Universal Century Superweapons
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At several points in the Universal Century (Gundam anime series) timeline nations and factions have used superweapons to achieve their goals. Below is a list and explanation of the known superweapons used in the UC era.
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[edit] Nuclear Weaponry
Nuclear weaponry was used periodically thoughtout the UC era, notably during the One Week War. Subsequent use of nuclear weaponry, although banned by the Antarctic Treaty, appears throughout the Universal Century.
- The One Week War: The Principality of Zeon uses Nuclear weaponry against Colony Sides 1, 2, & 4 in an effort to deny the Earth Federation the use of their armed service branches. The result is the complete annihilation of these sides.
- The Battle of Loum: The Principality of Zeon utilize nuclear equipped MS against the Earth Federal Space Force's 1st combined fleet. Heavy casualties are sustained by each side.
- Operation Odessa: Zeon Colonel M'quve launches a nuclear warhead at advancing Federation forces. The warhead was disarmed before it detonated.
- Operation Rubicon: A small Zeon fleet is loaded with nuclear weaponry and dispatched to Side 6's Libot Colony in anticipation of using the nuclear warhead; however the taskforce is intercepted by Federation patrols before they could use the device.
- Operation Stardust: An MK-82 nuclear device is captured by the Delaz Fleet and subsequently detonated in the middle of the Earth federal Space Force's fleet during a naval review. 1/4 of participating vessels are damaged or destroyed.
- Char's Counterattack: Londo Bell forces utilize 15 nuclear warheads in an effort to destroy the mining colony Axis
[edit] Biological Weaponry
Bioweaponry was used by the Principality of Zeon during the One Week War.
[edit] Chemical Weaponry
Chemical weaponry was used during three separate conflicts in the Universal Century. Since space colonies are completely enclosed the results of chemical weaponry were often disturbing to observe.
- One Week War: The Principality of Zeon use G3 nerve gas against Sides 1, 2, and 4.
- 30 Bunch Incident: The Titans shut of circulation to Side 1's 30 Bunch, massacring the entire colonies population. Although a complete press blackout was put in place to cover up the incident, the truth eventually emerged. This incident inspired the rise of the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG).
- Gryps Conflict:G3 nerve gas in 2 incidents during the war. The first was stopped by Katz Kobayashi when he managed to destroy the canister before it being released into a colony in Side 2. The second though was stopped too late, and the entire colony was killed instantly upon its release.
[edit] Space Weaponry
Although the Antarctic Treaty prohibited the use of NBC weaponry it did not stop the Principality or the Federation from trying to develop new superweapons for use against one another.
[edit] Colony Drop
One of the most devastating tactics used against the Earth Federation was the colony drop. Universal Century colonies are roughly 20 miles long and 4 miles wide, easily making these colonies the largest ballistic weapons ever built. Colony drops result in massive climate changes, land loss, and heavy causalties among those living in harms way.
- Operation British: The Zeon secure a defunct colony in an effort to destroy the Federation's subterrainian Jaburo base. The EFSF intervenes, and the colony's course is altered, causing it to fall on Sydney, Australia.
- Operation Stardust: The Delaz fleet captures two colony sides, setting one of them on a collision course with the moon; however the colony is swung around the moon and eventually falls on the earth in the Midwest part of the North American Continent.
- Operation Apollo: The Titans attempt to drop a colony on Von Braun on the moon, but fail after AEUG forces intervene.
- 1st Neo Zeon War: Haman Karn's forces drop a colony onto Dublin, Ireland.
- 2nd Neo Zeon War: Char Aznable's forces drop the mining asteroid 5th Luna onto Lhasa, Tibet. An attempt by the group to drop the mining asteroid Axis fails after Londo Bell forces intervene.
[edit] Solar System/Solar System II
Based on the Weapon devised by ancient inventor Archimedes, The Solar System, also called Solar Flare System, is a superweapon developed by the Earth Federation which uses a system of mirrors to focus sunlight onto an object in order to heat it to the point of fracture. The Federation used this weapon twice, once during the One Year War and again during the Delaz Fleet crisis.
- The Battle of Solomon: The Earth Federation deploys its 1st Solar System array at Solomon. During the battle Dozle Zabi attempted to destroy the system, but lost his life instead. Consists of four million individually adjustable mirrors that are controlled by computer-coordination.
- Operation Stardust: The Federation's 3rd Orbital Fleet deploys the Solar System II in an effort to destroy Island Iffish before it impacts earth. Anavel Gato intervenes, destroying the Solar System II control ship, and as a result the Solar System II fails to prevent the colony drop. Thanks to improved materials and more sophisticated control software, it Consists of only 408,000 mirrors resembling the shape of a plus sign, while retaining the destructive power of the first Solar System.
[edit] Solar Ray Cannon
Following the loss of Odessa and Solomon, the Zeon military was on the defensive. After witnessing the effectiveness of the Earth Federation's Solar System during the Battle of Solomon and fearing the Federation's next move would be a full-scale assault on the home colonies, Zeon's Supreme Commander Gihren Zabi ordered the construction of a massive solar powered beam projector known as the Solar Ray System. The project originally started in the Mahal colony in September 0079, exploiting the same loophole in the Antarctic Treaty as the Federation's Solar System. Supervised by Colonel Asakura, who also developed Zeon's lethal G3 nerve gas, solar batteries from other colonies were collected and a projection array was built within the colony walls. Although intended for use against the Federation this weapon was only used once against Degwin Sodo Zabi while his fleet and General Revil's fleet were meeting to negotiate a peace. The premeture firing of the Solar Ray Cannon by Gihren Zabi caused the Colony Laser to burn out, which contributed to the Principality of Zeon's loss during the Battle of A Baoa Qu by depriving Girhen and Kycilla Zabi the ability to strike at the Federation from a distance.
[edit] Gryps Colony Laser
Essentially a better version of the Solar Ray Cannon. To punish rebellious colonies without conventional invasion or the use of Chemical Weapons, Section 2 of the Gryps Colony was converted into a giant Laser Cannon. Unlike the Solar Ray which burned out after firing, the Gryps Colony Laser can fire indefinitely but requires a long time to recharge in between each shot. Power is supplied by an Array of Solar Panels while a thermonuclear pulse thruster provides mobility. It was first used by the Titans to destroy Colony 18 of Side 2 and later captured by Axis and used to eradicate the remnants of the Titans. It was soon destroyed after the conclusion of Operation Maelstrom and the end of the Gryps Conflict.
[edit] See also
| Universal Century |
|---|
| Anime |
| MS IGLOO | Mobile Suit Gundam | The 08th MS Team | 0080: War in the Pocket | 0083: Stardust Memory | Zeta Gundam | Gundam ZZ | Char's Counterattack | Gundam F91 | Victory Gundam | G-Saviour |
| Events |
| Pre-One Year War | One Year War | Post-One Year War | Operation Stardust | Gryps Conflict | Neo-Zeon Movements | Late U.C. |
| Topics |
| Comprehensive Episode Listing | List of Characters | Locations | Mobile Suit Variations | Mobile Suits | Nations and Factions | Newtypes and related technology | Superweapons | Technology | Warships and Spacecraft |
| Books |
| The Blue Destiny | Gundam Sentinel | Double-Fake | Gundam Unicorn | Hathaway's Flash | Crossbone Gundam | Gaia Gear |
| Alternate Timelines |
| Future Century | After Colony | After War | Turn A Gundam | SD Gundam | Cosmic Era |
