Luggun
Reconnaissance aircraft mass produced by the Principality of Zeon.
The Luggun was a reconnaissance aircraft mass produced by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War.
History
The Principality of Zeon developed the Luggun as part of its preparation for the Earth invasion during the One Year War. Though used throughout UC 0079, it gradually fell out of favour for newer craft that were smaller, faster, and better suited for atmospheric flight.
After the war, P.M.C. Themis used Luggun crafts as part of its forces in UC 0090. Zeon remnants continued to use the aircraft as late as UC 0096.
Design
The Luggun featured a distinctive design with a raised cockpit and two radomes connected to the fuselage by long struts. These struts could rotate to position the radomes either above the aircraft for anti-aircraft radar or below it for ground radar.
The radar system had very high power output to enable long-distance searching even under dispersed Minovsky particles. The Luggun also had advanced information gathering capabilities using infrared and sound sensors.
The aircraft had two cockpits: the main cockpit for piloting and another within the fuselage for patrol operations. These were connected by a passageway with movable seats.
It possessed VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) capability using slit-shaped vectoring nozzles on the underside. Its powerful thrust enabled it to transport a suspended MS-06 Zaku II over short distances.
Unlike other Zeon aircraft, the Luggun had some protection against the vulcan guns of the FF-X7 Core Fighter.
Armaments
The Luggun’s standard weapons were twin machine guns for defence and missile launchers for light attack capability.
20 mm twin machine guns
The Luggun had a 20 mm twin-barrel machine gun mounted at the end of each wing. These guns could rotate to fire port, starboard, front or rear. The barrels could also be raised and lowered to adjust their firing angle.
Missile launchers
Four missile launchers were mounted between the main cockpit and fuselage. These provided some offensive capability against ground targets.
Bombs
The Luggun had a small bomb bay in its fuselage that could carry multiple bombs for ground attack missions.
Known pilots
- Char Aznable
- Dren
- Bamlo
- Kom
- Norris Packard
Behind the scenes
Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer for the Mobile Suit Gundam version. Yamane Kimitoshi designed the version that appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.
Model kits
Bandai released the Luggun as part of a 1/144 EX Model double pack with the Sealanth in 2003.
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team