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RX-78AL Atlas Gundam

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The RX-78AL Atlas Gundam is a prototype mobile suit that appears in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt and its animated adaptation. It is piloted by Io Flemming.

Technology & Combat Characteristics[]

A prototype ground combat mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces, the Atlas Gundam is very versatile and capable of underwater combat.[1] It is also meant for data collection and has various special features.[1] It has a unique spherical joint system known as 'Globe Joints' which is developed based on the Principality of Zeon's amphibious mobile suits, and meant for underwater-use.[1] In addition, its feet is also equipped with water jet thrusters which deliver great underwater mobility.[1]

Another special feature of the Atlas Gundam is the waist mounted "Sub Legs" support equipment.[1] They allow the Atlas Gundam to change into 'Flight Mode' for high-altitude atmospheric combat, or into 'Submarine Mode' for underwater combat.[1] The suit is armed with a heat-resistant blade shield, a prototype railgun, two beam sabers and several assault rifles. Its cockpit block can function as an escape block and is fitted with a panoramic monitor.[1]

Armaments[]

  • Railgun
A prototype handheld weapon exclusively for the Atlas Gundam, it is capable of destroying amphibious mobile suits in a single shot.[1] Can be utilized as electromagnetic pulse guard.[1]
  • Assault Rifle
A bullpup style firearm, it is equipped with a grenade launcher underneath its barrel.[1] Stored in the Sub Legs' container section when not in use.[1]
  • Beam Saber
A close combat weapon that emits a blade-shaped beam from the hilt when drawn. The Atlas Gundam is equipped with two Beam Sabers, one stored in each shoulder armor, which opens up when the saber is drawn.[1]
  • Blade Shield
A large, heat-resistant shield, it is covered in small, blade like parts.[1] The shield combines with the Sub Legs when the Atlas Gundam transitions into Submarine mode.[1]

Special Equipment & Features[]

  • Sub Leg
Mounted on the waist via arm units for a wide range of movement, the pair of Sub Legs are versatile support equipment exclusively for use under Earth's gravity.[1] In Flight Mode, the Sub Legs swings down and attach to the Atlas Gundam's feet, and its thrusters help the suit to ascend into the air.[1] In Submarine Mode, the Sub Legs combine with the blade shield to create a platform for the Atlas Gundam to ride on, and the suit can cruise underwater at around 40 knots.[1]

History[]

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality.

Funded by the Moore Brotherhood, the Atlas Gundam was prepared by Monica Humphrey for the top secret Operation Thunderbolt. The Gundam and its pilot, Io Fleming, were flown to the Sydney crater via Medea to be assigned to the Pegasus-class assault carrier Spartan. When a Musai in orbit launched a kamikaze Komusai at the Spartan, the Atlas flew up to intercept the Komusai and bisected it with its beam saber, destroying it and saving the Spartan. 

The Atlas Gundam was later used in the defense of the landing crafts in the Antarctic Circle, where it launched from the Spartan to assist the other MS. It took out several MSM-07 Z'Gok (Thunderbolt Ver.) and then dived underwater to pursue the Zeon remnant's submarine, but was intercepted by a MAM-07 Grublo (Thunderbolt Ver.). After a fierce battle, the Atlas Gundam took out the Grublo but could not surface due to damage sustained to its thrusters. Io then used the Atlas' beam sabers to propel his MS towards the surface, but the right beam saber ran out of energy due to its use in the battle. He was then rescued by Bianca Carlyle's damaged RX-77AQ Guncannon Aqua. Due to damages received in this sortie, the Atlas Gundam was forced to sit out the battle between the South Sea Alliance's Border Patrol and the Spartan, with Io piloting a RGM-79C［G］ GM Ground Type-C instead. 

In the manga, the Atlas Gundam participated in the operation to capture the Psycho Zaku Mk-II pilots at the Rig. While the Atlas Gundam displayed exceptional performance, taking out an entire team of Z'Goks and Zaku Marine Types, Fisher Ness's quick thinking allowed the Prober-class submarine carrying the pilots to escape after luring the Gundam to the Zock operated by Daryl Lorenz's team, which fired on the Gundam and forced it to evade, losing the submarine in the process. 

