SECTION V: MOBILE SUIT MODEL NUMBERS EXPLAINED 1. Introduction Most mobile suit model numbers consist of a two- or three-letter prefix, followed by a number. The number almost always indicates the order in which the mobile suit was developed, with the first mobile suit in a series being -01, the second -02, and so forth. After the number, you'll often see additional letters, which indicate variations and customizations. The meaning of these tacked-on letters varies from case to case. Often, they just indicate a series of minor improvements; the Zaku II went through the MS-06A, MS-06B and MS-06C versions before the development of the ubiquitous MS-06F. While the letters sometimes convey useful information - "D" for desert, "K" for cannon, "M" for marine and so forth - they're often used inconsistently. You may also see an additional number tacked onto the end. This usually approximates a version number; the RX-78-1 was the first version of the Gundam, the RX-78-2 was the second, and so forth. These general principles aside, each organization has its own numbering scheme... 2. Federal Forces Federal Forces model numbers have a two- or three-letter prefix, followed by a number. The prefixes for mobile suits begin with the letter R, and the prefixes for fighter craft begin with the letter F. PREFIX RB RGC RGM RGZ RMS RMV RX FA PF FF APPARENT MEANING Mobile pod Mass-produced Guncannon Mass-produced Gundam Mass-produced Zeta Gundam Mobile suit Mass-produced Guntank Experimental mobile suit Full Armor version Perfect version Fighter EXAMPLE RB-79 Ball RGC-90 GM Cannon RGM-79 GM RGZ-91 Re-GZ RMS-106 Hizack RMV-1 Guntank II RX-78 Gundam FA-78 Full Armor Gundam PF-78 Perfect Gundam FF-X7 Core Fighter For mobile suits, the number following the prefix is usually the UC year in which development began, with a notable exception. ZETA GUNDAM introduced a different numbering scheme, in which the first two digits of the number following an RX, RGM or RMS prefix indicate where the mobile suit was produced. The third digit indicates the order of development. Thus, the RMS-106 Hizack is the sixth mobile suit design produced at Granada. NUMBER 10* 11* 12* 13* 14* 15* 16* 17* 18* 19* LOCATION Granada Luna Two Solomon (Compei Island) A Bao Qu (Gate of Zedan) Pezun New Guinea base Kilimanjaro base Gryps colonies (Side 7) Jaburo base Jaburo base EXAMPLE RMS-106 Hizack RMS-117 Galbaldy Beta RX-139 Hambrabi RMS-142 Xeku Eins RMS-154 Barzam RX-160 Byarlant RX-178 Gundam Mark II RMS-188MD Zaku Diver RMS-192M Zaku Mariner ZETA GUNDAM also introduced some "specialty" prefixes, which are used by specific manufacturers. The following number indicates the order of development. PREFIX MRX NRX ORX PMX MANUFACTURER Murasame newtype labs Unidentified newtype lab Augusta newtype labs Paptimus Scirocco EXAMPLE MRX-009 Psyco Gundam NRX-004 Asshimar ORX-005 Gaplant PMX-001 Pallas Athene 3. Anaheim Electronics Anaheim Electronics, though a contractor for many Federation mobile suits, uses its own model numbering scheme for the mobile suits it constructs for the AEUG resistance group. All its mobile suits have a sequential number that indicates the order of development. PREFIX MSA MSF MSK MSN MSZ FXA APPARENT MEANING Anaheim design Kazumi Fujita design Kalaba design Mamoru Nagano design Project Zeta design Auxiliary vehicle EXAMPLE MSA-003 Nemo MSF-007 Gundam Mark III MSK-008 Dijeh MSN-00100 Model 100 MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam FXA-05D G-Defensor Judging from the model numbers used in the animation, all of Anaheim's mobile suit designs are numbered in the same sequence - no two mobile suits share the same number. If you take into account GUNDAM SENTINEL and Kazumi Fujita's mobile suit variations, though, there's a lot of duplication. These nonconformists aside, here's the Anaheim mobile suit series. MOBILE SUIT RMS-099 Rick Dias MSN-00100 Model 100 MSA-002 Marasai MSA-003 Nemo MSA-005 Methuss MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam MSK-008 Dijeh MSZ-010 Double Zeta Gundam NOTES It's both number 100 and number 1 Relabeled as the RMS-108 4. Zeon Duchy The Zeons are less erratic when it comes to prefixes. PREFIX MS MSM MSN MA MAM MAN APPARENT MEANING Mobile suit Amphibious mobile suit Newtype mobile suit Mobile armor Amphibious mobile armor Newtype mobile armor EXAMPLE MS-06 Zaku II MSM-03 Gog MSN-02 Ziong MA-05 Bigro MAM-07 Grabro MAN-08 Elmeth As in the modern-day US air force, prototype versions are often prefixed with the letter "Y" - for example, the prototype version of the MS-14 Gelgoog was the YMS-14. The numbers that follow indicate the order of development. These numbers are tracked separately for each prefix; the MS-07 Guf, the MSM-07 Zugock and the MAM-07 Grabro are each the seventh design in their respective category. 5. Neo Zeon The Axis forces in ZETA GUNDAM - which go on to become the Neo Zeon in GUNDAM ZZ - standardized on the AMX prefix, followed by a number that indicates the order of development. Two separate design teams are at work; the first begins its sequential numbers with a "0", the second with a "1". Thus, the AMX-003 Gaza C is the third design produced by the first team, while the AMX-103 Hamma Hamma is the third design produced by the second team. The Neo Zeon use non-standard prefixes for the mobile armor AMA-01 Jamul Fin and the mobile suit NZ-000 Quin Mantha. The AMA prefix is also used by the AMA-X2 Neue Ziel in GUNDAM 0083. The second Neo Zeon movement featured in CHAR'S COUNTERATTACK uses a mixture of old and new prefixes. The MSN-03 Jagd Doga and MSN-04 Sazabi hearken back to the MSN-02 Ziong, while the NZ-333 Alpha Aziel and AMS-119 Gira Doga follow in the footsteps of the first Neo Zeon. 6. Crossbone Vanguard The Crossbone Vanguard use the straightforward prefixes "XM" for mobile suits and "XMA" for mobile armors, followed by a number that indicates the order of development. 