For the comparable battle Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato see Battle of Saturn (Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato) in Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love, see Battle of Saturn (2199).
The Battle of Saturn was the largest battle ever fought in the Earth-White Comet Empire War conflict, involving the Earth Defense Forces and the White Comet Empire. The White Comet Empire led by Emperor Zwordar’s most trusted and skilled fleet commander, Admiral Valsey himself, who brought a large number of space carriers, battleships, and numerous smaller vessels to bear against the humans, whose own forces were considerably smaller and had less advanced firepower than the invading enemy.
The Yamato’s Surprise Attack on the Carrier Fleet[]
The White Comet Empire's plan was to attack with their Scorpion-type Strike Fighters which had twice the range of EDF fighters, and would destroy or mortally wound the EDF fleet before the latter's large capital ships could get a bead on their counterparts. However, thanks to a surprise attack launched by the Yamato and an accompanying EDF carrier fleet, the Comet Empire's carrier fleet was completely and quickly eliminated, before they had a chance launch from their mother ships, while the heavily damaged carrier fleet flagship’s own commander Admiral Gern decided to commit suicide right before his flagship exploded. The remaining carriers and their escorts were quickly dealt with soon after by the space battleship Yamato’s guns. Susumu Kodai immediately reported to EDF Commander Ryu Hijikata that the attack was a success and would soon join the flagship Andromeda in the main battle. The EDF forces took advantage of the fact that the Empire had positioned its carriers sufficiently far behind the rest of their fleet as to make it impractical to support them when the Earth Defense Fleet sprung its daring surprise attack. Admiral Valsey soon receive’s word of the carrier fleet’s and Admiral Gern’s demise at the hands of the Humans, causing some concern among some of his own officers, yet Admiral Valsey remains calm and orders his fleet to continue forwards determined to strike a swift and easy victory.
Earth’s Battle With The Valsey Fleet[]
The Hyperion fleet attacking Admiral Valsey's fleet.
At the start of the battle the Andromeda’s captain Ryu Hijikata, immediately ordered the Hyperion Fleet led by the flagship Hyperion to slow down the main enemy fleet’s advance.
However, Admiral Valsey anticipating this, realizes what was happening, and immediately orders his ships to intercept the Hyperion Fleet and destroy them first.
The Hyperion fleet attacks, but their weapons barrages unfortunately missed, as the Comet Empire fleet returns fire, and one by one they destroy all Hyperion Fleet ships and killing everyone aboard the Hyperion. Afterwards the flagship of the Comet Empire Medaluza began regrouping all ships while attempting to break through the middle of the main Earth fleet and crush the remaining ships. However, the Earth fleet was moving into attack position. Seeing this, Admiral Valsey immediately ordered the Medaluza’s primary burst energy direct transport magma flamestrike cannon to fire. As it did, many Earth warships were instantly destroyed, forcing the Andromeda and the rest of Earth fleet to retreat to Saturn's ring. As it did so, Admiral Valsey gave the order for his forces to pursue the fleeing Earth ships.
It was at that time that the Yamato and the space carrier fleet came to assist the fleet by launching fighters destroying some of the Comet Empire ships. In the asteroid ice rings surrounding Saturn, the Comet Empire's fleet was damaged by firing the cannon, including the Medaluza herself. Realizing that the element of surprise was back on their side, Ryu Hijikata ordered the Earth fleet to swing around and counterattack the disoriented enemy fleet. The Earth fleet acted accordingly and turned around and fired at the Comet Empire's fleet, destroying many ships with their shock cannons, leaving only the Valsey’s flagship the Medaluza, which attempted to flee, with the Andromeda and her fleet in hot pursuit. Valsey was shocked upon being informed that his entire fleet was wiped out and that the space battleship Yamato and her carriers had finally managed to caught up with them and were literally right in front of them, effectively blocking their escape.
Admiral Valsey's final moments before his death.
Refusing to surrender and seeing no other options but to turn and fight, Valsey immediately ordered his flagship to swiftly swing around and target the Earth flagship Andromeda, intending to take them down with them.
The Medaluza then made a suicidal attack on the Earth fleet flagship Andromeda, it’s weapons missing her. The Earth fleet on Ryu Hijikata’s order immediately returned fire and continued to mercilessly pound on the Medaluza until she exploded, taking along with Admiral Valsey, who begged Emperor Zwordar for forgiveness, before perishing in the massive explosion.
The White Comet Empire Revealed and Andromeda’s Last Stand[]
The White Comet arrived too late to avert the Comet Empire fleet's loss, but attacked the Earth fleet, destroying the EDF carriers, and critically damaging the Yamato.
The Earth fleet firing their Wave Motion Guns at Gatlantis.
The Andromeda and the remaining Earth battleships closed formation and prepared their wave motion guns. At Ryu Hijikata’s order, the fleet instantaneously opens fire, hitting the target dead on.
However, this does not damage the comet whatsoever. Commander Ryu Hijikata and crew aboard the Andromeda are all shocked and horrified upon seeing the smoke clear as the White Comet Empire reveals itself as a massive, artificial city spaceship named Gatlantis.
The Earth fleet charges at the massive mechanical monstrosity, but Gatlantis returns fire with heavy torpedoe volleys that destroy every single Earth vessel, and thus crippling the Andromeda. Ryu Hijikata realizing his fatal mistake, immediately radios the Yamato, giving them advice to remember to attack the bottom of the enemy fortress while urgently telling them to fight and survive. The Andromeda soon perishes while attempting a last ditch ram towards the enemy fortresses bottom, only to graze the revolving rim and be destroyed, leaving the White Comet Empire victorious.
Aftermath[]
With Earth’s own fleet annihilated, the White Comet Empire continued on their course towards Earth unopposed. The Yamato had to be repaired on one of Saturn’s surviving hidden moon bases, and her acting captain Susumu Kodai was injured, but still alive.
Gallery[]
References[]
Trivia[]
The Battle of Saturn was the largest battle in the original series to date.