RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

The RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias was a mass production attack use heavy mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics as an improved version of the RMS-099 Rick Dias.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “MS” indicated it was a mobile suit. The “099” denoted it was developed from the RMS-099 Rick Dias, whilst the “B” suffix indicated it was the B-type variant. The name “Schuzrum” comes from the German word “Sturm”, meaning “storm” or “assault”.

History

The return of Zeon remnants aboard the asteroid base Axis to the Earth Sphere in the last weeks of the Gryps Conflict resulted in an even more turbulent political climate, and Anaheim Electronics – one of the AEUG’s primary supporters – was forced to provide mobile suit technology to the Axis (and later Neo Zeon) forces.

One Anaheim mobile suit design that fell into Neo Zeon’s hands was the RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias, an improvement over the well-proven RMS-099 Rick Dias used by the AEUG during the Gryps Conflict. The RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias was developed by Anaheim Electronics during the First Neo Zeon War and was initially deployed by the Republic of Zeon as part of their colony defence forces. However, a few pilots still loyal to the Principality of Zeon’s cause defected with their Schuzrum Dias over to Neo Zeon.

Ironically, despite the original Rick Dias being primarily fielded by the AEUG, an Earth Federation splinter faction, the Schuzrum Dias was primarily fielded by Zeon forces.

Design

The RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias was an improved version of the RMS-099 Rick Dias for hit-and-run assault missions. The only changes to the basic mobile suit itself were a larger rear skirt armour piece and a flared-out armour piece on the head to provide extra protection for the monoeye sensors. Commander-use versions of the suit had this flared-out armour piece on the head, while the standard type retained the same head as the Rick Dias.

However, the most noticeable change seen on the Schuzrum Dias was the replacement of the old random binder backpack propellant tanks with two large gyre binders, which mounted extra thrusters and verniers, an even greater fuel capacity for extended flight time and beam cannons for additional firepower. The gyre binders greatly improved the suit’s maximum speed, with the Schuzrum Dias’ top speed being 1.5 to 2.5 times that of the Rick Dias.

The mobile suit was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor rated at 1,920 kW and had a total thrust output of 105,000 kg. It featured Gundarium alloy armour and had a sensor range of 11,500 metres. The cockpit was located in the head and featured a panoramic monitor with linear seat.

Armaments

The Schuzrum Dias’s standard weapons were dual beam pistols for ranged combat and a beam saber for melee engagement, supplemented by integrated beam cannons and a vulcan phalanx system.

Beam pistols

A pair of handheld beam pistols that were powerful enough to destroy an enemy mobile suit with a single shot despite their compact size. The beam pistols were stored on a holder on the Schuzrum Dias’ backpack when not in use, and while stowed, they could fire directly with a limited firing arc. These weapons provided excellent firepower-to-weight ratio and were ideal for the hit-and-run tactics the Schuzrum Dias was designed for.

Beam cannons

Two beam cannons, power rated at 4.2 MW, were mounted in the gyre binders. These provided the Schuzrum Dias with significant long-range firepower and were one of the key improvements over the original Rick Dias. The integration of weapons into the gyre binders made the Schuzrum Dias a much more formidable opponent in ranged combat.

Vulcan phalanx anti-missile gun system

Mounted in the top of the suit’s head, and covered by a hinged hood when not in use, this 2-barrel 55 mm gun system was equivalent to the vulcan guns commonly used by other mobile suits. The system was primarily used for point defence against incoming missiles and light aircraft, but could also be effective against enemy mobile suits at close range.

Beam saber

The beam saber was a small device held in the mobile suit’s hands when deployed and was powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It emitted high-energy Minovsky particles to form a blade-shaped I-field, and then filled this I-field shell with superheated Minovsky particle plasma to produce an effective cutting blade. The Schuzrum Dias had one beam saber, power rated at 0.4 MW, stored in a recharge rack in the backpack.

Clay bazooka

A projectile-firing bazooka, it was originally designed to fire adhesive rounds which immobilised enemy machines rather than destroying them outright. This weapon was inherited from the original Rick Dias and provided the Schuzrum Dias with a non-lethal option for capturing enemy mobile suits intact.

Known pilots

Several pilots used the Schuzrum Dias during the First Neo Zeon War, though specific pilot assignments varied as units changed hands between the Republic of Zeon and Neo Zeon forces.

Behind the scenes

The original design team included multiple designers working on different aspects of the mobile suit, with the final design being refined for the Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ series.

The name “Schuzrum” is derived from the German word “Sturm”, meaning “storm” or “assault”, which reflects the mobile suit’s role as an improved assault variant of the Rick Dias.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

External links

RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias on the Gundam Wiki
RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias on MAHQ

Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