Gundam Archives

The Public-Class: A Game-Changer in Space Warfare

In the midst of the One Year War, the Earth Federation’s Space Force faced a daunting challenge: countering the Principality of Zeon’s mobile suits, such as the MS-05 Zaku I and MS-06 Zaku II. To address this threat, the Federation developed the Public-Class, a space assault ship designed to support the main fleet of Salamis-Class cruisers and Magellan-Class battleships.

Design and Capabilities

The Public-Class is a straightforward, no-frills vessel, built around a shuttle design. Its primary armament consists of a pair of large capital ship-grade missiles, ideal for hit-and-run attacks against large, slow-maneuvering targets like enemy capital ships. These missiles can be replaced with beam diffusion missiles, which create a particle curtain to neutralize beam attacks from all directions. The ship’s cluster of large boosters at the rear enables high-speed retreat after firing its missiles. While extremely fast, the Public-Class has poor armor and maneuverability.

Armaments

The Public-Class boasts an array of armaments, including:

• Anti-ship missiles for targeting large, slow-maneuvering vessels
• Beam diffusion missiles to neutralize beam attacks
• Six-tube missile launchers for engaging smaller, agile targets like mobile weapons

Combat History

The Public-Class played a significant role in several key battles, including the Battle of Solomon, where it deployed a beam diffusion curtain, allowing Federation vessels to close in on the space fortress. During the Battle of A Baoa Qu, the Public-Class attempted to create a beam diffusion curtain, but with limited success.

Trivia

• Gunboat pilots are known for exclaiming “Public Units Launching!” before firing their missiles.
• In the game Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space, the Public-Class has 4 nose-mounted machine guns.

Appearances

The Public-Class has appeared in various games, including Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space, Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon ~Dual Stars of Carnage~, and Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link.