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- Origin
The Fat Uncle is an atmospheric transport aircraft that appears in Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Fat Uncle was a transport aircraft developed by the Principality of Zeon and used during during the One Year War. It had a carrying capacity of 140 tons and could carry several mobile suits standing upright in a large cargo bay that comprised the majority of the aircraft. Like the ACA-01 Gaw, the doors of the cargo bay were at the front of the aircraft and could be opened during flight to perform airdrops. The Fat Uncle uses two large VTOL rotors for lift and two thermonuclear jet engines for thrust. Despite the transport's large size, the rotors could fold against the fuselage to reduce the space it takes up when stored.
The Fat Uncle Custom, a variant used by Zeon Remnants in U.C. 0096, has its two jet engines moved above the rotors and a sliding door installed on the left side of the cargo bay. The three twin machine guns are also replaced by two single barreled machine guns.
Armaments
- Twin Machine Gun
- The Fat Uncle is armed with three twin machine guns for defense. Two are mounted on the sides of the aircraft, while the third is a turret mounted on the top. The barrels of each gun turret can raise or lower, and the turret can rotate 360 degrees.
- Single Machine Gun
- The Fat Uncle seen in Unicorn is armed with two single barreled machine guns for defense. They are both mounted on the top, one on either side of the cockpit. The barrel of each gun turret can raise or lower, and the turret can rotate 360 degrees.
History
During the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation signed the Antarctic Treaty, which banned biological, chemical and nuclear weapons as well as prohibited the use of colony drops. Now restricted to conventional warfare, Zeon High Command knew that it was only a matter of time before the Federals took advantage of their massive raw material stockpiles and vast production capacity to turn the tide by sheer weight of numbers.
To prevent this, the Zeon forces initiated drop operations to seize control of various mining and manufacturing facilities, most famously California Base and Odessa. In order to supply their ground forces, the Principality developed and used the Fat Uncle transports to send supplies and mobile suits to the front lines. Besides supply duties, Fat Uncles were also used as mobile bases for Mobile Suit teams, or as rescue/evacuation craft.
Fat Uncles would generally be seen safely within Zeon lines, as they were very vulnerable to attack and the Federation generally had air superiority. Several Fat Uncles would nevertheless be seen on the front lines, whether delivering last minute supplies and reinforcements or evacuating key personnel and casualties.
Long after the One Year War, Zeon remnants use several modified Fat Uncles during an attack on Australia's Torrington Base in UC 0096, including Yonem Kirks.
Picture Gallery
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