Magella Attack
The Magella Attack is a main battle tank deployed by the Principality of Zeon in the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Designed to provide fire support for expensive Mobile Suits during the One Year War, it functions similarly to a self-propelled gun. It features a unique modular design capable of separating its upper turret into an independent flying unit.
Overview
The Magella Attack is a main battle tank deployed by the Principality of Zeon in the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Designed to provide fire support for expensive Mobile Suits during the One Year War, it functions similarly to a self-propelled gun. It features a unique modular design capable of separating its upper turret into an independent flying unit.
Appearance
The vehicle consists of two main modules: the Magella Base lower chassis and the Magella Top upper turret. The Magella Top incorporates a single heavy main gun, a cockpit, VTOL engines, and wings. Depending on the deployment zone, some units feature smoke dischargers on the upper base or wing roots, as well as modified exhaust vents designed for desert environments. Early prototype models possessed an asymmetrical upper layout with the cannon and cockpit set to opposite sides.
Abilities
The tank is armed with a 175mm recoilless rifle mounted on the Magella Top and a 3-barrel 35mm machine gun on the Magella Base. Its key operational feature is the ability to detach the Magella Top into a standalone aircraft capable of roughly five minutes of flight, though it cannot reattach in the field. The main 175mm rifle can also be modified into a handheld MS weapon known as the Magella Top Cannon.
Background
Developed for Zeon's Earth invasion force, the Magella Attack originated from earlier designs such as the M1 Tank and its prototypes. Throughout the One Year War, it saw widespread use on Earth against Federation troops, including the White Base. Due to field supply conditions, chassis and turrets were often repurposed into makeshift units; damaged bases combined with Zaku upper bodies formed the Zaku Tank (MS-06V), while detached turrets were sometimes mounted onto transport trucks. Other specialized variants included anti-aircraft and mortar configurations.
Relationships
The tank was operated by Zeon personnel such as Bone Abst and Crowd Hamon during combat against the White Base crew. On the battlefield, it served alongside Zaku Mobile Suits, providing heavy fire support and contributing structural parts to combine with damaged Zakus for field repairs.
Trivia
Although the turret is generally depicted as fixed in place without rotation, certain spin-off media portray the Magella Top swiveling to fire toward its sides. Setting materials identify its developer as the Magellawerke company.