Izumo class (Kusanagi)

The Orb Union’s weapons research led to the creation of a new type of battleship: the Izumo class. This new battleship design also served as the basis for the Earth Alliance’s Archangel class. While the Kusanagi was operated by the Athha family, the Izumo belonged to another of Orb’s ruling families, the Sahakus. The Kusanagi‘s unique design allowed it to be split apart into five smaller modules. Because it was the inspiration for the Archangel class, much of its weaponry and internal design was the same. In June C.E. 71, the Kusanagi‘s modules were launched into space following the Alliance’s invasion of Orb and the self-destruction of the Kaguya mass driver. Once combined in space, the Kusanagi joined with the Archangel and the Eternal to form the Three Ships Alliance, a faction independent of ZAFT and the Alliance that was dedicated to ending the Bloody Valentine War. The Kusanagi‘s main mobile suit complement consisted of the mass produced MBF-M1 M1 Astray, but it also carried Cagalli Yula Athha’s MBF-02 Strike Rouge. The Kusanagi remained in space and returned to active service when the Three Ships Alliance intervened again during the Second Bloody Valentine War two years later.