Neo-Zeon Main Fleet (Char's Counterattack)

[SOCL]

I was reading the liner notes to my DVD copy of Char's Counterattack last night and there something it mentioned that struck me as odd. The narrative of the war on the first two pages describes the main Neo-Zeon fleet departing Sweetwater for Luna II as part of the terms of the treaty hashed out at Londenion, which then attacked the forces at Luna II. Simultaneously Char left Sweetwater with his flagship and some of the other ships to attack Axis. After that, the notes state, the main fleet rendezvoused with Char at Axis.

Okay, there's one problem I have that. The notes state that the main fleet returned from Luna II to rendezvous with Char, but it was my understanding that the main fleet did not actually leave for Luna II; that, in fact, the main fleet went with Char directly to Axis. What Neo-Zeon sent to Luna II was, in point of fact, a dummy fleet (yes, I know we all know this) with what appears to be just two cruisers, the Musaka and another of the same class (the one carrying the nukes, the same cruiser that Amuro discovered docked at Axis and destroyed). Now during the subsequent engagements over Axis, Londo Bell initially took the Federation forces to be Neo-Zeon reinforcements from Luna II.

So here are my the questions:
1. Did I misunderstand where the main fleet actually was? Did the "main fleet" actually go with the dummy fleet? It was my impression it was just two cruisers that caught the Federal forces at Luna II completely flatfooted (I say two cruisers since that's what we see departing Luna II in a later scene.), meaning that the main fleet went with Char to Axis. The liner notes imply that the main fleet went to Luna II, but this seems incorrect to me.
2. When Londo Bell worries the approaching mobile suits might be Neo-Zeon reinforcements, is that an indication that a larger fleet went to Luna II and occupied it off camera or is it just the fog-of-war at work? I have personally always believed the latter, but after reading the DVD liner notes, I'm wondering if maybe I always misunderstood the situation.

[toysdream]

Yep, the fleet that goes to Luna II is the main fleet. Of the roughly 13 Musaka cruisers in the Neo Zeon fleet, only three go with the Rewloola to Axis; the remaining ten or so, accompanied by dummies of the Rewloola and its escorts, proceed to Luna II.

Exactly how many real Musakas are there at Luna II? When the Federation recon team flies by the Neo Zeon fleet, we see at least nine real ships, and when the Neo Zeons launch their first attack wave we see 20 mobile suits. If there are ten ships, that's two from each.

This makes sense, really, As unprepared as the Luna II forces are, this is still a major Federation base with a garrison fleet guarding it, while Axis is virtually undefended.

-- Mark

[SOCL]

Yep, the fleet that goes to Luna II is the main fleet. Of the roughly 13 Musaka cruisers in the Neo Zeon fleet, only three go with the Rewloola to Axis; the remaining ten or so, accompanied by dummies of the Rewloola and its escorts, proceed to Luna II.

Exactly how many real Musakas are there at Luna II? When the Federation recon team flies by the Neo Zeon fleet, we see at least nine real ships, and when the Neo Zeons launch their first attack wave we see 20 mobile suits. If there are ten ships, that's two from each.

This makes sense, really, As unprepared as the Luna II forces are, this is still a major Federation base with a garrison fleet guarding it, while Axis is virtually undefended.

-- Mark

That's more or less what I figured, after reading the liner notes. In truth, part of the reason I posted here was to see if I could a respond from the man himself, so I'm glad you noticed this Mark -- I was definitely a little confused.

So there's that small shot we see of the Musaka and at least one other cruiser departing Luna II. What happened to the rest? Did they occupy and/or remain at Luna II, or perhaps depart for Axis off camera? In other words, when Bright expresses concern that the mobile suits approaching from the far side of Earth might be enemy reinforcements, is his concern justified?

[toysdream]

Probably the other Musakas went on ahead. We know that Musaka IV - the one carrying the captured nukes - travels much more slowly than the rest of the fleet, and it doesn't actually reach Axis until the middle of the final battle. If Nanai's Musaka stayed behind to supervise the loading of the nukes - which would seem like the responsible thing to do - then we're probably seeing the last two ships leaving Luna II, after which Nanai's ship rushes ahead to catch up with the rest of the main fleet.

Incidentally, the logistics of Char's Counterattack are somewhat complicated by the fact that nobody knows where Sweetwater is.

-- Mark

[SOCL]

Probably the other Musakas went on ahead. We know that Musaka IV - the one carrying the captured nukes - travels much more slowly than the rest of the fleet, and it doesn't actually reach Axis until the middle of the final battle. If Nanai's Musaka stayed behind to supervise the loading of the nukes - which would seem like the responsible thing to do - then we're probably seeing the last two ships leaving Luna II, after which Nanai's ship rushes ahead to catch up with the rest of the main fleet.

That was essentially where my thoughts were going. This is great and helps clear up a lot -- thank you, Mark!

Incidentally, the logistics of Char's Counterattack are somewhat complicated by the fact that nobody knows where Sweetwater is.

Fascinating! I had wondered about that, too, but had taken for granted that it was at Side 3 based on the booklet that came with the movie DVD.