SPACE PATROL CRAFT
宇宙哨戒機
SPACE PATROL CRAFT
Strawberry 9: During the Delaz Conflict, Magellan-class space battleships carried space patrol craft instead of mobile suits. The illustration shows “Strawberry 9,” a code-named craft that discovered a colony being hijacked by the remnants of the Principality’s forces, the Delaz Fleet, on November 10, 0083, at 21:08. However, it was shortly shot down by a mobile suit unit.
Until the early 80s, the Earth Federation Forces conducted space patrols using spacecraft or space fighters, not mobile suits. These were referred to as space patrol craft, sometimes called space patrol vessels.
These craft shared the same drawback as space fighters—they needed to carry a large amount of propellant for attitude control, which limited their maneuverability. This became a significant issue if these patrol craft engaged in combat, as they could quickly become incapacitated. This lack of maneuverability was particularly fatal in engagements with mobile suits.
It’s well-known that the Earth Federation Forces initially underestimated mobile suit strategy after the One Year War, and the use of space patrol craft continued under these circumstances. However, following the Delaz Uprising in 0083, mobile suits began to be utilized for all EWAC activities, including patrols, making the use of space patrol craft increasingly rare. The extended operational range of mobile suits post-One Year War significantly contributed to this shift.
Cockpit: The cockpit accommodates three crew members, with a navigational overhead console above the pilot’s seat (illustrated in the second row on the right). At the rear, to the left is a navigational screen, and to the right is an engineering console panel (illustrated at the bottom left; the illustration omits the bulkhead wall. The image at the bottom right shows the view from the front towards the rear, with a hatch to the airlock at the far end). These illustrations pertain to “Strawberry 9.”
