The ZGMF-X56S/β Sword Impulse Gundam is a Mobile Suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. It is piloted by Shinn Asuka and later by Lunamaria Hawke.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The ZGMF-X56S/β Sword Impulse is the ZGMF-X56S Impulse equipped with the β Sword Silhouette pack and is designed to serve as a close combat mobile suit. The Sword Silhouette pack adds two anti-ship laser swords, which can be combined into a larger double-bladed sword, and a pair of beam boomerangs to the Impulse's standard armaments of two CIWS, two anti-armor knifes, a beam rifle and a shield. Thanks to the presence of the beam rifle, the suit has no problem engaging in range combat if required. The suit's VPS colors are different from that of the normal Impulse, and is now red, black and white.
Armaments[]
- MMI-710 "Excalibur" Anti-Ship Laser Sword
- Mounted on the Sword Silhouette pack, the pair of "Excalibur" anti-ship laser swords are the Sword Impulse's main combat weapon. The anti-ship laser swords are large physical swords with a laser blade along their cutting edge, and as their name implies they can be used to destroy ships in space and naval ships on Earth, although they are mostly used against mobile suits during combat. The two swords can be joined at their hilts to form a large dual-bladed "Ambidextrous Form". The swords are also capable of extending the laser blade over the tip of the sword for piercing enemies with Phase-Shift Armor.
- RQM60 "Flash Edge" Beam Boomerang
- The Sword Silhouette also mounts two RQM60 "Flash-Edge" beam boomerangs, which are throwing weapons that emit a short beam blade on one end and can return to the owner after throwing, often catching enemy units by surprise. These beam boomerangs are an improved version of ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam's beam boomerangs.
- MMI-GAU25A 20mm CIWS
- Mounted in the Sword Impulse's chest, the pair of physical projectile-firing CIWS guns have excellent rapid-fire capabilities. They are primarily used to intercept incoming missiles or enemy units and to restrict the enemy's movements. They are also capable of penetrating ordinary mobile suit armor at extremely close range.
- M71-AAK "Folding Razor" Anti-Armor Knife
- One stored in each of the suit's side armor, these knives are developed based on the data of the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam's combat knives. Its high-hardness blade flips out of the handle during use, and can vibrate to enhance cutting capabilities. It can pierce through most armor, except PS armor or its variants, and does not draw power from the suit.
- MMI-RG59V Mobile Shield
- The Sword Impulse can use a physical anti-beam coated MMI-RG59V mobile shield for defense, it can be mounted on the left forearm or handheld. This shield is expandable but is normally used in its compact state by the Sword Impulse in order to utilize its other weapons with less hindrance.
- MA-BAR72 High-Energy Beam Rifle
- Stored on the suit's rear skirt armor, this beam rifle is an enhanced version of the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam's, and developed using the ZGMF-X23S Saviour Gundam's beam rifle as the base model. It is designed with the Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System in mind and has an excellent balance of offensive power and rapid-fire capabilities. Rarely used by the Sword Impulse.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- An improved version of Phase Shift armor, Variable Phase Shift armor is capable of automatically changing its strength, as well as color and power consumption in the field, although this must be programmed beforehand. When using the Sword Silhouette pack, the armor automatically takes a red, white, and black color scheme.
- The Deuterion beam energy transfer system is a wireless energy transfer system built into the Second Stage Series and their support ship, the LHM-BB01 Minerva. The system allows a mobile suit that is properly lined up with the Minerva to receive a recharge while in the field, meaning that if the mobile suit runs low on power during a battle it can be quickly recharged without coming into the ship's hanger. The transfer system is very efficient requiring only a few seconds before the mobile suit is fully recharged. Still, on a battlefield, even a few seconds could mean death so it is advisable for a machine to only perform the maneuver when they have covering fire.
- Hardpoints for Silhouette Packs
- While the other suits of the Second Stage series are capable of transforming into a mobile armor mode, the Impulse instead is similar to the Strike in the fact, that it can adapt to different situations by using exchangeable Silhouette packs. In addition to adding weapons and equipment for different mission profiles, these packs also reconfigure the Impulse's Variable Phase Shift armor.
