RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] – MechaBay | Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans

The RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] was a prototype mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces for the Titans as the culmination of the TR-1 development programme.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “X” indicated that it was an experimental mobile suit. The “121” in the model code denoted that it was developed from the RX-121 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel] line, and the “2A” suffix meant it was an advanced variant of the second prototype.

History

The RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] was the remodelled RX-121-2 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel II], with leg enhancement parts and a multi weapon latch installed to match the specifications of the RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom].

All the test results of previous option parts were used in the creation of the Advanced Hazel, which could be considered the current “completed form” of the Hazel. Testing of the new booster pod with two shield boosters was originally meant to be conducted with the RMS-117 Galbaldy β High Mobility Type. However, this Galbaldy β was lost when Lieutenant Maxim Gunar defected to the AEUG. The tests were thus performed with the Hazel II, and their results were reflected in the Advanced Hazel.

The Advanced Hazel was deployed during the final days of the Gryps Conflict, piloted by both Eliard Hunter and Audrey April in pursuit of Carl Matsubara.

Design

The Advanced Hazel represented the pinnacle of the TR-1 series development, incorporating lessons learned from all previous variants in the line. A high-performance optical sensor unit like that of the RGM-79SR GM Sniper III was added to its head, significantly enhancing its target acquisition and engagement capabilities.

Supplemental thruster units were added to the soles of its feet, improving its manoeuvrability and allowing for more precise movement in both ground and space environments. The movable booster pod on its enhancement backpack was also replaced with a new type, tested on the RMS-117 Galbaldy β, which could be fitted with two shield boosters to increase its performance still further.

The new booster pod lacked the generator and thruster equipment of the previous version, and consisted of little more than latches for the shield boosters and an optional propellant tank, acting as a multi-connector pod. Meanwhile, the sub-arm unit was also adopted due to the good results of its testing with the Hazel Custom.

Armaments

The Advanced Hazel’s standard weapons were vulcan guns for close defence, a beam saber for melee combat, and various shield systems that provided both protection and offensive capabilities.

60 mm vulcan guns

A standard armament of the Earth Federation Forces’s mobile suits was a pair of head mounted 60 mm vulcan guns. These shell firing weapons had a high-rate of fire but had little power. Because of their low calibre the weapons would not damage a mobile suit’s armour by much, though it was still commonly employed as a tactic to keep an enemy mobile suit from closing distance.

Beam saber

The standard armament for melee combat for Earth Federation mobile suits was the beam saber. The beam saber was a small cylindrical device held in the mobile suit’s hands when operated and was powered by an energy capacitor that was recharged from special racks. The beam saber emitted a blade of plasma contained by an I-field and was capable of cutting through any metal alloy. Advanced Hazel mounted one in a recharge rack in the backpack behind the right shoulder.

Shield

The mobile suit was equipped with a standard shield mounted on the left forearm for defence against projectile and beam weapons.

Shield boosters

The Advanced Hazel was equipped with two shield boosters mounted on its backpack. These devices served dual purposes as both propulsion units and defensive shields, containing propellant tanks and thrusters that could be used for high-speed movement.

Enhanced shield booster

The enhanced shield booster had 10 diffuse beam guns installed on its surface, which increased the mobile suit’s defensive capabilities by shooting down missiles and other projectile weapons. However, the shield booster’s propellant capacity was reduced accordingly, giving it lower performance as a booster compared to standard shield boosters.

Diffuse beam guns

Ten diffuse beam guns were mounted on the enhanced shield booster’s surface. These weapons provided automated point-defence capabilities, capable of intercepting incoming missiles, rockets, and other projectile threats before they could reach the mobile suit.

Multipurpose launchers

The Advanced Hazel could be equipped with multipurpose launchers on its shoulder support actuator units. These launchers could fire various types of ammunition including missiles and rockets, providing additional firepower options depending on mission requirements.

90 mm machine gun

The machine gun was a simple shell-firing machine gun that was based on older technologies, making it a weapon that could be cheaply produced and could be used by just about any mobile suit. This reliable backup weapon provided solid firepower against lightly armoured targets and could be used when beam weapons were not suitable.

Beam rifle

Besides the machine gun, Advanced Hazel could also be equipped with a beam rifle. The particle beam fired from a beam rifle could penetrate almost any armour that had not been treated with specific counter-measures. The beam rifle provided the Advanced Hazel with its primary long-range engagement capability.

Known pilots

Eliard Hunter
Audrey April
Carl Matsubara

Behind the scenes

Kenki Fujioka was the original mechanical designer for the Advanced Hazel as part of the Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans series.

The Hazel’s name was derived from the character “Hazel” from the novel Watership Down by Richard Adams. Because team leader Wes Murphy was fond of rabbits, all the TR Series machines assigned to the Titans Test Team were given nicknames derived from Watership Down.

Several model kits have been released of the Advanced Hazel, including:

1/144 HGUC RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] & Expansion Parts for RX-124 Gundam TR-6 (P-Bandai exclusive; 2019)
1/100 MG RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] (P-Bandai exclusive; 2018)

Appearances

Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans

External links

RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] on MAHQ
RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] on the Gundam Wiki

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