The ZGMF/A-262B Strike Freedom Gundam Type II is a mobile suit introduced in the animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom. It was piloted by Kira Yamato and was briefly used by Athrun Zala.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
An upgraded version of the ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam, the ZGMF/A-262B Strike Freedom Gundam Type II features various improvements to the Strike Freedom's performance while retaining the same types of weapons and abilities as its predecessor. Externally, it sports larger shoulder armor, new forearm bracers, new hip armor, and additional leg thrusters. The new "Volans Hasta" railguns have been physically reshaped, and its beam sabers are now stored on racks above the armor, similar to the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam. The Type II also includes a new panoramic cockpit that can accommodate an additional co-pilot on the right side.[1][1]
Its Super DRAGOONs have been upgraded with beam shield emitters, enabling multiple DRAGOON pods to generate large beam shields, similar to the technology found on the ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam's "Shiranui" Space Pack's mobile beam turrets.[1]
When additional firepower is required, the Strike Freedom Type II's backpack and Super DRAGOONs can be detached, allowing it to combine with the MDE262S Proud Defender support craft to form the ZGMF/A-262PD-P Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam.[1]
Armaments[]
- MMI-GAU2A "Picus II" 31mm CIWS
- Mounted in the head, the pair of CIWS guns are close-range weapons designed for intercepting incoming missiles and enemy units. Originally, the CIWS was supposed to be omitted due to a lack of space in the head unit. However, they are installed in the end due to their effectiveness and reliability.
- AQM/S-2028 "Tvashtr" Hyper Impulse Gun
- Mounted in the abdomen, this weapon replaces the "Calidus" multi-phase beam cannon on its predecessor. Like its predecessor, this weapon is the same type of large-caliber beam cannon used by the ZGMF-X31S Abyss Gundam. However, now powered by the Strike Freedom Type II's Hyper-Deuterion Engine, it features higher firepower and rapid-fire capability. The cannon's muzzle is protected by VPS Armor. The beam fired from this cannon is the strongest among the suit's beam weaponry, capable of even canceling out the Destiny's long-range beam cannon shot.
- MMI-X220 "Egregie" Beam Shield
- Generated from the forearms' beam shield generators, the pair of beam shields can effectively block most beam and physical attacks. They are an improved version of the Hyperion Gundam's mono-phase lightwave shield, offering strong defensive power at the cost of high energy consumption.. However, the Strike Freedom Type II can use them without any issues, thanks to the massive output of its Hyper-Deuterion Engine.
- MA-M03D "Acuta Lacerta" Beam Saber
- The suit's primary close combat weapons. A pair are stored atop the "Volans Hasta" railguns. These beam sabers, also used by the ∞ Justice Type II, their predecessors Strike Freedom and ∞ Justice, are enhanced versions of those used by the Freedom and the Justice. The two beam sabers can be combined into a twin-edged beam saber known as the "Ambidextrous Halberd." However, Kira prefers to dual-wield the sabers, utilizing his expertise in executing high-speed melee attacks.
- MMI-M16XE5 "Volans Hasta" Railgun
- The two "Volans Hasta" railguns mounted on the suit's waist are upgraded versions of the "Xiphias 3" railguns of the original Strike Freedom. They are more powerful and have a simplified structure. Like their predecessor, the "Volans Hasta" can also be used to attack enemy units in the water, providing the Strike Freedom Type II with quite an efficient way to fight underwater enemy units. Unlike the Strike Freedom, the Type II's railguns are fixed to the side similar to the Freedom, and lack a rearward swivel mechanism.
- MA-M21KF High Energy Beam Rifle
- Developed based on the Freedom's MA-M20 "Lupus" high-energy beam rifle, the two MA-M21KF high-energy beam rifles can combine to form one long-range beam rifle, in a manner similar to that of the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam's main weapons. This allows the rifles to be used to hit enemy units in various ranges, enhancing Kira's ability to take out multiple targets simultaneously with two beam rifles instead of one. When not in use, the rifles are stored on the side of the railguns.
