The MSA-005M Methuss Mariner was a transformable amphibious mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for AEUG. The “MSA” in the model code stands for mobile suit of AEUG. The “005” in the model code indicates that it was the fifth mobile weapon designed for AEUG. The “M” meant it was a marine type mobile weapon.
History
Anaheim Electronics embarked on Project Zeta to develop the next generation mobile suits for the Anti-Earth Union Group. The MSA-005 Methuss was one of the early prototype units to emerge from Project Zeta, the first battle-ready mobile suit from Project Methuss. It was the first transformable mobile suit deployed by the AEUG. The Methuss served on board the AEUG flagship Argama in UC 0087 during the Gryps Conflict. It gathered field data at the front line to test the feasibility of the transformation system in preparation for use in the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam.
Anaheim Electronics developed several variants of the Methuss, including the MSA-005M Methuss Mariner, MSA-005S Methuss Kai, and the MSA-005 Methuss (Avey Alva use).
The AEUG needed a marine unit in response to the Axis Zeon Earth drop operations during the First Neo Zeon War. Anaheim Electronics developed the Methuss Mariner by modifying the existing Methuss design to shorten the development process, and to speed up the production.
MSA-005M Methuss Mariner mobile suit mode
MSA-005M Methuss Mariner mobile armour mode
Design
Project Methuss was one of the development paths under Anaheim Electronics‘s Project Zeta, the next generation development programme commissioned by the AEUG. Project Methuss aimed to develop transformable mobile suits. The MSA-005 Methuss was the first unit from Project Methuss that could be tested in the battle field. Developed from the MSA-005X-1 Methuss X-1 and MSA-005X-2 Methuss X-2 prototype units, it was never intended for mass production. Instead, it served as the test bed for the transformation system to be used in the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam. As such, it had limited weaponry in mobile suit mode.
The AEUG needed a mobile suit capable of marine warfare. The success of the Methuss led to the selection of the Methuss line for a marine variant.
The Methuss Mariner 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 Methuss Mariner had a standard panoramic cockpit with linear seat in its torso.
MSA-005 Methuss hatch
Armaments
The MSA-005M Methuss Mariner’s standard weapons were claws for melee combat, beam guns for ranged attack, and rockets for underwater use.
Claws
The Methuss Mariner claws on each arm instead of a hand. These were used for melee combat and were capable of tearing through mobile suit armour and ship hulls.
Beam guns
There was a beam gun mounted on each fore arm of the Methuss Mariner. The beam guns had output rated at 0.2 megawatts.
The beam guns drew their rounds directly from the Methuss’s Minovsky reactor. Minovksy particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam guns bolts to penetrate even the thickest armour. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit.
MSA-005 Methuss beam gun
SUBROC launcher
The Methuss Mariner had a SUBROC (SUBmarine ROCKet) launcher mounted on its main body. It was on the nose of the Methuss Mariner in mobile armour mode. The launcher carried 13 rounds of rockets that were used against submarine enemies.
MSA-005M Methuss Mariner lineart
Behind the scenes
Yasuyoshi Hasegawa was the original mechanical designer.