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 Gundam is the ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam equipped with the β Sword Silhouette and is designed to serve as a close-combat mobile suit. The Sword Silhouette 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, which consisted of two CIWS, two anti-armor knives, a beam rifle, and a shield. Due to the beam rifle, the Sword Impulse has no problem engaging in ranged combat if required. The Sword Silhouette's thrusters also enable the Impulse to hover in Earth’s atmosphere.[1] The Sword Impulse's VPS armor colors differ from the standard Impulse's, featuring a combination of red, black, gray, and white.
Armaments[]
- MMI-710 "Excalibur" Anti-Ship Laser Sword
- Mounted on the Sword Silhouette attached to the back of the ZGMF-X56S/β Sword Impulse Gundam, the pair of "Excalibur" anti-ship laser swords are the mobile suit's main weapon. These 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 "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 the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam's beam boomerangs.
- M71-AAK "Folding Razor" Anti-Armor Knife
- One stored in each side skirt 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-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, enemy units, or to restrict the enemy's movements. They are also capable of penetrating ordinary mobile suit armor at extremely close range.
- MMI-RG59V Mobile Shield
- The Sword Impulse carries a physical anti-beam coated shield for defense, which 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 mobile suit's rear skirt armor, this beam rifle is an enhanced version of the beam rifle used by the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and Justice Gundam, and was 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.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- An improved version of Phase Shift armor, Variable Phase Shift armor (VPS 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, the VPS armor takes on a red, black, and white color scheme.
- A wireless energy transfer system built into ZAFT's Second Stage Series mobile suits 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 takes after the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam's Striker Pack system and can adapt to different situations by using exchangeable Silhouettes. In addition to adding weapons and equipment for different mission profiles, these packs also reconfigure the Impulse's Variable Phase Shift armor.
- Operating System
- The Impulse uses the Generation Unrestricted Network Drive Assault Module operating system like the other Second Stage Series suits.
History[]
In C.E. 73, ZAFT developed the ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam as part of its Second Stage Series 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 Silhouettes, 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 ZGMF-X56S/β Sword Impulse Gundam 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's Phantom Pain special forces unit. The Extendeds stole three Gundams of the Second Stage 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.[2] He was capable of holding his own against the three suits for awhile, until the trio 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.[3]
Later on Earth, the LHM-BB01 Minerva left the Orb Union after the declaration of the Second Alliance-PLANT War and was attacked by EA's ships. After defeating the EA's new mobile armor, YMAF-X6BD Zamza-Zah, Shinn switched from the Force Silhouette to the Sword Silhouette to attack the enemy ships, forcing the enemy force to retreat.[4] The Sword Impulse was 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 and sinking the flagship Takemikazuchi. In the process, Shinn unknowingly killed his former caretaker, Captain Todaka.[5] Subsequently, during Operation Angel Down, a ZAFT operation to destroy the Archangel, Shinn fought against Kira Yamato in his ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam. He eventually defeated Kira by impaling the Freedom on one of the Sword Silhouette's anti-ship laser swords, which he used with the Force Impulse.[6]
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 now piloted the new ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam. With the Sword Impulse, Lunamaria took down several of the enemy's massive GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundams, alongside Rey Za Burrel's ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam which also wielded one of the Sword Silhouette pack's anti-ship laser swords.[1] After the battle of Heaven's Base, the Sword Silhouette was never used again in the war.
During the Foundation Conflict in C.E.75, the Sword Silhouette was used by the ZGMF-56E2 Impulse Gundam Spec II during the final space battle, forming the ZGMF-56E2/β Sword Impulse Gundam Spec II.[7]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny[]
_EP01-_Sword_Silhouette_Silhouette_Flyer_with_Sword_Silhouette_Launching.png "MSGSD (Remastered) EP01- Sword Silhouette Silhouette Flyer with Sword Silhouette Launching.png (1.49 MB)")
_EP01-_Sword_Impulse_Gundam_Phase_Shift_Armor_Activated.png "MSGSD (Remastered) EP01- Sword Impulse Gundam Phase Shift Armor Activated.png (1.51 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 Beam Rifle Firing 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep02).png (3.4 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam Close-Up 03 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (3.9 MB)")
.png "Sword Impulse Gundam vs Gaia Gundam 01 (SEED Destiny HD Ep2).png (4.57 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)")
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The MMI-710 "Excalibur" Anti-Ship Laser Swords are named after the mythical sword wielded by King Arthur in British folklore.
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
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices
- PHASE-38, A New Flag
- PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-38, A New Flag
- ↑ 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 Freedom
External links[]
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