The MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type was a heavy weapons assault mobile suit produced in limited numbers by the Zeon remnant group, the Delaz Fleet. The “MS” in the model code refers to it being a mobile suit developed by Zeon forces. The “21” in the model code indicates that it was the twenty-first design, and the “D1” refers to the design variant.
History
When the One Year War ended in 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 part salvaged from the 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 manoeuvrability. Despite the Dra-C Custom’s utility in the battlefield, the Dra-C proved to be a better design. The Dra-C Custom only saw a limited production run, and the model was retired after the Delaz Fleet was defeated in the Delaz Conflict.
The MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type was a variant with heavy arms load-out for missions that required greater firepower.
MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type
Design
The Delaz Fleet developed the MS-21C Dra-C using parts salvaged from battlefields and damaged mobile suits. The Zeon remnant group was on the run with limited supplies and resources, hence it had to make do with whatever it could get. The MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom was a variant built for greater acceleration while sacrificing manoeuvrability.
Unlike the mobile weapons developed by Axis Zeon and Neo Zeon on Axis that used Gundarium alloy, the Delaz Fleet only had access to salvaged super hard steel alloy armour. The Dra-C Custom’s torso and arms were salvaged from MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2.
MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom
Instead of legs, the Dra-C Custom had five rocket thrusters with a combined output of 159,500 kg to provide main propulsion, compared to the Dra-C’s 117,500 kg. Like the Dra-C, it did not have vernier thruster or apogee motors for AMBAC (Active Mass Balance Auto-Control). It had to rely solely on the main and shoulder thrusters. The greater acceleration meant a much lowered manoeuvrability for the Dra-C Custom.
The Dra-C Custom was equipped with a standard cockpit in torso. While the Dra-C was built with its weapons replacing its right forearm, the Dra-C Custom retained its manipulators. This allowed the Dra-C Custom to equip a variety of hand held weaponry. The MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type was a variant of the Dra-C with heavy arms load-out by replacing its standard issue hand-held weaponry. It also equipped additional armaments.
Armaments
The MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type’s standard weapons were a Gatling gun and a beam sabre shield for ranged and melee attack respectively. It was also armed with grenades and missile pods to let it pack a bigger punch than the standard form.
Gatling gun
The Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type’s main weapon was a Gatling gun, giving it a much higher rate of fire than the standard machine gun. While still not as destructive as a beam rifle, the Gatling gun was a formidable upgrade over the machine gun. The Gatling gun was fed from a drum and spare drums were stored in the mobile suit’s waist armour.
MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom Gatling gun
Beam sabre shield
The Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type had a shield mounted on its left arm like the Dra-C Custom. Made from salvaged battleship plating, the shield was useful in deflecting projectile attacks. It also had a beam sabre in its tip that was used for melee combat.
The beam sabre used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level. This meant that the beam sabre could cut through almost any material. Minovsky particles were channelled into the sabre through an E-cap attached to the shield. The E-cap recharged with Minvosky particles as the Dra-C Custom’s reactor was insufficient to power beam weaponry.
MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom beam sabre shield
Sturm Faust
The Mk VIII Strum Faust was a rocket-propelled grenade used for anti-ship attacks and it was also useful for anti-mobile suit purposes. The Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type two of these on its shield on its left forearm.
3-tube missile pods
The most distinctive feature of the Dra-C Custom Heavy Weapons Type were two 3-tube missile pods mounted on each of the its two propellant tanks. The missiles were effective against armoured enemies, but they were also slow against nimbler targets.
Behind the scenes
Masato Natsumoto was the original mechanical designer.