Mobile Suit Gundam

cross-posted from: https://ani.social/post/30745621

After the repeated losses at the hands of ZAFT, the Earth Alliance needed to reverse ZAFT’s growing momentum in the war. To this end, the Alliance decided to launch a deep strike on the PLANT homeland, to force ZAFT on the defensive and push their priority back to Lagrange point 5. On April C.E.70, Earth Alliance launched 2 full-strength fleets, the 5th and 6th fleets, from Ptolemaeus base on the Moon and headed toward Lagrange Point 5.

On April 17, C.E.70, the incoming Alliance fleets were intercepted by ZAFT forces stationed at Jachin Due resource satellite. The battle that ensued resulted in the defeat of the Earth Alliance’s 5th and 6th fleets. The 5th fleet suffered particularly devastating losses, spending most of the remaining war rebuilding itself.

After ZAFT’s victory at Jachin Due, the PLANT Supreme Council decided to convert the resource asteroid into a full military space fortress.

Mere days after ZAFT forces successfully landed on Carpentaria and destroyed invading Alliance forces, they established the core of Carpentaria base, and began to reinforce their position by orbital dropping prefabricated base structure and even entire submarines down to Earth, securing their logistical route.

To stop ZAFT from gaining a permanent foothold on Earth, Earth Alliance dispatched the Atlantic Federation’s 21st Anti-Submarine Warfare fleet toward Australia. The aim is to stop a ZAFT naval convoy, consisting of supply submarines escorted by Vosgulov class carrier submarines, from reaching Carpentaria. The convoy landed in Tasman sea, and will travel through Coral sea and Torres Strait to reach their destination Carpentaria base.

On the 10th April,the Alliance fleet’s engaged ZAFT’s submarine convoy in the Coral Sea before they could enter Torres strait. In the battle, the ASW Fleet deployed many Kingfisher 33SP Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters, one of which was piloted by Ensign Jane Houston. On ZAFT's side, Marco Morassim sortied in the new Ginn FEMWS, alongside Ginn WASP.

During the fighting, Alliance guided missile destroyers Canageon and Bradford tried to circumvent the ZAFT submarine carriers and MS to destroy the supply submarine convoy, but they were unsuccessful and were quickly destroyed.

In the end, The battle proved to be a total disaster for the Atlantic Federation; its entire 21st ASW Fleet, including the flagship Cumberland and the carrier Kingsbill, was wiped out along with all the other ships and Kingfisher helicopters, with only one survivor of the battle; the Kingfisher pilot Jane Houston.

Context:

https://space-entry.co.jp/archives/870

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSauRn4JxSw&t=471s

After Oceania Union condemned Earth Alliance's invasion of South America, and voiced their their support of PLANT, Earth Alliance declared war on the Union as well. Although the Alliance's attention was mostly occupied by ZAFT, they eventually sent a fleet to subdue the Oceania Union. Set to arrive at early April.

Meanwhile, on April 2nd, using the chaos in communication and energy wrought by the deployment of N-jammers, ZAFT once again dropped its forces from orbit to destroyed the invading Alliance fleet, and securing the Gulf of Carpentaria on Northern Australia.

Once the site is secured, ZAFT orbital dropped per-fabriacted building modules down to Australia, and began the construction of their first stronghold on Earth; the Carpentaria base.

Core structures of Carpentaria base base built in just 48 hours, from there ZAFT continued to expand and complete the remaining construction.

A bit late but, here we go...

Using the tragedy of Junius Seven as justification, a number of PLANT Supreme Council councilors, including Patrick Zala, pushed for the eployment of Neutron Jammers on Earth and justify it as prevention of Alliance nuclear attack. Although the then-Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne is reluctant, the majority support for N-Jammer deployment was large enough that he had to authorize the deployment as part of Operation Ouroboros.

On April 1st, a ZAFT fleet arrived on Earth orbit and engaged the Alliance forces there. Despite the Earth Alliance's best efforts, they could not stop the deployment, many of the craft broke through the atmosphere and launched the N-Jammers into the Earth. Causing energy crisis as nuclear powerplants shut down.

Certain unconfirmed records indicated that Rau le Creuset and Mu la Flaga engaged each other for the first time during the battle, although only briefly, with neither side giving much thought to each other.

Following the failure of the battle of Victoria, PLANT Supreme Council realized that without escalating the war and large-scale deployment on Earth, they have no way of stopping the Alliance forces from pouring out of Earth into space.

On March 15th, they voted to adopt the Operation Ouroboros, their new operation plan for winning the war. The campaign had 3 main objectives:

1.Prevent Alliance from using nuclear weaponry by deploying Neutron Jammers.

2. Establish bases on Earth as foothold for ZAFT's future operations.

3.Take control of Alliance space ports, preventing them from sending large numbers of reinforcements into space. Particularly focused on mass driver-equipped space ports

This will trap Alliance forces on Earth, unable to threaten PLANT. While the Alliance forces on the Moon will either have to surrender, or starve to death.

On March 8th, for the first time in history, an orbital drop operation with heavy armored units took place.

