XM-07 Vigna Ghina – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam F91

The XM-07 Vigna Ghina was a prototype commander mobile suit produced by the Crossbone Vanguard for noble use and as an organisational symbol. The “XM” in the model code indicated it was an experimental mobile suit, whilst the “07” denoted it as the seventh design in the Crossbone Vanguard’s experimental mobile suit development programme.

History

An advanced noble-use mobile suit developed by the Crossbone Vanguard, the Vigna Ghina was a prototype unit for commanders. Designed based on the XM-06 Dahgi Iris, it was assigned specifically to Berah Ronah and also functioned as a symbol for the organisation. A prototype for a new line of mobile suits to succeed the Berga series, the first XM-07 Vigna-Ghina unit was assigned to Crossbone Vanguard figurehead Berah Ronah.

During Crossbone Vanguard’s invasion of Side 4 in UC 0123, an XM-07 Vigna Ghina was assigned to Berah Ronah (aka Cecily Fairchild). After some mobile suit training, Berah and her Vigna Ghina joined the mobile suit teams that invaded the Frontier I colony. Although she was piloting a commander mobile suit, Berah was flying behind her mobile suit instructor Zabine Chareux. It was intended that her presence on the battlefield would not be as a combatant, but rather as a show of support for the troops and their actions.

During her first sortie, Berah used the Vigna Ghina to battle against the F91 Gundam F91 until she realized the enemy pilot was her friend Seabook Arno. Seabook was able to convince Berah to leave the Crossbone Vanguard and join him, and she continued to use the Vigna Ghina to fight alongside Seabook. When Berah defected to the Earth Federation Forces during the Crossbone Vanguard invasion of UC 0123, her Vigna Ghina was also given a powerful beam launcher similar to that used by the F91 Gundam F91.

The Vigna Ghina was heavily damaged in the final battle against Carozzo Ronah’s XMA-01 Rafflesia, and Cecily was thrown into space, but not before telepathically telling Seabook to use her suit. Seabook complied and destroyed the Vigna Ghina with the F91’s beam launcher. The resulting explosion acted as a distraction, allowing Seabook to destroy the Rafflesia.

Design

Although only lightly armed with a pair of beam sabers, a beam shield, and a beam rifle, the Vigna-Ghina was designed more with speed and maneuverability in mind. Its most unique feature is the four pairs of fin nozzles mounted on its back, which is developed from the shelf nozzles used by the Berga series. It also has increased propellant capacity thanks to the redesigned main thrusters.

Due to these changes, the Vigna Ghina has outstanding mobility compared to other mobile suits at the time. The Vigna Ghina has the same type of generator as the XM-04 Berga Dalas and XM-05 Berga Giros, and its overall performance is comparable to the F91 Gundam F91. A set of 8 fin nozzles were mounted on its backpack, allowing the Vigna-Ghina to more easily facilitate maneuvering in a 360-degree environment.

The mobile suit featured the standard panoramic monitor cockpit configuration used throughout the Crossbone Vanguard fleet, providing excellent visibility for command operations. The Vigna Ghina incorporated the characteristic beam flag emitter mounted on its backpack, which served as a battlefield standard and symbolic representation of the Crossbone Vanguard’s noble ideals.

Armaments

The XM-07 Vigna Ghina’s standard weapons were its beam rifle for ranged attacks, and twin beam sabers for melee combat.

Beam rifle

The Vigna Ghina was equipped with a standard beam rifle powered by rechargeable energy caps. This weapon provided reliable ranged firepower for most combat situations, though it was considered relatively light armament for a commander-type mobile suit.

Beam launcher

A large caliber beam weapon for Earth Federation’s mobile suit, it fires low-speed beams with high destructive power. It is used by Vigna Ghina after Berah defected to the Earth Federation. The Vigna Ghina can use it as Crossbone Vanguard’s mobile suits were manufactured with the same equipment standards as the Earth Federation’s. The design of this weapon is quite similar to the mega beam bazooka used by the F90A Gundam F90 Assault Type.

Beam saber

The Vigna Ghina carried two beam sabers, though their storage location is unknown. These standard melee weapons generated plasma blades contained by I-fields and could cut through most armour materials not treated with anti-beam coating.

Beam shield

A protective device that uses beam technology for defensive purposes that is mounted on the Vigna Ghina’s left forearm. The beam shield generates a plane of energy similar to the blade of a beam saber and can block both beam and projectile weapons. Individual sections are also automatically deactivated whenever they’re in danger of coming into contact with the mobile suit itself.

Fin nozzles

A development of shelf nozzle technology used by the XM-04 Berga Dalas and the XM-05 Berga Giros, the fin nozzles are eight independently articulated thrusters. These provide exceptional manoeuvrability and allow the Vigna Ghina to perform complex three-dimensional movements that would be impossible with conventional thruster arrangements.

Beam flag emitter

The beam flag emitter is a technology that uses similar principals as a beam saber to generate a large beam shaped into a specific symbol. It is used to act as a battlefield standard, allowing squad units to quickly identify how they should form up in formation and often designating which units were commanders.

Known pilots

Berah Ronah (aka Cecily Fairchild)
Annamarie Bourget (early prototype version)

Variants

XM-07S Vigna Ghina Berah Ronah Special
XM-07B Vigna Ghina II
XM-07G Vigna Zirah

Behind the scenes

The XM-07 Vigna Ghina was designed by Okawara Kunio and first appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam F91 in 1991. The mobile suit’s elegant design reflected its role as both a symbol of noble heritage and a high-performance combat unit, representing the Crossbone Vanguard’s aristocratic ideals and advanced technology.

External links

XM-07 Vigna-Ghina on MAHQ
XM-07 Vigna Ghina on The Gundam Wiki