From Yamato 2199 to REBEL 3199, a series explaining the mechanics of battleships and other vessels appearing in the Space Battleship Yamato remake series. Part 20 features the Grodez-class Annihilation Battleship Grodez, the latest vessel of Dezarium. We delve into the mysteries of this top class, battleship, including its phase-shifting armor, stealth capabilities, and Infinite Beta Cannons.
Explanation: Yuka Minagawa
● Specifications & Performance
Total length: 444m
● Armament
Dual Infinite Beta Cannon x 1
Triple heavy nucleus beta turrets x 3
Bow torpedo tube x 6 (left and right 3 x 2)
Stern torpedo tube x 6 (left and right 3 x 2)
Side missile tubes x 12 (left and right 3 x 4)
Top missile tubes x 6 (3 x 2)
Bottom missile tubes x 4 (2 x 2)
Anti-aircraft machine guns x 12 (left and right 6 x 2)
and other internal armaments
● Carrier-based aircraft
Aircraft: Assault Fighter Caterpillar (planetary domination specs), disc-shaped destroyer fighter Alctea, etc.
Phase-shifting armor
The ship is capable of reconnaissance and surprise attacks using optical camouflage. Due to this capability and its hull shape, the ship is called the “Invisible Whale” by the Yamato side.
Garm-Biu
The ship uses phase-shifting armor to perform stealth engagements, and then drop Garm-Biu from close range to carry out a boarding attack.
Major Ranbel
Serves as the fleet commander and captain of the Grodez. Like major Alphon, he is considered an outlier within Dezarium.
Mind transfer room
Inside the ship is a capsule containing a spare body for major Alphon.
Capture field
It is also possible to surface at the dimensional boundary in close proximity to enemy ships, allowing crew members to infiltrate and escape. This function was used by major Alphon in the acquisition of the “fragment of Iscandar.“
Alctea
The Alctea deployed on this ship is officially classified as a type-3 disc-shaped destroyer fighter, but in the Dezarium tactical doctrine, it is positioned as a heavy dogfight fighter capable of conducting operations in both normal space and sub space environments.
Twin Infinite Beta Cannons
The chain reaction of energy explosions is comparable to he evaporation of micro black holes caused by the expansion of extra dimensions, possessing the same power as a Wave-Motion Gun.
Triple barrel Heavy Nucleon Beta Cannons
By causing heavy nucleons to decay in subspace, energy is amplified. Compared to the Heavy Nucleon Alpha Cannon, which generates a beam in normal space, it achieves high power and longer range.
The Grodez-class Annihilation Battleship Grodez is a state of the art vessel deployed in Dezarium’s plan to return to Earth.
Combat data from the Earth and Garmillas fleets (including Yamato) encountered during the Iscandar transfer plan in 2205 was heavily reflected in the design of this ship, resulting in a hull shape that sets it apart from conventional Dezarium vessels. Having abandoned wave energy in the past, Dezarium lost tactical information regarding the old-era space fleet due to the passage of several centuries and the unprecedented catastrophe known as the “great loss“ that struck their universe.
However, Mother Dezarium recovered its usefulness through fierce battles with the Earth and Garmillas fleets over Iscandar. Along with the development of this ship, it led to the establishment of a new fleet operation philosophy for Dezarium.
Traditionally, Dezarians used the automated planet Goruba as a mobile command center, with Pleiades-class ships serving as the flagships of their fleets. However, this ship was designed to fulfill both roles, incorporating the features of a mini Goruba in its battleship-size hull.
The hull employs phase-shifting armor with wave dampening capabilities comparable to that of Goruba, boasting overwhelming defensive power capable of withstanding even a direct hit from the Wave-Motion Gun. Furthermore, it possesses the ability to go completely stealth (invisible) by canceling out all electromagnetic waves, including visible light. The main generator for this phase-shifting armor is located around the bridge, and it is equipped with phase energy-radiating antennae on both side sides.
Furthermore, it is equipped with multiple small capture fields that are released into subspace. Like the Goruba, the capture fields extract phase energy from mid depth subspace and supply it to the ship’s phase cells
On the other hand, as a battleship it possesses superior maneuverability compared to the Pleiades Kai-class. A wide-range paddle-shaped projection is located on the lower center of the hull, equipped with three rectifying fins and four miniature stacked attitude control units. These, along with large thrusters located throughout the hull, allow for flexible attitude control and powerful propulsion.
The bridge, which functions as the headquarters, is equipped with a massive command screen that covers the entire floor. This not only displays various information, but also serves as a sophisticated command and control system that allows the captain, who also serves as the fleet commander, to issue direct orders to all ships under his command.
In terms of armament, the design clearly shows a strong influence from Yamato, and heavy armament was pursued. In particular, the twin Infinite Beta Cannons at the bow are a strategic weapon comparable to the Wave-Motion Gun.
The Infinite Beta Cannon releases the dimensional boundary surface along the firing axis, generating a dimensional fault. The energy gradient created between normal space (“A” space) and subspace (“Beta” space) through the dimensional fault causes a rapid energy outflow. However, the self-repairing action of the dimensional boundary surface closes the fault, and the energy returning to normal space induces a state of vacuum decay, causing a chain reaction of energy explosions along the firing axis and obliterating the target.
From these points of view, this ship can be positioned as a new-generation vessel that Dezarium has created by using phase energy technology to mimic and evolve wave energy-based battleships.
