MSN-06S Sinanju Stein – MechaBay

The MSN-06S Sinanju Stein was a prototype Newtype-use mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics as part of the Earth Federation’s UC Project.

The “MSN” in the model code indicated it was a Mobile Suit Neo design, while “Stein” means “stone” in German and Norwegian, referencing it being “a jewel in the rough”. The Sinanju Stein’s name was a reference to it being the foundation from which other mobile suits would be developed.

History

Following the Axis Shock of UC 0093, Anaheim Electronics continued to develop the mysterious psychoframe technology as part of the Earth Federation Forces’ UC Project. While the RX-93 ν Gundam and MSN-04 Sazabi featured psychoframe cockpits, Anaheim intended to put a full psychoframe in the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam.

Two MSN-06S Sinanju Stein units were created under the development code Stein 01 as a testbed for the full psychoframe implementation. The Sinanju Stein was created by a specially organised team that integrated two separate teams within Anaheim Electronics: the Von Braun City factory, which mainly manufactured the RX-93 ν Gundam and mobile suits for the Earth Federation Forces, and the Granada factory, which mainly developed the MSN-04 Sazabi and mobile suits for the Neo Zeon forces.

The Sinanju Stein was equipped with the intention automatic system, which allowed the pilot’s thoughts to move the suit. Due to its murderous acceleration, it was impossible for ordinary pilots to control the Sinanju Stein, and its evaluation tests were conducted on autopilot to test the limits of the psychoframe.

On 14 June UC 0094, two containers, one of which held the Sinanju Stein (the other presumably held the MSN-06S-2 Sinanju Stein), departed from Side 1 for the Anaheim Electronics facility in Granada, carried by the Clop-class cruiser Unkai and escorted by another Clop-class cruiser, the Ra Dels. However, as part of a secret deal between Anaheim, several high-ranking Earth Federation Forces officials, and Neo Zeon remnants, the Unkai’s cargo would be transferred to the Neo Zeon remnants under the guise of an attack.

During initial testing by Neo Zeon, a pilot named Werkkracht accidentally killed an engineer. One unit was renamed as the MSN-06S Sinanju, remodelled with Char Aznable’s aesthetic and served as the personal mobile suit of Neo Zeon leader Full Frontal.

Design

The Sinanju Stein was created by Anaheim Electronics to test the sensitivity and durability of the lightweight and rigid material known as the psychoframe for use in a mobile suit’s internal movable frame. The mobile suit boasted high mobility and featured flexible thrusters on its legs and backpack, allowing it to achieve precise movements at high speed.

Despite having a silhouette reminiscent of Zeon mobile suits, its exterior armour consisted of straight lines, an iconic feature of Earth Federation mobile suits. The Sinanju Stein was an experimental machine, so there were some concerns about the armour’s resistance to elasticity.

The Sinanju Stein had an ultracompact Minovsky power plant that generated an output of 3,240 kW. It had rocket thrusters that generated 128,600 kg of total thrust. The mobile suit had a standard cockpit in its torso with a panoramic monitor and linear seat.

The mobile suit was equipped with a psycommu system and the intention automatic system, which functioned by using the psychoframe’s sensitivity to the pilot’s thought-waves to directly affect the behaviour of the mobile suit.

Armaments

The Sinanju Stein’s armaments included vulcan guns, beam sabers, a high beam rifle and a shield that mounted a beam cannon and missiles.

60 mm vulcan guns

Mounted in the head, the pair of vulcan guns were not very powerful and typically unable to penetrate mobile suit armour. However, they were useful in intercepting missiles and rockets, destroying mobile suit sensors, and engaging lightly armoured targets such as tanks and small aircraft.

Beam sabers

The Sinanju Stein carried two beam sabers stored in recharge racks in the forearms and hand-carried in use. The beam sabers used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level, meaning the beam saber could cut through almost any material.

High beam rifle

The high beam rifle was the Sinanju Stein’s primary ranged weapon. It had superior performance compared to standard beam rifles and provided the mobile suit with long-range engagement capabilities.

Shield

The shield was mounted on the left forearm and featured a beam cannon and four missiles. This gave the shield both defensive and offensive capabilities, allowing it to provide covering fire while protecting the mobile suit from enemy attacks.

Known pilots

Variants

MSN-06S Sinanju - modified Neo Zeon variant
MSN-06S-2 Sinanju Stein - second unit

Behind the scenes

Hajime Katoki was the original mechanical designer.

Two lines of mobile suits were later developed using the Sinanju Stein as a base. These were the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and the MSN-06S Sinanju. The Unicorn Gundam was developed based on the data from the Sinanju Stein’s test. The Sinanju was refurbished using one of the two stolen units, and had its response levels tuned down as its controls were too sensitive.

Due to how famous the Sinanju later became, the Sinanju Stein was also referred to as “The stone from which Full Frontal’s Sinanju was hewn”.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam UC (video game)
Mobile Suit Gundam UC MSV
Mobile Suit Gundam UC MSV Kusabi (manga)

External links

MSN-06S Sinanju Stein on MAHQ
MSN-06S Sinanju Stein on the Gundam Wiki