YMS-16M Xamel
Prototype long-range support mobile suit developed by the Principality of Zeon.
The YMS-16M Xamel was a prototype long-range support mobile suit developed by the Principality of Zeon during the late stages of the One Year War. It was the first true heavy artillery mobile suit, designed to operate as a mobile artillery gun battery.
The “Y” in the model code indicated it was a prototype model, “MS” denoted it as a mobile suit, “16” was its development number, and the “M” suffix stood for “Melza un Canone”, its original design name meaning “apple cannon” in Italian.
History
Designed late during the One Year War, the YMS-16M Xamel was the first true heavy artillery mobile suit, designed to operate as a mobile artillery gun battery. It was unknown exactly how many of these prototype units were produced during the war.
In UC 0083, one Xamel was piloted by Delaz Fleet pilot 1st Lt. Bob during Operation Stardust. During the theft of the RX-78GP02A Gundam GP02A Physalis from Torrington Base, this unit corrected missile trajectory for the Jukon-class submarine U-801 before firing its 680 mm cannon at the base command centre, killing the base commander Brig. Gen. Hawkins Marnery. It later attempted to cover for Anavel Gato in the stolen GP02A and was destroyed by South Burning’s RGM-79C GM Type C during close combat.
Design
In terms of its shape, the Xamel resembled a self-propelled artillery gun more than a mobile suit, which is manifested in its development code “M” from the model number YMS-16M, which stands for “Melza un Canone”. Despite its cumbersome appearance, however, it was surprisingly mobile thanks to the thermonuclear jet engine on its legs and rear skirt, allowing it to achieve a cruising speed of 220 km per hour, rivalling the YMS-09 Prototype Dom.
Equipped with a powerful hovercraft/hoverjet system in its legs and massive skirt armor, it could skim along the ground at high speed, giving it the ability to fire, move to another location, set up and fire again without giving away its position too easily. As with the MS-09F/trop Dom Tropen, its engines were fitted with desert-use air filter.
The Xamel had a two-seater cockpit, with the pilot at the front and the gunner at the back. The pilot could also serve as the gunner if necessary. The cockpit was located right behind its monoeye. Other than the addition of the gunner console, this cockpit was identical to the Second Phase Production Type cockpit implemented during the United Maintenance Plan.
Its close-combat abilities were extremely limited, with only a pair of almost useless arms and defensive weapons. The mobile suit was designed purely for long-range artillery support rather than direct combat engagement.
Armaments
The Xamel’s standard weapons were its primary 680 mm artillery cannon for long-range bombardment, an 8-tube missile launcher for medium-range fire, and a 20 mm vulcan gun turret for close defence.
680 mm artillery cannon
Its primary armament was its long-barreled 680 mm cannon, which could be folded up for transport when not in use. This massive weapon was designed for long-range bombardment of enemy positions and installations. The cannon barrel could be folded for transport, allowing the Xamel to maintain a lower profile when moving between firing positions.
The cannon was powerful enough to destroy heavily fortified targets with direct hits, as demonstrated when it destroyed the Torrington Base command centre. Its range and destructive capability made it one of the most fearsome artillery weapons deployed during the late Universal Century conflicts.
8-tube missile launcher
The Xamel also mounted an 8-tube missile launcher pod for medium-range fire. This weapon system provided the mobile suit with area-effect capabilities and could engage multiple targets simultaneously. The missiles could be used for both anti-mobile suit and anti-installation roles.
20 mm vulcan gun turret
A 20 mm vulcan gun turret was mounted in the head for close-range defence. This was the Xamel’s only truly close-combat weapon, though its effectiveness was limited by the mobile suit’s poor manoeuvrability in close quarters. The vulcan gun served primarily as a last resort defensive measure against approaching enemy forces.
Known pilots
- Bob (1st Lt., Delaz Fleet)
Behind the scenes
Katoki Hajime was the principal designer with Yamane Kimitoshi providing cleanup work. The Xamel was originally known as Melza un Canone before the OVA Gundam 0083 came out. The mecha was renamed Xamel with design clean-up by Hirotoshi Sano for the final release.
The name Xamel is a katakana word play of the first word from its original name Melza un Canone by reversing its order: Mel-za (メルザ) → Za-mel (ザメル).
Appearances
External links
- YMS-16M Xamel on MAHQ
- YMS-16M Xamel on the Gundam Wiki