The TMF/A-803 LaGOWE is a mobile suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
In C.E. 71, ZAFT learned that the OMNI Enforcer possessed mobile suits of its own following the Battle of Heliopolis. In response, they began modifying the existing TMF/A-802 BuCUE for anti-mobile suit combat while simultaneously developing a high-performance successor unit. The result was the TMF/A-803 LaGOWE, which was developed based on the TMF/A-802 P-Mod.W BuCUE Waltfeld Custom Type.[1][2][3]
The LaGOWE maintained the BuCUE's ability to transform between a quadrupedal mode and a cruising mode. Unlike its predecessor, however, the LaGOWE was designed with close combat and anti-mobile suit combat in mind. It was equipped with an enlarged head-mounted sensor array that allowed better intelligence gathering, a twin beam saber in its "mouth", and claws that could function as melee weapons. Its back turret weapon was also changed to a twin beam cannon. Both the twin beam saber and twin beam cannon were developed using data from the captured G Project mobile suits.[1]
In order to compensate for the increase in weight and size, the LaGOWE was fitted with improved leg units and additional thrusters in its wings. Like the BuCUE Waltfeld Custom Type, the LaGOWE adopted a two-seater design, with a gunner seated in the front and a pilot seated in the back. With this arrangement, the gunner could make the most effective use of the mobile suit's beam weaponry, while the pilot could better concentrate on piloting, allowing the LaGOWE to be utilized at its maximum potential and demonstrate mobility that far surpassed that of BuCUE's.[1][4]
Armaments[]
- Twin Beam Saber
- A close combat beam weapon mounted in the head. It was later adopted by the late production version of the BuCUE. The LaGOWE's twin beam saber had a slightly different design from the BuCUE's, with increased output and better stability.[1] They would eventually serve as the basis for the MA-M01 "Lacerta" beam saber used by the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam.[5]
- Claw
- Compared to the BuCUE's flat feet, the LaGOWE's feet featured three sharp claws, giving them a more animalistic appearance. These claws could be used to strike enemies or piece enemy armor in melee combat.[1][3]
- Twin Beam Cannon
- Mounted on the back turret, the pair of beam cannons were powered directly by the LaGOWE's generator and capable of damaging even Phase Shift armor with direct hits.[1] They were controlled by the gunner using an aiming device that extended from the back of the seat.[3]
History[]
As with its predecessor, the TMF/A-802 BuCUE, Winslet World Konzern from the Kingdom of Scandinavia assisted in the testing of the LaGOWE using an unarmed test unit.[6]
The first LaGOWE was deployed in February of C.E. 71, and was assigned to the "Desert Tiger" Andrew Waltfeld, whose lover Aisha served as his gunner. In its first field test, Waltfeld's LaGOWE encountered the Eurasian Federation tank corps, and swiftly began to destroy the enemy force. During the one-sided battle, mercenary Gai Murakumo and his MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame engaged Waltfeld's LaGOWE to protect his Eurasian clients. At the fight's climax, Gai was forced to fallback, and Waltfeld chose not to pursue him, believing that the mercenary was drawing him out into a trap.[7]
Weeks later, Waltfeld's LaGOWE participated in the Desert Dawn Campaign during the Battle of Talbadiya, where it fought against Kira Yamato's GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam. The two machines fought to a stalemate, inflicting heavy damage on each other. The LaGOWE was finally defeated when the Strike impaled it in the back with its "Armor Schneider" combat knife, destroying the machine.[8] Andrew survived the LaGOWE's destruction, but lost his left arm and eye, while Aisha died in the battle.
Later in the war, during Operation 8.8, three LaGOWEs engaged Rena Imelia's GAT/A-01E2 Buster Dagger, which was receiving support from Edward Harrelson's GAT-333 Raider Full Spec. All three units were destroyed by Imelia.[7]
Variants[]
- LaGOWE High Maneuver
- Appearing in the manga, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Re:, it is an enhanced LaGOWE featuring additional weapons, and improved mobility via the use of the ZGMF-1017M GINN High Maneuver Type's thruster engines in its wings. The additional weapons are in the form of added cannons and beam sabers on the wings and added beam fangs on the head. An anchor launcher, in the form of an extendable tail, is also added to the unit's back, above the back thruster.
Gallery[]
Linearts[]
Anime[]
|
NOTE: Most of the screencaps below are from the original 4:3 aspect ratio versions of the TV Anime, while other screencaps from the Special Edition/HD Remastered Version will feature some additionally drawn details. |
.png "LaGOWE Full Body (Seed HD Ep21).png (7.89 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Launching 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (3.48 MB)")
-EP21-Lagowe-Full-view.png "MSGS-(OG)-EP21-Lagowe-Full-view.png (655 KB)")
.png "LaGOWE Front 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (5.03 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Cockpit 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (4.26 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Beam Cannons Firing 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (2.51 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE Beam Cannons Firing 04 (SEED HD Ep21).png (2.46 MB)")
.png "LaGOWE's Leg Shot Off 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (2.94 MB)")
.jpg "GS-Strike-stabs-LaGOWE-(Original).jpg (55 KB)")
.jpg "GS-Strike-stabs-LaGOWE-(Remastered).jpg (122 KB)")
.png "LaGOWE Defeated 01 (SEED HD Ep21).png (3.06 MB)")
Manga[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Mitsuo Fukuda's previous anime, Gear Fighter Dendoh, also has a winged quadruped monster called Lagowe.
- In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny, the LaGOWE also has the BuCUE's ability to disable lock-on using a smoke screen and confuse it by taunting.
- The LaGOWE appears in the Extreme Vs. series piloted by Andrew Waltfeld and Aisha as a 1000-cost unit in Full Boost and at 1500 cost in Maxi Boost onwards. The LaGOWE acts as a ground running unit and its only ranged weapon are its twin beam cannons, which can either fire a single shot or fire three consecutive shots at once. In Extreme Vs 2, the beam cannon can be charged to fire a concentrated shot that is faster and more powerful. To compensate for the LaGOWE's lack of variety in its weaponry, the beam cannons have a high ammo count and recharge time and the unit moves relatively fast compared to other ground runners like the Acguy and the Hildolfr. Waltfeld can also summon up to three BuCUEs at a time to chase after an opponent. For its burst attack, the LaGOWE will launch the opponent upward before drilling them down with the LaGOWE's beam saber and sending three BuCUEs to maul the opponent. In Extreme Vs 2, this was changed to have the LaGOWE repeatedly strike the opponent high into the air before grabbing the opponent and slamming them down.
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
- First Appearance
- PHASE-22, The Sea Dyed Red
- PHASE-27, Endless Rondo
- In Flashback(s)
- PHASE-33, Gathering Darkness
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-49, The Final Light
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- PHASE-20, Past
- Games
References[]
.jpg "BuCUE and LaGOWE File 02 (Official Gundam Fact File 073-28).jpg (2.28 MB)")
.jpg "BuCUE and LaGOWE File 03 (Gundam Perfect Files 027-09).jpg (3.66 MB)")
.jpg "BuCUE and LaGOWE File 04 (Gundam Perfect Files 027-10).jpg (3.59 MB)")
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.20-25
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Seed - MS Encyclopedia (2008), p.2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed C.E. Mechanics & the World (2012), p.76
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - C.E. Mechanics & the World (2012), p.106
- ↑ High Grade Gundam SEED Freedom Gundam (2003) instruction manual
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ASTRAY Princess of the Sky Encounter 11: Their Choices
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Never Ending Tomorrow
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
External links[]