ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam

ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam
ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam (ZGMF-X23S セイバーガンダム)
Unit Type
Prototype Transformable Assault Aerial Mobile Suit
Profile
Developed from	ZGMF-YX21R Proto-Saviour
First Seen	December, 73 C.E.
Last Seen	74 C.E.
Manufacturer	Integrated Design Bureau
Operator	Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty Minerva Corps
Known Pilots	Athrun Zala
General Characteristics
Overall Height	18.61 meters61.056 ft <br />732.677 in <br />
Weight	77.13 metric tons
Power-plant	Ultracompact Energy Battery
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in cockpit in torso)
Operating System	Generation Unrestricted Network Drive Assault Module
Armor	Variable Phase Shift armor
Equipment
Standard	Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System Power Extender
Standard Armaments
Fixed	2 × MMI-GAU25A 20mm CIWS 2 × M106 "Amfortas" plasma beam cannon 2 × MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm machine gun 2 × MA-7B "Super Fortis" beam cannon 2 × MA-M941 "Vajra" beam saber
Handheld	MA-BAR70 high-energy beam rifle MMI-RD11 aerodynamic shield
Real World
Mechanical Designer	Kunio Okawara
Appearances*
Television	GSD: #10 - Episode #28 GBF
Manga	GSD (M2)
Game	Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Alliance vs. Z.A.F.T. II

The ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam is a Mobile Suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. It is piloted by Athrun Zala.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam is one of ZAFT's five Second Stage Series mobile suits, and like other machines of the series, it inherited the basic performance of the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam, making it superior to the ZAFT's mass production MS in CE 73, the ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior. The design of the Saviour Gundam emphasizes mobility, and not only does it demonstrate high aerial combat capability in MS mode due to its two large wings, it can also transform into a fighter jet-like mobile armor (MA) mode, which has higher acceleration and cruising speed.

With sensor-type devices mounted at the top, the Saviour's head is reminiscent of the GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam's. The Saviour excels in hit-and-run attacks using a combination of its MS and MA modes and is armed with a beam rifle, a shield, two beam sabers, two CIWS guns, two machine guns as well as a pair of beam and plasma beam cannons. It can also operate in space and is equipped with a new form of Phase Shift armor known as Variable Phase Shift armor as well as a battery that can be recharged during battle using the Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System. As with the ZGMF-X24S Chaos Gundam, the Saviour Gundam is based upon a similar prototype unit, in this case the ZGMF-YX21R Proto-Saviour.

Armaments

• MMI-GAU25A 20mm CIWS

A pair of MMI-GAU25A 20mm CIWS guns are mounted in the mobile suit's head and are usable only in MS mode. They are mainly used for intercepting incoming missiles and for suppressive fire.

• MMI-RD11 Aerodynamic Shield

The main defensive armament of the suit, the shield has auxiliary wings on the surface and an aerodynamic form to assist in controlling the machine and for reducing aerial resistance respectively when flying in MA mode. It is anti-beam coated to protect against beam attacks. It can be mounted on the left forearm or handheld when in MS mode. In MA mode, it is mounted on the torso and can help to protect the cockpit from attacks below. When viewed from the angle of aerial resistance, the Saviour should not transform into the MA mode if the shield is destroyed.

• M106 "Amfortas" Plasma Beam Cannon

The pair of "Amfortas" plasma beam cannons are the Saviour's most powerful weapons, they are attached to the suit's backpack. When in MS mode, the cannons can be used positioned under the shoulders, while in MA mode they are always facing forward. They serve as the MA mode's main weapon and are improved version of ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam's M100 "Balaena" plasma beam cannons with better energy conversion rate, etc. Unlike the "Balaena", which can only be utilized by nuclear reactor powered mobile suits, the "Amfortas" is designed for use by battery powered mobile suits.

• MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm Machine Gun

The "Picus" 76mm machine guns are the shell firing weapons of the Saviour's MA mode and serve the same purpose as the CIWS. They are located on the backpack cowl that covers the Saviour's head when in MA mode.

