Yamato using the ARGO System
The ARGO (Asteroid Ring Generated Offence) system[1] is a defensive system ideated by Lt. Commander Shiro Sanada based on an external protection system created for Project Izumo. It utilizes magnetron probes to control a field of asteroids or debris to create a protective shield around a ship.
Technical Specifications[]
Magnetrone probes
The ARGO system uses magnetron probes to remotely control a field of asteroids or other types of debris. The asteroids can be rearranged to either form a protective substrate around a ship, creating a so-called "asteroid ship"; or to create a system of rapidly spinning rings capable of stopping incoming shots. The asteroids can also be arranged to protect specific parts of the ship.[1][2]
History[]
Originally, the space battleship Yamato was built as an evacuation vessel for Project Izumo. As such, the ship was to be equipped with an external passenger compartment. To protect this compartment, a large number of magnetron probes were to be carried by Yamato to use them to control a series of rocky bodies to make them adhere to the ship's hull, creating a layer of protection over the passenger compartment.[1]
Yamato uses the ARGO system to create a protective asteroid ring around itself
The ARGO system was created base off of this idea by Lt. Commander Sanada during the Yamato Revolt. As Yamato at the time did not have a working Wave-motion Shield, Sanada used the magnetron probes create an asteroid ship and a defensive ring around Yamato while using the small rocky bodies scattered troughout the Asteroid Belt to protect the battleship from Andromeda's shock cannon fire.[2] The system was again used during the Battle of the 11th planet to protect Yamato from the collapsing soil of Planet 11's canyon.[3] The ARGO system was again used during the Golem Assault Battle after Yamato managed to infiltrate the Ark of Destruction to protect the ship from a storm of Eater Is. However, a specially modified Eater l, commanded by Gatlantean General Chairman Razera, proved to be resistant to the ARGO system and was able to disperse it entirely, leaving Yamato to defend itself using shock cannons and remaining point defense systems.[4]
During cleanup operations six month after the battle, Ginga fired magnetron probes from its main turrets to clear asteroids from the remnants of the damaged moon.[5]
Notes[]
- The name ARGO system is probably a reference to "Argo", the international name used for the Yamato in the English adaptation of the original series.
- The system name implies that it was initially built as an offensive system, but it's unclear what type of offensive it would have carried out.[6]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Space Battleship Yamato 2202 Volume 2 Theater Brochure
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Clash! Yamato vs. Andromeda"
- ↑ "The Beam of Light Flashes! / Radiance of the Wave Motion Gun"
- ↑ "Yamato, Attack the Comet Empire!"
- ↑ "Earth, Yamato is..."
- ↑ Yamato Exterior Features taken from Hachette Collections Japan magazine
Japanese language information[]
ARGOシステム ARGO shisutemu