Gawman Nobile – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway

Gawman Nobile was a veteran mobile suit pilot and member of the anti-Earth Federation terrorist organisation Mafty. He served as one of Mafty’s primary mobile suit pilots during their operations in UC 0105, using the callsign Messer 2.

Biography

Background

Gawman Nobile was a seasoned pilot who had fought through numerous wars before joining Mafty. His extensive combat experience was evident from the large scar that ran across the left side of his face, marking him as a battle-hardened veteran. Despite his unknown origins, his skills as a mobile suit pilot made him a valuable asset to Mafty’s cause against the corrupt Earth Federation government.

Service with Mafty

By UC 0105, Gawman had become one of Mafty’s most trusted pilots, operating under the command of Mafty Navue Erin (the alias of Hathaway Noa). He was assigned pilot designation Messer 2 and operated a Me02R-F01 Messer Type-F01, one of the organisation’s primary mobile suits developed by Anaheim Electronics.

Davao Operation

In April UC 0105, Gawman participated in a crucial diversionary operation during Mafty’s attack on the Philippine city of Davao. The mission was designed to create chaos and allow Hathaway Noa, who was under house arrest at the Tasadai Hotel, to escape undetected. Operating from Galcezon aircraft carriers, Gawman and his fellow pilots launched their attack at night.

Gawman’s Messer Type-F01 was tasked with attacking the Regent Hotel, directly opposite the Tasadai Hotel where Hathaway was staying. Before opening fire, he offered condolences to the souls of those who would be caught in the crossfire, demonstrating his awareness of the civilian casualties their tactics would cause. The attack succeeded in creating the intended panic and confusion.

Capture and Interrogation

During the Davao operation, Gawman engaged multiple FD-03-00 Gustav Karl Type-00 mobile suits from the Federation’s Kimberley Unit. Despite his skill and experience, he was outmanoeuvred when the powerful RX-104FF Penelope joined the battle. The Penelope’s attack damaged his Messer’s Long Beam Rifle and eventually disabled the left thruster on his mobile suit’s back, forcing him to make an emergency landing in a park.

Overwhelmed by Federation forces, Gawman was forced to surrender and was taken prisoner by Captain Kenneth Sleg and the Circe Unit. His capture was significant as it marked the first time the Federation had successfully captured both a Mafty mobile suit and its pilot. During interrogation, Gawman revealed little information to his captors, though he did mention that Quack Salver was the real power behind Mafty, information that Kenneth dismissed as rumours.

Human Shield

Captain Kenneth Sleg ordered Lieutenant Lane Aim to use Gawman as a human shield during the subsequent battle with the RX-105 Ξ Gundam (Xi Gundam). Gawman was restrained in the cockpit of the Penelope, where Lane explained that his presence would serve as a deterrent—if Mafty destroyed the Penelope, Gawman would die as well.

Despite being used as a shield, Gawman maintained his loyalty to the cause. When Hathaway in the Xi Gundam opened a communication channel during combat, Gawman immediately warned him to retreat and destroy the Penelope even if it meant his own death. Eventually, Lane Aim, recognising the dishonourable nature of using a prisoner as a shield, ejected Gawman from the Penelope and allowed Hathaway to recover him.

Return to Mafty

After his rescue, Gawman returned to the Valiant to recover from his ordeal. He expressed gratitude for Hathaway’s hit-and-run attack that had secured his freedom and continued to serve with Mafty in their ongoing operations against the Federation.

Personality & traits

Gawman Nobile was characterised as a professional and experienced pilot who approached combat with the seriousness of a veteran. His willingness to offer condolences to potential civilian casualties before attacking the Regent Hotel demonstrated a sense of honour and awareness of the moral complexities of Mafty’s terrorist tactics. Despite the extreme methods employed by his organisation, he maintained a sense of dignity and loyalty.

His behaviour during captivity showed remarkable resilience and dedication to the cause. Even when threatened with execution and used as a human shield, he refused to provide useful intelligence to his captors and prioritised the mission over his own safety. This demonstrated both his commitment to Mafty’s ideals and his acceptance of the risks inherent in their struggle against the Federation.

Skills & abilities

As a veteran pilot who had fought through numerous wars, Gawman possessed exceptional mobile suit combat skills. His experience allowed him to hold his own against multiple Federation mobile suits during the Davao operation, demonstrating tactical awareness and combat proficiency. He was capable of precision attacks, as evidenced by his successful targeting of the Regent Hotel’s specific floors.

His combat experience was reflected in his approach to battle, showing calculated aggression and the ability to assess tactical situations quickly. Despite being ultimately outmatched by the advanced Penelope Gundam, his performance against the Gustav Karl units showed that he was a formidable pilot worthy of his veteran status.

Equipment

Me02R-F01 Messer Type-F01

Gawman’s primary mobile suit was the Me02R-F01 Messer Type-F01, a mass-production mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for Mafty. The Messer Type-F01 was based on Neo Zeon mobile suit technology, incorporating design elements from the AMS-119 Geara Doga and MSN-04 Sazabi.

The mobile suit was well-suited for Mafty’s guerrilla warfare tactics, featuring high manoeuvrability and the ability to operate in Earth’s atmosphere. Its armament included vulcan guns, beam sabers, a long beam rifle, and a large shield. Gawman’s unit was designated as Messer 2, reflecting his position within Mafty’s pilot roster.

Behind the scenes

Gawman Nobile was originally created for Tomino Yoshiyuki’s Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash novel series, published between 1989 and 1990. The character was adapted for the 2021 animated film Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway. Some sources romanise the name as “Gauman Nobil”.

In the film adaptation, the character was voiced by Kenjiro Tsuda in Japanese and Kevin Dorman in English. Tsuda had previously voiced Dole Frost in Mobile Suit Gundam AGE. The character’s distinctive facial scar was emphasised in the film to highlight his veteran status and battle experience.

The character design reflects the film’s theme of experienced soldiers caught in the ongoing conflicts of the Universal Century timeline. His role as both a skilled combatant and eventual prisoner serves to illustrate the personal costs of the anti-Federation resistance movement.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash (novel)
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (film)
SD Gundam G Generation Spirits (game)