The ZGMF-515 CGUE is a mobile suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Known pilots included Rau Le Creuset and Xist Elwes.
Technology & Combat Characteristics
Developed by the Heinlein Design Bureau, the same military design bureau responsible for the ZGMF-1017 GINN, the CGUE was intended to be a successor for the GINN that specializes in space combat while retaining the ability to function on Earth.[1][2] As such, while much of its structure was similar to the GINN, its thrusters and weapons all received a major overhaul.[1] Compared to its predecessor, its thruster nozzles and heat vents were enlarged, improving its mobility and maneuverability. Its weapons consisted of improved models of the assault machine gun and heavy blade used by the GINN, as well as a new shield with a built-in Vulcan cannon, which was mounted on the left arm hardpoint.[1][3]
Despite having performance that surpassed the GINN's, the CGUE never reached the mass production stage.[1][3] This was because the CGUE was deemed insufficient to be ZAFT's new mainstay mobile suit following the capture of the Earth Alliance's G Weapons, prototype mobile suits equipped with Phase Shift Armor and beam weaponry.[4] This led to ZAFT's decision to prioritize the development and mass production of the newer, beam weaponry equipped ZGMF-600 GuAIZ over the CGUE.[1] The few CGUEs that were produced were assigned to commanders like Rau Le Creuset.[1][3]
Armaments
- MA-M4A Heavy Blade
- An improved version of GINN's heavy blade and the standard close-range armament of the GGUE. When not in use, it is typically mounted on the left wing's outer side.
- M7070 28mm Vulcan System Shield
- Mounted on the left arm, the shield has a built-in Vulcan cannon to improve the CGUE's close combat capability and to allow it to switch between offense and defense quickly.
- MMI-M7S 76mm Heavy Assault Machine Gun
- An improved version of GINN's Machine Gun. It fires a type of armor-piercing round designated "APSV", this round is extraordinarily powerful, but is incapable of dealing significant damage to enemies protected by Phase Shift armor. This weapon is also used by AMF-101 DINN and its variants.
- M68 "Cattus" 500mm Recoilless Rifle
- An optional weapon also used by GINN, it is similar in design to a bazooka and can fire various types of rounds depending on the magazine used. The M68 "Cattus" 500mm recoilless rifle has greater range and firepower than the heavy assault machine gun but has less ammunition and a slower rate of fire.
- MA-M21G Beam Rifle
- The MA-M21G Beam Rifle was taken from Rau's ZGMF-600 GuAIZ after his GuAIZ was severely damaged by the Freedom Gundam. Rau has used his GuAIZ's beam rifle only once during the battle of Mendel Colony against the Three Ships Alliance and Earth Alliance.
History
The ZGMF-515 CGUE was one of the many mobile suits developed by ZAFT during the First Alliance-PLANT War, and it was first deployed on March 15, C.E. 70. It later served as the basis for two other mass-production mobile suits, the AMF-101 DINN and the ZGMF-600 GuAIZ. During the war, ZAFT also developed a set of armor to improve CGUE's combat performance, leading to the variant known as the ZGMF-515AS CGUE Assault. Another CGUE variant was the YFX-200 CGUE DEEP Arms, which was used to test the beam weapon technology that ZAFT obtained from the four captured G Project mobile suits.
One notable CGUE was used by Commander Rau Le Creuset. Rau used his CGUE during the Battle of Heliopolis against his rival Mu La Flaga and his TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero mobile armor.[5] Rau and Mu's battle continued inside the colony, where Rau's machine was damaged by a shot from the GAT-X105+AQM/E-X03 Launcher Strike Gundam's "Agni" 320mm Hyper Impulse Cannon, forcing him to retreat back to his ship.[6] Rau continued to use his CGUE until he arrived on Earth and switched to a DINN.[7] After returning to space, Rau was assigned a GuAIZ. However, during the Battle of Mendel, his GuAIZ was damaged by the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam[8], and after retiring to his ship, Rau re-entered the battle in his CGUE, armed with his GuAIZ's beam rifle.[9] This was also the last time Rau used his CGUE as he subsequently switched to the ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam.
