MA-05Ad Big Rang – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO

The MA-05Ad Big Rang was a one-off combat support mobile armor developed by the Principality of Zeon that combined a modified MA-05 Bigro mobile armor with a battleship fuselage called the Ad unit.

The “MA” in the model code indicated it was a mobile armor, the “05” denoted it was developed from the MA-05 Bigro design, and the “Ad” suffix stood for “ammunition depot”, referring to its support capabilities.

History

The MA-05Ad Big Rang was a one-off design that combined a modified MA-05 Bigro mobile armor with a battleship fuselage called the Ad (ammunition depot). Developed by the Zeon Engineering Department, the Big Rang was salvaged from several halted or abandoned projects that could be made battle ready.

On 31 December, U.C. 0079, during the Battle of A Baoa Qu, the 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit received the Big Rang from Granada and was ordered to assist in the defense of A Baoa Qu’s E Field with the Kuspen Combat Battalion. After arriving at the E Field, Oliver May was forced to pilot the Big Rang due to the lack of a formal test pilot.

The Big Rang proved to be a formidable weapon, not only supplying the Oggos and protecting them with beam dispersal screens, but also sinking three Salamis-class cruisers with its mega particle cannon. The unexpected appearance of the Big Rang forced the Earth Federation Forces to temporarily withdraw from E Field.

The Big Rang was destroyed in action during the battle, though Oliver May managed to survive and was retrieved by Monique Cadillac in her EMS-10 Zudah.

Design

Classified as a “mobile bridgehead”, the Big Rang was made up of two parts: the control unit and the Ad unit (“Ad” being short for “ammunition depot”).

Control unit

The control unit was a repurposed MA-05 Bigro, specifically Bigro Unit 6, a late type unit with various improvements, including improved power output, added arm joints, and a new pair of claws that acted as large multi-purpose manipulators. This part contained much of the Big Rang’s weapons, including its most powerful weapon, the mega particle cannon. Its cockpit was modified to incorporate the control systems for the Ad unit.

Ad unit

The Ad unit was repurposed from a mobile armor whose development was halted. Originally conceived as a lightly armed frontline supply depot, it was capable of resupplying and repairing mobile weapons.

Its surface armor, known as “skirt shell”, was equipped with two beam dispersal missile launchers and one 3-tube large anti-ship missile launcher on either side. At the center of its back was a gondola lift for the landing and transportation of MP-02A Oggo. The beam dispersal launchers were essential to the Big Rang’s survival due to its large profile and lack of mobility. Its exposed underside was the Big Rang’s greatest weak point, since it was completely unarmored and unprotected.

Armaments

The Big Rang retained the Bigro’s armaments while adding a support hangar to repair and resupply MP-02A Oggo mobile pods.

Mega particle cannon

Mounted in the front of MA’s Bigro control unit is a powerful mega particle cannon. This weapon has been shown to have enough power to destroy several Salamis-class cruisers with a single shot. The mega particle cannon is powered by Big Rang’s powerful reactor which is supposedly to quickly replenish its energy supply. Actual combat had shown its power supply is unstable to render Big Rang to fire short bursts of low-power mega particle shots thereafter, but they are just as deadly against Federation’s warships.

Claw arms

For Big Rang, its main and only form of close combat armament are a pair of large, sharp claws mounted on Bigro unit’s long arms. The claw arms were modified version of Bigro’s original with enhanced claw joints and forearm coolant tanks. They are normally used for grabbing at enemies and causing massive damage with a combination of the claw’s strength and the momentum built up by the mobile armor.

Missile launchers

Located just behind Bigro control unit’s mega particle cannon are a pair of 4-tube missile launchers which serve as secondary weapons in situations when the cannon is in the process of charging or is ineffective against an opponent.

Gatling gun

Located on the left side of Bigro control unit is large-caliber multi-tube Gatling cannon which serves as the Big Rang’s secondary weapon in situations when the mega particle cannon is ineffective or inappropriate against small, fast-moving targets.

Beam dispersal missile launchers

The Big Rang was equipped with four Beam Dispersal Missile Launchers (30 tubes in a 6 x 5 array), with two each on either side of MA’s Ad unit. Each missile could deploy a beam dispersal screen, which could withstand the beam cannons from the main guns of a Salamis-class for a limited time.

Anti-ship missiles

Big Rang is equipped with 2 sets of 3-tube large anti-ship missiles, with each set being located at the rear of MA’s Ad unit. A single missile is powerful enough to destroy a Federation’s Salamis-class cruiser.

Support facilities

Inside Big Rang’s massive Ad unit is a modified catapult/hangar which allowed several MP-02A Oggo mobile pods to dock, repair, and resupply simultaneously. This is to allow Oggo squadron to sustain long battle periods. However, the sheer size and weight of the armor-depot unit sacrificed the speed and maneuverability of the Bigro control unit.

Known pilots

Oliver May

Variants

Ad-Unit Rang

The Ad-Unit Rang is a variant that appears in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Rebellion manga. It was a retrofitted version of the Big Rang’s Ad-Unit to support the Delaz Fleet in their Operation Stardust.

Behind the scenes

Original mechanical designer(s): Yutaka Izubuchi (principal design), Takayuki Yanase (Ad unit interior)

The Big Rang was featured in the third episode of Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079, titled “Soldiers Besieged”.

The Big Rang appears in the Extreme Vs. series, where it’s counted as a warship in the versus screen rather than a traditional boss.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079
SD Gundam G Generation Spirits
Super Gundam Royale
Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.Maxi Boost

External links

MA-05Ad Big Rang on the Gundam Wiki
MA-05Ad Big Rang on MAHQ