MSK-003 Wagtail II
Custom general purpose mobile suit developed by Keraunos during the Gryps Conflict.
The MSK-003 Wagtail II was a custom general purpose mobile suit used by Van Asiliaino, a member of the anti-Titans organisation Keraunos.
The MSK-003 Wagtail II was a further upgrade of Van’s previous RGM-79C GM Type C “Wagtail” with parts from other mobile suits. Parts from the RGM-79N GM Custom had been incorporated into the joints and torso, whilst the head, backpack, and cockpit block had been replaced with prototype parts.
The “MSK” designation indicated it was a Keraunos special project, with “003” marking it as the third custom mobile suit developed by the organisation.
History
During the Gryps Conflict, the rapid technological advancements caused standard mobile suit designs to be inferior. Even an upgraded design such as the RGM-79C GM Type C “Wagtail” piloted by Van Asiliaino was not able to perform equally with state-of-the-art mobile suits such as the RMS-108 Marasai or NRX-044 Asshimar.
Therefore, the GM Wagtail was upgraded with new armour material, RGM-79N GM Custom parts, and various experimental parts, resulting in the MSK-003 Wagtail II. This Wagtail II was used by Keraunos who joined forces with Karaba, and fought various battles against more advanced Titans mobile suits during the conflict.
Unfortunately, during the Battle of New Guinea Base, the Wagtail II was severely damaged by an NRX-044Q Asshimar (Danda-Chakra) and a Marasai. Due to the damage it suffered, the Wagtail II was upgraded with any available parts by Keraunos engineers, such as an RMS-106 Hizack backpack, painted green colour similar to those RGM-79R GM II fielded by both the AEUG and Karaba, and the unit was renamed into Wagtail II Ex.](/nrx-044q-asshimar-danda-chakra) and a Marasai. Due to the damage it suffered, the Wagtail II was upgraded with any available parts by Keraunos engineers, such as an RMS-106 Hizack backpack, painted green colour similar to those RGM-79R GM II fielded by both the AEUG and Karaba, and the unit was renamed into Wagtail II Ex.](/nrx-044q-asshimar-danda-chakra) and a Marasai. Due to the damage it suffered, the Wagtail II was upgraded with any available parts by Keraunos engineers, such as an RMS-106 Hizack backpack, painted green colour similar to those RGM-79R GM II fielded by both the AEUG and Karaba, and the unit was renamed into Wagtail II Ex.
Design
The Wagtail II represented a significant evolution from its predecessor, incorporating advanced materials and systems that brought it closer to contemporary mobile suit performance standards. The GM Custom parts strengthened the frame, allowing the Wagtail Unit to be operated at its full output.
The Wagtail Unit’s armour had been changed to those made of Gundarium Gamma alloy, providing enhanced protection against beam weapons whilst maintaining the mobile suit’s mobility characteristics. The backpack was equipped with wing binders featuring numerous thrusters and hardpoints for mounting weapons.
The extensive modifications removed the mobile suit from the traditional GM lineage, creating a unique platform that combined proven Federation technology with experimental components. The result was a mobile suit capable of matching more advanced designs despite its roots in older technology.
Armaments
The Wagtail II featured an impressive array of armaments that reflected its role as a high-performance combat unit for elite pilots.
60 mm vulcan guns
A pair of fire-linked 60 mm vulcan guns were mounted in the Wagtail II’s head. These rapid-fire weapons were effective against lightly armoured targets and served as point-defence systems against incoming missiles and small aircraft.
Beam sabers
The beam saber was a small device held in the mobile suit’s hands when operated and was powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It was capable of cutting through any armour not treated with anti-beam coating. The Wagtail II possessed an exceptional six beam sabers in total: two mounted horizontally on the shoulders, two stored in the shield, and two stabilisers that doubled as beam sabers.
Modified GM II beam rifle
A modified version of the GM II’s beam rifle, it had a different sensor unit and a lengthened barrel. This weapon provided the Wagtail II with effective long-range firepower against enemy mobile suits.
GM rifle
The GM rifle was a simple shell-firing machine gun that had nowhere near the power of a beam rifle, but could be cheaply produced and easily maintained. This weapon served as a backup armament when energy weapons were unavailable or inappropriate for the tactical situation.
