Code-named Operation M2, the Attack on the Garmillas Pluto Base[5] was a pivotal battle which changed the fate of Earth during the Great Garmillas War. The crew of the Yamato launched this attack on Garmillas' Pluto Base to disrupt future planet bomb attacks which ravaged Earth prior to the Yamato's launch. By rendering the base useless, Earth is finally relieved of any potential planet bomb attacks. After the battle, Yamato and its crew continues it's voyage to Iscandar.
Prelude[]
The Reflective Satellite Cannon, the activation mechanism for the Planet bombs
Discovering the destruction of the Jupiter floating continent nursery and retrieving combat footage from a skirmish on the moon of Enceladus, Colonel Valcke Schulz resolved to lure the Yamato to the Pluto base, reasoning that the ship would not ignore it for its use in devastating Earth. Ordering another planet bomb launch to further goad the Terran battleship into an attack, Schulz also planned another use for the asteroid redirecting cannon and reflective satellite system as an offensive and defensive weapon.[3]
This baiting was successful: Admiral Juzo Okita went against his plan of avoiding unnecessary combat to eliminate the base and to buy Earth time for the ship's return from Iscandar. However, they were unable to narrow down the base's location to fewer than 18 separate points on the surface. The plan of battle was to use an early launch of Yamato's attack squadron, who would loop around Nix's orbit, stealthily arrive at Pluto, and search for the base while Yamato drew the enemy's attention, relying on her Wave Motion Shields to avoid damage while getting close to provide fire support.[3]
The use of the Yamato's incredibly powerful Wave-motion Gun to take out the base in one shot was decided against, given that such an action would likely destroy Pluto and wreak havoc on the Solar System.[3]
The Battle[]
Surprise Attack[]
Launching her fighter squadron, Yamato began her path directly towards Pluto past Charon, Pluto's moon as the wing began its stealth approach. No ships appeared on the radar and all was quiet when suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, a powerful laser struck Yamato across her port side, mostly penetrating the shields and disabling the ship's onboard gravity. The ship attempted to move into what was believed to be the attack's blindspot on the other side of Pluto, but after adjusting the satellites another laser struck the Yamato amidships on her starboard side. This hit damaged the ship's propulsion, forcing an emergency landing in one of Pluto's frozen seas.[3]
Yamato is hit while hiding
Her shields nearly depleted, yet another hit struck Yamato's stern from above, sending onto its side, then nose up before it sank under the ice in what seemed to be a decisive victory for the Garmilas Pluto Base.[3] However, Okita, acting on the advise of science officer Sanada, decided to simply play dead while they waited for the squadron to locate and destroy the base, enacting repairs and recharging the shields. Schulz, falling for the ploy, prematurely reported the Yamato destroyed to Abelt Desler.[4]
Yamato Strikes Back[]
The Pluto Base's shield is deactivated
Meanwhile, the squadron had successfully approached Pluto's surface and split up to find their target, investigating each of the 18 heat signatures judged to be possible locations. Lieutenant J.G. Saburo Kato encountered anti-aircraft fire, losing his accompanying pilot and judging, incorrectly, that this was the main enemy base. Momentarily surprised, the Garmilas launched interceptors in response to the numerous sightings of Terran fighters, who reinforced Kato and engaged in a massive dogfight with the defending Garmilas planes. Susumu Kodai and Akira Yamamoto, meanwhile, spotted several enemy interceptors seemingly appearing out of thin air. Upon investigating, they discovered the real base hiding under a cloaking field. Together they destroyed the generators, disabling the field, and finally revealing the target to Yamato. Readying missiles, the bruised but unbeaten battleship surfaced to fire, belly up to expose its launch tubes.[4]
Yamato unloads its entire payload on the enemy base
Schulz, now completely caught off balance, ordered another laser strike, but Yamato's crew had figured out the laser's reliance on its reflective satellites. By intercepting command signals, they targeted and destroyed one with missiles just before it could direct the beam, causing a miss. Firing the cannon also exposed its location, so Yamato responded with a full broadside of Type-3 ballistic shells, wiping out the laser emitter just as it fired again. Moving out of the impact zone, dodging the final laser, Yamato took to the sky, unleashing a full barrage of shells and missiles that began to rapid level the base. Several Interplanetary Missile silos were hit, causing a massive secondary explosion which vaporized the entire base. Only four fleeing ships were left intact, including Schulz's own flagship Chevalier.[4]
Taking pursuit, Yamato switched to shock cannons and took out two of the heavy cruisers. The only remaining escort, Major Jarletora's heavy cruiser, then turned and fought Yamato head-on, trying to buy time for Schulz to escape. The ship was summarily destroyed by a salvo of shock cannon fire moments before Chevalier jumped to safety.[4]
Aftermath[]
With the base completely lost, Garmilas efforts to assault Earth were halted completely, putting an immediate ending to the planet bombings. This also massively raised the morale both back on Earth and on Yamato, knowing that Earth had finally struck a blow to Garmilas. Mission complete, Yamato soon left the solar system on her mission to Iscandar.[4]
However, this event also caught the attention of Desler himself, piquing an interest in this powerful and persistent Terran warship.[4]
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- The operation's name is translated as "Operation Me-2" in the official subtitles for Star Blazers Chronicle 2202.[6]
References[]
- ↑ The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202
- ↑ Day count at the end of "The Trap on All Sides"
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 "The Trap on All Sides"
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 "The Sun Sets on Pluto"
- ↑ Trajectory of YAMATO official 2024 calendar
- ↑ The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202
Japanese language information[]
- メ2号作戦 Me 2-gō sakusen (Operation M2)
- ガミラス冥王星基地を攻撃 Gamirasu meiōsei kichi o kōgeki (Attack on the Garmillas Pluto Base)