MS-14 Gelgoog

The MS-14A (MS-11) Gelgoog is a fictional machine from the Universal Century timeline of the anime Gundam metaseries.

History

The Principality canceled the original MS-11 design, citing the need for beam weapons in the unit. The model number would be reassigned to the Pezun Project's Act Zaku. With the antiquated Zaku and the space modified Rick Dom becoming easy targets for the Gundam, Zeon would end up with two competing units intended for mass production. The YMS-15 Gyan was a close combat oriented suit, designed to be assisted by two Rick Dom units. The YMS-14 Gelgoog carried its own beam rifle and twin beam saber. Obviously, the latter design would win out, and the first unit, the YMS-14S, would be tested by ace pilot Char Aznable inside of Side 5's Texas Colony. Char himself would engage the Gundam twice, with both times ending in a draw. Based on both flight tests and another test conducted by Johnny Ridden and his Chimera Corps on a High Mobility Type during the Battle of Solomon, the Gelgoog was quickly put into mass production. Ace pilot Anavel Gato, who gained fame as the "Nightmare of Solomon", used a standard A type Gelgoog with an experimental beam rifle rather than use the S-type Gelgoog.

Although the Gelgoog was a powerful mobile suit, being as powerful or at least slightly more powerful than the Federation's Gundam, the problem for Zeon laid in numbers, and only 165 Gelgoogs would be produced. At the time the Gelgoog was put into production, the Federation fleet had already reached A Baoa Qu. With most of its veteran pilots, such as Ramba Ral and the Black Tri-Stars killed off during the war, Zeon had forced many green pilots into these machines. Rookies would have difficulty adjusting to the beginner unfriendly controls and the sheer number of weaker but more experienced GM's assisted by data from Gundam's battles. It can be said that if the Gelgoog had been in production only a week before before the Battle of Solomon that the war could have turned in the Principality's favor.

Variatons

As with many mass produced Zeon mobile suits, the original Gelgoog had many variations, some of which were not used until the Delaz Conflict in UC 0083.

MS-14A Gelgoog [Stutzer]

After the One Year War, most of the Zeon forces retreated to Axis, taking what mobile suits they had with them. With virtually no production lines and the creation of the Titans Taskforce in UC 0083, the Zeon remnants modified existing units. The Gelgoog Stutzer was given extra body armor, as well as wire guided winch units to throw parts or entangle and capture an enemy unit.

MS-14B Gelgoog High Mobility Type

Appearing as a part of Mobile Suit Variations, the MS-14B Gelgoog High Mobility Type was the second Gelgoog produced. Similar in function to the MS-06R-1 Zaku II High Mobility Type, the B-Type Gelgoog was similar to a standard Gelgoog, except that it carried a high mobility backpack instead of a storage rack for the beam saber, which had to be stored on the rear skirt armor. Ace pilot Johnny Ridden, the "Crimson Lightning" first tested the High Mobility Type in the Corregidor Shoal Zone and then used it in the Battle of A Baoa Qu, where he (reportedly) would lose his life.

MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon

Appearing as a part of Mobile Suit Variations, the MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon was similar to the High Mobility Type Gelgoog. Though the two used the same backback, the MS-14C had an RA-2 beam cannon attached to the backpack's top. The similarities between the two suits made repairs very simple, as a pilot could easily attach the cannon to the B-type backpack in minutes. Besides having extra sensors, the C-type could also be armed with a forearm missile launcher and an optional bazooka. The unit was impressive as a mid range fire support unit, similar to the Federation's RX-77 Guncannon, and 12 of the 15 units would be put to the test in Operation Clarion, a pre-emptive strike on the Tianem Fleet. Though losing two mobile suits and damagin three, Zeon had enough parts to produce another 122 units, which luckily did not see the light of day. The Gelgoog Cannon was also used by the Chimera Corps, most notably by Brenev Auggs, Thomas Kurtz, and Gerald Sakai.

MS-14D Desert Gelgoog

Appearing in Gundam ZZ Mobile Suit Variations, the MS-14D Desert Gelgoog is a late variant on the Gelgoog, meant to survive in the harsh conditions of the Earth's deserts. It is equipped with upgraded sensors and a radar scope on the backpack for ambushes. Though it is armed with the Gelgoog's standard beam rifle as well as a armed buster on its left arm, it lacks the standard twin beam sword.

