The GAT-01 Strike Dagger is a mass-production general-purpose mobile suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The GAT-01 Strike Dagger was the wartime mass-production model of the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam and one of the first OMNI Enforcer mobile suits to enter mass production.[1] Like the Strike and the GAT-X102 Duel Gundam, it was based on an X100 series frame.[2] To maximize ease of production, the Strike Dagger omitted the Strike's Striker Pack System and Phase Shift armor.[3] Additionally, its head-mounted CIWS and blade antenna were both reduced to only one, and various parts of the mobile suit were simplified, such as its arms and leg armor.[2]
Despite the various downgrades, the Strike Dagger obtained better maintainability, its mobility was on par with the X100 series, and it was able to operate both on Earth and in space.[2] Unlike the operating system for Coordinators, which heavily relied on the pilot's reflexes, the Strike Dagger was installed with a Natural-use OS that was pre-programmed with numerous action patterns based on the GAT-X series combat data from the Archangel, allowing the mobile suit to react to various combat situations on its own.[3][4] Furthermore, due to being armed with beam weapons, its offensive power was superior to that of ZAFT's mainstay mobile suit, the ZGMF-1017 GINN.[4] In combat, the Strike Dagger was designed to operate in large numbers and overwhelm ZAFT forces, which were elite but fewer in number.[2]
It should be noted that the Strike Dagger's cockpit structure did not change significantly compared to the X100 series and this was to ensure the safety of its pilot.[2] However, due to being rushed into production, the Strike Dagger's vetronics and other systems did not have sufficient EMP shielding and proved to be vulnerable to ZAFT's Gungnir EMP weapon.[1]
Armaments[]
- "Igelstellung" 75mm Automatic Multi-barrel CIWS
- The same CIWS as used by the GAT-X series. It is equipped only on the left side of the head to prioritize ease of production.
- ES01 Beam Saber
- A beam weapon for close combat, it generates a blade-shaped beam to melt and cut through enemy's armor. When not in use, it is stored on the mobile suit's backpack.
- M703 57mm Beam Rifle
- The first small-sized beam rifle to be used by a mass production mobile suit, it was easy to wield and meant for medium-range combat.[2] This beam rifle was developed from the Duel Gundam's beam rifle, and drew energy from the mobile suit's battery. Like its predecessor, it had an underslung grenade launcher.[3] Parts of this beam rifle appear similar to the GAU-8M2 52mm machine gun.
- Shield
- An anti-beam coated shield, it is also known as 'Anti-Beam Shield'.[2][3] Since the Strike Dagger lacked Phase Shift armor, this shield was designed with high defensive capability against ballistic weapons as well.[3]
Special Equipment & Features[]
- Parachute Pack
- An optional, add-on backpack with additional thrusters and a built-in parachute. It was utilized by paratroopers who descended from a transport plane to the mainland of Orb during the Orb Liberation Operation. To equip the parachute pack, the beam saber on the Strike Dagger's backpack has to be removed.
History[]
The OMNI Enforcer's mobile suit development was initially divided into two parallel routes: the G Project at Heliopolis and the mass production unit development project at Porta Panama. It was the latter that eventually gave birth to the Strike Dagger. The GAT-X series combat data from the Archangel, which it transferred to the 8th Space Fleet before entering the atmosphere, contributed to the development of the Strike Dagger and its Natural-use OS.[4] The Detroit-based National Defense Industry Association, a subsidiary of the Azrael Conglomerate, was also said to have participated in its development.[5] Originally, the GAT-01A1 Dagger (also known as 105 Dagger) was intended to be the OMNI Enforcer's mass production mobile suit. However, because of the rapidly changing war situation, the OMNI Enforcer high command decided to prioritize the Strike Dagger's production due to its simplicity compared to the Dagger.[6]
The Strike Dagger first saw action on May 25, C.E. 71, as part of the 13th Autonomous Corps during the Battle of Porta Panama and fared well in combat against ZAFT's ZGMF-1017 GINN. However, the whole Strike Dagger unit was crippled when ZAFT used its Gungnir EMP weapons. Due to the massive losses ZAFT suffered in the failed Operation Spitbreak, all the surviving Alliance soldiers and mobile suit pilots were brutally slaughtered by ZAFT forces in revenge.[7]
Despite their defeat at the Battle of Porta Panama, production of the Strike Dagger continued, allowing the OMNI Enforcer to quickly build up their mobile suit forces. The Strike Daggers were used to greater effect during the Battle of Orb, where they overwhelmed the Orb Union's MBF-M1 M1 Astrays with their superior numbers.[8][9] After the OMNI Enforcer reclaimed the Victoria mass driver, securing its route into space, the Strike Dagger replaced the outdated TS-MA2 Moebius mobile armor in all roles other than nuclear missile delivery.[10][11]
