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The MAX-03 Adzam is a prototype ground mobile armor (MA). It was featured in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. Even though it is often called the first MA, it was developed and deployed before the concept of "MA" as a category existed. The unit is piloted by M'Quve and Kycilia Zabi.

Technology & Combat Characteristics[]

The MAX-03 Adzam was Zeon's first mobile armor.[1][2] It was based on the G87 Luna Tank, a mobile weapon designed for the defense of Granada.[1][2] Its design was modified for use on Earth, replacing the Luna Tank's rocket engines with 8 hover engines. In addition, it was equipped with a Minovsky Craft System, though it was still experimental and incapable of prolonged flight.[3]

Since the Adzam's design predated the mobile armor concept, it essentially functioned as a mobile gun turret. It was armed with 8 twin mega particle cannons, as well as a special weapon known as "Leader".[1] Its interior design was greatly modificed compared to the Luna Tank, replacing its predecessor's large fuel tank with the Leader, the Minovsky Craft particle generator, the power field generator, and other systems. However, its cockpit design was largely unchanged from the Luna Tank except for some changes to the displays and controls. It had a crew of two: a pilot and a gunner. In case of emergency, the pilot could control the Adzam alone.[1]

Armaments[]

  • 2-barrel Mega Particle Gun
The Adzam is armed with eight twin-barreled mega particle gun turrets, four mounted around the upper part of the main body and four around the underside. The positioning of the turrets provides the Adzam with 360 degrees of protection.
  • Conductive Powder Pod
Released from the same hatch as the Leaders, it was used to disperse a type of conductive powder. When used against targets covered in the powder, the Leader could generate heat up to 4,000 degrees celsius.[4]
  • Leader
Also known as the Adzam Leader, it was a hovering drone with wires that generated high-frequency electromagnetic waves. Against targets covered in conductive powder, the Leader could damage them through high temperature.[4][5] Even without the conductive powder, the Leader could disable enemy mobile weapons by destroying their electronics.[6] However, the magnetic field weakens quickly, making it only temporarily effective against well-protected mobile suits like the RX-78-2 Gundam.[4]

Special Equipment & Features[]

  • Minovsky Craft System
Since it is made up of charged particles, the I-field is unable to penetrate metal, water, the Earth's surface, or other electrically conductive materials and can be shaped simply by trapping it in an electromagnetic field. Thus, at low altitudes it is possible to generate an I-field cushion between the underside of a vessel and the ground, yielding a gravity-countering buoyancy. This principle is used in the creation of the Minovsky Craft System, which allowed a spaceship or heavy ground vehicle to fly or hover on Earth. The Adzam is one of the few Zeon mobile weapons in One Year War which features the Minovsky Craft System for aerial navigation under the Earth atmosphere.

History[]

MSG M'Quve Kycilia Adzam

M'Quve and Kycilia aboard the Adzam

According to one account, Amuro Ray first witnessed the Adzam when he deserted from the White Base and hiding in a ruined Central Asian town. It was carrying M'Quve and Kycilia Zabi, who recently arrived on Earth for a frontline inspection. The Adzam was escorted by two Dopp fighters.[4]

MSG Adzam Leader

Gundam immobilized by the Leader

On the next day, Amuro attacked Zeon's 102nd Mining Base in the RX-78-2 Gundam, thinking it was Zeon's main mine. Believing it was a good chance to test the Adzam and gauge the Gundam's performance, Kycilia and M'Quve deployed in the Adzam. The Adzam engaged the Gunda, temporarily overwhelming it with its firepower before deploying a capsule. The Gundam destroyed the capsule with its vulcan guns, only for it to release a powder, covering the Gundam. The Adzam then released the Leader, a flying drone that released wires into the ground, trapping the Gundam.[4]