During the war, the Earth Alliance also utilized captured CGUE in its battles with ZAFT forces. One such example was the red-colored CGUE piloted by Xist Elwes.[10] The eye-catching color was not Xist's choice, instead it was meant to distinguish his machine from those of ZAFT and also to facilitate monitoring of Xist's actions, as the Alliance did not fully trust him due to his unique parentage.
Following the end of the First Alliance-PLANT War, production of the CGUE ceased in favor of more advanced mobile suits. However, many units remained in service,[11] with several participating in the defense of the PLANT colonies during the Battle of Aprilius One during the Second Alliance-PLANT War.[12]
Variants
- ZGMF-515AS CGUE Assault
- YFX-200 CGUE DEEP Arms
- CGUE Rau Le Creuset Use
- Appearing in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Re:, it is a modified CGUE which seems to have a prototype DRAGOON System on its back. Unlike the later DRAGOON System, the remote-controlled pods used by this unit are wire-guided like the TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero's Gunbarrels. Whether the pods can be operated wirelessly is unknown. Other changes to this CGUE include the addition of a head antenna at the forehead and the use of a new shield.
Gallery
Lineart
Anime
.png "CGUE Head Close-Up 01 (SEED HD Ep2).png (2.36 MB)")
.png "CGUE Rear 02 (SEED HD Ep2).png (2.12 MB)")
.png "CGUE Heavy Assault Machine Gun Firing 02 (SEED HD Ep2).png (3.5 MB)")
.png "CGUE Vulcan System Shield 01 (SEED HD Ep3).png (4.81 MB)")
.png "CGUE in Hangar 01 (SEED HD Ep3).png (4.92 MB)")
.png "CGUE Heavy Assault Machine Gun Firing 01 (SEED HD Ep35).png (3.15 MB)")
.png "CGUE Full Body (Seed HD Ep46).png (6.89 MB)")
.png "CGUE with GuAIZ's Beam Rifle 01 (SEED HD Ep46).png (2.56 MB)")
.png "CGUE & GINN in Hangar 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (3.86 MB)")
.png "CGUE Heavy Assault Machine Gun 02 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (3.82 MB)")
Manga
Games
Gunpla
Notes & Trivia
- In episode 35, a CGUE was seen firing a green beam from a MMI-M7S machine gun during the attack on JOSH-A. This error was fixed in the HD Remaster.
- In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Assault for Gameboy Advance, CGUE is the only playable MS that isn't a Gundam-type.
Appearances
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- Episode 2 (HD Remastered Episode 2), Its Name: Gundam - (First Appearance)
- Episode 3 (HD Remastered Episode 3), Collapsing Land
- Episode 10 (HD Remastered Episode 10), Crossroads
- Episode 23 (HD Remastered Episode 22), Fateful Encounter
- Episode 34 (HD Remastered Episode 32), Seen and Unseen
- Episode 35 (HD Remastered Episode 33), The Descending Sword
- Episode 46 (HD Remastered Episode 44), A Place for the Soul
- Episode 47 (HD Remastered Episode 45), The Nightmare Reborn
- Episode 48 (HD Remastered Episode 46), Day of Wrath
- Episode 49 (HD Remastered Episode 47), The Final Light
- Episode 50 (HD Remastered Episode 48), To a Future that Never Ends
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- Episode 2 (HD Remastered Episode 2), Those Who Call For War
- Episode 9 (HD Remastered Episode 9), Bared Fangs
- Episode 45 (HD Remastered Episode 44), Prelude to Revolution
- Manga
- Games
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.26-27
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-35, The Descending Sword
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Profile on the archived Gundam Official.com website
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Seed C.E. Mechanics & the World (2012), p.98
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-02, Its Name: Gundam
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-03, Collapsing Land
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-34, Seen and Unseen
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Frame Astrays
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-02, Those Who Call For War
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-09, Bared Fangs
External links
