The MSK-008 Dijeh was a prototype assault mobile suit developed by Karaba. The “MSK” in the model code stands for mobile suit of Karaba. The “008” in the model code indicates that it was the eigthth mobile weapon designed by Karaba.
History
The success of the RMS-099 (MSA-099) Rick Dias developed by Anaheim Electronics for the AEUG in space spurred Karaba to pursue their own ground assault mobile suit based on the Rick Dias.
The MSK-008 Dijeh bore many similarities to the Rick Dias, both in design and performance. This was not purely due to imitation of the Rick Dias. Many engineers in the team that worked on the Rick Dias and Dijeh developed mobile suits for the Principality of Zeon, hence the prevalence of Zeon-style design features. Karaba used avionics from the MSA-003 Nemo for the Dijeh.
The Dijeh was assigned to Karaba ace pilot Amuro Ray. Londo Bell later developed a space use version, the MSK-008R Rick Dijeh, for Amuro. Neo Zeon developed a variant, the MSK-008 Dijeh (Char Aznable Custom), for their leader Char Aznable.
Civilian organisation Luio & Co used several Dijeh units to contact Martha Vist Carbine in UC 0097.
Design
Karaba developed the MSK-008 Dijeh based on the AEUG mobile suit RMS-099 (MSA-099) Rick Dias. The design teams for both mobile suit were former Principality of Zeon mobile suit engineers, hence they incorporated many Zeon-style features.
The mobile suit’s cooling system was improved and lightened to adapt to use in atmosphere and gravity.
The Dijeh 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.
Three rocket thrusters and two jet thrusters with a combined output of 89,800 kg provided main propulsion for the Dijeh. Six sets of vernier thruster and apogee motors provided fine adjustments. The jet thrusters allowed it to hover on the ground. The Dijeh had large radiator fins on its back to improve its atmospheric flight. The use of jet thrusters and the radiator fins gave it high performance during atmospheric flight.
Like the Rick Dias, the Dijeh had a standard panoramic cockpit with linear seat in its head. It had a blade antenna on its head and radar receivers on its radiator fins for enhanced communication capabilities and range.
Armaments
The MSK-008 Dijeh’s standard weapons were a twin beam sword for melee combat and a beam rifle for ranged attack. It could optionally equip a clay bazooka instead of the beam rifle.
Karaba designed the Dijeh for compatibility with the standard hand-held weapons of AEUG mobile suits Rick Dias and MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki to reduce development costs and to maximise the use of the weapons at their disposal.
60 mm vulcan guns
A pair of fire-linked 60 mm gatling vulcan guns were mounted on either sides of the Dijeh’s head.
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.
Twin beam sword
The Dijeh used a twin beam sword for close combat, similar to the one used by the MS-14A Gelgoog. It was a long handle with beam emitters at both ends. The long handle gave it a greater reach. The sword had beam emitters on both ends. It could be used with a single blade as a halberd or with dual blades. This gave it greater flexibility during close-ranged combat.
The twin beam sword used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. The twin beam sword could cut through almost any material. Minovsky particles were channelled into the twin beam sword through an energy capacitor (E-cap) attached to its handle. The E-cap recharged with Minvosky particles from the Dijeh’s reactor when the twin beam sword was stored in the recharge racks in the rear waist armour of the mobile suit.
Beam rifle
The BR-M-87 beam rifle was the Dijeh’s primary weapon. It was the same model used by MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki. The beam rifle had a power output rating of 2.8 megawatts.
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 beam rifle bolts to penetrate even the thickest armour. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit.
It had a retractable hook to store it on the Dijeh’s backpack when not in use.
300 mm clay bazooka
The Dijeh could optionally equip the AE/ZIM.C-BAZ-531 300 mm clay bazooka that was also used by the RMS-099 (MSA-099) Rick Dias and MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki. It carried one round in the chamber and seven rounds per clip.
The clay bazooka was originally designed to fire adhesive rounds to immobilise enemies instead of destroying them. It could also fire conventional explosive rounds or pellet shots.
It had a retractable hook to store it on the Dijeh’s backpack when not in use.
Shield
The Dijeh had a shield mounted on its right shoulder for increased protection. The fixed shield had limited defensive angles compared to a hand-held one.
12-tube missile launcher
The Dijeh could optionally mount a 12-tube missile launcher used by the D-50C Loto on its left shoulder. It fired missiles that were used to distract the enemies or to intercept enemy missiles.
Known pilots
Variants
Behind the scenes
Kazumi Fujita was the original mechanical designer. Hajime Katoki designed the version seen in Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative
