MS-18E Kämpfer

Template:Infobox/Mobile Weapon Ver.2 MS-18E Kämpfer (ケンプファー, Kenpufā^?) is a heavy assault mobile suit featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket OVA. It was piloted by Mikhail Kaminsky of Zeon's Cyclops Team during the One Year War.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The "E" in the MS-18E Kämpfer's model number was an abbreviation for the German word "einhauen," which translates to "one strike." "One strike" summed up the suit's role as a fast assault unit that was meant to strike quickly, cause massive damage with its varied weapons loadout, and make a fast escape. The Kämpfer was a very focused design, never intended to work outside of its role. Within this role it was an exceptional unit, rivaling the Federation's RX series in firepower and speed. It was equipped with numerous thrusters and verniers to achieve high maneuverability. Conversely, the large number of thrusters resulted in higher fuel consumption rate, limiting its operational time. Kämpfer's design opted for minimal armor, even removing the hip mounted skirt armor found on most mobile suits. The choice of conventional shell-based weapons in favor of beam weapons was made to reduce the drain on its powerplant and resultant drop in speed. Weapon racks were designed to be ejected from the unit as they were expended, minimizing dead weight. The Kämpfer was intended to be operated by special forces, and was built to be easily disassembled and reassembled in blocks, aiding in its infiltration behind enemy lines.

Armaments

• 60mm Vulcan Gun

An uncommon feature on Zeon MS, the Kämpfer has 2 Vulcan Guns in the head similar to Federation's mobile suits. These shell firing weapons have a high-rate of fire but little power, and can't damage the thick armor of a mobile suit, though it can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors. They are ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, small land vehicles, and attack helicopters.

• Beam Saber

The beam saber is a small cylindrical 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 is capable of cutting through almost any metal that has not been treated with anti-beam coating. The Kämpfer has two beam sabers, one stored in each thigh.

• ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr 192mm Shotgun

A weapon specifically designed for assault-type MS, it is similar to the model used by the MS-08TX Efreet. It has a 9-round capacity with known ammunition including slugshot, luna titanium 00 buckshot, and MS-use birdshot (BB shot). It can be loaded via pump-action, or automatically by an electric mechanism. The Kämpfer is capable of carrying two of these shotguns, one stored on the rear waist armor, while the other is carried in the hands.

• 360mm Giant Bazooka II

A redesigned version of the Dom series' 360mm Giant Bazooka, with improved shape charges and firepower. The Giant Bazooka II is magazine-fed with 5-round capacity. A single round is particularly effective in anti-ship warfare, and can blow the torso off of an enemy mobile suit. The Kämpfer can be equipped with two Bazookas, and they are stored on its back when not in use.

• Sturm Faust

An explosive weapon with a rocket propelled warhead, it was designed before the beginning of the One Year War as an anti-ship weapon. Useful both in space and under gravity, it was mainly deployed for anti-ship attacks during the early days of the war. The Sturm Faust likely made a good anti-mobile suit weapon during the latter days of the war, as Zeon mobile suits could be equipped with both a Sturm Faust and a more typical ranged weapon for greater versatility. As a non-guided weapon, it is difficult to hit targets with high mobility. Two Sturm Fausts could be stored on hardpoints on the legs of the Kämpfer.

• Prototype Large Beam Rifle

A experimental beam weapon developed at Axis after the One Year War, its effective firing range is 1.8 times that of a ordinary beam rifle. As it's powered by its own built-in generator, it can be wielded by Zaku type MS. The generator however only has enough power for five shots. The firearm appears in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Deleted Affair: Portrait Of Young Comet.

• Chain Mine

The Chain Mine was a number of disc-shaped mines connected to each other by flexible cable. Each mine had magnetic claws on its underside, allowing it to be attached to objects. The Chain Mine could be thrown out like grenades one by one, laid on the ground or fixed to a building as a mine, or (most destructively) attached to a single enemy and detonated - this attack method was used by Kämpfer against the prototype Gundam NT-1. It failed to destroy the NT-1, but it inflicted heavily damage to NT-1's Chobham Armor. The Chain Mine was used right up to U.C. 0096 as the weapon of Neo Zeon's AMX-101E Schuzrum-Galluss. A similar but larger version of the Chain Mine was featured on Earth Federation's RX-78GP03 Gundam "Dendrobium" as the Demolition Chain.

• Heat Hawk

An axe-like melee weapon, whose name is short for "tomahawk". Thermal energy is used to superheat the heat hawk's blade, allowing it to slice through the armor of enemy warships or mobile suits.

Special Equipment & Features

• Weapons Racks

Mounted on several points on the Kämpfer are weapon racks which are used to mount various weapons when not in use, and can be ejected when expended.

History

In the few remaining days and weeks before the end of the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon churned out several new prototype mobile suits. One of these new units was known only as the YMS-18 Kämpfer Prototype, which Zeon engineers quickly began producing different variations and redesigns to create custom units meant to excel in specific mission roles. One of the variations created was the MS-18E Kämpfer.

