Operation Odessa was a major Earth Federation Forces counteroffensive aimed at the Principality of Zeon forces occupying the north coast of the Black Sea during the One Year War. It was the largest ground battle during the war and a major turning point, driving much of Zeon's forces from the planet and causing the main battlefield to shift from Earth to space.
Background[]
During the First Landing Operation, Zeon forces took over many ore mines in Central Asia and Europe, which produced valuable mineral resources such as bauxite, nickel, and gold.[1] They also captured Odessa, which was not only rich in mineral deposits, but also one of the largest industrial zones on Earth.[2] Colonel M'Quve, a subordinate of Vice Admiral Kycilia Zabi, was responsible for running these resource extraction operations.[3]
Following the death of Colonel Garma Zabi, the commander of Zeon's Earth Attack Force, the Earth Federation Forces saw the chance to counterattack. This led to the Federation's plans for their Central Eurasian counteroffensive, codenamed "Odessa". For this operation, the EFF dedicated nearly one-third of their forces on Earth.[4] The goal of the operation was to retake the captured mines and cut off Zeon's supply of mineral resources. Since Zeon lacked resources, it was believed that the success of this operation would force an early end to the war.[1][5]
Initial preparations[]
On October 10, at 1800 hours, the Earth Federation 3rd Army, led by General Johann Abraham Revil, departed from the Southampton Base in England. Revil was aboard the Big Tray-class land battleship Bataan, the mobile headquarters for this operation. At 0250 hours on the following day, the 3rd Army crossed the Strait of Dover and began heading for the rendezvous point at Warsaw. Prior to this, forces based in Tripoli, Genoa, Leipzig, Stockholm and Hanover all began making their way to Warsaw.[1]
On October 12, two Federation fleets, mainly composed of Himalaya-class carriers and Alberta-class missile cruisers, departed from the Port of Oslo and went south in order to check Zeon's submarine fleets. Since Zeon had already learned that there was an upcoming large-scale operation, the Federation Forces raced for the rendezvous point as fast as possible, abandoning malfunctioning vehicles along the way.[1]
On October 20, the Federation forces arrived at Warsaw, establishing a field headquarters in the city. On October 25, the final checks for the operation was done. In order to conceal the true target of the attack, decoy units were deployed to a large number of locations. On November 2, Federation reinforcements, which mainly consisted of air power, arrived at Warsaw.[1]
On November 2, Revil ordered the White Base Corps to cross the Caspian Sea within five days in preparation of Operation Odessa, intending to use them to reinforce the Federation Forces' right flank. Though General Elran expressed doubts about Revil's reliance on the White Base Corps, Revil believed in their reputation as the "Newtype Corps". He also assigned Matilda Ajan's Supply Unit to repair their engines and deliver a FF-X7-Bst Core Booster to them for testing.[6]
The Federation invasion routes
For Kycilia Zabi, losing the mining bases on Earth was unacceptable. However, since she was based in the lunar city of Granada, it was inconvenient for her to send reinforcements to Earth due to the politics within the Zeon military. Still, she secretly sent the Black Tri-Stars, an ace mobile suit team responsible for the capture of General Revil during the Battle of Loum, to assist M'Quve. The team arrived on November 6.[1] M'Quve regarded the team very highly, saying that their fighting strength equaled an entire division. He supplied them with three MS-09 Dom heavy mobile suits.[7]
The Battle[]
On November 7, at 0600 hours, the Federation Forces' 25,000 artillery guns and 2000 missile and rocket launchers opened fire at once, signaling the beginning of Operation Odessa. General Revil ordered all of his forces to begin the attack at once from multiple directions. The 4th Army, which had a mechanized division mainly composed of Type 61 Tanks, attacked from the north. The 2nd and 7th Army attacked from the northwest. Finally, the 3rd Army commanded by Revil attacked from the west.[1]
