M353A4 Bloodhound
Combat communications support truck used by the Earth Federation.
The M353A4 Bloodhound was a combat communications support truck used by the Earth Federation Forces during the One Year War. It was designed to provide mobile suit teams with battlefield intelligence and communications support when conventional radar systems were rendered ineffective by Minovsky particle interference.
History
The Earth Federation Forces developed the M353A4 Bloodhound in UC 0074 as part of their mobile suit support programme. The Federation recognised the need for specialised support vehicles that could keep pace with mobile suits whilst providing essential reconnaissance and communications capabilities in environments where traditional electronic warfare systems had been compromised by Minovsky particle dispersal.
The vehicle emerged from rapid development based on existing hover truck technology. The result of this accelerated development was the XM353, a variant of the M340 Hover Truck, which was itself derived from the existing Hover Cargo Truck. After the XM353 was equipped with a 20 mm vulcan cannon for minimal self-defence and had its short-range communications capability enhanced, it became standardised as the M353A4 Bloodhound Mobile Suit Combat Support Vehicle.
Together with the RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type, the Bloodhound was given priority assignment to the Kojima Battalion, with one unit assigned to each of its eight mobile suit teams. The standard ground mobile suit team configuration consisted of three mobile suits and one Bloodhound, and these units were deployed on fronts across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia during the latter stages of the One Year War.
The Bloodhound saw extensive service with the 08th Mobile Suit Team in the jungles of Southeast Asia, where its sonar capabilities proved invaluable for detecting enemy movements through dense vegetation and difficult terrain. The vehicle’s hover propulsion system allowed it to traverse the challenging landscapes of Southeast Asia whilst maintaining pace with the mobile suits it supported.
After the war, the Bloodhound’s designation and operational details were formally documented in UC Hard Graph publications, cementing its place in Federation military records.
Design
The M353A4 Bloodhound utilised hover propulsion technology to operate across diverse terrain types and maintain operational pace with mobile suit units. The vehicle featured four hover engines in place of conventional wheels or tracks, allowing it to traverse mountainous areas, rivers, lakes, and dense jungle terrain that would challenge conventional vehicles.
The Bloodhound’s primary innovation was its advanced passive ground sonar suite, designed to detect and identify targets at long range through subtle ground vibrations. This system could determine enemy numbers, unit types, and direction of advance even when conventional radar systems were jammed by Minovsky particle interference. The sonar system was operated by a dedicated specialist positioned at control consoles in the vehicle’s rear.
The vehicle featured an open cargo bed for transporting supplies and equipment, making it valuable for extended operations where mobile suit teams required field support. Despite its support role, the Bloodhound incorporated sufficient armor protection to withstand frontline combat conditions, though it remained vulnerable to direct mobile suit attacks.
The interior accommodated a crew of four in three main positions. The driver’s seat featured controls for the vehicle and directional control for the hover engines, along with manual and automatic throttle systems. The side seat contained navigation and communications equipment operated by a navigator who also served as the vehicle’s radio operator. The sonar operator’s position in the rear left of the vehicle featured various consoles used to control the underground detection system.
A powerful communications system was integrated to penetrate low levels of Minovsky jamming, enabling the Bloodhound to maintain contact between mobile suit units and command structures when other communication methods failed. This capability proved crucial for coordinating mobile suit operations in environments with heavy Minovsky particle density.
Armaments
The M353A4 Bloodhound’s armament was designed for self-defence rather than offensive operations.
20 mm vulcan gun
The vehicle’s primary armament consisted of a single 20 mm vulcan gun mounted on a roof-mounted turret. This multi-barreled cannon was operated by the vehicle’s gunner and served primarily as anti-aircraft defence. The weapon proved effective against enemy aircraft and helicopters but was largely ineffective against mobile suits due to its limited penetration capability.
The vulcan gun’s rapid-fire capability made it useful for suppressing enemy infantry and light vehicles, and it could provide covering fire for mobile suit operations when required.
Smoke dischargers
Two 4-tube smoke dischargers were mounted on either side of the main body, providing the Bloodhound with defensive countermeasures. These systems could deploy smoke screens to obscure the vehicle’s position or provide cover for mobile suit withdrawals.
Notable operators
The M353A4 Bloodhound was operated by numerous Earth Federation crews throughout the One Year War. The most documented operators were members of the 08th Mobile Suit Team:
- Eledore Massis - driver and sonar operator
- Michel Ninorich - navigator and gunner
- Kiki Rosita - occasional crew member
- Terry Sanders Jr. - temporary operator
- Anita Julianne - crew member
- Maureen Kitamura - crew member
- Noel Anderson - crew member
- Mora Boscht - crew member
Behind the scenes
Yamane Kimitoshi was the original mechanical designer of the M353A4 Bloodhound. Yamane, known for his military-realistic approach to mecha design, created the vehicle as part of his work on Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.
The name “Bloodhound” was first used in the novelisation of The 08th MS Team. It was later made official in the instruction manual of the Universal Century Hard Graph “E.F.G.F. MS[G] Platoon Briefing Set”, released in 2007, which also provided its model number and development history.
The vehicle exemplified the series’ emphasis on realistic military support operations, representing the unglamorous but essential logistical backbone required to maintain mobile suit operations in hostile environments.
Appearances
Original Video Animation
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team - Episodes 1-12
Games
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Battlefield Record UC 0081
See also
- RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type
- 08th Mobile Suit Team
- Kojima Battalion
- Hover Cargo Truck
External links
- M353A4 Bloodhound on MAHQ
- M353A4 Bloodhound on the Gundam Wiki