USS Argo

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USS Argo
The USS Argo in Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Targets King Ghidorah, Rodan
Piloted by Diane Foster
Attaches to Osprey
First appearance Godzilla: King of the Monsters

The USS Argo is Monarch's flying fortress that appears in the 2019 Legendary Pictures film Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

The flagship of Monarch's military G-Team, the Argo saw action in 2019 when it was deployed to Antarctica to search for Alan Jonah and the stolen Orca. The Argo was involved in subsequent battles against King Ghidorah and Rodan, and assisted Godzilla in his final confrontation against his three-headed nemesis in Boston.

Name

The Argo is named after the ship used by the Argonauts from Greek mythology, who assisted the hero Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece. This could be a tribute to the film adaptation of the legend, which featured stop-motion monster effects by renowned effects artist Ray Harryhausen.

Appearance

On the surface, the Argo somewhat resembles an enlarged B-2 stealth bomber. It is triangular in shape and has a set of rockets on its rear for propulsion. Internally, the Argo has a large control room at its front manned by at least four pilots under the command of Colonel Diane Foster. The control room is large enough to serve as a mobile headquarters for Monarch. During high-risk situations, the Argo is guarded by Gold Squadron, a Monarch complement of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, the pilots of which are guided from the control room.

History

Monsterverse

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Once Monarch pinpointed the location of the Orca to Outpost 32 in Antarctica, it deployed the Argo under the command of Colonel Diane Foster. As it neared the airspace over Outpost 32, the Argo deployed two Ospreys to investigate and retrieve the stolen device. Monarch was unsuccessful, as Alan Jonah and his terrorist mercenaries unleashed the frozen Titan contained in the Outpost: the three-headed Monster Zero. The Argo intervened when Monster Zero threatened to destroy both Ospreys, opening fire on Monster Zero until he retreated to the sky. The Argo pursued Jonah's stolen Osprey to Isla de Mara, Mexico, where the winged Titan Rodan was subsequently unleashed from his slumber inside the island's volcano. To try and protect the nearby civilians as G-Team evacuated them, the Argo lured Rodan away into a dogfight with it and a squadron of Hornet and Lightning II fighter jets. The Argo attempted to lure Rodan into the path of the approaching Monster Zero in order to goad the two Titans into fighting over the ocean. Rodan wiped out the jets and nearly caught the Argo before being intercepted by Monster Zero. The Argo dove out of his path as he began battling with Rodan in midair. Mark Russell dropped an Osprey inside the Argo's hangar in order to break open the doors and allow G-Team's Osprey to make an emergency crash landing. However, Monster Zero defeated Rodan and began closing in on the Argo, only to be pulled underwater by Godzilla. The Argo was contacted by Admiral William Stenz, who informed Monarch that the military had launched the experimental Oxygen Destroyer in an attempt to kill both Titans. The Argo was forced to withdraw before the weapon impacted, seemingly killing Godzilla and leaving Monster Zero unharmed.

Aboard the Argo, Monarch witnessed as Monster Zero regenerated his severed left head and awakened all of the planet's dormant Titans with his call. Dr. Ilene Chen concluded that the creature, known as Ghidorah in ancient legends, was not of this Earth and was effectively an invasive species disrupting the natural order. When the Argo returned to Castle Bravo in Bermuda, it found Stenz and the U.S. Navy waiting. There, they formed a plan to combat Ghidorah and Rodan while a team of scientists tried to revive Godzilla with a nuclear torpedo. The Argo flew to Washington, D.C. to battle Ghidorah and Rodan, with the other team proving successful in reviving Godzilla though at the cost of Dr. Ishiro Serizawa's life. The Argo escorted the revitalized Godzilla into Boston, which was now under siege by Ghidorah. It assisted Godzilla in the battle and deployed an Osprey to allow Mark and G-Team to search for Mark's daughter Madison. When this Osprey was destroyed by Ghidorah, the Argo deployed a second Osprey to rescue all of the survivors. The Osprey returned to the Argo as Emma Russell gave her life to lure Ghidorah away. The Argo then watched from a safe distance as Godzilla slew Ghidorah and made all of the other Titans submit to his rule.

Capabilities

Flight

The Argo has nine thrusters which allow it to travel between continents without any apparent need to refuel. While its top speed is unknown, it would have been caught by the supersonic Rodan if not for the arrival of Ghidorah.

Missiles

The Argo has a total of six missile launchers, four at the base of its wings and two beneath the cockpit. These missiles were powerful enough to make Ghidorah flinch and roar out in pain.

Hangar

The Argo can launch several Ospreys from an onboard hangar. It can also house several tanks.[1]

Durability

Senior illustrator Matthew Cunningham envisioned the Argo as being made of "an advanced laminated polymer, something beyond carbon fiber. It could have a carbon nano-tube structure, making it a room-temperature super-conductor. The designers could strip out all the weight from the wiring and everything. The windshield could be some sort of shaped polycarbonate that eliminates the need for structural panels and reinforcement."[1] It was only slightly damaged by Ghidorah's wing lightning, which destroyed every other aircraft it made contact with.

Books

Godzilla vs. Kong: The Official Movie Novelization

The Argo brings Mark Russel to Hong Kong, before Kong and Godzilla's showdown and Mechagodzilla's reveal. While onborad, Mark Russel remembers the last time he was in the city, with Emma a few weeks pregnant with Madison.

Gallery

Concept Art

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Screenshots

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Merchandise

Trivia

References

This is a list of references for USS Argo. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Bernstein, Abbie (4 June 2019). The Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Titan Books. pp. 164, 166. ISBN 1789090687.

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