GAT-X103 Buster Gundam

The GAT-X103 Buster is a heavy weapons assault mobile suit prototype developed by the Earth Alliance during the Bloody Valentine War under G Project. Like the other X100 series G prototypes (GAT-X102 Duel and GAT-X105 Strike), the Buster is based on an agile, non-transforming frame system (it is in fact based mostly on an application of the Duel's frame).

Buster was stolen by ZAFT pilot Dearka Elsman on Cosmic Era January 25, 71, and was used by him throughout the rest of the war. Dearka frequently dueled with TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero/FX-550 Skygrasper pilot Mu La Flaga, neither pilot able to gain a competitive advantage over the other, La Flaga's greater experience and skill balanced by Elsman's raw reflexes and superior machine. Elsman was shot down and captured, his mobile suit severely damaged, by the crew of Archangel in June 71, spent approximately a month in Archangel ' s brig and subsequently joined the Clyne Faction to bring about the end of the Bloody Valentine War. On the last day of the war, Dearka's mobile suit was severely damaged by the ZGMF-X13A Providence.

The artillery support paradigm which the Buster Gundam was designed around would be developed into a heavy long-range mobile suit, the GAT-X131 Calamity.

GAT/A-01E2 Buster Dagger
Supposedly a "mass produced" form of the X103 Buster, the Buster Dagger is an extremely rare unit during the First Bloody Valentine War, with one unit notably piloted by ace Rena "Sakura Burst" Imelia. Originally a concept design for a Striker Pack to be attached to the 105 Dagger, the design is eventually deemed to complex for a mere Striker Pack and developed as a Dagger in its own right - possibly explaining the obscure model number. Based on the 105 Dagger frame, the Buster Dagger equips the same 350mm gun-launcher and 94mm beam rifle as the prototype, but reduces its missile armament to a pair of 3-barrel launchers rather than Buster's 6-barrel versions; however, the Buster Dagger does add a pair of ES01 beam sabers, filling in the close-combat weakness of Buster itself. Rena's unit, with a few others, took part in the Second Battle of Jachin Due. Rena's unit was disabled in combat against Kira Yamato's ZGMF-X10A Freedom, and she later upgraded to the GAT-X133 Sword Calamity Unit 1.

GAT-X103 Buster
Manufacturer: Morgenroete, Inc/Earth Alliance User: Earth Alliance, Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty Unit type: Prototype long-distance artillery mobile suit Overall height: 18.86 meters Weight: 84.2 metric tons Special Equipment: Phase Shift armor Armament: 350mm gun launcher x 1, 94mm high-energy beam rifle x 1, 6-barrel 220mm missile pod x 2 Armament docked modes: 94mm hyper-impulse sniper rifle, 350mm anti-armor shotgun Pilot: Dearka Elsman

GAT/A-01E2 Buster Dagger
Manufacturer: Earth Alliance User: Earth Alliance Unit type: mass production long-distance artillery mobile suit Head height: 17.81 meters Weight: 80.7 metric tons Special Equipment: laminated armor (improved type of heat-resistant ablative gel DPX-30) Armament: 350mm gun launcher x 1, 94mm high-energy rifle x 1, 3-barrel 220mm missile pod x 2, ES01 beam saber x 2 Armament docked modes: 94mm hyper-impulse sniper rifle, 350mm anti-armor shotgun Pilot: Rena Imelia