Modified shield
The Wagtail II was equipped with a modified version of the GM Command’s NFHI RGM-M-Sh-AGD Shield that featured anti-beam coating and had its upper half removed so as not to interfere with the mobile suit’s shoulder thrusters. Two beam sabers could be stored on the back of the shield, providing additional close-combat options.
Development history
The Wagtail II’s development reflected the challenges faced by resistance organisations during the Gryps Conflict, where limited resources required innovative approaches to mobile suit enhancement.
Keraunos engineering
Keraunos engineers demonstrated remarkable ingenuity in combining disparate components to create a cohesive mobile suit design. The successful integration of GM Custom components with experimental parts showcased the organisation’s technical capabilities despite resource constraints.
Material upgrades
The transition to Gundarium Gamma armour represented a significant improvement in defensive capability, bringing the Wagtail II closer to contemporary mobile suit protection standards whilst maintaining mobility characteristics.
Operational service
The Wagtail II served with distinction during several key engagements of the Gryps Conflict, demonstrating the viability of upgraded older designs when properly enhanced.
Battle of New Guinea Base
During the climactic Battle of New Guinea Base, the Wagtail II faced off against state-of-the-art Titans mobile suits including the NRX-044Q Asshimar (Danda-Chakra). Despite ultimately suffering severe damage, the mobile suit’s performance validated the upgrade programme’s effectiveness.
Post-battle modifications
The battle damage necessitated further modifications that resulted in the Wagtail II Ex variant, demonstrating the mobile suit’s adaptability and the resourcefulness of its maintenance crews.
Legacy
The MSK-003 Wagtail II exemplified the innovative spirit of resistance organisations during the Gryps Conflict. Its successful combination of proven technology with experimental components provided a template for future upgrade programmes.
The mobile suit’s service record demonstrated that properly executed enhancement programmes could extend the combat effectiveness of older designs, a lesson that influenced subsequent mobile suit development throughout the Universal Century era.
Van Asiliaino’s successful piloting of the Wagtail II also highlighted the importance of pilot skill in maximising mobile suit potential, regardless of the unit’s technological sophistication.
Known pilots
Van Asiliaino
Van Asiliaino served as the primary pilot of the MSK-003 Wagtail II during his service with Keraunos. An 18-year-old cadet from the Earth Federation Forces military academy, Van became involved with the anti-Titans resistance after obtaining evidence of the 30 Bunch incident. His piloting skills developed significantly during the Gryps Conflict, ultimately enabling him to effectively operate the high-performance Wagtail II.
Jorn Juliana
Jorn Juliana also piloted the Wagtail II during certain operations, demonstrating the mobile suit’s adaptability to different pilot styles. His experience with the unit contributed to the development of tactics and operational procedures for high-mobility custom mobile suits.
Behind the scenes
Literary origins
The MSK-003 Wagtail II was created for the Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny light novel series by Junichi Kamino. The mobile suit was designed to represent the resourcefulness of resistance organisations during the Gryps Conflict, showcasing how limited resources could produce competitive mobile suits through innovative engineering.
Design philosophy
The Wagtail II’s design emphasised the concept of evolutionary development, showing how older mobile suit platforms could be enhanced with new technology and materials to remain competitive against more advanced designs. This reflected real-world themes of technological adaptation and resourcefulness.
Character development
The mobile suit served as a key element in Van Asiliaino’s character development, representing his growth from a reluctant academy cadet to a skilled resistance pilot capable of operating high-performance equipment.
Appearances
The MSK-003 Wagtail II appears primarily in expanded universe materials related to the Advance of Zeta series.
Novels
- Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny (light novel series)
Publications
- Dengeki Hobby Magazine (technical specifications and model instructions)
- Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny manga adaptation
Model kits
The Wagtail II has been released as High Grade model kits, often requiring modification of base GM kits to achieve the correct configuration.
Games
- Various Super Robot Wars titles featuring Advance of Zeta content
External links
- MSK-003 Wagtail II on MAHQ
- MSK-003 Wagtail II on The Gundam Wiki
- Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny on Zeonic Scanlations