• MA-7B "Super Fortis" Beam Cannon

Improved version of the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam's MA-4B "Fortis" beam cannons, a pair of this beam cannons are mounted above the "Amfortas" plasma beam cannons and are usable in both MS and MA mode. They are adjusted for use by a battery powered mobile suit, and inherited the output and rapid fire capability of the "Fortis".

• MA-M941 "Vajra" Beam Saber

A pair of beam sabers are stored in the Saviour's shoulder armor, they serve as the suit's main close combat weapon and are usable only in MS mode. The same model of beam saber is used by all beam saber equipped Second Stage Series MS.

• MA-BAR70 High-Energy Beam Rifle

A custom beam rifle used by the Saviour Gundam, it is developed based on Freedom and Justice Gundam's beam rifle. In MS mode, the beam rifle is handheld when in use and stored on the rear skirt when not needed. In MA mode, it is mounted on the left shoulder and can be fired in that manner. The beam rifle serves as the MS mode's main weapon and is a secondary weapon when in MA mode.

Special Equipment & Features

• Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System

Like the other Second Stage Series suits, the Saviour has the capabilities to be remotely recharged using a Deuterion Beam fired from the LHM-BB01 Minerva.

• Operating System

Like the other Second Stage Series suits, the Saviour also uses the Generation Unrestricted Network Drive Assault Module operating system.

• Variable Phase Shift armor

The Saviour is equipped with ZAFT's improved version of Phase Shift armor, it is more energy efficient and its strength, as well as color can be changed in the field, although this must be programmed beforehand.

• Power Extender

Like the other Second Stage Series mobile suits, the Saviour is installed with a power extender to increase its output and operating time. The device also allows it to be equipped with the Variable Phase Shift armor.

History

In late C.E. 73, ZAFT created a new series of prototype mobile suits known as the Second Stage Series to succeed their previous generation of Gundams, which were all lost in the first war. One of these new suits was the Saviour Gundam. It was not present during the theft of the other Second Stage Series at Armory One as its development had fallen behind the rest. After the "Break the World" incident, it was assigned by Chairman Gilbert Durandal to Athrun Zala, who was newly reinstated to ZAFT and appointed to the elite FAITH detachment.

Athrun then flew the Saviour back to Earth and, after a small skirmish with Orb forces, joined the crew of the battleship Minerva. Using the Saviour, Athrun easily disabled the mobile armor YMAG-X7F Gells-Ghe in the Gulnahan Ravine and in other engagements, he often tie up the Phantom Pain's ZGMF-X24S Chaos Gundam with hit-and-run tactics. During the investigation of Lodonia Lab, the Saviour aided the ZGMF-X56S/α Force Impulse Gundam in disabling the ZGMF-X88S Gaia Gundam. Saviour was later damaged beyond repair by the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam in the naval battle off the coast of Crete.

Gallery

Lineart

MA-BAR70 High-energy Beam Rifle

MMI-RD11 Aerodynamic Shield

Anime

Head close up, VPS armor deactivated (A Father's Spell, HD Remaster)

Power button (Blood in the Water, HD Remaster)

In hangar, VPS armor deactivated (Blood in the Water, HD Remaster)

VPS armor activated (Blood in the Water, HD Remaster)

First launch (rear) (Blood in the Water, HD Remaster)

First launch (front) (Blood in the Water, HD Remaster)

MA Mode, Front (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

MA Mode, Top (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

MA Mode, Rear (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

Head close up, note the head crest's "X23S TRE" (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

Cockpit (1) (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

Cockpit (2) (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

Cockpit (3) (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

Front of cockpit console (Return to the Battlefield, HD Remaster)

Firing M106 "Amfortas" Plasma Beam Cannon (Attack the Lohengrin, HD Remaster)

Cockpit hatch (Attack the Lohengrin, HD Remaster)

Launching from Minerva (front) (Sword of the Blue Skies, HD Remaster)

Launching from Minerva (rear) (Sword of the Blue Skies, HD Remaster)

