MS-14A Gelgoog

Model Number: MS-14A

Code Name: Gelgoog

Unit Type: mass production high efficiency general purpose mobile suit

Suit Organizational Type: Zeonic Type

Manufacturer: Zeonic Company

Operators: SODOM, Chinese Empire, Liberty Revolution, Serpentine Syndicate, The Shinter, Grand Colonial Alliance, Jovian Alliance

First Deployment: December UC 0079

Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso (later refitted and replica units equipped with linear seat/panoramic monitor cockpit)

Dimensions: head height 19.2 meters

Weight: empty 42.1 metric tons; max gross 73.3 metric tons

Construction:

Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1440 kW

Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 24500 kg, 5 x 2500 kg

Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.84 G; 180-degree turn time 1.5 seconds; maximum ground running speed 180 km/h

Equipment and Design Features: sensors, range 6300 meters

Fixed Armaments: twin beam sword, stored in recharge rack on back, hand-carried in use

Optional Fixed Armaments:

Optional Hand Armaments: beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap; shield, can be optionally stored on backpack

Technical and Historical Notes: By the middle of the One Year War, rumors of the Earth Federal Forces' development of its own mobile suits had reached the Principality of Zeon's ears. Although the development of Zeon's own mobile suit technology continued, the appearance of the Federation's powerful, beam rifle-carrying RX-78-2 Gundam created a sudden change in plans. An in-development, high-performance mobile suit called the MS-11 Gelgoog was suddenly cancelled, as the Zeon military wanted to incorporate hand-carried beam armaments into new mobile suits. With the MS-11 model number having been reassigned to the "Pezun Project's" Action Zaku, the Gelgoog project was-restarted under the model number MS-14, with the new goal being the ability for the Gelgoog to use energy cap-based weapons. After 30 experimental MS-14S units had completed field testing and Zeon's beam rifle technology had been perfected, the mass-produced MS-14A quickly went into production and deployment.

Intended as a replacement for the aging MS-06F Zaku II as a primary front line unit, the MS-14A Gelgoog was a high-performance mobile suit, arguably as powerful as - if not more powerful than - the Federation's Gundam. Well-suited for both terrestrial and space combat, the Gelgoog sported a large beam rifle, forearm-mounted jet engine thrusters for added maneuverability, and a twin beam sword. Unfortunately for Zeon, the introduction of the Gelgoog was a case of too-little-too-late. Only 165 units were produced and put into combat by the last day of the war at the Battle of A Baoa Qu on 31 December UC 0079... mostly piloted by novice pilots and fresh recruits who couldn't use their powerful new Gelgoogs effectively against veteran Federal pilots in less-powerful mass-produced GMs. It is often argued that, had Zeon managed to put the Gelgoog into production even only two months earlier, the outcome of the One Year War may have been turned in Zeon's favor.