YMS-09 Prototype Dom

The YMS-09 Prototype Dom was a prototype ground combat mobile suit developed by the Zimmad Company for the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War.

The “Y” in the type code indicated it was a prototype, while “MS” designated it as a mobile suit. The “09” model number denoted it was the ninth design for this type.

History

During the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon produced the MS-07B Gouf to effectively combat Earth Federation forces on Earth. Although the Gouf performed better than its predecessor, the MS-06J Zaku II Ground Combat Type, its high production costs led to Zeon looking for an alternative design as the mainstay of its ground forces.

The Zimmad Company had designed the prototype MS-08TX Efreet for close combat. It also modified the Gouf developed by the Zeonic to produce the MS-07C-5 Gouf Test Prototype, an experimental ground combat mobile suit.

Drawing from its experience of developing these two suits, Zimmad designed the revolutionary YMS-09 Prototype Dom. By creating the blueprints from scratch, Zimmad produced a cheaper but better mobile suit. Two units were constructed at the Zimmad factory in Side 3 and these were dispatched to Zeon’s California Base on Earth for field testing.

The Prototype Dom proved to be a resounding success in trials. The mobile suit was then modified into a mass production version, the MS-09 Dom. The Dom went on to become the mainstay of Zeon’s ground forces.

Design

The YMS-09 Prototype Dom was a completely new design developed from the MS-08TX Efreet and the MS-07C-5 Gouf Test Prototype. The Prototype Dom was designed to be faster than its predecessors. Previous mobile suit designs had to move on the ground by running or using jet-assisted jumps. The Zeon scientists devised the novel idea of having the mobile suit hover on the ground so that it could travel faster.

A series of high-powered thermonuclear jet engines built into its legs and under the waist armor allowed the Prototype Dom to hover at speeds up to 240 kilometres per hour, several times faster than the average running speed of a mobile suit. For comparison, the maximum running speed of the MS-06J Zaku II Ground Combat Type was 80 kilometres per hour.

This design also allowed the Prototype Dom to change directions quickly, making it highly manoeuvrable.

Armaments

The Prototype Dom’s standard weapons were a ranged weapon and a Heat Saber for melee combat.

Heat Saber

The Heat Saber was a battery-powered melee weapon designed for the Prototype Dom. It refined the design of the Heat Hawk. Instead of a sword-shaped melee weapon, the blade took the form of a simple rod. This made it cheaper and easier to manufacture.

The Heat Saber stored in a recharging dock when not in use.

360 mm giant bazooka

The H&L-GB03K/360 mm giant bazooka served as the Prototype Dom’s main weapon. It fed from a ten-round magazine clip. The heavy weapon allowed the Prototype Dom to make full use of its speed and deal maximum damage.

280 mm Zaku bazooka

The H&L-SB25K/280 mm A-P Zaku bazooka was a portable, physical projectile firearm. It excelled at anti-ship combat and hit-and-run attacks. While effective against enemy mobile suits, hitting constantly moving targets proved challenging.

Known pilots

• Frederick Cranberry

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer.

Variants

• YMS-09D Dom Tropical Test Type

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Variations
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front
• Gundam Build Fighters

External links

• YMS-09 Prototype Dom on the Gundam Wiki
• YMS-09 Prototype Dom on MAHQ