- EQFU-3X Super DRAGOON Mobile Weapon Wing & MA-80V Beam Assault Cannon
- The EQFU-3X Super DRAGOON Mobile Weapon Wing is a compound equipment that functions both as an armament platform and a high-thrust thruster that produces a blue wing-like effect during high-speed maneuvers due to the "Voiture Lumiere" propulsion system. Each of the eight wings houses a Super DRAGOON, a wireless guided weapon pod armed with a beam assault cannon that can fire beams for range combat or emit a beam blade for close combat. These eight Super DRAGOONs are based on ZAFT's second-generation DRAGOON System, which does not require pilots to have high spatial awareness to effectively control them due to the use of an improved quantum communication system among other enhancements. Additional unique modifications were also incorporated, and due to the enormous data processing required, the Super DRAGOONs can only function at their maximum potential when operated by the Ultimate Coordinator, Kira Yamato. The Super DRAGOONs can be deployed in group formations for multiple barrages or in conjunction with other of the suit's weaponry to shoot down enemy ships or mobile suits. The Strike Freedom Type II incorporates beam shield generators into the Super DRAGOONs, inspired the ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam's "Shiranui" Space Pack, which features mobile beam turrets. This enhancement allows multiple units to form a beam barrier array to defend against ranged attacks.
- EQM-Y148 Convergent Heavy Nucleon Beam Cannon "Disruptor"
- An advanced beam weapon hidden behind the Strike Freedom Type II's forehead crest. Due to its immense power requirements, the Strike Freedom Type II is unable to use this weapon in its base form, and it can only be used when the Strike Freedom Type II transforms into the Mighty Strike Freedom.
- Type 35 Prototype Advanced Railgun
- A prototype high-powered handheld railgun, designed to combat the Femto Technology Armor found on the Black Knight Squad's mobile suits. Multiple examples of this weapon are provided to Compass mobile suits fighting against the Kingdom of Foundation, including the Strike Freedom Type II. The Strike Freedom Type II can store up to three railguns; two on the sides of the Volans Hastas and one on its back skirt.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- High-Mobility Aerial Tactics (HiMAT) Mode
- A configuration in which the Strike Freedom Type II's eight wings are unfolded for higher maneuverability during aerial combat. In space, the deployment of the wings enhances its AMBAC capabilities.
- Like the original Freedom, the Strike Freedom Type II is equipped with this system that allows it to target and attack multiple enemies simultaneously. To use this system effectively, the pilot must possess high spatial awareness, a trait that is rare even among Coordinators.
- Full Burst Mode
- The attack mode in which the Strike Freedom Type II uses its beam rifles, railguns, hyper impulse gun, and Super DRAGOONs all at once. This mode is also present in the original Freedom and is often used together with the Multi Lock-On System to shoot down a large number of enemy units simultaneously. Thanks to the Super DRAGOONs, the Strike Freedom Type II's Full Burst Mode has a larger firing range than the Freedom's, granting it a full 360° range of attack capability. However, on Earth, the Super DRAGOONs are not usable, making Strike Freedom Type II's Full Burst Mode similar to that of the Freedom and the Rising Freedom.
- "Voiture Lumiere" Propulsion System
- A combat variant of the "Voiture Lumiere" propulsion system is mounted inside the Strike Freedom Type II's mobile weapon wings. Unlike the Voiture Lumiere used by the GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam, this combat variant uses an internal laser instead of solar winds or an external power beam, converting its energy into a strong light pressure which is then used as thrust. This system operates at full power at space, where all Super DRAGOONs can be deployed. It can also be used in Earth's atmosphere, albeit to a smaller degree, by slightly separating the DRAGOON pods from the main wings without fully deploying them.[2] When activated, the system allows the suit to accelerate at incredible rates and to swiftly dodge even the most intense enemy beam barrages. Like the ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam's Voiture Lumiere, the Strike Freedom Type II's system produces a light effect known as the "Wings of Light". Unlike Destiny's pink light effect, the Strike Freedom Type II's light effect appears as blue wings, referred to as the "Wings of the Skies".
- Like the other new Gundams, the Strike Freedom Type II is powered by a Hyper-Deuterion engine, a hybrid of the nuclear reactor with the Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System.
- A device built into the mobile suit to counter the effects of ZAFT's Neutron Jammers, allowing the Strike Freedom Type II to use its Hyper-Deuterion Engine without the risk of being shut down.
- An improved version of Phase Shift Armor, the VPS Armor is capable of automatically changing its strength, color, and power consumption in the field, although these changes must be programmed beforehand.