After the First Alliance-PLANT War, production of the Strike Dagger ceased in favor of more powerful machines such as the 105 Dagger. However, during the United States of South America's war for independence, the nation's primary mobile suit was the Strike Dagger, which fared badly against the Atlantic Federation's 105 Daggers and the newer GAT-02L2 Dagger Ls.[12] However, one unit, piloted by USSA ally Barry Ho, managed to defeat several Atlantic Federation mobile suits before his own unit was crippled and he was rescued by Serpent Tail pilots Gai Murakumo and Elijah Kiel.[12]
Variants[]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED[]
.png "Strike Dagger Front 03 (SEED HD Ep37).png (2.53 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Rear 02 (SEED HD Ep38).png (3.64 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Parachuting 01 (SEED HD Ep38).png (3.2 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Beam Rifle 02 (SEED HD Ep39).png (6.19 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger vs Astray 01 (Seed HD Ep39).png (5.24 MB)")
.png "Strike Daggers in Hangar 01 (SEED HD Ep39).png (3.46 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Beam Rifle Firing 02 (SEED HD Ep40).png (4.32 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Front 02 (SEED HD Ep43).png (3.87 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Destroyed 01 (SEED HD Ep43).png (3.07 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Destroyed 02 (SEED HD Ep43).png (3.6 MB)")
.png "EA Fleet 08 (SEED HD Ep48).png (3.2 MB)")
.png "EA Space Fleet 02 (SEED HD Ep48).png (4.14 MB)")
.png "Strike Dagger Rear 03 (SEED HD Ep50).png (3.71 MB)")
Manga[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
.png "Strike Dagger (SRW DD).png (121 KB)")
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Strike Dagger is likely a homage to the Universal Century's RGM-79 GM.
- In Super Robot Wars J, Strike Daggers are equipped with the Duel Gundam's 57mm high-energy beam rifle and GAT-X131 Calamity Gundam's shield for unknown reasons. The latter was corrected in Super Robot Wars W.
- In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny, the Strike Dagger is the starter unit for the Earth Alliance side, causing a canon timeline conflict since they can be mobilized from the Heliopolis incident that occurred in January 25, 71 C.E., but their actual rollout date wasn't until May 25, 71 C.E. This was done since many of the Mobile Armors that the Earth Alliance employed in the actual timeline are not playable in said game.
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- PHASE-37, Divine Thunder
- First Appearance
- PHASE-38, Decisive Fire
- PHASE-39, Athrun
- PHASE-40, Into the Dawn Skies
- PHASE-41, Trembling World
- PHASE-42, Lacus Strikes
- PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
- PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
- PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- PHASE-49, The Final Light
- PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
- PHASE-37, Divine Thunder
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-20, Past
- PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
- OVAs and ONAs
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED After-Phase Between the Stars
- Wreckage Only
- Manga
- Games
References[]
.jpg "Strike Dagger File 01 (Official Gundam Fact File 112-27).jpg (2 MB)")
.jpg "Strike Dagger File 02 (Official Gundam Fact File 112-28).jpg (2.54 MB)")
.jpg "Strike Dagger File 03 (Gundam Perfect Files 030-11).jpg (3.3 MB)")
.jpg "Strike Dagger File 04 (Gundam Perfect Files 030-12).jpg (3.7 MB)")
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Model Vol.3: SEED MSV (2004), p.111
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.78-81
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - C.E. Mechanics & the World (2012), p.42
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray (Novel) Vol.1 (2003), Mission 05: The Challenge of Socius
- ↑ (2006-04-06) Perfect Archive Series - 機動戦士ガンダムSEED [Perfect Archive Series - Mobile Suit Gundam SEED] 3 (in Japanese). 竹書房 [Takeshobo], p. 48. ISBN 9784812426593.
- ↑ High Grade Gundam SEED 105 Dagger + Gunbarrel (2004) instruction manual
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-37, Divine Thunder
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-38, Decisive Fire
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-40, Into the Dawn Skies
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-41, Trembling World
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Astray Chapter 6, SCOOP.06: Conclusion of the SA War for Independence
External links[]
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