FD-03 Gustav Karl

FD-03 Gustav Karl
FD-03 Gustav Karl (FD-03 グスタフ・カール)
Unit Type
Mass Production General-Purpose Mobile Suit
Real World
OVA	MSG-UC: #7 - Episode #7
Movie	Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative
Manga	F90FF GNT(M)
Novel	Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash Gundam MS Graphica
Mechanical Designer	Yasuhiro Moriki (Novel) Kazumi Fujita (SD Gundam G Generation) Hajime Katoki (Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn) Eiji Komatsu (Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative)
Profile
First Seen	0096 U.C.
Manufacturer	Earth Federation
Operator	Earth Federation Forces
Known Pilots	Eiren
General Characteristics
Head Height	22.0 meters72.178 ft <br />866.142 in <br />
Max Weight	60.0 metric tons
Empty Weight	29.0 metric tons
Power-plant	Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor
Power Output	3425 kW4,593 hp <br />
Sensor Range	21300 meters69,881.89 ft <br />
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso)
Armor	Gundarium Alloy
Movement
Rocket Thrusters	79500 kg175,267.449 lb <br />87.634 tons <br />
Standard Armaments
Fixed	1-2 x Vulcan Gun 2-tube Grenade Launcher 2 x Beam Saber Flexible Shield
Handheld	Beam Rifle
Optional Armaments
Handheld	90mm Short Machine Gun

The FD-03 Gustav Karl is a mass-produced general purpose mobile suit introduced in the Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash novels. Redesigned versions appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn and Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

A direct successor to the RGM series, the Gustav Karl is developed by the Earth Federation as a next generation, mass production general-purpose mobile suit. However, it is developed along separate lines from the RGM-89 Jegan and is designed with a focus on enhanced operability under gravity.

The Gustav Karl is bigger and more heavily armored than the Jegan, but this did not hinder its versatility. To counteract the added weight, the suit has a higher output reactor, and multiple thrusters and attitude control verniers are placed throughout its body to maintain mobility and maneuverability. On paper, its specifications are much better than the Jegan's. The Gustav Karl has a simple armament consisting of vulcan guns, two beam sabers, a beam rifle, a grenade launcher, and a flexible shield.

When operating in the atmosphere, it can board the BJ-K232 Kessaria sub-flight system. Early version of the Gustav Karl was deployed in UC.0096 at certain Earth Federation Ground Force facilities, under the pretext of functional testing.

Armaments

• Vulcan Gun

Depending on the version of Gustav Karl depicted, it has one or two vulcan guns mounted on the left side of its head. These shell firing weapons have a high rate of fire but little power, however, they are effective at close range and are commonly employed to deter an enemy mobile suit from getting too close. They are also ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, attack vehicles, etc.

• 2-tube Grenade Launcher

Mounted on the left forearm, the grenades fired are moderately powerful self-propelling explosives that can deal significant damage to a mobile suit.

• Beam Saber

The standard close range armament for most mobile suits, it is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. The beam saber emits a blade of plasma contained by an I-Field and can cut through most armor not treated with anti-beam coating. The Gustav Karl is equipped with two beam sabers stored in the side armor.

• Beam Rifle

A standard hand carried ranged beam weapon, the Gustav Karl used the same beam rifle as the Jegan. It has a short barrel for ease of handling, and is most effective in mid-close range combat due to its short firing range. Although its output is reduced, it has an excellent rate of fire, and can eliminate enemy accurately during melee combat when utilize in conjunction with the composite sensor at the top of the rifle.

• 90mm Short Machine Gun

Used by the Gustav Karl in Gundam Narrative, it is an improved version of the older HFW-GMG·MG79-90mm Bullpup Machine Gun. It uses a new magazine that enhances the weapon's balance and carries more ammunition.

• Flexible Shield

Depending on the version of Gustav Karl depicted, its shield is mounted on a backpack linked movable arm or directly attached to the left shoulder armor. Regardless of the attachment point, the flexible shield can swivel 180 degrees, offering protection straight forward, straight backward, and from any angle that is left or right.

History

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

An early version of the Gustav Karl was deployed by the Earth Federation Forces in U.C. 0096 in certain ground facilities such as the Cheyenne base. During Bright Noa's investigation of said base, one of the Tri-Stars team's RGM-96X Jestas disarmed a guarding Gustav Karl by covering its head and cutting off its forearm with a beam saber in a surprise attack.

Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative

In U.C. 0097, the Gustav Karl was deployed alongside some RAS-96 Ankshas and RGM-89D-ESC Jegan Type D Escort Types to escort Martha Vist Carbine. After an attack led by Michelle Luio with several MSK-008 Dijehs, most of the Gustav Karls were destroyed.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash

It was used to defend Federation cabinet members in Adelaide, Australia from a terrorist attack led by Mafty Navue Erin (Hathaway Noa). The Earth Federation Forces used the Gustav Karl alongside the RX-104FF Penelope to counter the terrorist group's Me-02R Messer and Mufti's powerful RX-105 Ξ Gundam. As mobile suits were entering the age of miniaturization, the Gustav Karl was produced in limited numbers.

Gallery

Front Lineart (SD Gundam G Generation version)

Rear Lineart (SD Gundam G Generation)

Head Lineart, with Dora Karl head on top right (SD Gundam G Generation)

Gundam Unicorn version

Head details (Gundam Narrative version)

In Gundam Unicorn

Disabled by a Jesta (Gundam Unicorn)

Armed with short machine gun (Gundam Narrative)

Firing Vulcan Gun (Gundam Narrative)

With Beam Saber and firing Grenade (Gundam Narrative)

As featured in Gundam War card game

As featured in Gihren's Greed

As seen on Super Gundam Royale game

Gunpla

HGUC 1/144 FD-03 Gustav Karl (Unicorn Ver.) (2019): box art

HGUC 1/144 FD-03 Gustav Karl (Gihren's Greed Ver.) (P-Bandai exclusive; 2019): box art

Gashapon

Notes & Trivia

• The original novel design was done by Yasuhiro Moriki. It later appeared in the video game SD Gundam G Generation and was redesigned by Kazumi Fujita.
• The original backstory for the Gustav Karl indicated it was developed from the RGM-89 Jegan, but later works such as Gundam Narrative dropped this detail.
• The Gustav Karl gets its name from the real-life Carl Gustaf anti-tank rocket launcher system.

Gustav Karl sprite from G Generation Spirits, note the rod antenna mounted on the left side of the head

• In the draft designs for the game SD Gundam G Generation-F, the Gustav Karl was stated as a commander-type unit, with the Dora Karl (identical to the Gustav Karl in design except for its head antenna being rod-shaped and located on the left) being the regular unit. However, this difference was not present in Hathaway's Flash or the final game itself.
  • In G Generation games prior to Genesis, the in-game sprites for Gustav Karl actually depict the Dora Karl.
• In Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, the cockpit monitor of a Gustav Karl shows an ally MSZ-006A1 Zeta Plus A1 erroneously as "Zeta Plus C1".

References

Design and information (SD Gundam G Generation)

Information from Gundam Perfect File

External Links

• FD-03 Profile on the official Gundam UC Re:0096 website (English)