Following the failure at the Rig, the Atlas Gundam was loaded onto a landing craft and used to stop the launch of the Psycho Zaku Mk-II units from the Taal volcano base. The landing craft was shot down by Daryl's Big Gun, but Io and Bianca escaped at the last moment and attempted to find a way into the volcano base while defeating enemy units underwater. They locate the underwater entrance to the base, but were eventually separated by a closing bulkhead. Alone, Io engaged Billy Hickam in his MSM-07 Z'Gok (Thunderbolt Ver.), who lured him to a submarine dock to fight him underwater where the Z'Gok had an advantage. With his firearms and ammo destroyed, Io had no choice but to fight him in close combat.

Io attempted to escape, only to have Sebastian's MSM-04 Acguy (Thunderbolt Ver.) fire at him using its Gatling Gun, forcing him to dive. Io managed to turn the tide by slicing off one of the Z'Gok's arms, and surfaced using Billy's disabled Z'Gok as a shield. Unable to fire and caught off-guard, Sebastian was killed when the Atlas' beam saber pierced its upper torso. Just then, Daryl arrived in the unfinished Psycho Zaku Mk-II unit 1, and engaged the Atlas in close combat. The Atlas cannot keep up with the Psycho Zaku Mk-II's speed and agility and was almost destroyed, but a stroke of luck saved Io as he dodged Daryl's finishing blow by grabbing onto a submarine, as well as the Psycho Zaku Mk-II's left arm disintegrating after its heavy usage. Io then cornered Daryl and tried to kill him, but the Living Dead Division's engineers as well as Claudia Peer's Zaku Tank intervened, causing him to retreat. The Zaku Tank nearly scored a hit on the Atlas Gundam, but Io sacrificed the Atlas' right arm by cutting it off to dodge the attack.

Io then chased Daryl as he tried to board the completed Psycho Zaku Mk-II unit 2, a move ending in Claudia's death (who took the blow meant for the Psycho Zaku MK-II). This caused both pilots severe trauma, with Daryl later retreating with the sudden appearance of Dents' and Orphes' RX-79［GS］ Gundam Ground Type S. With Io now uncontrollably grieving over killing Claudia, Bianca took control of the Atlas and exited the base just in time to witness the Psycho Zaku Mk-II Units' launch into space.

Following the failure of Operation Thunderbolt, the Atlas was piloted by Bianca as part of a new strike team against the South Seas Alliance. Now retrofitted with space equipment, it led the team's main mobile suit force consisting of the Atlas, two Gundam Ground Type-S, and Alicia's sniper-loadout GM. During the strike team's first operation against a Psycho Zaku training facility located within a derelict colony, the Atlas played a major role in suppressing the facility's defenses, including the two Psycho Zakus held in reserve to defend it. Upon encountering the Psycho Zakus, the mobile suit team took cover in the colony to turn the fight into a close-range battle and nullify the enemies' superior mobility.

The Atlas, with the other Federation mobile suits, then successfully locked down the Psycho Zakus until another colony, set into motion by the Beehive II, collided and bisected the training facility into half. Surviving the collision thanks to the shield equipment of the combined mobile suit force, Bianca destroyed one of the heavily damaged Psycho Zakus with a well-placed railgun shot. As the other Psycho Zaku charged toward the Federation strike team, the Atlas and the other MS put up a barrage to shoot it down, but none of their shots hit until Io and Lily intervened with their MSN-02 Perfect Zeong (Thunderbolt Ver.).

Gallery[]

Lineart[]

Animation[]

Manga[]

Illustration & Artwork[]

Gunpla[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1/144 HGGT "RX-78AL Atlas Gundam (Gundam Thunderbolt Ver.)" instruction manual, BANDAI, 2017

External links[]

Navigation[]


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