The Perfect Ship For A New Milennium – Gundam SEED’s LHM-BB03S Millennium
The Millennium was a Super Minerva-class battleship that withstood nuclear attacks, betrayals, and even armadas.
Of all the ships in the Gundam SEED era, the Millennium represents the single best glow up of the series. It was the successor to the LHM-BB01 Minerva, and is itself a “Super Minerva” ship. And it is an upgrade to the original in many ways. With newer, deadlier weapons, more engine power, and an armored bridge that’s even safer than the originals, the Millennium was the perfect ship for keeping the peace on Earth.
So much so, that this lone ship intercepted a nuclear assault, infiltrated a space fortress, and fended off a combined fleet of both Foundation and ZAFT forces. When her crew was working at their best, there was nothing the Millennium couldn’t accomplish.
Except for stopping that second nuke.
Gundam SEED Millennium – Putting The Battle In Battleship
The irony of a ship called the Millennium coming somewhere after or outside of the Universal Century is worth noting. Because the Millennium carries on the spirit of the brave, and often outgunned carrier at the heart of a good Gundam series, like the White Base, or the Argama. But the Millennium packs a surprising punch.
Armed with four QZX-2 Tannhauser positron cannons, the Millennium had some of the biggest weapons in the era mounted in its prow. The Tannhauser cannons were uniquei n that they could shoot in four different directions, allowing the Millennium to take on multiple foes with relative ease.
But its Tannhauser cannons were only one powerful part of the equation. The Millennium was a ship meant to fight (that’s how you know it was a peacekeeping ship). Along with the Tannhauser Cannons, it carried three dual beam cannon turrets, two mounted in front of the bridge and one behind, giving it a good field of fire. Hidden in a retractable turret was the Kurwenal Linear Cannon, which could provide a devastating punch if shotswere lined up. For point defense, it carried a battery of 40mm CIWS guns, capable of shooting down both incoming missiles and mobile suits.
On top of that, the Millennium carried four 2-barrel “wired gunbarrels” – a remote operated weapons pod that was usually outfitted with short range guns, but could be fitted with weapons suitable for all range attack. Rounding out the Super Minerva-class ship’s arsenal was an array of missile launchers, capable of launching a variety of missiles, including Neidhardt space missiles, Parsifal ground missiles, and Dispar interceptor missiles. Notably, these missiles could be “cold-launched”, left to activate their thrusters on a delayed timer, letting them work like propelled mines, set upon enemy targets unexpectedly.
The Best Defense Is A ShockHardened Ablative Crystal Shield Coupled With Anti-Beam Depth Charges
The Millennium might pack a powerful punch, but defensively, the ship was potent as well. One of the two signature defensive technologies aboard was the “depth charge” system. Modeled after naval depth charges, the Millennium’s depth charges were a little different in that they carried clouds of beam-dispersing particles which could protect the ship from enemy beam weapons.
But the other signature defensive tactic was the Ablative Gel. Much more iconic. This special goo was developed to help with atmospheric entry, serving as an ablative heat shield. But it could also be used to cover the ship in a layer of quick-hardening crystalline armor. The crystal shielding could withstand many weapons, including multiple hits from positron blaster cannons, like the Millennium’s own Tannhauser cannons.
The only downside is that the crystalline armor requires considerable resources and can typically only be used once per sortie before needing to resupply the ablative gel dischargers.
Set Your Compass By The New Millennium
The Millennium was, for the first part of its tour, the flagship of Compass. Designed for peacekeeping operations, the Super Minerva-class ship and complement of mobile suit were deployed against the radical group Blue Cosmos, who sought to eliminate the genetically enhanced “Coordinators”. Working with the Kingdom of Foundation, the Millennium was on operation when it intercepted a nuclear missile – an impressive feat that might have been the defining moment of the ship’s career.
Unfortunately there were two nukes. And the Millennium barely survived by diving into the sea. After the devastation of the “Eldore incident” the ship was impounded and Compass suspended. Until it was “hijacked” and reloaded with new mobile suits and weapons meant for a war. Because Foundation launched nuclear weapons at its own citizens, hoping to stoke the embers of conflict into the fires of war.
But the Millennium’s team was dedicated. And not only escaped Earth, they fought to the very heart of the rotten core in the Solar System, destroying the Foundation’s flagship, and enabling a commando team to destroy the massive superweapon known as Requiem.
Which just goes to show – when you see a single carrier, fighting against the odds? If you’re in a mobile suit, probably time to surrender or flee.