7. SNRI The Strategic Naval Research Institute, or SNRI, uses a unique scheme for its Formula Project. Here, the first digit indicates the function of the mobile suit. The second digit indicates the order of development. NUMBER F7* F8* F9* FUNCTION Long-range support type General-purpose type Advanced fighter type EXAMPLE F71 G-Cannon F91 Gundam 8. League Militaire The League Militaire from VICTORY GUNDAM uses one of the most complex schemes to date. Mobile suit model numbers begin with LM, followed by single digits that tally the number of parts the mobile suit separates into, the number of generators, and the number of main thruster units. After this comes a letter-and-digit combination that represents the mobile suit line, and finally a sequential number. Thus, the LM314V21 Victory 2 Gundam is the first model in the V2 line. It separates into three parts, and has one generator and four main thruster units. The LM312V06 Victory Gundam Hexa is the sixth model of the V0 line, and has two main thruster units. The LM111E02 GunEZ, the second model in the E0 line, does not separate and has one main thruster unit. A separate numbering convention is used for support devices, of which the only example is the V-Dash Gundam's overhang pack. Its model number begins with SD (Support Device); continues with "V" (for use with the Victory type) and "B" (Booster); and ends with "03" (the order of development) and "A" (Attack). Thus, the final model number is SD-VB03A. 9. Zanscar Empire BESPA, the military arm of VICTORY GUNDAM's Zanscar Empire, uses a rather less complex and much more practical scheme. All model numbers begin with either "ZM" or "ZMT", the latter indicating a test model. After this comes either "S" (mobile suit), "A" (mobile armor), or "D" (dual type, capable of transforming from mobile suit to mobile armor). This is followed by a number which indicates the order of development, and then either "S" (Space), "G" (Ground, which includes atmospheric flight) or "M" (Marine). For example, the ZM-S08G Zolo is the eighth BESPA design; it's a mobile suit designed for use on Earth. The ZMT-A31S Doggorla, the 31st BESPA design, is an experimental mobile armor intended for use in space. 10. Jupiter Empire The Jupiter Empire of CROSSBONE GUNDAM uses the prefixes "EMS" for mobile suits and "EMA" for mobile armors, where the "E" stands for Empire. For example, their standard mobile suit is the EMS-06 Batara, and among their mobile armor lineup is the EMA-04 Elefante. 11. G GUNDAM In the alternate universe of G GUNDAM, the model numbers are constructed as follows. First comes "GF" for Gundam Fighter, followed by the number of the Gundam Fight. Then comes a sequential number, which appears to correlate to how the nation that built the Gundam placed in the last Gundam Fight, and finally a two- or three-letter abbreviation of the nation's name. Thus, the GF13-017NJ Shining Gundam is Neo Japan's entry in the 13th Gundam Fight, and it seems that Neo Japan placed 17th last time around. A variety of model numbers are also used for regular mobile suits, but the schemes vary from nation to nation. 12. GUNDAM W In the alternate universe of GUNDAM W, the majority of the mobile suits used by the Earth Alliance and the various factions which conspire to overthrow it are developed by OZ, a humble manufacturer of colony-construction equipment which has been absorbed by the powerful Romefeller Syndicate and forced to direct its energies to creating military hardware. All the mobile suits used by the Alliance and its treacherous allies bear the name OZ in their model numbers. The OZ brand name is usually followed by a sequential number and the letters "MS", "AMS" (for flight-capable mobile suits), "MMS" (for marine mobile suits), "SMS" (for space mobile suits) or "MD" (for unmanned mobile dolls). There's some duplication in the numbers - compare the OZ-07MS Tragos and OZ-07AMS Aries, or the prototype OZ-13MSX1 Vyate and the OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon. Perhaps the numbers are assigned independently for each type of mobile suit. The Gundams used by the protagonists are all variants on "XXXG-01", with one or two letters tacked on the end. For example, the Wing Gundam's model number is XXXG-01W. The ancestor of all the Gundams is the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero. There are few mobile suits that aren't designed by either OZ or the Gundam-creating mad scientists. One of these holdouts is the WMS-03 Magaanak. 13. GUNDAM X In the alternate universe of GUNDAM X, the mobile suits used by the now-defunct Earth Federation during the Seventh Space War have a two-letter prefix followed by a four-digit number. Prefixes for the Gundam series of mobile suits begin with "G", i.e. the GX-9900 Gundam X. Thanks to the flash system, each Gundam can control unmanned mobile suits called "G-Bits", whose prefixes begin with "F"; for example, the Gundam X's G-Bits have the model number FX-9900. The Federation's mass-produced mobile suits have prefixes beginning with "D". Examples include the GM-like DT-6800 Dortress and the Ball-like DT-6600 Dortapp. The New Federation's newtype labs produce a couple of customs Gundams with the prefix "NRX" - the NRX-0013 Gundam Vasargo and the NRX-0015 Gundam Ashtaron. The space-based revolutionary army uses a similar sort of naming scheme to the One Year War-era Zeons, with the prefix "RMS" followed by a sequential number; newtype mobile suits have the prefix "RMSN". For example, the Zaku-like mobile suit Jenice has the model number RMS-006. The revolutionary army's mobile armors use the same "MA" and "MAN" prefixes as the Zeons - examples include the MA-06 Grandine and the MAN-003 Patulia.