MSG Adzam javelin

The Gundam attacking the Adzam with its beam javelin

The electromagnetic field generated by the wires and the powder from the capsule caused the Gundam's surface to rapidly heat up to 4,000 degrees, forcing the Gundam to divert 98% of its energy to protecting its pilot and circuitry, immobilizing it. However, energy from the Leader quickly weakened, allowing the Gundam to move once again. The Adzam closed in and fired its mega particle cannons at it, but the Gundam blocked the beams using its shield and destroyed the Leader with a beam rifle shot. It then jumped onto the Adzam and began attacking it using the beam javelin. The Gundam was able to damage the Adzam, even destroying one of its turrets. Seeing the base was lost, Kycilia ordered M'Quve to detonate the mining base to protect the state secrets its databanks held. While Amuro was momentarily distracted by the mining base's explosion, M'Quve shook off the Gundam, allowing the Adzam to escape.[4]

Adzamolga

The "Bird Cage"

During Operation Odessa, when Matilda Ajan's supply unit came under attack while en route to resupply the White Base, the MS Special Forces 3rd Team, which secretly accompanied the unit, deployed in response. After seeing team leader Matt Healy's RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type, Zeon forces called in the "Bird Cage", apparently in an attempt to capture the Gundam.[6]

The "Bird Cage" was revealed to be a modified Adzam, with much thicker leg armor than M'Quve's unit. Larry Radley fired his RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type's 180mm cannon at it, but the Adzam was completely unharmed. Anish Roffman charged in in his GM Ground type, attempting to reach the Adzam's blind spot. However, the Adzam trapped the GM Ground Type with its Leader, immobilizing the mobile suit and causing its 100mm machine gun to explode, though Anish was unharmed.[6]

As the two Zakus accompanying the Adzam moved to secure the disabled GM Ground Type, Matt ordered Larry to take care of the Zakus while he engages the Adzam. As his Gundam Ground Type closed in on the Adzam, one of the Zakus grabbed onto him as the Adzam's Leader released its wires over the two. However, Matt grabbed the Zaku and tossed it at the Leader before his Gundam was disabled, destroying it. The Adzam released another Leader, but Matt fired his machine gun and chest-mounted vulcan gun at the release hatch, causing the Adzam's internals to explode. The Adzam crashed onto the ground, causing a massive explosion, but both Matt and Anish were able to survive.[6]

RfAm Adzam Olga

Adzam Olga in combat

A modified Adzam called Adzam Olga was used by the Australian Zeon forces to defend Hughenden Fortress. While retaining the Leader, Adzam Olga replaced the mega particle cannons with machine guns and missile launchers. When the Federation Forces launched their counterattack on Hughenden on January 1, U.C. 0080, the Adzam Olga wiped out the Federation advance team. Later that day, it was encountered and destroyed by the White Dingo Team.[7]

Variants[]

  • MAX-03 Adzam Olga
Appearing in the video game Rise From The Ashes and its remake, the Adzam Olga was a variant seen in Australia. In addition to the much thicker leg armor, it was armed with 8 machine gun turrets in place of its mega particle cannons, as well as missile launchers.

Picture Gallery[]

Gunpla[]

Notes and Trivia[]

  • "Adzam" is actually "Mazda" spelled backwards, possibly a tribute to the Japanese car company Mazda.
  • In the game Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon, the Adzam's bottom mega particle cannons remain, while the top cannons are shell-firing versions.
  • The Adzam that appeared in Lost War Chronicles has a noticeably different appearance compared to the Adzam from the TV series. It is treated as a separate unit in the SD Gundam G Generation series and given the name "Adzam Custom" in G Generation Genesis.
    • The Adzam seen in the Gundam The Origin manga used the same design, with the author commenting "Natsumoto-kun, I'm borrowing this" in-between panels.
  • Adzam Olga was likely named after Mount Olga, a major natural landmark in Australia.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mobile Suit Variation 2 - Zeon MS, MA Edition (1984), p.130-132
  2. 2.0 2.1 Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R - Zeon Edition (2014), p.110-111
  3. Mobile Suit Gundam official website
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Mobile Suit Gundam Episode 18, Zeon's Secret Mine
  5. Entertainment Bible 1 - Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Encyclopedia Part 1 - One Year War (1989), p.127
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles (Manga) Vol.1 (2005) Operation 3: Odessa
  7. Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From The Ashes

External links[]


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