History[]
In C.E 75, the ZGMF/A-262B Strike Freedom Gundam Type II was one of three mobile suits, alongside the ZGMF/A-42S2 Destiny Gundam Spec II and the ZGMF-56E2 Impulse Gundam Spec II, upgraded by Erica Simmons on Akatsuki Island in the Orb Union. The upgrades included evaluating a possible new fusion reactor and new equipment, and the suits were intended to bolster Compass' forces in case of an emergency. These upgrades became important when the crew of the LHM-BB03S Millennium needed new mobile suits to replace their losses following the Eldore incident and to execute their plan to rescue Lacus Clyne from captivity by Orphee Lam Tao and the Kingdom of Foundation, which was hiding in the restored space fortress Artemis.[3]
To carry out the rescue, Athrun launched the Strike Freedom Type II as a diversion, forcing Shura Serpentine in his NOG-M1A1 Shi-ve.A to sortie. This diversion allowed the Compass strike team, consisting of the AMGS-X18P Cavalier Aifrid and the ZGMF-MM07 Z'Gok, to slip past Artemis' Lightwave Barrier defenses.[3]
After rescuing Lacus, Kira piloted the Strike Freedom Type II to fight against both Orphee and Ingrid Tradoll's NOG-M2D1/E Black Knight Squad Cal-re.A and Shura's Shi-ve.A. The combined assault of the Cal-re.A and the Shi-ve.A pushed the Strike Freedom Type II to its limits, causing it to lose many of its weapons and drain its energy reserves, ultimately leading to the deactivation of its Variable Phase Shift armor. As the Shi-ve.A aimed to deliver the final blow to the Strike Freedom Type II, Athrun intervened with the Z'Gok, sacrificing his suit to defend the Strike Freedom Type II from Shi-ve.A's needle barrage, revealing the ZGMF-X191M2 ∞ Justice Gundam Type II hidden within. This allowed Kira to swiftly detach the damaged Super DRAGOON wing backpack from the Strike Freedom Type II and dock with the MDE262S Proud Defender, piloted by Lacus, to form the ZGMF/A-262PD-P Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam.[3]
Gallery[]
Linearts[]
Animation[]
Illustrations and Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Strike Freedom Type II still retains the Strike Freedom's previous model number "X-20A VENTI" on its head crest. Although, when converting into the Mighty Strike Freedom, the slit for the Disruptor appears.
- Venti means 20 in Italian.
- The Strike Freedom Type II is also the only Freedom variant to be piloted by Athrun Zala.
- Alongside its upgrade Mighty Strike Freedom, the Strike Freedom Type II is the only Freedom variant that did not equip the METEOR support unit. Instead, in the movie, the METEORs 07 and 08 that survived the Battle of Messiah was used by the ZGMF-1027M Duel Blitz Gundam and the ZGMF-103HD Lightning Buster Gundam to hold the defecting ZAFT forces back.
- Alongside its upgrade, the Mighty Strike Freedom, which did not use Full Burst Mode at all due to previously sustained damage, the Strike Freedom Type II is the only Freedom variant that was not able to fire all of its weapons in Full Burst Mode. The Disruptor could not be used due to a lack of power, the Type 35 Prototype Advanced Railgun on the Strike Freedom Type II's rear hip hardpoint was not deployed since the high-energy beam rifles required both hands, and five Super DRAGOON pods had already been destroyed by the Cal-re.A's own DRAGOONs.
- The Strike Freedom Type II is the only one of the three Gundams in Compass to bring its beam rifles to the final battle against the Foundation.
- The Strike Freedom Type II is the only nuclear-powered mobile suit to have its Phase Shift armor powered down mid-combat due to reactor overload.
- Like the film, the HG Strike Freedom type II can be made by swapping Mighty Strike Freedom's Proud Defender for the DRAGOON pack from the HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam.
- Despite having a new model number, the Strike Freedom Type II is still referred to as "X20A" by the Foundation military.
- Unlike the original Strike Freedom, where the "inner" or "back" wings deploy to form the HiMAT mode, the "outer" or "front" wings on the Type II deploy in a manner similar to the original Freedom, Rising Freedom, and Mighty Strike Freedom.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Strike Freedom Gundam Type II Profile on Official Website (Japanese)
- ↑ "1/100 MG Strike Freedom Gundam" Model Kit Manual
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom
External links[]
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