OZ-08MMS Cancer

The OZ-08MMS Cancer was an underwater mobile suit developed by OZ for aquatic combat in After Colony 195. Designed alongside the OZ-09MMS Pisces, the Cancer emphasized underwater cruising capabilities. Despite being a mobile suit, it had no legs—instead, it manoeuvred using screw propellers on each arm whilst in submarine mode. The Cancer’s pincer-like claws could grapple enemy units at close range, and its arms contained torpedo launchers that could fire both torpedoes and anti-ground missiles. A pair of searchlights mounted on the underside of its body provided illumination for underwater search operations.

Overview

The Cancer represented OZ’s response to the need for underwater combat capabilities. Where most mobile suits were designed for ground or space operations, the Cancer and Pisces filled the niche of aquatic warfare. The Cancer’s design emphasized underwater cruising speed over versatility—sacrificing legs entirely for enhanced hydrodynamic performance in its submarine mode.

The mobile suit’s overall shape resembled its namesake, the fourth zodiac sign “Cancer,” meaning “Crab.” The pincer-like arm claws reinforced this visual connection whilst serving as practical weapons for grappling and close-quarters combat. Each arm’s screw propeller provided propulsion in submarine mode whilst the pincers served as manipulators in mobile suit operations.

Armament

Torpedoes

Launched from the Cancer’s arm-mounted torpedo launchers, torpedoes were used for underwater combat and could destroy enemy submarines or surface vessels. The torpedoes could be fired at point-blank range after the Cancer caught an enemy in its pincers, ensuring devastating hits on grappled targets. This combination of grappling and point-blank torpedo fire made the Cancer extremely dangerous in close-quarters underwater combat.

Anti-ground missiles

From the same torpedo launchers, the Cancer could fire anti-ground missiles to attack coastal and even aerial targets. This versatility allowed the Cancer to engage targets above the waterline, providing coastal bombardment capabilities and limited anti-aircraft fire. The ability to switch between torpedoes and missiles made the Cancer adaptable to changing tactical situations.

Pincer claws

The Cancer’s distinctive pincer-like claws served multiple functions. In close range, they could grapple enemy units, holding them in place for point-blank torpedo attacks. The claws’ mechanical strength allowed them to crush or tear weaker structures. In episode 29, a Cancer was seen projecting either a vibrating blade or beam saber from its claw to cut through a crashed transport plane, though details about this weapon remained unclear.

Special equipment

Screw propellers

Each arm contained a screw propeller that provided propulsion in submarine mode. These propellers gave the Cancer excellent underwater mobility, allowing it to pursue or evade enemy submarines with superior manoeuvrability compared to surface vessels. The propellers’ placement on the arms meant they remained functional even when the Cancer used its pincers for grappling.

Searchlights

A pair of searchlights mounted on the underside of the Cancer’s body provided illumination for underwater search operations. These were essential for locating targets in the dark ocean depths, particularly when searching for sunken mobile suits or conducting reconnaissance in deep water.

Operational history

The Cancer was used throughout AC 195 by OZ in various aquatic operations. One of its first known missions was to search for the Wing Gundam that had been abandoned on the ocean floor by Heero Yuy after his battle with Zechs Merquise. However, the one Cancer and two Pisces that found the Gundam were ambushed and destroyed by Duo Maxwell’s Gundam Deathscythe.

Later, Cancers and Pisces were used in multiple battles that took place in the ocean, on the surface, or in coastal regions. The Cancer’s ability to attack both underwater and surface targets made it valuable for amphibious operations and coastal defence. Cancers were last seen when the Romefeller Foundation conquered the Sanc Kingdom.

One Cancer was notably pulled apart by the OZ-00MS Tallgeese in episode 13, demonstrating the performance gap between standard mobile suits and high-performance units like the Tallgeese.

Variants

Tragos II

A lunar surface variant mentioned in New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop, designed for combat on the moon rather than underwater operations.

Appearances

The OZ-08MMS Cancer appeared in the following works:

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (anime series, episode 2 onwards)
New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop (novel series)
Gundam Build Fighters (anime)

External links

OZ-08MMS Cancer on the Gundam Wiki