Afte destroying the Yggdrasil station, the vital bridgehead that links Earth and Moon, ZAFT attempted to press on their advantage by commencing the first orbital drop operation, targeting the mass driver-equipped Habilis Space Port's near Lake Victoria. The goal of the operation to to cut off one of the supply routes from Earth to the Moon.

Lack of ground side support, and inexperience in Earth-side warfare however spelled the doom for the eager ZAFT; despite inflicting heavy causalities on Eurasia Federation and South African Union forces, the Alliance were able to defeat ZAFT invaders.

Following the defeat, PLANT Supreme Council was convinced that limited military action without significantly more force on the ground is not going to be viable, and approved of escalate the war with much more involvement on Earth as well.

With the destruction of Junius Seven, the First Alliance-PLANT War officially started. ZAFT demonstrated remarkable force projection capability as they began to undertake offensive actions far away from the PLANT homeland. The first target of ZAFT's new strategy was the space station Yggdrasil, located in Lagrange Point 1 near Luna, and served as the bridgehead for Luna's Alliance forces.

On the 22nd, the advancing ZAFT expeditionary force finally engaged Alliance's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fleets that were defending the station, and ZAFT deploy the N-Jammers for the first time in combat. The resulting battle between the two sides was fierce, and after intense fighting, the station was destroyed in the crossfire. Eventually, its ruins become part of the debris belt.

With the destruction of the space station, The Earth Alliance lost a vital bridgehead in space and suffered heavy casualties as the 1st and 2nd fleet were annihilated. However, it was a pyrrhic victory for ZAFT, as they also suffered heavy losses.

During the battle, Rau Le Creuset managed to destroy 37 Moebius mobile armors and 6 warships. Earning him the Order of the Nebula.

Oceania Union and United States of South America both gladly recognized PLANT's independence and accepted PLANT's offer of neutrality, in exchange for continued trade and good relation between them.

Alliance feared this pro-PLANT USSA might let ZAFT stations troops and weapons on South America, further threaten nearby Earth Alliance territory. To deny PLANT agricultural resources and seize the strategically important location Panama, the Earth Alliance launched the invasion of United States of South America on February 19th, one day after USSA recognized PLANT's independence. The Alliance also seized the strategically vital Porta Panama space port and its mass drivers.

On February 20th, the Oceania Union, despite its geographical remoteness, also received declaration of war.

At the memorial for the bloody valentine tragedy victims, Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne formally declared PLANT's independence, and swear to resist the Earth Alliance's aggression.

He also issued the Proactive Neutrality Encouragement statement, offering preferential treatment for trade and aid to nations who refuse to join the Alliance. Oceania Union and the United States of South America, who were already trading with PLANT in secret even before the war, enthusiastically accepted Clyne's offer.

The newly-formed Earth Alliance declared war against PLANT on the 11th, and launched a combined fleet toward PLANT to subdue the rebellious coordinators once and for all...

Yet despite their vast numerical superiority, the Alliance forces was being decimated by ZAFT. Facing with defeat and failing their strategic goal, Admiral William Sutherland onboard Alliance carrier Roosevelt ordered the Peacemaker Nuclear Task Force to launch, targeting the illegal agricultural colonies of PLANT. Intending to complete their mission of end PLANTs food production capability no matter what.

A nuclear warhead slipped through ZAFT's interception, and destroyed Junius-7, killing 243,721 people in one fell swoop.

-Below are from Gundam Seed RE, the manga.

On February 11th, just a few day after Atlantic Federation, Eurasia Federation and East Asia Republic founded the Earth Alliance to replace the now-destroyed UN, the newly formed Alliance declared war on PLANT.

A huge fleet, combined forces of the three Sponsor Nations, was launched from Ptolemaeus Lunar Base flying toward PLANT, with the intention of subduing the rebellious coordinators.

Nuclear weapons were secretly loaded into in one of the Agamemnon class carriers, the Roosevelt.

The UN building bombing on February 5th, the day PLANT and Sponsor Nations is supposed to hold new negotiations, have killed much of the UN leadership and national delegations to the UN.

With the death of the high echelon, the organization became effectively defunct. Just two days later on the 7th - Atlantic Federation, Eurasia Federation, and Republic of East Asia (the Sponsor Nations) jointly condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack carried out by PLANT, calling it a declaration of war not just against Sponsor Nations but war against the entire (natural) humanity. Atlantic Federation, Eurasia Federation, and Republic of East Asia also announced the formation of EARTH ALLIANCE - to replace United Nations and counter coordinator militant terrorists.

Since trade dispute and import/export embargo seems to be on the headlines alot... here is some fact of the day:

Today in Cosmic Era – C.E.70 February 5th

The escalated tension and skirmish through the CE60s eventually led to the Sponsor Nations (the countries who funded the construction of PLANT colonies) to limit and stop food export to PLANT. And PLANT in turn stopped all energy and industrial product export to Sponsor Nations. The conflict led to economic chaos and poverty in the sponsor nations - finally the United Nations intervened, and got the two sides to agree to a negotiation meeting that will take place in CE70 February 5th.

