First Landing Operation

First Landing Operation
First Landing Operation (第一次降下作戦)
Data
Part of	One Year War
Beginning	March 1, 0079 U.C.
Location	Central Asia
Miscellaneous

“	In order to mete out the crushing blow ourselves, we shall establish a gravity front! For the sake of true freedom, we shall go down into that crucible of gravity to hasten the liberation of Earth!	”
—Kycilia Zabi

The First Landing Operation, also known as the First Earth Landing Operation, was a Principality of Zeon military operation during the One Year War. It marked the beginning of Zeon's invasion of Earth.

Prelude

Having failed to end the war with the Antarctic Treaty, Zeon began preparing for an invasion of Earth. On February 1, U.C. 0079, Zeon announced the establishment of the Earth Attack Force, which was reorganized from the 1st Mobile Infantry Division of Kycilia Zabi's Mobile Assault Force and led by Garma Zabi. Many of its members were citizens from various Sides who were forcefully emigrated to space by the Earth Federation government, who harbored strong resentment against the Federation.

On February 7, Zeon initiated the Earth invasion operation. The Earth Federation Space Force, having lost much of its fleet during the Battle of Loum, lost space superiority, especially near the moon. As such, they were barely able to interfere with Zeon's landing fleets as they reached Earth's satellite orbit.

The Battle

On March 1, U.C. 0079, the massive Zeon landing fleet, which consisted of a massive number of Papua-class transports escorted by Musai-class cruisers, arrived in Earth's orbit. Though the Federation deployed Salamis-class cruisers to intercept the fleet, they were few in number and easily sunk by the Musai cruisers.

A Zaku firing at Federation tanks

Zeon vehicles disembarking from drop pods

With the way clear, the Earth Attack Force 1st Terrestrial Mobile Division dropped onto Earth in a massive number of HLVs and drop pods. Their landing point was Lake Balkhash and the Aral Sea in Central Asia, with the goal of taking over the EFF's Baikonur Space Base. Most of the landing force consisted of mobile suits, more than half of which were MS-06F Zaku II, with a small number of accompanying vehicles and infantry.

EFF soldiers being routed

Zeon forces advancing

Having being caught off guard by the sudden offensive, the Earth Federation Ground Forces quickly crumbled when faced with Zeon's mobile suits. After capturing the Baikonur Base, Zeon forces began using it as a landing zone for tanks and airplanes. The invasion force then split into two groups, with one group heading for Europe from the north coast of the Caspian Sea and the other heading south toward the Middle East from the east coast, to secure fossil fuel deposits.

The European group eventually took over the area around Odessa, one of the largest industrial zones on Earth, rich in mineral deposits. On March 4, a resource extraction division led by then-Major M'Quve landed at the north coast of the Caspian Sea. This team was responsible for running the various captured mining facilities and consisted mostly of engineering and technical units, with few combat units. M'Quve's division was placed under the direct command of Kycilia Zabi and not part of the Earth Attack Force command system.

To commemorate the start of the invasion of Earth, Kycilia Zabi gave the following speech:

“	The eagles are landing! This is one giant leap for Spacenoid kind. Supreme Commander Gihren has made his decision. At the outset of the Zeon War of Independence, we plunged our sword of justice into the Earth. Those of the Earth Federation, on the other hand, are still held in gravity's thrall, living lives of indolence! The Supreme Commander himself gave me the following orders. In order to mete out the crushing blow ourselves, we shall establish a gravity front! For the sake of true freedom, we shall go down into that crucible of gravity to hasten the liberation of Earth! Our 1st Terrestrial Mobile Division is already establishing an airhead in Europe and is on the march westwards to expand it!	”
—Kycilia Zabi

Aftermath

Zeon forces encircling the EFF European Front Army

The fact that M'Quve's division did not answer to the Earth Attack Force meant that there existed two separate command systems for Zeon forces on Earth. This would prove to be a costly mistake on Zeon's part and have a large impact on the war in the future.

Zeon forces would later launch the Second Landing Operation, the largest of the landing operations, on March 11.

By late July, U.C. 0079, Zeon forces had occupied nearly the entirety of Western Europe and threatened to drive the EFF European Front Army into the Strait of Dover. However, then-Captain Neuen Bitter ordered his Terrestrial Mobile Division to advance on a decoy bridgehead in Basque Country instead, allowing the European Front Army to fortify their position and hold out until the Federation's European counteroffensive in October.

Gallery

The Zeon landing fleet

Zeon forces on the attack

Appearances

OVAs and ONAs

• Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front
  • Episode 1, Take Out That Angel of Death!
    • First Appearance

References

Gundam Perfect Files, Issue 53 (1)

Gundam Perfect Files, Issue 53 (2)