Musai class

Class: Musai
Ships of the line: CC-45 Camel, CC-102 Falmer, Kuwamel, Swamel, Tokmel, Primus, Baromel, Remul, Brave, Schleswig, Wismar, Fuhlt
Unit type: light cruiser
Manufacturer: Principality of Zeon
Operator(s): Principality of Zeon; Neo Zeon
Rollout: July UC 0075
Dimensions: overall length 234.0 meters; overall width 98.4 meters; overall height 79.4 meters
Weight: unknown
Propulsion: unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Komusai shuttle
Fixed armaments: 3 x double mega particle cannon, mounted on midship; 2 x large missile launcher, mounted on midship; 10 x small missile launcher, mounted on midship
Mobile suits: 5 (3 in mobile suit hangar, 2 in Komusai shuttle)

The Principality of Zeon secretly developed the Musai class light cruiser in conjunction with its mobile suit program, and as such, the Musai had the distinction of being the first combat spaceship ever designed to carry and support mobile suits. Musai class cruisers were capable of transporting three mobile suits, and two additional mobile suits could be stored in the Musai‘s Komusai re-entry capsule. The Musai was armed with three twin mega particle cannon turrets and a battery of missile launchers, but it was heavily dependent on its mobile suit contingent to provide anti-fighter and anti-MS defense. A major flaw in the design of the Musai was the omission of any close-in weapons systems for point defense. This shortfall, however, was partially a result of the role the Musai is expected to play in battle – to support its mobile suits from long range. Musai class ships proved themselves superior in long-range combat repeatedly throughout the One Year War. Late war examples of the Musai removed one of the mega particle cannon turrets and increased the mobile suit complement to four. The post-war modified Musai class remained in service as late as UC 0096 with the Republic of Zeon and Neo Zeon, and the original Musai served as the inspiration for Neo Zeon’s Endra class.

Captain(s): Char Aznable (Falmer), Dren (Falmer)
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam
Original mechanical designer(s): Kunio Okawara (Mobile Suit Gundam version), Hajime Katoki (MS IGLOO version)

Rear view (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 2, lineart)