The TMF/A-802 BuCUE is a mobile suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Technology & Combat Characteristics
Developed by the Asimov Design Bureau, which was responsible for the development of ZAFT's ground combat units, the BuCUE featured a unique quadrapedal, beast-like form, inspired by tanks and helicopters.[1] The BuCUE's legs were fitted with caterpillar treads, allowing it to transform between two movement modes: the quadrapedal mode for traversing terrains with many obstacles, and the cruising mode (also known as tank mode) that can rapidly traverse flat terrains and was especially effective in areas unsuitable for walking, such as deserts and snowy plains.[1][2] In addition, the thrusters on its wings allow it to turn rapidly.[1] As a result of its superior mobility, the BuCUE's combat ability greatly surpasses its opponent - the OMNI Enforcer's Linear Gun Tank, with a single BuCUE capable of rivaling a tank platoon.[1]
As the BuCUE's armor focuses on the frontal direction, its abdomen armor was relatively weaker, and a single strike in that area can cause critical damage.[1][3][4] However, the cruising mode, where the BuCUE's four legs are folded, can be used to protect the abdomen from attacks by infantry, etc.[2] Though the BuCUE was not equipped with any fixed weapons, its back turret was able to mount several types of armaments, including a pair of 450mm railguns for engaging tanks or a 13-tube missile pod for anti-fortification attacks.[2] However, it was not designed with close combat in mind,[1] and its form factor was ill-suited for close combat with enemy mobile suits. As a result, following the capture of G Weapons from Heliopolis, late production type BuCUEs were equipped with beam sabers ahead of other mobile suits.[2]
Armaments
- Twin 450mm Railgun
- One of two weapons that can be mounted on the turret on the suit's back, this two barrel railgun use electricity to accelerate the projectiles. The projectiles are fitted with plasma warheads that can destroy a Linear Tank with a single blow. Due to the BuCUE's quadruped design, it is able to fire the railgun steadily, without worry of recoil.
- 13-tube 400mm Missile Pod
- The other weapon that can be mounted on the turret on the suit's back, since the turret is a rotary type, the missile pod can be fired in all directions. A sensor is installed at the tip of the warheads to automatically recognize and track enemy targets.
- Twin Beam Saber
- Mounted in the "mouth" of late production type BuCUES, these beam sabers were based on the ones used by the G Weapons as well as data collected from the YFX-200 CGUE DEEP Arms.[2][5] The BuCUE was given priority deployment of these beam weapons, since its form factor and equipment meant that it would suffer in close combat against mobile suits otherwise.[2]
History
ZAFT enlisted the help of Winslet World Concern from the neutral Kingdom of Scandinavia for the development and testing of the BuCUE, ensuring the mobile suit can function even in freezing arctic environments, such as in Alaska where Earth Alliance's military headquarter was located.[6] The BuCUE was eventually unveiled by ZAFT on March 15, C.E. 70, just as Operation Uroboros was approved by the PLANT Supreme Council, and would become one of the primary mobile suits for the operation.[2] The BuCUE made its combat debut on May 30, during the Battle of Suez, when it devastated the Eurasian Federation's massive Linear Gun Tank corps at El Alamein thanks to the clever tactics of commander Andrew Waltfeld.[2][7]
In C.E. 71, following ZAFT's theft of the G Project mobile suits, late type BuCUE equipped with twin beam saber began rolling out.[1][2] On February 15, C.E. 71,[7] the Archangel, having descended to Earth and landed in Africa, was attacked by the Waltfeld Corps, including five BuCUEs. Initially, the BuCUEs had the upper hand against the Archangel's on-board mobile suit, the Launcher Strike Gundam, which was not yet adjusted to the desert environment. However, the Strike's pilot Kira Yamato quickly rewrote its programs to adjust to the new terrain and destroy two BuCUEs in combat. The other three BuCUEs were then lured into a trap by the resistance group Desert Dawn and destroyed.[8]
