The Gaw (also spelled Gau) is an atmospheric attack carrier used by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. It appeared first in the Mobile Suit Gundam TV series, followed by The 08th MS Team and MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079.
The Gaw was a large bomber and transport aircraft developed by the Principality of Zeon for use in Earth's atmosphere. It was powered by a thermonuclear reactor that drove 18 thermonuclear jet engines, and the aircraft had almost infinite range. However, because the Gaw was designed using computer simulation like the Dopp, it could not support flight by lift alone and even at full speed relied on downward jet thrust for 30% of its lift. The Gaw was sluggish and had low mobility due to relying solely on its vertical tail stabilizer for steering.
The Gaw was used by the Principality of Zeon to help spearhead their Earth Attack Force, led by Colonel Garma Zabi. However, when the Earth Federation began producing mobile suits of their own, the vulnerability of these attack carriers would be exploited, including the moment when the Pegasus-class White Base used its mobile suits to shoot down Garma's Gaw after being deceived by Char Aznable false information.