Gundam Archives

The Dobday-Class: A Formidable Land Battleship

The Dobday-class land battleship was a behemoth of a machine, designed to serve as a mobile command post and artillery platform for the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. This massive vessel was propelled by two sets of massive caterpillar treads, giving it the ability to traverse even the most treacherous terrain.

Armaments and Defense

The Dobday-class was armed to the teeth, with a pair of twin heavy cannon turrets mounted on either side of the ship. These cannons were capable of firing massive shells at enemy positions, making them a formidable opponent on the battlefield. Additionally, the ship was equipped with multiple twin machine gun turrets, which provided close-range defense against enemy mobile suits and aircraft. The Dobday-class also had a missile launcher concealed in its hangar, which could be used to fire nuclear missiles at enemy targets.

Design and Development

The Dobday-class was designed with combat under Minovsky particle interference in mind. As such, its front bridge was placed high above the ship, providing better visibility for the crew. The ship’s use of caterpillar treads instead of thermonuclear jet engine-propelled hovercraft made it slower and less mobile than its Federation counterparts, but this was likely a deliberate design choice to reduce development time and costs.

Variants and Operational History

A variant of the Dobday-class was seen during Operation Odessa, which was propelled by three pairs of smaller caterpillar treads and armed with six twin machine gun turrets. The Dobday-class saw extensive action during the One Year War, with multiple ships serving on the European Front. One notable example was the flagship of M’Quve during Operation Odessa, which threatened to launch a nuclear missile at Federation Forces.

In-Game Appearances

The Dobday-class has appeared in several video games, including Gihren’s Greed: Menace of Axis V, Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon, and Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny.

Gallery

• Front view of the Dobday-class (Mobile Suit Gundam Episode 25)
• Preparing to launch nuclear missile (Mobile Suit Gundam Episode 25)
• Defensive cannons firing (MS IGLOO)
• Dobday-class cannons
• Dobday-class guns
• A Dobday being guarded by a trio of MS-13 Gasshias (Gihren’s Greed: Menace of Axis V)