The Yamato squadron is a fighter unit based on the Yamato-class battleship Yamato. It was formed in February 2199 and joined Yamato on its journey to Iscandar during the Great Garmillas War. It was origianally uinder the command of Lieutenant Junior Grade Saburo Kato until his death in June of 2203. By October 2205, it's under the command of Lieutenant Akira Yamamoto, with the callsign Yankee Leader.
Organization[]
The Yamato squadron is the air force unit associated with the space battleship Yamato. It is organized under the ship's tactics department and is led by a flight commander and their deputy, with overall command residing with the battleship's tactics officer.[5] The first flight commander was Lieutenant Junior Grade Saburo Kato, who served from the Yamato's launch[1] until his death in 2203.[4] He was succeeded by Lieutenant Akira Yamamoto.[3] Lieutenant J.G. Hiroki Shinohara served as Kato's deputy[6] until 2203, at which point he was transferred to the Hyuga and replaced by Lieutenant J.G. Sho Sawamura.[7]
During the Garmillas War, the squadron was divided into four groups, designated by the callsigns "Alpha," "Bravo," "Charlie,"[N 1] and "Delta." Tactics officer Kodai used the callsign "Alpha 01," Kato was assigned "Bravo 01," and Shinohara took the callsign "Charlie 01." Notably, the Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie groups were represented by symbols painted on their respective leaders' fighters.[5]
Following the establishment of the 65th Escort Corps, the number of fighters on the Yamato was reduced.[8] Each ship in the fleet adopted callsigns that began with the same letter as the ship's name; consequently, the Yamato squadron used the callsign "Yankee."[9] Yamamoto used the callsign "Yankee Leader".[3]
History[]
2199: Great Garmillas War[]
Yamato squadron heads for air battle
In February 2199, thirty-six (3 squadrons) of Cosmo Falcons and two Cosmo Zeros were on board the Yamato at the time of her departure.[1][10] The Yamato squadron under the command of Lieutenant Kato saw significant action throughout the Yamato's journey to Iscandar, especially during Operation M2, the Battle of the Rainbow Star Cluster, the Battle of the Imperial Capital, and the Battle of Shambleau.[5][11][12][13]
2202: Journey to Terezart[]
In December 2202, eighteen Cosmo Tiger IIs, one Cosmo Tiger I, one Czvarke and two Cosmo Zeros were aboard the Yamato at the time of her mutiny.[14] The Yamato squadron participated in the battle of the 11th planet to protect the Yamato during its evacuation.[15] On March 26, 2203, rookie squadron pilot Jiro Tsurumi, used a Cosmo Tiger II with a warp booster and participated in Liberation of Terezart with the Yamato and the 7th Space Cavalry Regiment. However, Tsurumi was seriously injured during the battle and died after receiving medical treatment.[16][17][18]
2203: Gatlantis War[]
Yamato squadron and space cavalry during the final battle
After the Yamato crashed into the White Comet during the Battle of Saturn in May 2203, all evacuated Yamato pilots were transferred to the cruiser Ginga and the aircraft carrier Antares.[19] In early June 2203, after Yamato successfully returned and received a second refit, all the transferred pilots were returned to Yamato and participated in the final battle where Lieutenant Kato died fighting Chairman Razera.[20][4]
2205: Iscandar Incident[]
The Yamato squadron arrive on Iscandar
In October 2205, Yamato squadron under the command of Lieutenant Yamamoto participated in the 65th Escort Fleet's trip to the Salezar System escorting the Peace Corps. It conducted a combat simulation exercise before joining up with the Escort Corps on training day 1 around the Moon with the Hyuga's squadron, space troop landing exercise with the Space Cavalry 65th Special Task Force on 7 days of training around Saturn's moon, Titan.[3] Yamato squadron fought in the Rescue of Iscandar to protect the Garmillas Immigration Fleet. It was later tasked with diverting the attention of Dezarium's forces in the Battle in the Vorzon System, Immigrant Fleet Rescue Operation, and the Rescue Operation for Leader Desler.[21][22][23]