History[]
In C.E. 73, ZAFT created the Impulse Gundam as part of the Second Stage Series of new Gundam-type mobile suits. The Impulse is similar to the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, created by the Earth Alliance during the First Alliance-PLANT War. Like the Strike, the Impulse can be equipped with exchangeable Silhouette packs, an advanced variation of the Striker Packs, granting the suit the ability to adapt to different combat situations. One such pack is the β Sword Silhouette, which is analogous to the AQM/E-X02 Sword Striker.
The Sword Impulse was first used in battle on October 2, C.E. 73, when the ZAFT military colony Armory One was infiltrated by three Extendeds working for the EA Phantom Pain special forces unit. The Extendeds stole three Gundams of the Second Generation series and caused serious damage to the interior of the colony while fighting ZAFT mobile suits. Shinn Asuka eventually launched in the Sword Impulse to fight the three Gundams.[1] He was capable of holding his own against the three suits for awhile, until the three eventually planned to escape outside the colony. Before leaving the colony, the Sword Impulse's weaponry was destroyed by the enemy suits, forcing Shinn to switch to the Force Silhouette.[2]
Some times later, when the Minerva left the Orb Union after the declaration of the Second Alliance-PLANT War, the ship was attacked by a task force of Alliance ships. During the battle, the EA first used the mobile armor, YMAF-X6BD Zamza-Zah, which inflicted heavy damage to the Force Impulse, causing Shinn to enter SEED mode for the first time. After defeating the Zamza-Zah, Shinn switched to the Sword Silhouette to attack the EA fleet, causing massive damage and forcing the remaining ships to retreat.[3] The Sword Impulse configuration is then used in the second battle between the Minerva and a joint EA/Orb fleet near Crete. At the end of the battle, Shinn used the Sword Impulse to attack the Orb fleet, destroying several ships of the fleet until eventually sinking the flagship Takemikazuchi. In the process, Shinn unknowingly killed his former caretaker, Captain Todaka.[4]
During Operation Angel Down, a ZAFT operation to destroy the Archangel, Shinn fought against Kira Yamato in his ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and defeated him by impaling the suit on one of the Sword Silhouette pack's anti-ship swords, which he used with the Force Impulse.[5] In ZAFT's assault on the Logos-controlled Heaven's Base, new Impulse pilot Lunamaria Hawke switched to the Sword Impulse upon being advised by Shinn, who is now piloting the new ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam. With the Sword Impulse, Lunamaria took down some of the enemy's massive GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundams, alongside Rey Za Burrel's ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam, which is also wielding one of the Sword Silhouette pack's anti-ship swords.[6] After the battle of Heaven's Base, the Sword Silhouette was never used again.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
_EP01-_Sword_Silhouette_Silhouette_Flyer_with_Sword_Silhouette_Launching.png "MSGSD (Remastered) EP01- Sword Silhouette Silhouette Flyer with Sword Silhouette Launching.png (1.07 MB)")
_EP01-_Sword_Impulse_Gundam_Phase_Shift_Armor_Activated.png "MSGSD (Remastered) EP01- Sword Impulse Gundam Phase Shift Armor Activated.png (1.16 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Head Close Up 01 (Seed Destiny Ep1).png (3.35 MB)")
.png "Impulse Gundam Shield 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep1).png (4.34 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam vs Gaia Gundam 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (4.57 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam Close-Up 03 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (3.9 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam Beam Rifle Firing 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep02).png (3.4 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam CIWS Firing 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (2.18 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam Rear 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (2.92 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Beam Boomerang 01 (Seed Destiny Ep28).png (3.63 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam Beam Rifle 01 (Seed Destiny HD Ep28).png (4.07 MB)")
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
- First Appearance
- PHASE-02, Those Who Call For War
- PHASE-12, Blood in the Water
- PHASE-13, Resurrected Wings
- PHASE-20, Past
- PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices
- PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
References[]
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-02, Those Who Call For War
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-12, Blood in the Water
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-34, Nightmare
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-38, A New Flag
External links[]
Please read the linked project page before editing this article.
Project Leader: User:CD298