The Gelgoog Marine is a mobile suit introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
A variation of the MS-14 Gelgoog, the MS-14F Gelgoog Marine was developed from the MS-14B Gelgoog High Mobility Type.[1] Being designed for the Zeon Marine Corps, its power-to-weight ratio, mobility, and maneuverability were all greatly improved, rivalling the later MS-14Jg Gelgoog Jäger.[2] Though the Gelgoog Jäger's performance was still superior, the Gelgoog Marine's production cost was lower, and was thus produced in greater number.[1] In fact, many of the characteristics of the Gelgoog Marine and its commander variant would later be incorporated into the Gelgoog Jäger's design.[2]
Compared to the MS-14A Gelgoog and the MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type, the Gelgoog Marine was almost entirely specialized for space combat, adopting a unique backpack, with two large propellant tanks attached for extended operation time and cruise range.[2] Instead of arm-mounted auxiliary propulsion units (which were useless in space),[3] it was equipped with a pair of 110mm machine cannons.[2] Although capable of using beam weapons, its main weapon was the MMP-80 machine gun, presumably due to the higher reliability of physical projectile weapons.[4] Its other weapons include a pair of beam sabers and a spike shield that doubles as a melee weapon.[2]
Late in the One Year War, the units used by MAU Cima were given a unique camouflage pattern composed of many fine dots, which makes gauging their shape on a monitor difficult. The paint itself also confuses many different types of sensors.[5]
Armaments[]
- 110mm Machine Cannon
- One of the new features of the Gelgoog Marine are a pair of 110mm machine cannons mounted in the forearms, one cannon per arm. These projectile firing weapons are highly effective against most mobile suit armor at close range.
- Beam Saber
- Unlike most Gelgoogs made during the One Year War, the MS-14F is not equipped with a beam naginata for close combat, it instead stores two regular beam sabers in the sides of the waist.
- Knuckle Shield
- The knuckle shield is a modified Zaku II shoulder shield carried on the arm, with the curve of the armor fitting over the mobile suit's hand. One of the modifications is the additions of three spikes placed on the plate that rests in front of the hand. These spikes make the knuckle shield an effective bashing weapon.
- MMP-80 90mm Machine Gun
- A small caliber machine gun for mobile suits developed under the United Maintenance Plan. The overall shape and mechanism of the Zaku Machine Gun, which was previously deployed, has been changed. The magazine has been changed from a drum magazine to a box magazine, and a 197mm grenade launcher is available as an option. The caliber has been reduced to 90mm, but as a result, the hit rate has improved, and the 90mm shell used is also excellent in initial velocity and anti-MS firepower. The number of bullets loaded is 32 in the standard single magazine and 100 in the triple magazine. The late production model features a different barrel and hand guard, resulting in a more compact shape.
- MMP-78 Machine Gun
- A new model machine gun with enhanced firepower to combat Federation Forces MS. Early type and late type models exist, with differences in the location and mounting of the grip on the latter. In addition to the regular machine gun bullets fed from the drum magazine, the MMP-78 is also capable of firing anti-aircraft rounds being fed from a smaller, box-type magazine. The MMP-78 is also integrated with a grenade launcher under its barrel for additional firepower. "MMP" is an abbreviation for "Mobile Suit Machine Pistol".
- A simplified, disposable rocket launcher. It is commonly used by Zeon mobile suits in the late stages of the One Year War. As the warhead is not equipped with a guidance device, it is extremely hard to use the Sturm Faust to hit a moving target accurately. However, it is still a highly destructive portable weapon. Due to its excellent cost performance, the Sturm Faust is still in use even after the war.
- Beam Rifle
- The same portable beam firearm as used by the MS-14A Gelgoog, it incorporated the Federation's technical data on energy CAP technology that Zeon obtained via Side 6. The beam rifle's performance is comparable to that of the RX-78-2 Gundam's, and boasts high targeting capabilities thanks to its high-performance sensor.
- MRB-110 Beam Rifle
- The same firearm used by MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander Type. It was capable of rapid firing due to a forced cooling mechanism, and featured a drum magazine-type energy pack.
- Giant Bazooka
- The same Giant Bazooka as used by the MS-09R-2 Rick Dom II. Compared to the original Giant Bazooka, both the bazooka's shape and its shell were redesigned, greatly improving its attack power and effectiveness against ship.
