MS-21C Dra-C
Mass-produced space assault mobile suit developed by the Delaz Fleet.
The MS-21C Dra-C was a mass-produced space assault mobile suit developed by the Delaz Fleet from salvaged parts.
The “MS” in the type code indicated it was a mobile suit. The code number “21” denoted it was the twenty-first design, and “C” variant code meant it was the third variation.
History
When the One Year War ended on 31 December UC 0079 with the Earth Federation emerging victorious, survivors of the Principality of Zeon that refused to surrender went into hiding or fled the Earth Sphere. These remnant forces sought to regroup and rebuild their strength to continue the war against the Federation. The Delaz Fleet commanded by Aiguille Delaz was a Zeon remnant group that hid in the Earth Sphere.
As part of their rebuilding efforts, the Delaz Fleet developed the MS-21C Dra-C using parts salvaged from Gattle fighter-bombers and MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2. The MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom was a variant developed for better acceleration at the expense of maneuverability.
Despite the defeat of the Delaz Fleet at the end of the Delaz Conflict, the Dra-C continued to serve under Axis Zeon during the Gryps Conflict in UC 0087, and under The Sleeves during the Laplace Incident in UC 0096.
The Sleeves deployed Dra-C units as part of the forces defending Palau from Federation attack. These units were equipped with beam weaponry to give them a fighting chance against the enemies. Despite that, they were still outperformed by the newer and more advanced Federation mobile suits.
Design
The Delaz Fleet developed the Dra-C using parts salvaged from battlefields and damaged mobile suits. Being a remnant group on the run with limited supplies and resources, they had to make do with whatever they could salvage.
Unlike the mobile weapons developed by Axis Zeon and Neo Zeon on Axis that used Gundarium alloy alloy, the Delaz Fleet only had access to salvaged super hard steel alloy armor. The Dra-C’s torso and arms were salvaged from MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2.
The Dra-C had five rocket thrusters with a combined output of 117,500 kg to provide main propulsion. It did not have vernier thrusters or apogee motors for Active Mass Balance Auto-Control (AMBAC). Instead, it relied solely on the main and shoulder thrusters. The Dra-C was not designed with finesse in mind—the mobile suit was used for fast, heavy assault in space.
The mobile suit was equipped with a standard cockpit in its torso. Its head design was based on the Zaku II F2 but had a wider movement range for the mono-eye to adapt to high-speed combat.
Armaments
The Dra-C’s standard weapons were a vulcan gun and a beam saber shield. It could optionally equip a beam Gatling gun.
40 mm vulcan gun
The right forearm of the Dra-C was replaced with a three-barrel 40 mm vulcan gun. While the vulcan gun was unable to damage mobile suits, it could damage their sensors or lightly-armored enemies.
Beam saber shield
The Dra-C had a shield mounted on its left arm. Made from salvaged battleship plating, the shield was useful in deflecting projectile attacks. It also had a beam saber in its tip that was used for melee combat.
The beam saber used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam saber to cut through almost any material. Minovsky particles were channeled into the saber through an energy capacitor (E-cap) attached to the shield. The E-cap recharged with Minovsky particles as the Dra-C’s reactor was insufficient to power beam weaponry.
Beam Gatling gun
Dra-C units deployed by The Sleeves replaced the vulcan gun with a six-barrel beam Gatling gun. Like the vulcan gun, the beam Gatling gun was attached to the mobile suit’s arm. It provided the Dra-C with firepower to take out mobile suits.
The gun drew its rounds from the Dra-C’s reactor. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam Gatling gun bolts to penetrate even the thickest armor. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit. The rapid rate of fire made it a deadly weapon.
Known pilots
- Suu Kyi O’Connell
Variants
Behind the scenes
Akitaka Mika was the original mechanical designer.
Appearances
Anime
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
- Gundam Build Divers
Manga
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Rebellion
- Mobile Suit Gundam Katana: Bond of the Battlefield UC 0084
Games
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
External links
- MS-21C Dra-C on the Gundam Wiki
- MS-21C Dra-C on MAHQ