VMS-15 Union Realdo

Template:Infobox/Mobile Weapon Ver.2The VMS-15 Union Realdo (aka Realdo) is a transformable mobile suit that appears in both seasons of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The Realdo is a mobile suit that is capable of transforming into a high speed flight mode. Its flight mode functionality is comparable to that of a fighter jet, and its transformation is manually accomplished with the aid of a groundcrew. Therefore, it is incapable of in-flight transformation, and the mode the Realdo uses for missions is selected and set beforehand. The Realdo's weaponry consisted of a linear rifle, sonic blade, defense rod, 20mm machine gun, rocket launchers and optional missiles.

The Realdo's upper torso can disconnect from its lower torso where the cockpit is located. This feature could have been designed as a method of escape for pilots if their mobile suit become heavily damaged. It also has a practical combat purpose as shown against the Gundams during the Taklamakan Desert mission. The Realdo grabs onto an enemy suit, then the lower torso disconnects and flies away while the upper torso self-destructs. In AD 2312, some of these units were used by Katharon and they received an OS upgrade that improves their overall performance.

Armaments

• 20mm Machine Gun

This rapid-fire armament is ideal for shooting down incoming missiles or small vehicles. The 20mm machine gun however is ineffective against mobile suit's armor.

• Defense Rod

Mounted on the left forearm, it is a rod-shaped defensive armament. It is able to deflect/ricochet enemy's projectiles via rotary motion. Typically not equipped when the Union Realdo is launched in Flight mode.

• Linear Rifle

A rifle that fires electromagnetically-accelerated rounds. Handheld in MS mode, it is mounted under the nose unit during Flight mode. The Realdo's linear rifle has a shorter barrel than the rifle of its successors, the YMS-02 Union Blast and SVMS-01 Union Flag.

• Sonic Blade

A dagger-like melee weapon, the one used by the Union Realdo has a blade that unfolds out of the handle during use. By vibrating at a high frequency, the blade is able to display excellent cutting capabilities.

• Rocket Launcher

A rocket launcher loaded with unspecific number of rockets are located in both shoulders on either side of the head.

• Missile

An unspecific amount of missiles can be carried in the Union Realdo's legs.

History

The Realdo served for years as the mainstay mobile suit of the Union until the introduction of the new SVMS-01 Union Flag by AD 2307. Even then, it still remained in the frontlines as the Union Flag's deployment was yet to be completed. Despite being greatly outmatched, Realdo still participated in missions to capture the Gundams of Celestial Being.

By AD 2312, the Realdo was vastly outdated but was still used by the Earth Sphere Federation Army, albeit not in the frontlines. A number of units were also acquired by the anti-Federation organization Katharon. The Realdo of both factions were seen in action during the Break Pillar Incident, where they worked with numerous other mobile suits to shoot down the falling outer wall pieces of the damaged orbital elevator, La Tour, reducing the destruction caused to the city at the elevator's base.

Variants

• VMS-15 Union Realdo Space Type
• MA-115HT Union Realdo Hover Tank

Picture Gallery

Roll out of Japan's first locally made Union Realdo (unpainted and note the localized version of the linear rifle and defense rod at the sides)

Realdo (Unpainted) with Japan's locally produced linear rifle and defense rod

Katharon's Union Realdo with Kathron's AEU Enact

References

Mobile Suit Gundam 00P Second Season Celestial Being [Krung Thep] Development Report - VMS-15 Union Realdo

Profile and lineart

External links

• VMS-15 Union Realdo on MAHQ.net