Despite the drawbacks of limited armor and high fuel-consumption, the Kämpfer was still an incredible mobile suit. Due to its late introduction to the war, only a few units were ever produced. A single Kämpfer was fielded by Zeon's Cyclops Team during their infiltration of the Libot Colony in the neutral Riah Republic of Side 6 on the 20th of December, Universal Century 0079. This unit, piloted by an inebriated Mikhail Kaminsky, destroyed the entire Scarlet Team mobile suit squadron of the assault carrier Gray Phantom single handedly. It then faced its primary objective, the Earth Federation's RX-78NT-1 Gundam "Alex". Despite completely destroying the NT-1 Alex's chobham armor and damaging the Gundam, the Kämpfer failed to disable it and fell prey to the Gundam's wrist-mounted 90mm gatling cannon, which proved effective against the Kämpfer's weak armor.

In Gundam Legacy, a single Kämpfer served as the control unit for the "Silver Lance" weapon system for the Operation Silver Lance plot against the Republic of Zeon in U.C. 0084. It was piloted by Zeon Remnant's Lilia Flaubert.

In the series Ecole du Ciel, the Kämpfer has seen usage by post-war pirates and later with the Axis forces for its ease of disassemble and reassembly. A prototype Kämpfer is operated by Akira and later in the series, Asuna Elmarit. By U.C. 0086, the unit's parts are difficult to locate, making the maintenance of the unit extremely difficult. Later this unit is even seen fielded by AEUG, a testament to its high performance.

Variants

• MS-18F Kämpfer Beam Weapon Type

Gallery

ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr shotgun

360mm Giant Bazooka II

Sturm Faust

Chain Mine

Heat Hawk

Kämpfer (Heavy Equipment) as featured in Gundam War card game

Kämpfer (Full Equipment specifications) as featured in Gundam Card Builder

Kämpfer as featured in Gundam U.C. Card Builder

Kämpfer as featured in Gundam Cross War

Kämpfer as featured in Gundam Conquest mobile phone game

Kämpfer from Gundam Conquest (variation)

Kämpfer as featured in Gundam Duel Company

Kämpfer (from Gundam Perfect File)

Kämpfer artwork for 1/144 Original model release (1989) by Yuji Kaida

Kämpfer calendar

December U.C. 0079: EFF's Maj. Stuart posed with the destroyed Kämpfer (from MS ERA pictorial)

Close-up of Kämpfer's destroyed cockpit seat (from MS ERA pictorial).

"Kämpfer vs Gundam Alex" promotion campaign as featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation

Kämpfer armed with 192mm ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr Shotgun as featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire

Close-up of Kämpfer's torso, being assembled by Zeon's Cyclops Team

Close-up of Kämpfer, showing retractable forehead-mounted communication antenna

Close-up of Kämpfer's head, showing Cyclops Team's insignia

Rear view of Kämpfer, with mounted 192mm ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr Shotgun and a pair of 360mm Giant Bazooka II

Kämpfer on the move, armed with 192mm ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr Shotgun

Side view of Kämpfer, showing Sturm Faust and various body-mounted firearms

Kämpfer attacks with 192mm ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr Shotgun

Kämpfer fires 192mm ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr Shotgun (stockless version)

Kämpfer fires 360mm Giant Bazooka II

Kämpfer launches Sturm Fausts

Kämpfer prepares to draw beam saber being stored in right hip

Kämpfer in action, armed with Chain Mine

Close-up of a Chain Mine unit

Manga

Operation Silver Lance as seen on Gundam Legacy

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Axis Zeon's Kämpfer (top left) as featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Deleted Affair: Portrait Of Young Comet

Gunpla

1/144 original "MS-18E Kämpfer" model kit (1989): box art

1/144 HGUC MS-18E Kämpfer model kit (2008): box art

1/100 MG MS-18E Kämpfer model kit (2001): box art

1/75 MS-18E Kämpfer soft vinyl model kit

1/100 MG MS-18E Kämpfer model conversion

Action Figures

Mobile Suit In Action (MSiA / MIA) "MS-18E Kämpfer" action figure (North American release; 2001): package front view

MSiA / MIA "MS-18E Kämpfer" action figure (Asian release; 2002): package front view

MSiA / MIA "MS-18E Kämpfer" action figure (Asian re-issue with MS data card; 2006): package front view

Zeonography #3011 "MS-18E Kämpfer / YMS-18 Kämpfer Prototype" figure set (2006): package front view

Zeonography #3011 "MS-18E Kämpfer / YMS-18 Kämpfer Prototype" figure set (2006): package rear view

Zeonography #3011 "MS-18E Kämpfer" figure (2006): product sample (right) with parts convertible to "YMS-18 Kämpfer Prototype" figure (left)

Notes and Trivia

• "Kämpfer" is the German word for "fighter".
• The concept of an Assault Mobile Suit was reused in 0083, when Mika Akitaka designed the AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra as an Anaheim Electronics attempt to create an assault suit.

References

Kämpfer (Zeonography version): front view

Kämpfer (Zeonography version): rear view and specification

MS-18E Kämpfer - Technical Detail

Kämpfer: technical details from 1/144 HGUC Kämpfer modeling manual

Kämpfer: design and features from 1/144 HGUC Kämpfer modeling manual

External Links

• MS-18E Kämpfer on MAHQ.net

Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 Mechanics
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