Known MSV-R so far

[DeltasTaii]

Paratroopers, it looks like?

[Calubin_175]

That account mentions the 033th Company are assigned to recapture military facilities and they consist of at least 5 Night Seeker GMs which are transported by Gunperrys and supported by regular GMs, Tin Cods and Dep Rods. The regular GMs serve to capture the base once the Night Seekers have descended and in regards to the aircrafts, the Tin Cods escorts the Gunperrys while the Dep Rods are meant to initiate bombardment and mop up any remaining enemy forces.

[Gelgoog Jager]

After checking Deacon's list I realized we were missing this unit:

MS-14B Uma Lightning Custom

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/ ... 4BULCa.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/ ... 4BULCb.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/ ... 4BULCc.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/ ... 4BULCd.jpg

I hope someone can translate its background information.

Also, is the correct name Uma or Yuma Lightning?

Edit: I forgot to mention, I also found an image from the MS-06S Black Tri Star Custom which I hadn't posted before:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/ ... 06Sd-1.jpg

Unfortunately it is a pretty bad quaility image. I hope someone eventually finds a better version of it.

[Homeless]

http://gundamguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/g ... issue.html

[Calubin_175]

The new take on the Dodai GA is pretty nice. It was originally just mentioned in the text of 機動戦士ガンダム 戦略戦術大図鑑 (Entertainment Bible 31) and was also in the Giren no Yabou being visually identical to the YS minus the SFS capability and serving as its precursor.

The YS type had 8 missile ports while the GA type is now replaced with 4 on its front and has added 20 tube anti-ground ones on its top. It mentioned that it is now more offensively balanced as it has two types of missiles, but I don't know where the anti air ones originally were.

[Gelgoog Jager]

The YS type had 8 missile ports while the GA type is now replaced with 4 on its front and has added 20 tube anti-ground ones on its top. It mentioned that it is now more offensively balanced as it has two types of missiles, but I don't know where the anti air ones originally were.

Mayeb the Dodai GA loads anti-air missiles on its on the four large missiles launchers, while the original YS version only mounted anti-ground missiles (this would be a lot simplier if the anti-air missiles were the ones added on top instead).

Alternatively, it could be that some Dodai YSs had anti-air missiles and other ones anti-ground missiles. For example, the Z'Gok loads regular missiles on its head, but the Z'Gok E is known for equipping torpedoes on its head instead. The GA is a design that allows for both types to be loaded at once.

One final possibilitiy: IIRC, in some PS3 videogames, the Dodai IIs are shown with missiles mounted under their front wings (originally their only armament was a tiny 2-barrel machiengun behind the cokcpit). However it must be noted that the Dodai II not only has its wings in a higher position, but also has some actual landing gear unlike the YS and GA models which seems to land on those circular things located on each corner below its main body. I don't know much about aerodynamics, but would it be possible to mount missiles or missile launchers on top of the wings of the YS and GA types, instead of below like the II type, without affecting its mobility?

Either way, if possible, can someone please translate the rest of the information?, especially the part about the MS-06G and the small portion that mentions the MS-06RG.

[Calubin_175]

Judging from the text, it appears that the new Dodai GA possesses MS carrying ability.

Here is my thorough translation on the MS-06G article:

MS-06G High Mobility Zaku (African Front, Lieutenant Gunter Hal's machine)

The MS-06G that belonged to the MS and Dodai mixed unit that was active within African Front, was painted in a brown and dark grey color scheme. The production of these MS-06G were few, and the same unit had 4 of these machines assigned, with others seemingly being MS-06Js and MS-07Bs.

Gunter Hal's machine was one attached with the commander antenna, and it was feared by Federation troops on the African Front, naming him as the "Hawk of Hogle". This nickname was earn when he destroyed 9 Federation fighters in an aerial battle situated above Hogle Mountain on the Sahara Desert.

Lieutenant Gunter Hal, sortied a total of 23 times on the African Front, tallying up an impressive score of 32 fighters, 6 bombers and one RGM-79.