Taking advantage of the good weather, Federation air squadrons sortied from field bases in Kyiv, Sofia, and Istanbul. On the other side of the Black Sea, the Federation forces at Ankara conducted non-stop bombardment on Odessa using missiles and rockets.[1]
The Gundam engaging the Black Tri-Stars
On the night of November 7, the White Base, while being resupplied by the Matilda Unit, came under attack by the Black Tri-Stars. The Tri-Stars engaged in a fierce battle with Amuro Ray in the RX-78-2 Gundam, even demonstrating their famed Jet Stream Attack. However, Matilda rammed her Medea into Ortega's Dom, giving Amuro the opening he needed to destroy Mash's Dom but sacrificing herself in the process. Immediately after, Sayla Mass destroyed Ortega's Dom in the Core Booster and Amuro finished off Gaia's Dom, putting an end to the Tri-Stars.[7]
Zeon reconnaisance image of GMs taken above the Volyn-Podilsk Upland on November 9
During the battle, the Federation experimentally deployed their mass production mobile suit, the RGM-79 GM, in secret. These units were assigned to the rear to prevent Zeon from learning of them, and were said to have destroyed 21 combat vehicles and 4 mobile suits. However, due to mechanical problems, only around 15 of the 30 units actually saw combat.[1] In addition, images of these mobile suits were taken by Zeon's high altitude reconnaissance unit, revealing their existence anyway.[8]
Zeon defenders during Operation Odessa
Despite being outnumbered almost four to one, Zeon forces were able to endure the Federation attack for three entire days through a divide and conquer strategy. During the battle, many ace pilots emerged on both sides, such as Zeon fighter-bomber pilot Helmut Lutz and Federation fighter pilot Texan Dmitri. Also, when M'Quve threatened General Revil that he would use a nuclear weapon, he famously gestured for his forces to advance without saying a word, showing absolute confidence in victory.[1]
On November 7, at 1340 hours, Revil's main force broke through Zeon's first line of defense. This caused Zeon forces on other fronts to retreat in order to defend less ground. At 2000 hours, Revil's forces came under a Zeon counterattack. By November 8, the frontline gradually settled.[1]
Battle of Hill 144[]
RTX-440 squad charging during the Battle of Hill 144
On November 8, the 44th Independent Composite Brigade, one of the few Federation formations equipped with mobile suits, launched an attack on Hill 144, but took significant casualties from a Zeon Dobday-class land battleship. On November 9, the Brigade, backed up by the 4th Land Battleship Strike Force, launched a general counteroffensive to break the stalemate. This time, they were joined by a penal squad piloting a trio of RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank.[9]
During this battle, the Federation deployed numerous RGM-79［G］ GM Ground Type. However, Zeon forces were able to lure them into a booby trapped trench, destroying many of them with explosives. One GM Ground Type survived the explosions and attempted to crawl out, only for several PVN.4/3 Wappa riders to close in and place explosives on its head, finishing it off.[9]
The Guntanks played a pivotal role during the battle, destroying numerous Zeon vehicles and mobile suits, even severely damaging a Dobday. However, when a second Dobday appeared, regiment commander Major Michael Colmatta ordered Lieutenant Aline Nazon, the last surviving Guntank pilot, not to attack it. Knowing that Clyde Bettany, the traitor responsible for landing her in the penal unit, was aboard the ship, Aline disobeyed the order and launched a suicide attack on the ship, sacrificing herself in order to destroy it. Unbeknownst to her, Bettany was actually a double agent, who faked his betrayal to infiltrate Zeon and pass vital intelligence to the Federation.[9]
Federation breakthrough[]
Surviving Zeon forces retreating into space
On November 9, the Federation 4th Army broke through the encirclement and advanced without meeting significant resistance. This caused the Federation Forces to resume their offensive. By 1100 hours, the 3rd Army had reached Chișinău. At 1700 hours, M'Quve and other high-ranking Zeon commanders retreated into space aboard a Zanzibar-class cruiser, leaving many of their soldiers behind.[1] By this point, Zeon had already been defeated de facto and the surviving forces began retreating to space or the Black Sea.[10]
