The ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam is a mobile suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. It is piloted by Rau Le Creuset.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
Like the other ZGMF-X series of Gundams created by ZAFT in C.E. 71, the Providence is equipped with a Neutron Jammer Canceller and is powered by a nuclear reactor. It is also armored with Phase Shift armor and features armaments reverse engineered from the stolen mobile suits of the Earth Alliance. Initially designed as a close combat unit with large beam sabers, the Providence is later changed into a DRAGOON system equipped unit when Rau Le Creuset is designated as its pilot and because it could be powered by the nuclear reactor,[1] but it still retains the heavy armor of the former's design. As this change is made after the main body's design is completed, some of the new parts could not be integrated into the body.[2] An example is the six quantum communication cables running from the backpack to the chest that are mounted externally due to lack of interior space.[1] Though exposed, these cables still have solid protection as they are covered by Phase Shift armor.[1][2]
The DRAGOON system is the Providence's main weapon and is first tested on the YMF-X000A Dreadnought Gundam. It allows a pilot with high spatial awareness, like Rau, to control multiple wireless guided weapon pods through quantum communication, hence enabling a single mobile suit to simultaneously battle with multiple enemies and attack from multiple directions, including its blindspot.[1] The Providence's DRAGOON system is mounted on the large backpack and the hips, and includes 11 weapon pods that mount a total of 43 beam gun. Paired with the Multi Lock-On System, it is virtually impossible for these weapon pods to miss their mark.[1] The suit's backpack has thrusters of different sizes to prevent loss of mobility caused by added weight of the DRAGOON Systems.[1] Other armaments of the suit include four CIWS guns, a shield with two beam guns and a large beam saber, and a hand-carried large beam rifle. It was considered one of the most powerful mobile suits in C.E.71.[1][2]
Armaments[]
- MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS
- Four CIWS guns are mounted on Providence, two on the head and two on the shoulders.[3] These guns are not powerful enough to seriously damage other mobile suits, but suitable for shooting down missiles and suppressive fire.
- MA-M221 "Judicium" Beam Rifle
- A handheld weapon used by the Providence, the "Judicium" beam rifle is substantially larger than conventional beam rifles and is supported by the suit's shoulder when used.[1] Although it is quite unwieldy, its output is higher than the "Lupus" beam rifle used by ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam and ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam.[3]
- MA-MV05A Composite Armed Shield System
- The composite armed shield system is mounted on the left forearm and has both defensive and offensive properties. It is armed with a large beam saber and two beam guns.[1]
- The Disconnected Rapid Armament Group Overlook Operation Network System, also known simply as the DRAGOON System, is the main armament of the Providence and is mounted on the backpack and hips.[1] It consisted of multiple wireless guided weapon pods controlled by a pilot with high spatial awareness through a combination of the Multi Lock-On System and quantum communication, which is unaffected by the Neutron Jammer.[1][3] The DRAGOON System allows the Providence to battle multiple units simultaneously and attack from their blind spots.[1]
- Large DRAGOON Pod
- A remote weapon pod sporting nine beam guns. One is mounted at the top of the backpack, the other two are mounted at right angles from it with a smaller DRAGOON Pod in between each.
- Small DRAGOON Pod
- A smaller remote weapon with two beam guns. Two are mounted on the backpack, one pair on each side skirt armor and another pair on the back skirt armor. The ones on the backpack can flip forward to function as beam cannons when they are still attached.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- As with the other four ZGMF-X Gundam units produced by ZAFT at its time, the Providence is equipped with a Neutron Jammer Canceller, which counters the effects of the ubiquitous Neutron Jammers and allows these suits to be powered by nuclear reactors. This gives them almost limitless combat endurance, even with Phase Shift armor activated.
- Operating System
- The Providence uses the Generation Unsubdued Nuclear Drive Assault Module Complex operating system.
- Like the other four ZGMF-X units, the Providence is equipped with Phase Shift armor. Thanks to its N-Jammer Canceller and nuclear reactor the PS armor is capable of being active for a lot longer than on non-nuclear powered suits such as the Strike.
- As implied by its name, this unique system allows Providence to target multiple enemies and attack them at once. To use this system effectively, the pilot must have high spatial awareness capability, which is rare even among Coordinators. The use of the Multi Lock-On System with the DRAGOON System's weapon pods ensure the Providence never miss its targets.[1]
History[]
First Alliance-PLANT War[]
After stealing four of the five Earth Alliance G Project suits, ZAFT created a series of advanced mobile suits based on technology reverse-engineered from these captured machines. Like their EA predecessors, the ZAFT's Gundams were armed with advanced beam weaponry and protected by Phase Shift armor. However, an additional technology was incorporated as well: the Neutron Jammer Canceller, which countered the effects of the ubiquitous Neutron Jammers and allowed these suits to be powered by nuclear reactors. This gave the mobile suits almost limitless combat endurance, even with Phase Shift armor activated.
The last of this series was the ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam, which did not enter service until the Second Battle of Jachin Due, the last major conflict of the war.[4] It was used to great effect by Rau Le Creuset, who finally revealed his plot to destroy humanity in its entirety. He proved the Providence's power by overwhelming and severely damaging Mu La Flaga's GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam[5] and former subordinate Dearka Elsman's GAT-X103 Buster Gundam.[6] He then heavily damaged Kira Yamato's ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam, destroying its METEOR unit in the process. However, Kira still ultimately prevailed, mortally wounding Rau by piercing the Freedom's beam saber through Providence's cockpit. The Providence was subsequently vaporized by the last shot of the GENESIS superweapon.[6]
Legacy[]
During the Second Alliance-PLANT War, ZAFT created the ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam to serve as the successor of the Providence Gundam.[7] However, the Legend was not developed directly from the Providence. Instead, the Legend was based on the prototype ZGMF-X3000Q Providence ZAKU, which did utilized data from the Providence.
Elsewhere, the paramilitary organization Librarian Works developed an enhanced variant of the Providence, the LN-ZGMF-X13A Nix Providence Gundam, for its own use.
Variants[]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED[]
Gundam Build Divers[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Whereas the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam and ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam's head crests display their respective model number ("nove" (9) and "dieci" (10) respectively), Providence's head crest display "UNDICI", which means "Eleven" in Italian, this is despite its model number being "13". This is likely a reference to the Providence being the eleventh Gundam to appear in the anime (after the five original Gundams, the three Earth Alliance second-stage Gundams, the Justice, and the Freedom).
- The Providence is originally listed as having only two "Picus" 76mm CIWS although their locations are unknown. The manual of the 1/144 HGSEED model kit shows them to be head-mounted, while in the anime, they are shown to be the shoulder protrusions during the battle with the Freedom. Later, sourcebooks simply combine these two locations and state that Providence has four CIWS.
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- First Appearance
- PHASE-49, The Final Light
- PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
- Destroyed
- PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- OVAs and ONAs
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED After-Phase Between the Stars
- Flashback(s) Only
- Movies
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom
- Flashback(s) Only
- Manga
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Astray
- Chapter 0.5, SCOOP.00: Prologue
- Games
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Master Grade Providence Gundam model kit manual
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 High Grade Providence Gundam model kit manual
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MS Encyclopedia (ISBN 978-4-7580-1108-2)
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-49, The Final Light
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-36, Athrun on the Run
External links[]