Petite Mobile Suit – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam

The Petite Mobile Suit (also known as Petite-Mobile) was a small civilian mobile suit used for construction work on the Moon during the Universal Century era.

The Petite Mobile Suit was a small civilian mobile suit used for construction work on the Moon. Because of its use, the suit was much smaller than military machines and due to the open seat cockpit in its torso, wearing a normal suit was required.

History

The Petite Mobile Suit was developed as part of the expansion of mobile suit technology into civilian applications during the UC 0080s. Unlike their military counterparts, these units were designed specifically for construction and maintenance work in space environments, particularly on the Moon where their compact size and specialised equipment made them ideal for precision construction tasks.

During the Gryps Conflict in UC 0087, many Petite-Mobiles were repairing the Amman base and the Argama docked inside. When the Titans launched an assault on the base, many Petite-Mobiles took up arms and held a defensive line alongside other AEUG mobile suits, successfully stalling their advance long enough for the Argama and the Radish to launch and depart safely.

In a notable incident during this battle, when Kacricon’s Marasai had Kamille’s Gundam Mk-II pinned down, a shot from a Hyper Beam Gun used by Wong Lee’s Petite-Mobile saved Kamille. This event demonstrated that despite their civilian origins, Petite Mobile Suits could be effective in combat when properly armed.

During the First Neo Zeon War, at least one Petite-Mobile was operated by the Blue Corps for mobile suit maintenance and repair. This usage highlighted the unit’s versatility in both construction and maintenance roles.

By UC 0096, during the Laplace Incident, the Federation made use of at least one Petite-Mobile unit in defence of Torrington Base, with upgrades such as extra armour on the body and legs. However, it was destroyed by a MS-05L Zaku I Sniper Type piloted by Yonem Kirks.

Design

The Petite-Mobile was a small civilian mobile suit used for construction work on the Moon. Because of its use, the suit was much smaller than military machines and due to the open seat cockpit in its torso, wearing a normal suit was required.

The compact design of the Petite Mobile Suit reflected its specialised role in construction operations. The smaller size allowed for more precise manoeuvring in confined spaces and reduced operational costs compared to full-sized military mobile suits. However, this compact design also meant that pilots required full environmental protection due to the open cockpit configuration.

Despite its intended role, its reactor was powerful enough to mount thrusters and wield moderately effective beam weapons such as the hyper beam gun, though its output was noticeably lower than most mobile suits. This power plant design represented a compromise between operational capability and the safety requirements of civilian operation.

The open seat cockpit design, while requiring the pilot to wear a normal suit, provided excellent visibility for precision construction work. This design choice prioritised operational effectiveness over pilot comfort, reflecting the unit’s focus on work efficiency.

Armaments

The Petite Mobile Suit’s armament varied significantly depending on its intended role, ranging from purely construction-focused configurations to combat-capable variants.

Work manipulators

The standard configuration included two work manipulators designed for handling construction materials and operating various tools. These manipulators were engineered for precision work rather than combat, allowing for delicate operations such as component assembly and fine positioning of construction elements.

Hyper beam gun

Despite its intended role, its reactor was powerful enough to mount thrusters and wield moderately effective beam weapons such as the hyper beam gun, though its output was noticeably lower than most mobile suits. The hyper beam gun provided the Petite Mobile Suit with ranged combat capability when required, though its power output was significantly reduced compared to military-grade beam weapons.

Mega particle cannon

Despite the machine not being intended for combat, it could be equipped with a small mega particle cannon. Despite its low power due to being wielded by the Petite MS, it was still sufficient enough to damage mobile suits with effective range. This optional armament allowed Petite Mobile Suits to engage in defensive combat operations when necessary.

Known pilots

During the battle at Amman base, Wong Lee piloted a Petite Mobile Suit equipped with a hyper beam gun and played a crucial role in saving Kamille Bidan during his engagement with Kacricon Cacooler.

Variants

The Earth Federation Forces developed an upgraded variant for military use, featuring extra armour on the body and legs for enhanced survivability in combat situations. This variant saw deployment at Torrington Base during the Laplace Incident.

Behind the scenes

The Petite Mobile Suit represents the Universal Century timeline’s exploration of how mobile suit technology was adapted for civilian use. The design emphasized practicality and cost-effectiveness over combat performance, reflecting the broader integration of mobile suit technology into all aspects of society.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam - Episode 10
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ - Episode 31
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn - Episode 4

External links

Petite-Mobile on the Gundam Wiki