Cluj-Napoca

Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca (クルジュ＝ナポカ, Kuruju = Napoka)
Data
Location	Earth (Europe)
Usage	Military Base
Builder	Principality of Zeon
Controller	Principality of Zeon Earth Federation
Miscellaneous
OVA	RfV
Debut	Haunted Forest

Cluj-Napoca (クルジュ＝ナポカ, Cluj-Napoca^?) (English pronunciation: KLOOZH-na-POH-kə) was a Principality of Zeon main military base in the ONA Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance.

Overview

Located near the eponymous city in Cluj County, northwestern Romania, Cluj-Napoca was one of main regional military bases set up by the 1st Terrestrial Mobile Division of Zeon's Earth Attack Force during the early phase of the One Year War. As Zeon's Earth invasion went into stalemate, the base was conquered by the Earth Federation Forces in the later half of U.C. 0079. Since the city of Cluj-Napoca is roughly equidistant to several capital cities in the region such as Bucharest, Budapest and Belgrade, the military base has strategic importance for Zeon in maintaining its military dominance over Southeastern Europe, and its proximity to Zeon's European stronghold in Odessa made Cluj-Napoca a priority in maintaining the vital resource and economic lifeline between Side 3 and the Earth.

With the major Federation counterattack against the Odessa region imminent, the Stein Battalion was tasked by Zeon's European Army to retake the former Cluj-Napoca military base now occupied by the Federal Forces. The recapture operation occurred on November 6, U.C. 0079 and the event serves as the backdrop for the ONA Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance.

Layout and Facilities

The Cluj-Napoca military base consisted of a three- to four-storeys main building which served as the headquarter and administrative center. A large, rectangular two-storeys building was located behind the main building which could be served as the base's manufacturing plant or maintenance depot. The three sides of the main building were surrounded by barracks, vehicles and open area for missile storage. A building equipped with anti-aircraft batteries was located at the base's front entrance.

Armaments

• Anti-aircraft Batteries

The Cluj-Napoca base was armed with a total of four anti-aircraft batteries located at the rooftop of a building near the base's front entrance, with each battery was consisted of two movable turrets of twin Gatling-style rotary cannons of unknown calibers. They were effective against Zeon's aircrafts such as the slow-moving Gaw carriers, but they were susceptible to attacks by the Dopp fighters and airborne mobile suits.

History

One Year War

On November 6, U.C. 0079, the Stein Battalion, alongside several other Zeon army units such as the Armored Battalion and First Armored Infantry Company, commenced the capture operation of Cluj-Napoca military base at around 3:27pm, as the base was thought to be emptied by the retreating Federal Forces. When Zeon's infantry and tank columns were approaching the intended target, they were ambushed by the EFF's infantry and M61A5 MBTs which were hiding nearby. The Federal Forces attacked in front and rear and cut off any escape route for Maj. Stein's men to escape. The Major desperately called the supporting Gaw carriers for reinforcement, and the MS squadrons Red Wolves and Salamanders duly obliged and parachuted their Zaku II mobile suits to the ground and rescued the beleaguered Stein Battalion from the brink. With assistance from the Red Wolf and Salamanders Squadrons, the Stein Battalion suppressed the Federal Forces ambush and occupied the base's main building and surrounding facilities soon afterwards, with Maj. Stein proclaimed victory over the EFF and delivered a celebratory speech to his soldiers at the main building square in the evening.

Zeon's victory at Cluj-Napoca was short-lived, however, as the Federal Forces mounted a surprise raid at the Stein Battalion in the early morning of November 7, U.C. 0079, which was preceded by violent explosions caused by timed explosives pre-placed by the EFF in the main building which caused confusion among the Zeon ranks. The Earth Federation Forces, spearheaded by the RX-78(G)E Gundam EX, dealt tremendous damage to the base and inflicted heavy casualties, including the loss of Red Wolf's pilots Reid Ghelfi and Kale Zavaleta, plus the annihilation of the Salamanders Squadron. Led by Red Wolves' captain Iria Solari, the remaining Zeon troops made an audacious escape from Gundam EX's attacks. With Cluj-Napoca base recaptured by the EFF once more, its scorched-earth policy towards Zeon continued across Eastern Europe well after the latter's major defeat at Odessa and retreat into Space.

Gallery

Anime

Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance

Cluj-Napoca Base: panoramic view (Episode 1: Haunted Forest)

Partial layout of the base as viewed from Maj. Joshua Stein's command vehicle (Episode 1)

Main Building's layout (Episode 1)

Anti-aircraft batteries' layout (Episode 1)

Binocular's view of anti-aircraft batteries (Episode 1)

Anti-aircraft batteries: close-up (Episode 1)

Aerial view of the main building and surrounding facilities (Episode 1)

Soldiers gathered at Main Building's square for Maj. Stein's speech (Episode 1)

Tents inside the base with Red Wolves Zaku IIs in the background (Episode 1)

Appearances

OVAs and ONAs

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance
  • Episode 1, Haunted Forest
  • Episode 2, Broken