Around mid December, he left the unit and was transferred to A Baoa Qu. He was in the African mixed combat unit for 42 days.

Green is the base color for the MS-06G, the one that you see in the corner is for the North American Front.

[Gelgoog Jager]

The YS type had 8 missile ports while the GA type is now replaced with 4 on its front and has added 20 tube anti-ground ones on its top. It mentioned that it is now more offensively balanced as it has two types of missiles, but I don't know where the anti air ones originally were.

The partial translation of EB1 in Mark's site indicates that the large missile ports are actually the air-to-ground missiles:

Dodai YS: Although it was developed as a bomber, it could fly while carrying a mobile suit due to the considerable surplus thrust of its nuclear thermal jets. It was armed with eight air-to-ground missile launchers.

The 20 smaller missile ports on the Dodai GA must be the air-to-air ones. The person that wrote down the text probably mixed them up.

I have a few other questions:
-Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the text above the green MS-06G includes the model number MS-06RG. Can someone please translate that section?
-Does the text mentions if the the Dodai GA, or another type of Dodai was deployed with the MS-06D, depicted on the first page?
-Any mention on the production run of the Dodai GA or any other Dodai type?
-Any mentioned connection with the Gouf Flight Type Project?
-Any is there any other interesting info on the Dodai GA in the text such as:
--Where were they developed?
--When were they first deployed?
--Where were they mainly deployed?
--Were they a rejected design, or another case of a good design that appeared too late in the war?

Finally, a somewhat unrelated question just out of curiosity: does anyone know if a Gaw might be capable of loading, and maybe even deploying in mid-air, an MS mounted on a Dodai?

[toysdream]

The 20 smaller missile ports on the Dodai GA must be the air-to-air ones. The person that wrote down the text probably mixed them up.

That's possible - they did this with the labeling on the Gobble's missile racks. But this would seem a little odd given that the Dodai GA is supposed to be the ground attack version, while the Dodai YS was meant to be an interceptor-bomber hybrid, so you'd expect the YS type would be more oriented toward air-to-air combat.

In any case, the text in the MSV-R feature identifies the Dodai GA as a "heavy bomber designed for improved anti-ground attack capabilities," and says that "anti-ground missiles are newly installed in the air intake space on top of the fuselage." So they seem pretty set on this notion.

-Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the text above the green MS-06G includes the model number MS-06RG. Can someone please translate that section?

It honestly seems to be a typo. In this context it seems like they're just talking about the standard MS-06G.

-Does the text mentions if the the Dodai GA, or another type of Dodai was deployed with the MS-06D, depicted on the first page?

Nope. We're told that the Dodai GA was used by Gunter's composite unit, which also included Goufs and J type Zakus, but there's no direct reference to the Zaku Desert Type.

Otherwise, there's no real info in relation to your other questions. The text makes it sound like the GA type was developed after the YS type, with greater anti-ground firepower. Otherwise, the main improvement is the gull-wing design, which allows for lighter and more compact landing gear, reducing the overall weight by 3 percent. As for deployment info, we're told:

Combat deployment of the new Dodai type, the Dodai GA, began in the late stages of the war. Assigned mainly to composite units on the African and Odessa fronts, it produced good combat results. With its increased firepower, it was the best and strongest partner for the mobile suit in every kind of mission, from aerial combat to ground attack.

Incidentally, in the Dodai GAs used on the African front, the air intakes were equipped with dustproof filters for the sake of operation in desert environments.

-- Mark

[Homeless]

http://i.imgur.com/8zqLz.jpg

I am kinda plastered, but does that serious say it is Norris' unit?

[Calubin_175]

2nd half OVA director Iida Umanosuke's extended manga version, the 08th MS Team + Alpha, had a light blue colored MS-06J as Norris' personal unit before he gets the Gouf Custom. This treatment is the same as retrospectively applying the Gouf and Dom color to their most renown pilots' Battle of Loum period MS.

Now this purple one for Norris doesn't seem to work as it should have been light blue if were to follow the trend. Purple should be Eric Blanke's.

