The ZGMF-600 GuAIZ (pronounced "Gates" in Japanese and "Gwaze" in English) is a mass-production general-purpose mobile suit first featured in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Contents
Technology & Combat Characteristics
The successor to the ZGMF-1017 GINN and the ZGMF-515 CGUE, the GuAIZ was jointly developed by the Maius Military Industries and the Integrated Design Bureau, which was formed from the merger of all of PLANT's military design bureaus (Heinlein, Asimov, Clarke, and Verne) during this mobile suit's development process.[1][2][3] The GuAIZ inherited the high versatility of its predecessors while also featuring a enlarged form and enhanced armor. It had a new high thrust backpack designed to enhance its mobility in space, though it was also capable of operating on Earth and in colonies. Its head-mounted sensor array was enlarged, enhancing its radar performance. It also featured a pair of head-mounted close defense machine guns, a first among ZAFT mobile suits.[1]
Originally, the GuAIZ was not designed with the use of beam weapons in mind. However, this changed after the capture of the OMNI Enforcer's GAT-X series. After thoroughly analyzing their design and operation data, the GuAIZ was redesigned and equipped with a host of beam weapons intended to counter the OMNI Enforcer's Phase Shift armor-equipped mobile suits. It was said that the time spent on adjusting the beam weaponry delayed the GuAIZ's deployment in the battlefield, but notwithstanding this, the GuAIZ's performance greatly surpassed the OMNI Enforcer's mass production mobile suit.[1][4] Furthermore, its excellent basic structure led to the GuAIZ becoming the base machine for the nuclear-powered mobile suits that was developed later.[1]
Armaments
- MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS
- The GuAIZ has two "Picus" 76mm CIWS guns mounted in its head. These light projectile weapons are used to shoot down incoming missiles and enemy units at close range. The addition of these weapons was influenced by the GAT-X series.[4]
- MA-MV03 Composite Shield
- Originally a standard shield, its design was altered after the capture of the GAT-X series.[3] The Composite Shield was based on the "Trikeros" Offensive Shield System used by the GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam and was mounted on the left forearm.[5] It featured two beam claws for close combat against mobile suits, allowing the GuAIZ to quickly switch between defense and attack after closing the distance with the enemy.[1][5][6]
- EEQ7R Extensional Arrestor
- A pair of waist-mounted rocket anchors equipped with small caliber beam cannons.[1] Additionally, a beam pick can be generated from the muzzle of the beam cannon.[4][6][7] Each Extensional Arrestor is also connected to the suit's backpack via a cable and can be launched to strike enemy unit tens of meters away.[1] It is a type of hidden weapon and is difficult to master.[4] The Extensional Arrestor was likely based on the Piercer Lock "Gleipnir" used by the Blitz Gundam.[5]
- MA-M21G Beam Rifle
- Developed by Maius Military Industries based on the data from the GAT-X units, as well as data collected from the YFX-200 CGUE DEEP Arms, this beam rifle draws power from the GuAIZ's generator.[1][8] It was of the same series as the MA-M20 "Lupus" Beam Rifle used by the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam, though its power was inferior.[5]
History
One of ZAFT's second phase series mobile suits, the GuAIZ was unveiled on January 23, C.E. 71,[9] on the same day as the fall of the Kaohsiung space port, as part of a propaganda effort.[3] By this point, the basic development of the GuAIZ was already complete.[4] However, merely two days later, Rau Le Creuset's team captured four of the OMNI Enforcer's GAT-X series prototype mobile suits from Heliopolis.[9] The new technology found on the GAT-X series and the realization that the OMNI Enforcer now has its own mobile suits caused the GuAIZ's development roadmap to be drastically altered as ZAFT incorporated new technology into its design, greatly delaying its deployment.[4]
