The TMF/A-803 LaGOWE is a mobile suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Contents
Technology & Combat Characteristics
In C.E. 71, ZAFT learned that the OMNI Enforcer possessed mobile suits of its own following the Battle of Heliopolis. In response, they began modifying the existing TMF/A-802 BuCUE for anti-mobile suit combat while simultaneously developing a high-performance successor unit. The result was the TMF/A-803 LaGOWE, which was developed based on the TMF/A-802 P-Mod.W BuCUE Waltfeld Custom Type.[1][2][3]
The LaGOWE maintained the BuCUE's ability to transform between a quadrupedal mode and a cruising mode, but unlike the BuCUE, the LaGOWE was designed with close combat and anti-mobile suit combat in mind. It is equipped with a enlarged head-mounted sensor array that allows better intelligence gathering, a twin beam saber in its "mouth", and claws that can function as melee weapons. Its back turret weapon was also changed to a twin beam cannon. Both the twin beam saber and twin beam cannon were developed using data from the OMNI Enforcer's mobile suits that were captured by ZAFT in Heliopolis. [1]
In order to compensate for the increase in weight and size, the LaGOWE was fitted with improved leg units and have more thrusters in its wings. Like the BuCUE Waltfeld Custom Type, the LaGOWE adopted a two-seater design, with a gunner seated in the front and a pilot seated in the back. With this arrangement, the gunner can make the most effective use of the mobile suit's beam weaponry, while the pilot can better concentrate on piloting, allowing the LaGOWE to be utilized at its maximum potential and demonstrating mobility that far surpasses that of BuCUE's.[1][4]
Armaments
- Twin Beam Saber
- A close combat beam weapon mounted in the head. It was later adopted by the late production version of the BuCUE. The LaGOWE's twin beam saber has a slightly different design from the BuCUE's, featuring better output and stability.[1] They would eventually serve as the basis for the MA-M01 "Lacerta" beam saber used by the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam.[5]
- Claw
- The second close combat weaponry on the suit are claws mounted on each leg that are sharp enough to penetrate normal armor. The claws serve to increase the suit's close combat capabilities.
- Twin Beam Cannon
- A twin barreled beam cannon mounted on the back turret, it served as the LaGOWE's main weapon. It has a high output since it is powered by the large generator in the main body. A dedicated gunner operates this weapon to maximize its capabilities.
History
The first LaGOWE was assigned to "Desert Tiger" Andrew Waltfeld, whose lover Aisha served as his gunner. It fought against the GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam during the Battle of Talbadiya. The two machines fought to a stalemate, inflicting heavy damage on each other. The LaGOWE was finally defeated when the Strike impaled it in the back with its "Armor Schneider" Combat Knife, destroying the machine.[6] Andrew survived the LaGOWE's destruction, but lost his left arm and eye, while Aisha died in the battle. Later in the war, three LaGOWEs engaged Rena Imelia's GAT/A-01E2 Buster Dagger, which was receiving support from Edward Harrelson's GAT-333 Raider Full Spec. All three LaGOWEs were destroyed by Imelia.
Variants
- LaGOWE High Maneuver
- Appearing in the manga, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Re:, it is an enhanced LaGOWE featuring additional weapons, and improved mobility via the use of the ZGMF-1017M GINN High Maneuver Type's thruster engines in its wings. The additional weapons are in the form of added cannons and beam sabers on the wings, and added beam fangs on the head. An anchor launcher, in the form of an extendable tail, is also added to the unit's back, above the back thruster.
Gallery
Linearts
Anime
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NOTE: Most of the screencaps below are from the original 4:3 aspect ratio versions of the TV Anime, while other screencaps from the Special Edition/HD Remastered Version will feature some additionally drawn details. |
.png "LaGOWE Full Body (Seed HD Ep21).png (7.89 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Launching 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (3.48 MB)")
-EP21-Lagowe-Full-view.png "MSGS-(OG)-EP21-Lagowe-Full-view.png (655 KB)")
.png "LaGOWE Front 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (4.63 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Cockpit 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (4.26 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Beam Cannons Firing 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (2.51 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Beam Cannons Firing 04 (SEED HD Ep21).png (2.46 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE's Leg Shot Off 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (2.94 MB)")
.jpg "GS-Strike-stabs-LaGOWE-(Original).jpg (55 KB)")
.jpg "GS-Strike-stabs-LaGOWE-(Remastered).jpg (122 KB)")
.png "LaGOWE Defeated 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (3.06 MB)")
Manga
Illustrations & Artwork
Games
Gunpla
Action Figures
Notes & Trivia
- Mitsuo Fukuda's previous anime, Gear Fighter Dendoh, also has a winged quadruped monster called Lagowe.
- In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny, the LaGOWE also has the BuCUE's ability to disable lock-on using a smoke screen and confuse it by taunting.
- The LaGOWE appears in the Extreme Vs. series piloted by Andrew Waltfeld and Aisha as a 1000 cost unit in Full Boost and at 1500 cost in Maxi Boost onwards. The LaGOWE acts as a ground running unit and its only ranged weapon are its twin beam cannons, which can either fire a single shot or fire three consecutive shots at once. In Extreme Vs 2, the beam cannon can be charged to fire a concentrated shot that is faster and more powerful. To compensate for the LaGOWE's lack of variety in its weaponry, the beam cannons have a high ammo count and recharge time and the unit moves relatively fast compared to other ground runners like the Acguy and the Hildolfr. Waltfeld can also summon up to three BuCUEs at a time to chase after an opponent. For its burst attack, the LaGOWE will launch the opponent upward before drilling them down with the LaGOWE's beam saber and sending three BuCUEs to maul the opponent. In Extreme Vs 2, this was changed to have the LaGOWE repeatedly strike the opponent high into the air before grabbing the opponent and slamming them down.
Appearances
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- Episode 21 (HD Remastered Episode 20), Beyond the Clouds of Sand - (First Appearance)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.20-25
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.2
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Seed C.E. Mechanics & the World (2012), p.76
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - C.E. Mechanics & the World (2012), p.106
- ↑ High Grade Gundam SEED Freedom Gundam (2003) instruction manual
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
External Links