On November 10, the Federation Forces conducted mop up operations. At 1400 hours, the Federation Forces switched from combat readiness to alert readiness, signalling the end of the operation.[1]
Aftermath[]
The HLVs and HOTOLs above Odessa
In the immediate aftermath of Odessa's fall, many HLVs and HOTOLs carrying retreating Zeon forces escaped into space. Zeon fleet command ordered all vessels near Earth to abandon existing missions and recue these forces. Due to the hasty retreat, one HOTOL lost control and crashed into an HLV, detonating it and causing a destructive chain reaction. To make matters worse, the Federation Forces at Luna II soon deployed Salamis-class cruisers and two squads of RB-79 Balls to destroy the HLVs. Some of the MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type exited their HLVs and tried to fight back, but due to their lack of AMBAC systems, they were unable to maneuver in space effectively and were easily destroyed.[11]
One of the first ships to arrive at Earth orbit was the 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit's mothership Jotunheim. In order to defend the HLVs, Monique Cadillac ordered the ship's EMS-10 Zudah mobile suits to be deployed to protect the HLVs. The Zudahs quickly wiped out the Ball squads and brought at least one Zaku to safety. However, the Federation soon deployed GMs. Zudah test pilot Jean-Luc Duvall was able to lure the GMs away in the Zudah, causing both them and his Zudah to disintegrate from the acceleration, sacrificing himself in the process.[11]
Zeon soldiers who surrendered to the Federation
Of the remaining Zeon forces on the ground, some, such as those under Major General Yuri Kellerne, escaped to Asia while others escaped to Africa.[12][1] Many soldiers who were unable to escape were forced to surrender.[1] On November 10, the Principality of Zeon Headquarters officially announced the abandonment of the Odessa mining facilities.[11]
Abaord his Zanzibar, M'Quve remarked that the outcome of the war would not be decided by this battle and that with the minerals he sent to Kycilia, Zeon could continue fighting for ten more years.[7] However, contrary to what he said, the loss of Odessa would prove to be a devastating blow for Zeon forces, one from which they would never recover from, and Zeon would lose the war around fifty days later.[13]
Behind the Scenes[]
- In the TV series version of Mobile Suit Gundam, the White Base played a more important role. M'Quve had the aid of a traitor within the Federation, General Elran, who would sabotage the operation by holding back his troops. However, Amuro accidentally uncovers Elran's treachery, foiling M'Quve's plan. In desperation, M'Quve tried to break the Antarctic Treaty by launching a nuclear missile but Amuro and the Gundam were able to disable it.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Episode 25, The Battle of Odessa
- First Appearance; Conclusion
- Episode 25, The Battle of Odessa
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Entertainment Bible 39 - Mobile Suit Gundam - Big Book of Tactics and Strategy (1991), p.80-87
- ↑ Gundam Officials (2001), p.478-481
- ↑ Mobile Suit Variation 2 - Zeon MS, MA Edition (1983), p.154-159
- ↑ Mobile Suit Variation 3 - Federation Edition (1983), p.150
- ↑ The Official Gundam Fact File Vol.57 (2012), p.23-26
- ↑ Entertainment Bible 39 - Mobile Suit Gundam - Big Book of Tactics and Strategy (1991), p.79
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam: Zion Dukedom Military-File
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front Episode 3,
- ↑ The Official Gundam Perfect File 57 (2012), p.26
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War Episode 3, Dance of the Orbital Ghosts
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team Episode 7, Reunion
- ↑ The Official Gundam Perfect File 128 (2014), p.21
| One Year War Conflicts and Events | |
| January, 0079 UC | |
|---|---|
| One Week Battle (Operation British) | Battle of Loum | |
| March, 0079 UC | |
| Earth Drop Operations (First Landing Operation | Second Landing Operation | Third Landing Operation) | |
| September, 0079 UC | |
| Attack on Side 7 | |
| November, 0079 UC | |
| Operation Odessa | Battle of Jaburo | |
| December, 0079 UC | |
| Attack on the Arctic Base | Operation Rubicon | Operation Christmas | Operation Cemballo (Battle of Solomon) | Operation Star One (Battle of A Baoa Qu) | |