MRC-F20 SUMO

MRC-F20 SUMO, Strike Unit for Maneuver Operations mobile suit that appears in the anime series Turn A Gundam.

Technology & Combat Characteristics
SUMO is a acronym for Strike Unit for Maneuver Operations. The SUMO is a high performance, high mobility mobile suit. The SUMO is light weighted much like the Earth Militia's SYSTEM ∀-99 (WD-M01) ∀ Gundam. In fact, both the SUMO and the Turn A share the same pelvis cockpit system. Indeed, when Loran Cehack abandoned the Turn A with his Core Fighter, Gym Ghingham had a SUMO cockpit retrofitted onto the Turn A for use by his own forces.

Though the SUMO is designed mainly for use in space, it was proven to be quite versatile on Earth as well. The SUMO's hover systems allowed the unit to achieve great mobility even under the influence of Earth's gravity. Furthermore, the addition of a skirt-like flight booster enables the SUMO to achieve flight in the Earth's atmosphere, allowing the unit to function as a high mobility aerial mobile suit.

The SUMO's basic armaments consist of a powerful hand beam gun, as well as a heat fan that served as a melee weapon. In addition, the SUMO featured a unique armament located on the unit's left arm named the I-Field Generator, a device that allowed the SUMO to deploy an I-Field in the midst of battle. Aside from being used in a defensive manner, the SUMO's I-Field Generator can be used offensively by creating a powerful force field to hold another mobile suit in place. This force field is known as the "I-Field Banker."

Armaments

 * Hand Beam Gun
 * The hand beam gun is a handgun-like weapon that is held by the SUMO with one hand. Although the weapon is smaller than the traditional beam rifle, its abilities have been shown to match or even surpass some beam rifles. However the exact power output of the SUMO's beam gun is unknown. This weapon has been shown to be effective even in close quarters combat.


 * Heat Fan
 * The heat fan is a fan-shaped heat hawk that is used by the SUMO for close combat. Additionally, the heat fan can also emit a beam saber.

Special Equipment & Features

 * I-Field Generator
 * The I-Field Generator of the SUMO can deploy a I-Field to defend against beam attacks and possibly even physical attacks in the midst of battle. However, the SUMO'S I-Field Generator also has the unique ability of being used offensively by holding enemy mobile suits in place. This disabling force field created by the I-Field Generator is known as the "I-Field Banker." The SUMO's I-Field Generator is located on the unit's left arm.


 * Flight Booster
 * Although the SUMO can already achieve high speeds on Earth due to its hover systems. The addition of a Flight Booster can enable constant flight under the Earth's gravity, allowing the SUMO to function as a high mobility aerial mobile suit.

History
When the Dianna Counter forces arrived on Earth to begin colonization in C.C. 2345, they brought a variety of mobile suits with them, including the MRC-F20 SUMO. These units are mainly piloted by the elite pilots of the Royal Guards. The standard production model came in a silver color and was known as the "SUMO Silver Type."

One of the notable SUMO unit during the Earth/Moonrace conflict was the custom "SUMO Gold Type" piloted by Royal Guard Captain Harry Ord. Throughout the conflict in C.C. 2345, Harry Ord piloted the SUMO Gold Type against a variety of mobile suits, in which he had great success in most of his battles, even when outnumbered by the Ghingham Fleet's G-838 Mahiroo mobile suits. Much of the SUMO's full potential was shown by Harry Ord's piloting skills.