MS-14J ReGelgu
Mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by Neo Zeon.
The MS-14J ReGelgu was a mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by Neo Zeon as an upgraded version of the MS-14A Gelgoog.
The “MS” in the model code indicated it was a mobile suit, whilst the “14” referred to the fourteenth mobile suit type in the development series. The “J” suffix denoted this as the J-type variant. The name “ReGelgu” stands for “Refined Gelgoog”, indicating its role as an improved version of the original Gelgoog design.
History
At the end of the One Year War, many Zeon remnants fled the Earth Sphere to the asteroid base Axis, determined to regroup and rebuild their forces before renewing their revolution against the Earth Federation. The MS-14A Gelgoog, the last mass production mobile suit fielded by the Zeon military during the war, proved itself as an excellent high performance unit. However, more powerful and advanced mobile suit technology was being developed in the Earth Sphere, and Axis had to keep up and train its pilots to handle better mobile suits.
Thus, Axis upgraded its surviving Gelgoog units into the MS-14J ReGelgu, with features like the new standard 360-degree panoramic cockpit. Knowing that the Earth Federation would continue their development of mobile suit technology, the researchers of Axis used their existing mobile suit force and limited resources to develop more advanced versions of what they already had available.
The ReGelgus were upgraded into more powerful and faster mobile suits that served as part of Axis’s main mobile suit force for years until the AMX-003 Gaza-C was ready for mass production. Many units were also used as training machines for young Zeon pilots.
During the First Neo Zeon War, Axis Zeon fielded many advanced mobile suits, but their resources were limited compared to the Earth Federation and they needed to field any mobile suit available, even older machines such as the ReGelgu. One such unit was piloted by Neo Zeon ace Illia Pazom.
In UC 0096, a number of ReGelgus survived and would be used by the Neo Zeon remnants, the Sleeves, during the Laplace Incident. The Sleeves’ ReGelgus would be repainted into a new colour scheme and given the distinctive markings featured on many of the Sleeves’ mobile suits.
Design
The ReGelgu now sported large shoulder armour binders, each housing additional thrusters and verniers for extra speed and manoeuvrability. These wing binders, as they were known, contained 10 thrusters and verniers to boost its manoeuvrability. Two external propellant tanks were added to the backpack to provide an extended flight range on par with lighter and more modern mobile suits, extending its operating time.
The ReGelgu has several improvements over its predecessor, including an enhanced generator and built-in weapons. However, its true focus is on high mobility. The mobile suit was equipped with a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor rated at 1,890 kW and had a total thrust output of 150,800 kg from its various thrusters.
The mobile suit featured the standard 360-degree panoramic monitor with linear seat cockpit that had become common by this period. Its sensors had a range of 8,700 metres.
Armaments
The ReGelgu’s standard weapons were beam sabers for melee combat and a beam rifle for ranged attacks, supplemented by built-in missile launchers and grenade launchers.
Beam rifle
The ReGelgu could be equipped with the standard beam rifle used by the original Gelgoog. This weapon provided reliable mid-range firepower and was powered by an energy capacitor system.
Beam machine gun
Used by Olaf Dale’s customised ReGelgu, this weapon operated on similar principles as the beam rifle, but it broke down the concentrated mega particles so that it fired a burst of smaller less powerful beams instead of a single large coherent beam. Each individual beam in a burst was less powerful than the coherent beam from most other beam rifles. However, the burst did allow for a spread of beams, similar to a beam spray gun, allowing for a greater chance of hitting a target, yet held the same range as a regular beam rifle.
Rocket cannon
A short barrel bullpup-style rocket cannon, this weapon was magazine-fed and launched rocket-propelled shape charges. It provided the ReGelgu with additional firepower against hardened targets.
8-tube missile pod
Mounted on the backpack, this missile pod used AMS-11S small missiles and provided the ReGelgu with additional ranged firepower. The missiles could be used against both mobile suit and ship targets.
Grenade launchers
Two grenade launchers were mounted in the forearms, providing the ReGelgu with close-range explosive firepower. These weapons were effective against groups of enemies or for area denial tactics.
Beam sabers
The ReGelgu carried two beam sabers, power rated at 0.62 MW, stored in recharge racks in the backpack. These weapons used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade, capable of cutting through most materials.
Known pilots
- Illia Pazom
- Olaf Dale (customised unit)
Variants
Sleeves variant
Used by the Sleeves during UC 0096, these units were repainted into a new colour scheme and given the distinctive markings featured on many of the Sleeves’ mobile suits. The Sleeves’ ReGelgus could also be equipped with a beam machine gun for Geara Doga.
Behind the scenes
Kazuhisa Kondo, Masahiro Oda, and Masahiko Asano were the principal designers for the original Gundam ZZ version, with Mika Akitaka providing cleanup. Katoki Hajime updated the design for Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
Appearances
See also
External links
- MS-14J ReGelgu on the Gundam Wiki
- MS-14J ReGelgu on MAHQ