Shenlong Gundam

Infobox Mobile Suit
Suit

Suit caption=Shenlong , redesigned Hajime Katoki version
Suit universe=Gundam Wing
Suit name=Shenlong
Suit designation=XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam
Suit type=Gundam Mobile Suit
Suit manufacturer=Master O (with assistance from Long clan)
Suit main pilot=Chang Wufei
Suit height=16.4 metres
Suit empty weight=7.4 metric tons
Suit full weight=
Suit sensor range=
Suit generator=ultracompact fusion reactor
Suit armor=Gundanium alloy
Suit weapons=2 x vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; dragon fang, mounted on right arm, mounts 2 x flamethrower; beam glaive, stored in recharge rack on backpack, hand-carried in use; shenlong shield, optional throwing weapon, mounted on left forearm
Suit tech=Self-detonation device

XXXG-01S Gundam Shenlong (also referred to as Gundam Zero-Five) is one of the five fictional Gundam mobile suits appearing in the "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing" anime and derivative works. Shenlong is piloted by Chang Wufei, and is later upgraded to the XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam.

The original Shenlong and Altron were designed in 1995 by Kunio Okawara, along with many of the other mobile suits in the anime. Altron, along with the other four 'second-stage' Gundams, were later redesigned by Hajime Katoki for the 1997 OVA "". The new design is now canonical, and a retcon design for Shenlong, along with the other four original Gundams, was created and published in "Newtype" magazine. [cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/lord_satorious/gw_katoki.html |title=Hajime Katoki Gundam Wing Redesigns |accessdate=2007-01-28]

Role in plot

Shenlong is one of the five mobile suits sent to Earth as part of Operation Meteor; a plan whereby rebels would be able to weaken the controlling influence the United Earth Sphere Alliance and the Organization of the Zodiac (OZ) held over the orbital colonies. Shenlong was designed by Master O, and was launched from the cluster of orbital colonies located at the L5 Lagrange point.

In the "" manga, it is revealed that Shenlong is the first Gundam to be activated. The unarmed Gundam is first used in After Colony 194, against an attempt by the Alliance and OZ to destroy Wufei's colony using biological weapons. Wufei, piloting Shenlong, was able to protect the colony, although his wife, Long Meilan, died piloting a Tallgeese during the defense.

Shenlong is launched to Earth at the start of the "Gundam Wing" anime. The suit is piloted from the beginning of the series until episode 22, when Wufei is captured by the Romefeller Foundation in space; having been one of only two Gundam pilots to take their mobile suit into space in episode 17.

Following Wufei's capture, Shenlong also falls into their hands. The five scientists who designed the original Gundams are being held prisoner by OZ, and are forced to produce new mobile suits based on Gundam technology. In Episode 23, it is revealed that the five scientists are secretly upgrading Shenlong, along with Deathscythe. Among the upgrades include increased weaponry and the ability to maneuver effectively in space.

The incomplete Altron Gundam is activated in episode 25, and Wufei takes the mobile suit to his home colony, in order to finish the upgrade. This is completed by or before episode 35, and Wufei takes part in the events leading up to the end of the series.

In , Altron is the only Gundam not loaded onto a disposal satellite and shot towards the sun at the beginning. Wufei joins the Mariemaia Army, using Altron during the fight against the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. At the end of the OVA, Wufei destroys Altron by self-detonation.

Variants

Altron

Infobox Mobile Suit
Suit

Suit caption=Altron Gundam, redesigned Hajime Katoki version
Suit universe=Gundam Wing
Suit name=Altron
Suit designation=XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam
Suit type=Upgraded Gundam Mobile Suit
Suit manufacturer=Master O (with assistance from Doctor J, Professor G, Doktor S and Instructor H)
Suit main pilot=Chang Wufei
Suit height=16.4 metres
Suit empty weight=7.5 metric tons
Suit full weight=
Suit sensor range=
Suit generator=ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 3,045 kW
Suit armor=Gundanium alloy
Suit weapons=Gundam Wing: 2 x vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x dragon fang, mounted on arms, each mounts 2 x flamethrower; 2 x beam cannon, fire-linked, mounted on backpack "stinger tail"; twin beam trident, stored in recharge rack on backpack, hand-carried in use; shenlong shield, optional throwing weapon, mounted on left shoulder
Endless Waltz: 2 x vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x dragon fang, mounted on arms; 1 x twin beam trident, stored in recharge rack on backpack, hand-carried in use
Suit tech=Self-detonation device XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam is the upgraded version of Shenlong. Among the upgrades performed by the rebel scientists are the installation of a second "dragon fang" weapon, upgrades to the suit's ability to fight in space, twin beam cannons that flip up from the suit's "tail", and the replacement of the beam glaive with a double-ended beam trident. The suit is also recoloured from being primarily blue to primarily green. The tail cannons are amongst the features removed from the redesigned Gundam in "Endless Waltz".

Name

* The name Shenlong is taken from a mythical Chinese dragon. Altron is derived from "double-headed dragon" in Chinese.
* Throughout the anime and OVA, Wufei continually refers to his Gundam as Nataku. In the manga, this is revealed to be the nickname of Wufei's wife, and that he does this to honour her efforts to defend their home colony, resulting in her death. [cite book |last=Katsuyuki |first=Sumisawa |others=Akira Kanba |title=Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Episode Zero |origdate= |origyear=2003 |origmonth=July |url= |format= |accessdate= |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition=English language compilation |series= |date= |year= |month= |publisher=Action/VIZ|location=San Francisco, California, USA |language= |isbn=1-56931-994-4 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter=Chang Wufei |chapterurl= |quote= ] Bandai distinguishes between their Altron model kits by referring to the "Gundam Wing" design version as "Altron Gundam" and the "Endless Waltz" version as "Gundam Nataku".

References

Technical data taken from
*cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/www_ac/gw/mecha/mecha_gundam_shenlong.html |title=Gundam Official - Shenlong |accessdate=2007-02-12 |work=GundamOfficial.com |publisher=Bandai America
*cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/www_ac/gw/mecha/mecha_gundam_altron.html |title=Gundam Official - Altron |accessdate=2007-02-12 |work=GundamOfficial.com |publisher=Bandai America
*cite web |url=http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/endlesswaltz/xxxg-01s2.htm |title=Mecha Anime HQ - Altron (OVA Version) |accessdate=2007-02-12 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=