However, an unknown culprit detonated a bomb in UN building in Luna city Copernicus and killed the delegation of every national representative and UN leadership - Except for Siegel Clyne, because his shuttle was delayed due to technical issues.

The Strms-101 Fenrir is Kingdom of Scandinavia's locally produced version of ZAFT's Bucue. Its structure and internal systems are largely identical to ZAFT's own design, with certain modifications to adapt the machine to the cold and snowy environment it will be operating in.

The feet are enlarged by 10% to spread the weight of the machine onto a larger surface; the increase in contact surface reduces the ground pressure and risk of getting stuck in snow. Additionally, there are retractable studs mounted in the feet to provide better grip in icy and slippery surfaces. It is equipped with domestically produced RM-160 jet thrusters, with enlarged intakes and vectored nozzle. Cowlings are mounted on intakes and heat vents to prevent clogging by heavy snowfall and ice forming. Since heavy snowfall and snowstorms can affect wireless communication, an extra communications antenna are fitted to the head. Internally, several radiators are removed and in its place, heaters are installed to prevent moving parts freezing and getting stuck.

Armament:

-Chin-mounted turret with a RT-62 revolver cannon, used to destroy lightly armored targets, and intercept guided munitions.

-Mgk-70 450mm twin railgun. Licensed production of Maius Military Industries' original design. It has a fire-control radar mounted on top.

-Fmk-70 multi-tube missile launcher. Loaded with domestically produced RBS-series missiles.

Historical commentary:

As the alliance-plant war escalated and spread to more and more places on Earth, ZAFT military planners felt the need to be ready for the possibility that the theater of war might spread to freezing cold climate regions, and further development and modification will be needed to ensure ZAFT equipment can still function in these extreme conditions. Unfortunately for the strategists, none of ZAFT's allies have territories with these extreme conditions, and they obvious have little to no experience of operation and combat in arctic climates. Which meant ZAFT have no choice but to reach out to any third party that can fulfill the extremely strict requirement on secrecy and credibility, who PLANT can fully trust and can guarantee that any information they have would not be making it to the wrong hands. This eventually led to a clandestine collaboration between ZAFT and Winslet World Konzern, a multinational business headquartered in the officially neutral Kingdom of Scandinavia.

In the wilderness of ice cold Lapland, away from population centers(and prying eyes), WWK put the Bucue its paces to see how it performs on heavy snow and ice, and provide feedback to ZAFT to further develop and modify the Bucue to operate in the freezing environment. At the same time, they also gathered data and schematics on the machine, as payment for their service.

To date, there are still some discrepancies and gaps in the official records and paper trail regarding exactly how did PLANT and the Kingdom of Scandinavia reached an agreement to let WWK conduct the test, not to mention the clandestine technology transfer that took place when WWK gained access of the Bucue. With the untimely death of Siegel Clyne, the then Supreme Council Chairman, the secret followed him to the grave

The Kingdom of Scandinavia started producing a small number of Fenrir from early CE71, its number hampered by the lack of suitable OS for naturals. This meant that only a small number of Fenrir can be brought into service piloted by coordinators in the Royal Armed Forces, along with a handful of naturals who mostly uses the Bucue more as a big tank than a mobile suit. In mid-CE71 the Kingdom of Scandinavia was forced into the Earth Alliance, as a final act of defiance the pilots scuttled their machines, and any data they have is either deleted or transferred off-site. After the First Alliance-PLANT War, the Kingdom of Scandinavia can start to produce these in larger numbers, thanks to the development of natural-compatible operating system.

despite the Kingdom of Scandinavia being official neutral, ZAFT seems to trust them enough to send them the (at the time) state-of-the-art Bucue for testing, and adapting the machine for arctic climate.

Just in time with all the headlines surrounding Scandinavia and the Arctic I guess...

cross-posted from: https://ohai.social/users/augus/statuses/115928581130162056

HG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn (Destroy Mode)

(that's a mouthfull)

I went into this kit expecting extra work, but the result was worth it. It even came with an extra shield (from the Unicorn mode?). I do wish it came with some basic beams for the sabers and tonfas, though.

@gunpla

#gunpla #gundam #modelkits #plamo #mecha #HighGrade #GundamUnicorn

cross-posted from: https://ohai.social/users/augus/statuses/115888873923228056

MGSD Gundam Aerial

Finally figured something out for pictures, just in time to finish another Aerial.

This kit is super fun. The strange proportions highlight a lot of what I like about the original design, and the eyes are absolutely wild. The permet could stand out more, but I appreciate that I can swap between red and blue.

@gunpla

#gunpla #gwitch #gundam #modelkits #plamo #mecha #mgsd #SuperDeformed

Czechoslovakia might be long gone, but its creation survived, far into the future of giant robots and space colonies. This is ZAFT's Škorpion vz 61 sub-machine gun, with perhaps a compensator or extended barrel up front. It is fed from a 20rds magazine. It can switch between semi auto and full auto firing mode.

ZAFT also uses Glocks and off-brand M1911s, I guess their sidearm arsenal is basically one big 20th century nostalgia trip.

The contrast between super high-tech robots and spaceships, and old (even by today's standard) antique weapons is stark!