One early production GuAIZ was assigned to Rau in July, C.E. 71. This unit battled Mu La Flaga's GAT-X105+AQM/E-X03 Launcher Strike Gundam at the Battle of Mendel on July 12, but was heavily damaged by the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam.[10][9][4] The GuAIZ would not see general deployment until September 23, C.E. 71,[9] making its combat debut at the Battle of Boaz.[7][4] During the battle, they demonstrated their superiority over the GAT-01 Strike Dagger, the OMNI Enforcer's mass production mobile suit.[4] However, this proved to be moot, as the fortress was soon destroyed by a nuclear attack.[7] Later, numerous GuAIZ participated in the Second Battle of Jachin Due, the final battle of the war, but they once again failed to achieve any significant battle results.[11][12][1] After the war ended, a more powerful version of the GuAIZ, the ZGMF-601R GuAIZ R, was created.[13]
Variants
Gallery
Lineart
Anime
_in_Hangar_01_(SEED_HD_Ep42).png "GuAIZ (Commander Colors) in Hangar 01 (SEED HD Ep42).png (6.92 MB)")
_Beam_Claws_01_(SEED_HD_Ep44).png "GuAIZ (Commander Colors) Beam Claws 01 (SEED HD Ep44).png (3.68 MB)")
_Rear_01_(SEED_HD_Ep44).png "GuAIZ (Commander Colors) Rear 01 (SEED HD Ep44).png (3.21 MB)")
_Cockpit_Hatch_01_(SEED_HD_Ep44).png "GuAIZ (Commander Colors) Cockpit Hatch 01 (SEED HD Ep44).png (3.54 MB)")
(Seed_HD_Ep47).png "Jule Team MS (CE 71)(Seed HD Ep47).png (5.17 MB)")
.png "GuAIZ Extensional Arrestor 01 (SEED HD Ep47).png (3.31 MB)")
.png "GuAIZ Extensional Arrestors Destroy Strike Dagger 01 (Seed HD Ep47).png (3.25 MB)")
.png "GuAIZ Head Close-Up 02 (Seed HD Ep48).png (2.21 MB)")
.png "M1 Astray vs GuAIZ 01 (SEED HD Ep49).png (3.75 MB)")
.png "GuAIZ Rear 01 (SEED HD Ep49).png (3.16 MB)")
Games
Gunpla
Action Figures
Notes & Trivia
Original concept art
- The GuAIZ began as a fan-submitted design for the Gundam SEED Mecha Contest 2002, designed by Ryuta Misaka (提坂竜太). The original concept was named "アラウクネ", a high mobility close-quarters combat mobile suit based on the GINN and the Blitz Gundam.
- The GuAIZ serves as the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED counterpart of Mobile Suit Gundam's MS-14A Gelgoog. Both are late model mass production mobile suit, as well as the first mass production model of a space colony faction to use beam weapons. Both use a melee beam weapon that creates two beam blades, and commanders from both series piloted custom painted units.
- The GuAIZ's deployment being delayed due to issues with its beam weapons was a direct reference to the similar problem faced by the Gelgoog.
- Contradicting other sources, the SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays game proclaims that the GuAIZ was the first mass-produced Mobile Suit in ZAFT to have Phase Shift Armor. Despite this claim, the GuAIZ does not have Phase Shift Armor as part of its abilities.
Appearances
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- Episode 42 (HD Remastered Episode 40), Lacus Strikes - (First Appearance)
- Episode 43 (HD Remastered Episode 41), What Stands in the Way
- Episode 44 (HD Remastered Episode 42), Spiral of Encounters
- Episode 45 (HD Remastered Episode 43), The Opening Door
- 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
- Gundam Build Fighters
- Episode 10, The World Tournament Begins
- Gundam Build Divers
- Episode 10, Coalition of Volunteers
- OVAs
- Manga
- Games
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.34-35
- ↑ GREAT MECHANICS - GUNDAM TYPE MOBILE SUITS developed by Z.A.F.T (2021), p.28
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Master Grade Freedom Gundam (2004) instruction manual
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - C.E. Mechanics & The World (2012), p.114-115
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Official File - Mechanics Vol.04 (2003), p.13
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-42, Lacus Strikes
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- ↑ Dengeki Data Collection (19) - Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Side Stories (2007), p. 51
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 SEED Model Vol. 3 - SEED MSV Edition (2004), p.10-11, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED official timeline
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-49, The Final Light
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
External links
