Nazca class destroyer - Definition and Overview

Nazca class mobile destroyer
Type	high speed mobile destroyer
Length	Approx. 250 meters
Armament	120cm high-energy beam cannon x2 66mm dual railgun x 2 450mm railgun x2 58mm CIWS x10 450mm Vertical Launch System x5
Mobile suits	6
Linear catapults	1
Ships of the class	Nazca, Vesalius, Heusinger, Helderton, Voltaire, Rousseau

In the anime series Gundam Seed, the Nazca-class high speed mobile destroyer is a fast, well-armed space warship in the ZAFT forces. It is heavily armed with two large beam guns, two medium dual rail guns, and 10 CIWS turrets, and has room in its hanger for up to six mobile suits. The Nazca class destroyer was superior in firepower to the Alliance's 250 metre class warships, carried the flag capabilities of an Agamemmnon class carrier, and was even faster than an Archangel class assault ship. Ships of the Nazca class commonly battled Archangel in space, though they - unlike their quarry - could not enter Earth's atmosphere.

One Nazca class vessel was the Vesalius, which served as the flagship of Rau Le Creuset's task force. After several battles with the Archangel, Vesalius was destroyed late in the war. In CE 73, another Nazca class destroyer, the Voltaire, served as the flagship of Yzak Joule, and was accompanied by its sister ship Rousseau in a failed attempt to destroy Junius Seven before it fell to Earth.

Vesalius is named for the 16th century physician Andreas Vesalius, who wrote the first complete textbook on human anatomy, and the Voltaire takes its name frome the pen name of 18th century philosopher François-Marie Arouet. The Rousseau is most likely named for 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The class itself is named for the Nazca culture of ancient Peru.