MS Mode, Front (Differing Views, HD Remaster)

MS Mode, Rear (Survivors and Sacrifices, HD Remaster)

Aiming MA-BAR70 High-energy Beam Rifle

Firing MA-BAR70 High-energy Beam Rifle (Survivors and Sacrifices, HD Remaster)

Wielding a MA-M941 "Vajra" Beam Saber (Survivors and Sacrifices, HD Remaster)

Charging with MMI-RD11 Aerodynamic Shield

Vs Freedom Gundam (Survivors and Sacrifices, HD Remaster)

Right forearm severed by Freedom Gundam (Survivors and Sacrifices, HD Remaster)

Destroyed by Freedom Gundam (Survivors and Sacrifices, HD Remaster)

Wreckage (A Fleeting Dream, HD Remaster)

Illustrations & Artwork

Art from Gundam Perfect File

Games

Mobile Suit Mode (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny)

Mobile Armor Mode (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny)

SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

Gunpla

1/144 ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam (2005): box art

1/144 HG SEED ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam (2005): box art

1/100 ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam (2006): box art

Action Figures

Mobile Suit in Action (MSiA / MIA) "ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam" (2004): package front view.

Saviour Gundam (Deactive Mode) as part of MSiA / MIA "Deactive Set Phase Z.A.F.T." double set (Limited edition release; 2005): package front view.

Saviour Gundam (Deactive Mode; right) as part of MSiA / MIA "Deactive Set Phase Z.A.F.T." double set (Limited edition release; 2005): product samples.

Notes & Trivia

• Saviour's head crest displays the text "X23S TRE", which means "Three" in Italian and is a reference to the Saviour's series number.
• In its serial number, "ZGMF" is the short form of "Zero Gravity Maneuver Fighter", "X" means it is a prototype unit, "2" means it is designed for aerial combats, "3" is it's series number, and "S" represents "Second Stage".
• The way the Saviour was destroyed has been referred to among fans as being "Savioured".
• The Saviour is the only Second Stage Mobile Suit that never fought in space.
• In the third volume of the English-translated Gundam SEED Destiny manga, the Savior is erroneously referred to as the "Saber". This is an error explained due to the katakana given for this unit (セイバー Seibaa, "Saber" or "Saver") and its pronunciation being at odds with the official English name "Saviour". If that was rendered into katakana, it would be セイビアー Seibiaa, "Saviour". This likely stems from choosing something that is easier to pronounce for the average Japanese as well as to understand, being a regular (katakana) derivation of an agent noun for "save", while being aware of "saviour" being the more common term in English and therefore choosing this for the Latin letters.
• The Saviour was shown taking off in mobile armor mode in Episode 24, despite not featuring any visible landing gears.
• Amfortas, the name of the Saviour's primary cannons, is the name of a character in Wagner's opera Parsifal

Appearances

Television Series

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
  • PHASE-10, A Father's Spell
    • First Appearance
  • PHASE-13, Resurrected Wings
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-15, Return to the Battlefield
  • PHASE-16, Struggle in the Indian Ocean
  • PHASE-17, The Soldier's Life
  • PHASE-18, Attack the Lohengrin!
  • PHASE-22, Sword of the Blue Skies
  • PHASE-23, The Shadows of War
  • PHASE-24, Differing Views
  • PHASE-25, The Place of Sin
  • PHASE-26, The Promise
  • PHASE-27, Unfulfilled Feelings
  • PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices

References

Saviour Gundam File 01 (Official Gundam Fact File, Issue 117, Pg 1)

Saviour Gundam File 02 (Official Gundam Fact File, Issue 117, Pg 3)

Saviour Gundam File 03 (Official Gundam Fact File, Issue 117, Pg 4)

Saviour Gundam File 04 (Gundam Perfect Files, Issue 111, Pg 7)

Saviour Gundam File 05 (Gundam Perfect Files, Issue 111, Pg 8)

External links

This article is part of Project: SEED

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Project Leader: User:CD298