Following the Waltfeld Corps first engagement with the Archangel, Andrew sent three BuCUEs to set fire to the Desert Dawn's village during the Attack on Tassil.[9][10] The next morning, while these BuCUES were on their way back to their base, they were attacked by members of the Desert Dawn, who wanted to exact revenge for the attack on their village. Although determined, most of the group were swiftly killed by the BuCUEs, and the rest only survived due to the intervention of Kira's GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam. During the battle, Andrew personally piloted a BuCUE and led the charge against Kira. However, after entering SEED Mode, Kira was able to destroy one of the BuCUEs and damage Andrew's, prompting the ZAFT forces to retreat.[10]
Andrew deployed his five remaining BuCUEs during the Battle of Talbadiya, while he piloted his TMF/A-803 LaGOWE. However, all the BuCUEs in the battle were destroyed by the Aile Strike Gundam.[11] BuCUEs were later deployed in large numbers during Operation Spitbreak, the attack on the Earth Alliance's headquarter JOSH-A.[12] Most of these units were destroyed when the base's Cyclops System was activated. [13]
Sometime after the end of the First Alliance-PLANT War and before the outbreak of the Second Alliance-PLANT War in C.E. 73, ZAFT developed an improved model of the BuCUE, the TMF/A-802W2 Kerberos BuCUE Hound. However, the BuCUE remained in service, with a large number of units participating in various battles of the second war, including the attack on the Gulnahan Ravine, the battle against the GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundam during the Battle of Berlin, and Operation Angel Down.
Variants
Gallery
Lineart
Anime
.png "BuCUE Front 01 (SEED HD Ep16).png (2.59 MB)")
.png "BuCUE Side View 01 (SEED HD Ep16).png (2.14 MB)")
.png "BuCUE vs Truck (Seed HD Ep18).png (3.86 MB)")
.png "BuCUE Missile Pod 02 (SEED HD Ep18).png (2.47 MB)")
.png "BuCUE Twin Beam Saber 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (2 MB)")
.png "Aile Strike Gundam Destroyes BuCUE 02 (SEED HD Ep21).png (3.2 MB)")
.png "BuCUE Side View 03 (SEED Destiny HD Ep17).png (3.73 MB)")
Illustrations & Artwork
.jpg "From the g field (3).jpg (1.51 MB)")
Games
Gunpla
Action Figures
Notes & Trivia
- In the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny video game, the BuCUE has the ability to disable lock-on using a smoke screen despite not having smoke dispensers as standard equipment.
Appearances
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- Episode 1 (HD Remastered Episode 1), False Peace - (First Appearance)
- Episode 16 (HD Remastered Episode 15), Burning Sandstorm
- Episode 17 (HD Remastered Episode 16), Cagalli Returns
- Episode 18 (HD Remastered Episode 17), Payback
- Episode 19 (HD Remastered Episode 18), Fangs of the Enemy
- Episode 21 (HD Remastered Episode 20), Beyond the Clouds of Sand
- Episode 34 (HD Remastered Episode 32), Seen and Unseen
- Episode 35 (HD Remastered Episode 33), The Descending Sword
- Episode 41 (HD Remastered Episode 39), Trembling World
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- Episode 17 (HD Remastered Episode 17), The Soldier's Life
- Episode 18 (HD Remastered Episode 18), Attack the Lohengrin
- Episode 31 (HD Remastered Episode 31), The Endless Night
- OVAs
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.20-25
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 High Grade Gundam SEED Mobile BuCUE (2007) instruction manual
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Seed C.E. Mechanics & the World (2012), p102
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Official File Mechanics Vol.02 (2003), p10
- ↑ Dengeki Data Collection (19) - Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Side Stories (2007), p. 51
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY Princess of the Sky, chapter 1
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Model Vol.3: SEED MSV (2004), p.148-149
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-16, Burning Sandstorm
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-17, Cagalli Returns
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-18, Payback
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-34, Seen and Unseen
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-35, The Descending Sword
External Links
| Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER Mechanics | |
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