- Shield
- As an alternative to the Knuckle Shield, the Gelgoog Marine can also use a large shield similar to one used by the Gelgoog Marine Commander Type.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- External Propellant Tank
- An external tank used for propellant storage. This extra propellant greatly extends a mobile suit's operating range, and enables it to stay in combat longer. When the propellant is consumed, the tank can be discarded to reduce the mobile suit's weight. These tanks use a two-layered construction, with one layer containing propellant, and the other holding extra coolant.
History[]
The development of the Gelgoog Marine began just as the development of the MS-14A concluded. Astoundingly, the change in design took only half a month, a fact that was lauded by the military PR department as "Zeonic Magic". However, the development lead of the project died from overwork as a result.[6]
Prior to the implementation of the United Maintenance Plan, the Gelgoog Marine had a short production run at the A Baoa Qu factory. Due to its late production period and deployment, it is believed that only a small number of units participated in the One Year War. Around 30 units were assigned to Cima Garahau's Cima Fleet at some point during the war, with 6 units assigned to the flagship Lili Marlene and the rest spread across seven Musai-class Late Production Type. It is said that Cima used her personal connections to get these mobile suits assigned to her fleet, though this is unconfirmed.[2]
Following Zeon's defeat in the Battle of A Baoa Qu on December 31, U.C. 0079, numerous Gelgoog Marines from MAU Cima fought their way through the enclosing Federation forces in E Field, led by Cima in her MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander Type. They Were also joined by Gelgoog Marines from Geil Hunt's MAU Geil.[7]
On October 31, U.C. 0083,[8] the Cima Fleet, which had aligned itself with the Delaz Fleet, attacked the Albion while it was searching the shoal zone. Five Gelgoog Marines participated in the battle, later joined by Cima herself in her Gelgoog Marine Commander Type. The attack ultimately failed, and Cima was forced to retreat after losing two Gelgoog Marine. On November 8,[9] while attempting to trade the plans for Operation Stardust to the Federation, the Cima Fleet engaged the Albion once more, with South Burning shooting down two Gelgoog Marine in his RGM-79N GM Custom. On November 10,[10] the Cima Fleet hijacked two colonies that were being transported as part of the Colony Reconstruction Plan. Gelgoog Marines were used to plant explosives on the colony mirrors, causing them to collide with one another.
During the final phase of Operation Stardust, however, the Cima Fleet betrayed the Delaz Fleet and joined the Federation in stopping the colony drop. Following the conclusion of Operation Stardust, one captured Gelgoog Marine was seen being used as a training unit at Earth Federation's Oakley Base.
Variants[]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The camouflage pattern seen in The Mayfly of Space 2 resembles erbsenmuster, which was issued to the Waffen-SS during World War II.
- For some reason, Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle operation 2 describes it as an amphibious machine: "A marine variation of the Gelgoog, intended for amphibious assaults. The MS was optimized for extended operational time, and was also equipped with a satchel and had the ability to attach propellant tanks to make reaching land targets as easy as possible during the early stages of the war. As it would be leading the charge during an amphibious assault, it had to be able to handle a variety of situations; rather than a beam rifle, many units opted for an easy-to-handle machine gun as its primary weapon. In order to further extend potential battle time, the thermonuclear jet engines installed in the arms were swapped out for ballistic rapid-fire cannons. While already highly polished, the Gelgoog type received additional modifications based on pilot feedback, including the thrusters inside the satchel being concentrated downward and the positional regulation waist skirt being armed for combat."
- This could possibly be a misunderstanding based on the suit's name.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Entertainment Bible 42 - Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia Part 6 - Delaz Conflict (Part 1) (1992), p.99
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 High Grade Universal Century MS-14F Gelgoog Marine (2000) instruction manual
- ↑ Master Grade MS-14A Gelgoog (1997) instruction manual
- ↑ The Official Gundam Perfect File No. 119 (2014), p.4
- ↑ Gundam 0083 Official Website: The Mayfly of Space 2
- ↑ MSV Collection File - Space Edition (1999)
- ↑ The Mayfly of Space 2
- ↑ Entertainment Bible 42 - Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia Part 6 - Delaz Conflict (Part 1) (1992), p.55
- ↑ Entertainment Bible 46 - Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia Part 7 - Delaz Conflict (Part 2) (1992), p.55
- ↑ Entertainment Bible 46 - Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia Part 7 - Delaz Conflict (Part 2) (1992), p.57
External links[]