MS-16 GEARA DOGA
ABOUT THE VARIATION TYPES

The Geara Doga is a mass produced mobile suit for the Neo Zeon forces in the Gundam World of Universal Century 0093 which is the stage of Char’s Counterattack. It is much like the MS-06 Zaku from the first Mobile Suit Gundam work.

The model number of MS-16 is one of the missing numbers belonging to the mobile suits of the former Principality of Zeon forces, with the MS-14 being the Gelgoog, the MS-15 the Gyan, the MS-17 being the Galbaldy (a suit that became the development base for the Galbaldy Beta appearing in Zeta Gundam), so the development plans was from the time of the “One Year War.”

From what can be assessed from this model number, rather than the Haman forces (former Neo Zeon) series, it is a machine developed by engineers directly from the former Principality of Zeon.

From what can be assessed from the exterior, the suit is an extension of Zaku series development (Zaku → Hi-Zack → Marasai) and it is based on a design philosophy that focuses on versatility as seen from the number of firearms it utilizes.

In contrast to Kunio Okawara’s “MSV” era, this sort of mobile suit variation is similar to other Variations nowadays in that it strongly evokes an image of ghosts and spirits, but I’ve come to realize that complaining about it doesn’t do anything to help. Neither myself, the mobile suit designer, nor even Director Tomino could have ever guessed that the mobile suits of “Char’s Counterattack” standing alone would propel Gundam into the major brand synonymous with the “robot anime” genre that it is today; perhaps this is simply the logical progression of things. Regardless, for now I’d like to talk a little more about how Geara Doga’s design came into being and share some more about its concept.

I started working on the Geara Doga along with the other mobile suits towards the end of April last year. As I mentioned earlier, the Geara Doga’s role is like that of a mass produced mobile suit like the Zaku so I tried using the Zaku as the base. Initially we planned on making the head like a Castro hat and calling it the “F-type”, and the idea was brought up to put out a minor version due to the difference in the shape of the head. For example, Char’s forces have a helmet shaped like a horn much like the Sazabi. Forces that escort battleships, especially the gunners, have caps like those of the German army tank troops… However, Director Tomino was unable to accept this hat-type of head so we settled on a German military type of helmet. This time, it was difficult for me to just throw away the Castro cap type so I tried cleaning it up. The four hatches at the top of the head are missile launch ports and are reminiscent of a nuclear subs silos. The mark on the left side combines N and Z forming the Neo Zeon insignia.

The design of the body isn’t that much different from the initial draft, but under direction from Director Tomino I sharpened the knee and leg nozzles as well as the tip of the left shoulder slightly.

As Zeon’s mobile suits evolved with the Zaku as their origin, the Geara Doga also became the basis of every Neo Zeon mobile suit: the Jagd Doga, a newtype exclusive machine developed based on the Geara Doga’s movable frame and in addition to that the Sazabi, which saw completion as a perfect Newtype-exclusive unit with a psycho frame. Plus, you could also consider the Alpha Azieru as a mobile armor that was developed as the Psycho Doga.

If the Geara Doga is compared to the mass produced Zaku then the Sazabi is like Char’s exclusive Gelgoog. In a meeting before production, it was a “red mobile suit, a machine will full volume where the head was shaped like Char’s old helmet.” In the beginning I tried working in the Hyaku Shiki’s face into the head but it didn’t go that well so we ended up with a mono eye.

Below I’ll summarize the descriptions of some Geara Doga variations.

●MS-16G (G-type)

This Geara Doga has the largest number of suits. For the commander, we placed an antenna for identification on the head, but with the model number in particular, it wasn’t classified by that. However, because the development of the S-type that was supposed to be deployed as Char’s forces was delayed, suits that have improved performance and enhancements to the generator (thermonuclear reactor) while still having the G-type head are sometimes referred to as the S-type. Rezun Schneider’s personal unit was a modified G-type. All of the G-type Kai above a commander class are able to handle high output beam rifles.

●MS-16F (F-type, E-type)

A machine whose role is attacking ships, they are equipped with a pod that houses four anti-ship missiles in their head and were developed for surprise attacks. However, there was a series of accidents caused by inadequacies in the wiring system and it never demonstrated combat results as expected. Afterwards, a reconnaissance type with a built-in radar was produced, utilizing the same head shape, and for identification purposes the E-type’s head was painted red.

●MS-16S (SS-type)

Awaiting the completion of the Sazabi, these units were scheduled to be deployed as Char’s personal forces. The head section was enlarged slightly as performance of the electronic equipment was improved in order to cope with communication failure from Minovsky particles. All of the suits were painted brown. Since these weren’t deployed in actual combat, weapons to be used were not completed.

Although the G-type and F-type use titanium alloy and ceramic composite for the armor, only the S-type adopts Gundarium alloy.