MS-14F Gelgoog Marine

In the last weeks of the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon introduced its last mass-produced mobile suit line, the MS-14 Gelgoog. Gelgoog variants also appeared to fill specific mission roles, and one variant was the MS-14F Gelgoog Marine. Built exclusively for Zeon's marine troops, the Gelgoog Marine (or "F-type," as it is sometimes called) featured improved thrusters, speed and maneuverability, as well as external propellant tanks to increase its range while offsetting the extra fuel used by its more powerful thrusters. The twin beam sword of the original Gelgoog was replaced with two standard beam sabers, and a 110mm machine cannon was mounted on each forearm. The original Gelgoog's large and burdensome shield was replaced with a modified Zaku II shoulder shield, called a "knuckle shield," which could be used as a punching weapon. With its good cost performance, the Gelgoog Marine was perhaps the most heavily mass-produced Gelgoog variant built, with many units surviving the war. The Gelgoog Marine was operated by the Zeon remnant Cima Fleet, and some units were captured by the Earth Federation Forces and deployed as aggressor units for pilot training and mobile suit field tests.

MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander Type

An improved version of the MS-14F Gelgoog Marine, the MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander Type first appeared in the last days of the One Year War. It was only a mild improvement over the standard F-type; the only real differences were a slight increase in thruster output, speed and maneuverability (including improved cooling systems to deal with the additional heat), as well as the addition of a pair of head-mounted 40mm vulcan guns, a heavy beam rifle, and a large shield similar to that of the original MS-14A Gelgoog. However, its cost performance was poor compared to the standard F-type Gelgoog Marine, and the Commander Type saw very limited production. It is unknown how many of these units survived the war, although at least one unit was known to be used by Lieutenant Colonel Cima Garahau during "Operation Stardust" in UC 0083.

MS-14G Gelgoog Ground Type

Seen only in , the MS-14G Gelgoog Ground Type is very similar to the standard Gelgoog, except that the space parts are removed and the forearms are fitted with an arm launcher and a gattling gun, as well as a smaller shield. These units were given primaily to ace pilots such as Visch Donahue, who would be eventually defeated by Master Pierce Rayer and his White Dingo squadron while defending the Hughenden Base on January 1, 0080.

MS-14J ReGelg

Seen in Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam, the MS-14J ReGelg (short for REfined GELgoog) was built by Neo Zeon as an old Gelgoog with new technology. Along with the standard beam rifle, grenade launcher, and beam sword, the ReGelg featured wider shoulder binders for extra mobility, as well as a high mobility backpack armed with a missile laucher.

MS-14Jg Gelgoog Jäger

Appearing in , the MS-14Jg Gelgoog Jäger is a late model Gelgoog that appeared in limited numbers. Design wise it is also considered the predecessor to the Gelgoog Marine Commander Type. Also known as the Gelgoog J, the mobile suit was part of Zeon's United Maintenance Plan, the upgrading and improvement of existing mobile suits and streamlining its manufacturing capabilities by using similar parts and systems in different mobile suit lines. In theory, this would make transitioning from a MS-06FZ Zaku II FZ to a Jäger very simple, as the designs were similar. The Jäger proved to be an extraordinary suit, with more thrusters and verniers with external propellant tanks to offset the fuel consumption. Armed with a highly accurate beam machine gun, the unit earned the nickname of "Gelgoog Sniper Type". Its late entry caused the Jäger to be produced in limited numbers, with some participating in the Battle of A Baoa Qu and others in skirmishes around the Libot colony of Side 6.

MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type

Seen in Mobile Suit Gundam, the MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type was originally the YMS-14 Gelgoog, with the Y being a prototype unit. Late in the One Year War, the Y designation was removed and the Gelgoog Commander Type was given a limited production run. With a more powerful generator and thruster output, the Commander Type even surpassed the performance of the feared RX-78-2 Gundam, as proven by Char Aznable in Texas Colony and in Solomon space. However, it was also built with thinner armor, and was prone to being disarmable, as evidenced by Amuro Ray when he sliced of the Gelgoog's right arm, which carried its beam naginata, rendering it useless. After multiple flight runs, the MS-14A was produced, with slower acceleration but more durable armor.