[J-Lead]

http://i.imgur.com/8zqLz.jpg

I am kinda plastered, but does that serious say it is Norris' unit?

Sweet Jesus Christ, Buddha, Allah, and Slaanesh, it has spiked knuckles...

[AmuroNT1]

It does indeed say "Major Norris Custom". Personally, I think the combination of blue and red makes it look like Nimbus' colors.

[JEFFPIATT]

strange is that it's an ms-05 unit with the head cable from the zaku II added to it. is the Q type an bridge model where the tech being developed for the ms-06 was tested.

[Gelgoog Jager]

My main concern is the odd model number; in MSV-R alone we have already seen other custom MS such as the Zakus of Johnny Ridden and the Black Tri-Stars, but they kept the MS-06S designation. The spiked knuckles and head cable just don't seem to be a large enough modification for a different designation code (I still hope that it might have some other charactersitic to justify it). Is there any mention of any new weapons in the Spec box?

And I'm also having a hard time accepting this to be Norris Packard's unit .

2nd half OVA director Iida Umanosuke's extended manga version, the 08th MS Team + Alpha, had a light blue colored MS-06J as Norris' personal unit before he gets the Gouf Custom. This treatment is the same as retrospectively applying the Gouf and Dom color to their most renown pilots' Battle of Loum period MS.

I would also have preferred the Gouf Custom's color scheme for Norris Packard, isntead of this one.

Now this purple one for Norris doesn't seem to work as it should have been light blue if were to follow the trend. Purple should be Eric Blanke's.

Well, let's not forget that MS Igloo 2 introduced Elmer Snell, a second White Zaku ace, and an even better case would be Johhny Ridden, who was frequently mistaken to be Char Aznable. So aces can definitely use the same colors. However, I must say that between the two purple color schemes, I prefer Erik Blanke's.

It does indeed say "Major Norris Custom". Personally, I think the combination of blue and red makes it look like Nimbus' colors.

However Nimbus MS are mainly blue and only seem to have red shoulders armor. Also, this Zaku has a tertiary color, blue, on the upper legs and on its feet. This seems similiar to the Black Tri-Stars Zaku color scheme, which also have three colors: black for most armor, purple for torso and arms and white for upper legs and its feet.

[Homeless]

The weapon list is pretty much the same ol'. Zaku machinegun, Zaku bazooka, heat hawk, and missilepods.

[Homeless]

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6662 ... ujckww.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6087 ... 6n82uk.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/791/ ... p1mygo.jpg
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/5722 ... mtw23k.jpg

[JEFFPIATT]

This appears to be packerds unit before he went earth side. it is a stock zaku 1 with the zaku II head power cable and spiked fists.

[Gelgoog Jager]

I'm starting to think that this unit might have been introduced for testing a proposed hand to hand combat upgrade for the Zaku II, probably as the result of the rejection of the MS-06A which supposedly lacked hand to hand combat capabilities. Such timeline do would justify the existance of the head cable.

However it was most likely rejected in favor of the Heat Hawk, which didn't require to modify the MS hands. However the spiked hands probably did end up inspiring the spike shoulder which was first used on the MS-06C.

[toysdream]

Nope. The accompanying text profile provides a detailed explanation, so there's no need to guess.

Apparently the MS-05Q is the result of an upgrade program for the Zaku I that was launched in U.C. 0078. Although production of the Zaku II was now in progress, a lot of pilots preferred to stick with their existing machines, and so Zeon started retrofitting these with new reactors (as well as other minor changes like head power pipes and right shoulder armor). The original plan was to upgrade 240 Zaku I units as a first batch, but only 162 were converted because priority was given to the production of new machines. Another batch of fewer than 30 units were converted at the end of the war.

Many of these machines were used by ace pilots like Norris Packard, and it says that the knuckle spikes were unique to his machine. (In other words, the spikes aren't part of the standard Q type.)

I'd have to say that this seems like one of the less necessary retcons in the MSV-R series. But perhaps it's meant to explain the similar Zaku I units used by Ramba Ral and Gellert Schmeisser, which likewise have command antennas and armor on both shoulders...

-- Mark