The MSA-003 Nemo Cannon was an assault mobile suit mass produced by Anaheim Electronics for AEUG. The “MSA” in the model code stands for mobile suit of AEUG. The “003” in the model code indicates that it was the third mobile weapon designed for AEUG.
History
The Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) deployed many RMS-179 (RGM-79R) GM II at its frontlines during the Gryps Conflict. However, its leadership wanted their own mass produced mobile suit unit that rivalled and surpassed the GM II used by the Titans and Earth Federation. The AEUG engaged Anaheim Electronics to design the new unit for them. After rejecting the first two concepts, the third design MSA-003 Nemo was approved by the AEUG.
The AEUG also gave the green lights for the production of the MSA-003 Nemo Cannon, a heavy artillery variant of the Nemo. The Nemo Cannon was deployed alongside the Nemo to provide artillery cover for the latter.
MSA-003 Nemo
Design
Anaheim Electronics based the MSA-003 Nemo closely to the RMS-179 (RGM-79R) GM II design, making improvements and changes that allowed Nemo to surpass the GM II in power output, thruster acceleration and manoeuvrability. Anaheim Electronics made the Nemo versatile by making it compatible with many existing weapons used by other mobile suits. This also helped to keep costs down by eliminating the need to develop new weapons.
The MSA-003 Nemo Cannon was a variant of the Nemo that used the same body frame with slightly different equipment. The Nemo Cannon used a different type of sensor and had additional fixed armaments mounted.
The Nemo Cannon was built with Gundarium alloy. It was a reproduction of the Luna Titanium alloy used by RX-78-2 Gundam that Zeon developed on Axis by Anaheim Electronics.
The Nemo Cannon was equipped with a standard panoramic cockpit with linear seat in its torso. It had a face visor to protect its sensors from the mega particle its shield booster generated.
MSA-003 Nemo Cannon face visor
Armaments
The MSA-003 Nemo Cannon’s standard weapons were beam sabres for melee combat, and a shield booster for long range attack. It could optionally equip a beam rifle for ranged attack.
Beam sabre
The Nemo Cannon had a pair of beam sabres stored in its rear waist armour. These had output rated at 0.4 megawatts. These beam sabres were designed for the RMS-099 Rick Dias, but the Nemo was designed to be compatible with them.
The beam sabres used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. The beam sabres could cut through almost any material. Minovsky particles were channelled into the sabres through an energy capacitor (E-cap) attached to their hilts. The E-cap recharged with Minvosky particles from the Nemo’s reactor when the sabres were stored in the recharge racks in the rear waist armour of the mobile suit.
60 mm vulcan guns
A pair of fire-linked 60 mm gatling vulcan guns were mounted on either sides of the Nemo Cannon’s head. The guns were similar to the ones introduced in the RX-78-2 Gundam.
Each vulcan gun was loaded with 400 rounds of ammunition and fired at a rate of 1,600 rounds per minute. It was used primarily against light-armoured support units. Sustained fire from the guns could damage mobile suits and were often used in close distance combat.
Shield boosters
The Nemo Cannon had a shield booster mounted on its arm. The shield booster contained a mega particle cannon that it used for long range bombardment. The mega particle cannon had its own generator built into shield booster. This meant that the shield booster did not need to rely on the reactor output rating for compatibility. Firing the cannon did not strain the mobile weapon reactor.
The shield booster was developed for the AEUG standards, allowing it to be used by any other AEUG mobile weapon. The shield booster had an extending arm that could latch on to the arm of the mobile suit.
MSA-003 Nemo Cannon shield booster
#### Dual shield booster
Alternatively, the Nemo Cannon could equip a dual shield booster. The dual shield booster contained a mega particle cannon and a diffuse beam barrier. It had an anti-beam coating that housed the diffuse beam barrier emitter. The barrier emitter was used for defensive purposes. It was unknown whether the emitter was an I-field or a defensive spread beam gun.
The shield booster had an extending arm that could latch on to the backpack of the mobile suit, allowing the Nemo Cannon to carry the dual shield booster on its backpack. This freed up its hand to use a beam rifle.
MSA-003 Nemo Cannon shield booster and dual shield booster
Beam rifle
The Nemo Cannon could optionally carry a BOWA-BR-85-C2 beam rifle with output rated at 1.9 megawatts. The rifle was designed for the RMS-179 (RGM-79R) GM II but the Nemo was designed to be able to use it as well.
The beam rifle drew its rounds from energy capacitors (E-caps), clips of charged Minovsky particles. Minovksy particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the hyper beam rifle bolts to penetrate even the thickest armour. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit.
Beam rifle
Variants
Behind the scenes
Kenki Fujioka was the original mechanical designer.