2207: Dezariam Invasion of Earth[]
The 65th Escort Corps was dissolved following the Iscandar Incident, leading to the reassignment of its personnel, including some pilots from the Yamato squadron.[24] Yamamoto remained the flight commander of the squadron and transferred to the Icarus Observatory along with the Yamato.[25]
There, she trained new pilot recruits,[26] including young pilot Takeshi Ageha.[25] In October 2207, after the Yamato took off from the facility and the Special Task Force Under the Commander was disbanded, the Yamato squadron received new Cosmo Pythons from the departing Asuka.[27]
Composition[]
2199[]
- 36 Cosmo Falcons (2 spares)[28]
- 2 Cosmo Zeros[29]
2202-2203[]
- 36 Cosmo Tiger IIs (2 spares)[30]
- 2 Cosmo Zero[31]
- 1 Cosmo Tiger I[31]
- 1 Czvarke[31]
2205[]
- 18 Cosmo Tiger IIs (2 spares)[32]
- 1 Cosmo Zero[33]
2207[]
- 1 Cosmo Zero[34]
- 8 Cosmo Tiger IIs + spares[34]
- 6 Cosmo Pythons + spares[34]
Behind the scenes[]
The callsigns used by the Yamato squadron are taken from the NATO phonetic alphabet.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Toward a Sea of Stars"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Clash! Yamato vs. Andromeda"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Yamato, a New Departure!!"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Yamato, Attack the Comet Empire!"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "The Trap on All Sides"
- ↑ Official Space Battleship Yamato 2199 website Character entry for Hiroki Shinohara
- ↑ starblazers-yamato.net CHARACTERS Space Battleship Yamato 2205: A New Journey
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato Mechanics 1st Part: Space Battleship Yamato
- ↑ starblazers-yamato.net MECHANIC Be Forever Yamato: REBEL 3199 chapter 2 entry for the Cosmo Tiger II (archived on Cosmo DNA)
- ↑ Yamato 2199 BD/DVD Volume 4 booklet, p. 5
- ↑ "Under a Rainbow Sun"
- ↑ "One Man's War"
- ↑ "Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark"
- ↑ "Clash! Yamato vs. Andromeda"
- ↑ "Battle to the Death – The 11th Planet Rescue Operation"
- ↑ "The Terezart Landing Operation – Crush the Enemy Missile Fleet!"
- ↑ "Zurvival's Fierce Assault - Find Teresa"
- ↑ "O Teresa, Cry for Dessler!"
- ↑ "Heir to the Yamato, Her Name is Ginga"
- ↑ "The Fated Showdown!"
- ↑ "Emergency Order! Yamato, Shoot Iscandar!!"
- ↑ "Immigrant Fleet Rescue Operation. Go Beyond the Dimensional Wall!"
- ↑ "Hello Sasha"
- ↑ "Begin the Secret Operation! Head for the New Yamato!"
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Fire the Starting Gun! The New Battleship Yamato Comes to Life!"
- ↑ starblazers-yamato.net CHARACTERS Star Blazers REBEL 3199 first entry for Akira Yamamoto (archived on Cosmo DNA)
- ↑ "Alphon Infiltrates! Get Back Sasha!"
- ↑ Yamato 2199 BD/DVD Volume 4 booklet, p. 5
- ↑ Official Space Battleship Yamato 2199 website ship data
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love Chapter 3 theater pamphlet, p. 12
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Official Space Battleship Yamato 2202 website ship data
- ↑ Official Space Battleship Yamato 2205 website ship data
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2202 Complete Works Vol.1 p.3
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 starblazers-yamato MECHANIC Be Forever Yamato: REBEL 3199 chapter 2 entry for Yamato (archived on Cosmo DNA)
- ↑ "Charlie" is mispelled as "Charry" on-screen in "The Trap on All Sides"
Japanese language information[]
ヤマト航空隊 Yamato kōkū-tai