Thursday, August 3, 2006

RANDOM
Model number: MS-07B
Code name: Gouf
Unit type: mass production ground combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Zeonic Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 18.7 meters; head height 18.2 meters
Weight: empty 58.5 metric tons; max gross 75.4 metric tons
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1034 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 40700 kg total
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.54 G; maximum ground running speed 99 km/h
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 3600 meters
Fixed armaments: 5-barrel 75mm machine gun, barrels mounted as left hand fingers; heat rod, retractable, variable heat/electric shock charge, mounted in right forearm
Optional fixed armaments: shield, mounted on left forearm
Optional hand armaments: 120mm machine gun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum; heat sword Type-âIV, battery powered, stored in shield, hand-carried in use; H&L-SB25K/280mmA-P Zaku bazooka, 4 round magazine



Technical and Historical notes

Designed as a high-performance replacement for the MS-06J Zaku II, the ground combat MS-07B Gouf became famous during the One Year War at the hands of ace Zeon pilot Ramba Ral. Though his personal Gouf was technically a prototype (possibly the YMS-07B), the production-model Gouf which came off the assembly line shortly thereafter was exactly identical. This fully-equipped production model B-type Gouf immediately followed a limited production run of A-type Goufs, which were produced without the built-in armaments of the standard B-types due to a parts shortage. However, the standard Gouf lived a short life itself, as production was quickly halted and the new ground combat MS-09 Dom went into production. Though the Gouf's production run was short, units were deployed all across the world, including places such as Australia and the Gobi Desert.

The Gouf proved to be a nasty menace to the crew and mobile suit pilots stationed aboard the Federation assault carrier White Base. RX-78-2 Gundam pilot Amuro Ray was easily overwhelmed during his first encounter with Ramba Ral's Gouf, and in post-battle analysis Amuro tried to simulate the Gouf as an improved F-type Zaku. Unfortunately for the White Base crew, the Gouf was above and beyond anything they had encountered at that point in the war. The Gouf was armed with a five-fingered machine gun for a left hand and a deadly tentacle-like "heat rod" on its right arm, which Ramba could use as either a superheated slicing weapon or a grappling weapon with an electric shock effect. The Gouf could also carry all of the standard Zaku hand armaments, notably the standard 120mm machine gun.


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