MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid – MechaBay

The MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid was a heavily customised version of the MS-08TX Efreet that was fielded by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War and later operated by Zeon remnants.

The “MS” in the model code denoted it was a mobile suit, “08” indicated it was the eighth mobile suit design series, “TX” signified it was an experimental type, and “S” designated it as a special variant. “Schneid” is a German colloquial term equivalent to the English “guts”, “grit”, or “courageousness”, reflecting the mobile suit’s aggressive combat role and its original pilot’s reputation.

History

The MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid was originally a regular MS-08TX Efreet operated by Captain Doug Schneid of the Marchosias Corps during the One Year War. After Schneid’s death, the mobile suit was taken over by Fred Reber, who had previously piloted the RX-78XX Gundam Pixy during the war.

Following the end of the One Year War, the mobile suit underwent extensive modifications over more than ten years. Fred Reber had to relinquish the machine for various reasons, but during that time it had undergone a series of upgrades and improvements. By the time Fred acquired it again in UC 0096, it had become the so-called “Efreet Schneid”, featuring significantly enhanced performance compared to the original Efreet.

As a result of over ten years of modifications since the One Year War, the generator output nearly doubled compared to the original model, rivalling the output of the Federation’s contemporary mobile suits such as the RGZ-95 ReZEL. This enhanced power output was used to increase the drive torque of the actuators, giving the Efreet Schneid a higher level of combat performance through improved instantaneous power delivery.

During the Laplace Incident in UC 0096, the Efreet Schneid was used as part of Zeon remnant forces in an attack on Torrington Base in response to a request for support from the Kirks Corps. The mobile suit was last seen engaging a RMS-179 GM II Semi-Striker in close quarters combat, emerging victorious from the encounter.

Design

The MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid represented a significant evolution of the original Efreet design, incorporating over a decade of accumulated combat experience and technological improvements. The mobile suit retained the distinctive Efreet silhouette whilst incorporating substantial internal upgrades and modified armament systems.

The enhanced generator output was complemented by a replaced chest intake system with higher heat exhaust efficiency, allowing the mobile suit to operate at peak performance for extended periods. The power plant was a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor rated at 2,202 kW output, nearly double that of the original Efreet and comparable to much newer Federation designs.

The mobile suit’s armor combined super hard steel alloy with Gundarium alloy components, providing enhanced protection whilst maintaining acceptable weight distribution. The improved materials and construction techniques developed during the intervening years significantly enhanced the mobile suit’s durability and combat survivability.

The Efreet Schneid featured an extended sensor range of 12,200 metres, substantially greater than the original design and reflecting improvements in sensor technology and integration. This enhanced detection capability made the mobile suit particularly effective in reconnaissance and ambush operations.

Armaments

The MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid’s armaments were specifically tailored for close to medium-range combat, featuring 14 heat darts distributed across the mobile suit’s body and optional heavy weapons for specific mission requirements.

Heat darts

The Efreet Schneid’s signature weapons were 14 heat darts placed strategically around its body: 4 on each shoulder, 4 on the left forearm, and 2 on the rear skirt armor. These close-to-mid-range heat weapons could be used as throwing weapons or as close-range knife weapons, providing the mobile suit with exceptional versatility in combat.

The heat darts were specifically designed to accommodate Fred Reber’s combat style, as he had developed a habit of throwing beam daggers whilst piloting the RX-78XX Gundam Pixy during the One Year War. The weapons featured heated blades that increased cutting capacity and damage potential against enemy armor, making them effective against both mobile suits and conventional targets.

The placement of the heat darts around the mobile suit’s body ensured that the pilot always had access to weapons regardless of the combat situation or the condition of the mobile suit’s manipulators. This distributed armament system reflected lessons learned from extended combat operations and the need for reliable backup weaponry.

Shotgun

The mobile suit was equipped with a pump-action shotgun, the same model as used by the original Efreet and similar to weapons used by the MS-18E Kämpfer. This close-range weapon provided devastating firepower against enemy mobile suits and installations, particularly effective in urban combat environments or confined spaces.

The shotgun’s effectiveness derived from its ability to deliver multiple projectiles simultaneously, increasing the probability of hitting vital systems even with less precise aim. This made it particularly valuable in the close-quarters combat scenarios that the Efreet Schneid was designed to excel in.

Giant bazooka

For heavy assault missions, the Efreet Schneid could be equipped with a giant bazooka, the same model used by the MS-09B Dom. The bazooka was magazine-fed and held 10 rounds per magazine, with each round capable of destroying an enemy mobile suit’s torso with a single hit.

This weapon provided the Efreet Schneid with the ability to engage heavily armored targets and fixed installations, extending its tactical capabilities beyond pure close combat operations. The weapon’s substantial firepower made it effective against both mobile weapons and fortified positions.

Optional weapons

In certain configurations and appearances, the Efreet Schneid was also seen equipped with heat swords and beam sabers, providing additional melee weapon options. These weapons expanded the mobile suit’s close combat capabilities and provided alternatives to the heat dart system when circumstances required sustained melee engagement.

Known pilots

Doug Schneid (original pilot)
Fred Reber (UC 0096)

Behind the scenes

Katoki Hajime and Seiichi Nakatani were the mechanical designers responsible for the Efreet Schneid’s animated appearance in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. The design built upon the original MS-08TX Efreet concept whilst incorporating modernised visual elements and enhanced detail.

The mobile suit was named after its original pilot Captain Doug Schneid of the Marchosias Corps. The name “Schneid” reflects both the pilot’s courage and the mobile suit’s aggressive combat philosophy, embodying the fighting spirit associated with elite Zeon pilots.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: The Noble Shroud

External links

MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid on MAHQ
MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid on the Gundam Wiki