mentioned that they had previously entered and won a franchise war against Haman's Neo Zeon company which was dubbed as the "First Neo Zeon Sales War".
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Episode 1, The Black Gundam
- First Appearance
- Episode 2, Departure
- Episode 3, Inside the Capsule
- Episode 4, Emma's Decision
- Episode 5, Father and Son
- Episode 6, To Earth
- Episode 7, Escape from Side 1
- Episode 8, The Dark Side of the Moon
- Episode 9, A New Bond
- Episode 10, Reunion
- Episode 11, Entering the Atmosphere
- Episode 13, Shuttle Launch
- Episode 29, Crisis at Side 2
- Episode 40, Activation of Gryps
- Episode 43, Haman's Victory
- Episode 45, Coming From the Heavens
- Episode 50, Riders in the Skies
- Episode 1, The Black Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
- Episode 14, The Phantom Colony, Part 1
- Episode 15, The Phantom Colony, Part 2
- Mentioned only
- Episode 16, Melee Aboard the Argama
- Mentioned only
- Episode 37, Nahel Argama
- Movies
References[]
- ↑ Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Episode 1, The Black Gundam
- ↑ Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Episode 2, Departure
External links[]