The ZGMF-X3000Q Providence ZAKU is a prototype mobile suit introduced in the original design series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny MSV. A test unit was piloted by Rinna Sera Iyasaka.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
An advanced prototype mobile suit, the ZGMF-X3000Q Providence ZAKU, as its name suggested, was the fusion of the ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam and ZAFT's latest mainstay unit, the ZAKU series. It served as the prototype for the ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam. Though it was originally intended as part of the mainstay mobile suit series and given the 3000 series model number as a result, this model number series was not used by other units due to alterations to the next generation unit development project.[1]
The Providence ZAKU's head, which took after the ZAKU Series, featured a Deuterion Beam receiver. As part of the Hyper-Deuterion Engine, it was equipped with a nuclear reactor. Due to the Junius Treaty's ban on nuclear-powered mobile suits, its model number omitted the letter "A", signifying atomic-powered units, to conceal its nature. The designs of its limbs and torso became the basis for those used by the Legend. Its shoulders contained three pairs of thrusters, which would be reduced to only one pair on the Legend.[1]
The flexible tubes on its stomach and legs were the signature features of the ZAKU Series. On the ZAKU Series, they contained Multi-Dazzlers, an active protection system for intercepting guided missiles. On the Providence ZAKU, however, they instead housed cooling systems for the nuclear reactor, as well as quantum transceivers for controlling its remote-controlled weaponry, the DRAGOON system. The Providence ZAKU's DRAGOON system was an improved prototype that did not require a naturally high spatial awareness to control.[1]
Armaments[]
- DRAGOON System
- This remote-controlled weaponry is the main armament of the Providence ZAKU. The Providence ZAKU's 2nd generation DRAGOON system was greatly improved compared to the version used by the Providence Gundam, and does not require high spatial awareness to control. However, possibly due to its nature as a developmental prototype, prolonged use still placed a heavy strain on the pilot.[1][2]
- GDU-X4 Mobile Beam Assault Cannon
- A small DRAGOON pod armed with two beam guns. It was also designed with physical ramming attacks in mind and had a sharp shape, but this feature was omitted for its successor, the GDU-X5 used by the Legend Gundam. Three pairs were mounted on the Providence ZAKU's back platform, with another pair mounted on the side skirt armor.[1][3]
- MA-BAR76T High-energy Beam Rifle
- A large beam rifle powered by two drum magazines (the same type used by the ZAKU series' MMI-M633 Beam Assault Rifle),[4] it could be mounted on the central connector on the back platform when not in use. An improved version, the MA-BAR78F, was later used by the Legend Gundam.[1]
- Shield
- The same shoulder shield as used by the ZAKU series, the Providence ZAKU could optionally mount two such shields by folding its shoulder armors down.[3][4]
Special Equipment & Features[]
- The Providence ZAKU is powered by the Hyper-Deuterion Engine, a hybrid of the nuclear reactor with the Deuterion Beam Energy Transfer System. This meant that the suit is nuclear powered and has considerably increased operation time than the usual battery powered mobile suits.
- A device built into the mobile suit to counter the effects of Neutron Jammers, this gives the suit the ability to use its Hyper-Deuterion Engine without risk of being shut down.
History[]
The ZGMF-X3000Q Providence ZAKU was eventually developed into the ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam. It was speculated that the name "Providence" was dropped due to the war crimes committed by the Providence Gundam's pilot, Rau Le Creuset, though this was officially denied by the authorities.[1]
One experimental unit, which was painted black with red stripes at the edges, was piloted by Integrated Design Bureau test pilot Rinna Sera Iyasaka, a former Morgenröte contract employee who emigrated to PLANT after the First Alliance-PLANT War.[1] During the Battle of Messiah, Rinna deployed in this unit and fought a MVF-M12A Ootsukigata, which was ironically piloted by her former lover Takito Haya Oshidari. Both pilots survived the battle.[2]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
In the planning phase of SEED Destiny, the Legend Gundam was originally a DRAGOON-equipped ZAKU, with a draft design drawn by Kunio Okawara. The Providence ZAKU was a cleaned up version of that original design.[6]
Appearances[]
- Variations
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny MSV
- First Appearance
References[]
.jpg "Providence ZAKU File 01 (Gundam Perfect Files 177-11).jpg (341 KB)")
.jpg "Providence ZAKU File 02 (Gundam Perfect Files 177-12).jpg (420 KB)")
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY Model Vol.2 - DESTINY MSV Edition (2006), p.122-127
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: MSV Battlefield Record Field 03: Messiah
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gundam Perfect File Vol.177 (2015), p.11-12
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY Model Vol.2 - DESTINY MSV Edition (2006), p.147
- ↑ Mobile Suit Illustrated 2015 (2015), p.517
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY Model Vol.2 - DESTINY MSV Edition (2006), p.150
External links[]
| SEED Destiny MSV Mechanics | |
|---|---|
| edit | |
| ZAFT | |
| Mobile Weapon | |
| Chaos Gundam's variation XMF-P192P Proto-Chaos | |
| ZAKU Warrior's variations ZGM-1000/R4 Command ZAKU CCI | ZGMF-X999A ZAKU Mass Production Trial Type | ZGMF-1000/AAL Noctiluca ZAKU Warrior | |
| Impulse Gundam's variations ZGMF-X56S/θ Destiny Impulse Gundam | ZGMF-X101S ZAKU Splendor | |
| GOUF Ignited's variation ZGMF-X2000CQGB&S GOUF Crusher | |
| Legend Gundam's variation ZGMF-X3000Q Providence ZAKU | |
| DOM Trooper's variation ZGMF-XX09T DOM Trooper Original Spec Type | |
| Earth Alliance | |
| Mobile Weapon | |
| Blitz Gundam's variation GAT-SO2R N Dagger N | |
| Gaia Gundam's variation GAT-X399/Q Wild Dagger | |
| Orb Union | |
| Mobile Weapon | |
| Gundam Astray Gold Frame Amatsu's variation MBF-P01-Re2AMATU Gundam Astray Gold Frame Amatsu Mina (Okitsu-no-Kagami Equipment Type) | |
| Murasame's variation MVF-M12A Ootsukigata | |