D-50C Loto

The D-50C Loto was a transformable special operations mobile suit developed by the Strategic Naval Research Institute (SNRI) for the Earth Federation Forces’ ECOAS special forces group.

The “D” in the model code indicated it was a development model and the “50” denoted it was the fiftieth design in this series. The “C” variant designation specified this particular configuration of the design.

History

The D-50C Loto was created exclusively for the Earth Federation Forces’ ECOAS special forces group by SNRI. Developed as an evolution of the old RX-75-4 Guntank used during the One Year War, the Loto represented a significant advancement in transformable mobile suit technology.

The Loto was developed to meet three specific demands from ECOAS: a small body size to ensure stealth and secrecy, the ability to function as a troop carrier, and high mobility for swift operational deployment. SNRI successfully miniaturised the mobile suit reactor to achieve the compact design whilst maintaining operational effectiveness.

As the Laplace Incident of UC 0096 began to unfold, an ECOAS team with several Loto units was stationed aboard the Londo Bell ship Nahel Argama. During the battle at Palau, multiple Loto units were deployed to support the assault on the asteroid fortress.

After the Nahel Argama fired its hyper mega particle cannon at Palau’s military district, one Loto piloted by Daguza Mackle moved to the 14th space gate to pick up Banagher Links. The other three took up positions to act as mobile turrets, firing on the Sleeves’ deployed mobile suits and catching them in a crossfire with the Nahel Argama’s approaching mobile suit team. During the battle, the three Lotos destroyed numerous enemy mobile suits before the two equipped with long cannons were quickly destroyed by Full Frontal and Angelo Sauper.

The Loto was succeeded by the F-50D Guntank, a transforming mobile suit created by Anaheim Electronics.

Design

The D-50C Loto was a transformable mobile suit that could change from a humanoid mobile suit configuration to a tank mode. At around 12.2 metres in height, the Loto’s small size was made possible due to SNRI successfully miniaturising the mobile suit reactor. Although this reactor’s output was much lower than other contemporary mobile suit reactors at 980 kW, it was sufficient for powering the Loto’s systems.

In its tank mode, the Loto could function as a troop transport and field headquarters thanks to its varied sensors and communication equipment. The mobile suit featured an inertial navigation system and various state-of-the-art sensors and communications devices.

The Loto was operated by multiple crew members: a pilot and gunner in the upper torso, a communications officer in the lower torso, and up to eight soldiers in the back compartment. When required, an additional crew member could be seated in the pelvis for mission-specific assistance. The crew could enter via two cockpit hatches, one at the front of the torso and another at the front of the pelvis.

The operating data from the Loto was later used by SNRI for the development of future miniaturised mobile suits, demonstrating the unit’s importance as a testbed for new technologies.

Armaments

The Loto’s standard weapons were missile containers for ranged attacks and beam burners for close-quarters combat.

Missile containers

In place of standard manipulator arms, the Loto possessed two missile containers. Each container was divided into four sections and could carry a total of 12 small missiles (3 per section) or 4 medium missiles (1 per section). This flexible loading system allowed the Loto to adapt its firepower to mission requirements.

Beam burners

The Loto featured a pair of beam burners mounted on the missile containers as sub-arms. These functioned as melee weapons similar to beam sabers, using contained Minovsky particles to create energy blades capable of cutting through enemy armour.

Long cannons

The Loto could optionally mount a pair of long cannons on each shoulder’s hardpoints, allowing it to function as a long-range support mobile suit. The armour-piercing rounds fired from these 200 mm cannons could penetrate the armour of tanks, mobile suits, and other heavily protected targets. The cannons could be fired separately or in tandem and could elevate or depress for a wider angle of fire.

Machine cannon

The Loto could optionally mount a four-barrel machine cannon on its right shoulder. The weapon was specialised for anti-air purposes and had high accuracy thanks to the precision anti-air targeting system installed in the barrel. When required, the cannon could also be used against mobile suits or as an anti-personnel weapon.

Mega machine cannon

As an alternative to the standard machine cannon, the Loto could mount a more powerful mega machine cannon on its backpack over the right shoulder. This weapon provided increased firepower for engaging heavier targets whilst maintaining the anti-air capabilities of the standard machine cannon.

Known pilots

Daguza Mackle
Conroy Haagensen

Behind the scenes

Katoki Hajime was the original mechanical designer. The design was based on the D-50C Loto from the Gundam Unicorn novels.

Gunpla

Bandai released the 1/144 HGUC D-50C Loto Twin Set, which includes two transformable Loto units in one kit. The models can transform from mobile suit mode to tank mode in five simple steps and include various weapon options such as the long cannon and mega machine cannon.

The Loto models are accurately scaled to 1/144, reflecting their actual 12.2-metre height in the series, making them noticeably smaller than standard High Grade Universal Century kits.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn