Model number: XMA-01
Code name: Rafflesia
Unit type: prototype mobile armor
Manufacturer: Crossbone Vanguard
Operator: Crossbone Vanguard
First deployment: March UC 0123
Accommodation: pilot only, in canopy-style cockpit in main body
Dimensions: overall length 37.5 meters
Weight: empty 184.6 metric tons; max gross 263.7 metric tons; mass ratio 1.43
Armor materials: titanium alloy/high-ceramic composite
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 31650 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 5 x 52020 kg, 5 x 43350 kg, 20 x 28900 kg; vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 40
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 4.00 G
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; neo-psycommu system, allows pilot to control all functions of mobile armor without use of manual controls; anti-beam barrier system, absorbs/deflects all incoming beam weapon attacks
Fixed armaments: 8 x scattering beam gun, fire-linked, mounted in main body stalk; 5 x petal mega beam cannon, mounted in petal binders; 5 x mega particle gun, mounted in main body between petal binders; 4 x beam cannon, fire-linked, mounted in tip of main body stalk; 125 x tentacle rod, each rod mounts superheated chainsaw tip, 25 tentacle rods mounted in each petal binder

Technical and Historical Notes

Developed entirely in secret under the code-name "Rafflesia Project" beginning in UC 0119, the XMA-01 Rafflesia mobile armor could be considered a physical manifestation of the twisted and gruesome personality of the Crossbone Vanguard's leader, Carozzo "Iron Mask" Ronah. Named after a type of flower, the Rafflesia visually resembled its namesake, being composed of a main body "stalk" and five binder "petals." A variety of high-powered beam weapons were mounted all over the mobile armor, and it was also equipped with an anti-beam barrier to deflect incoming enemy beam weapons fire. Each petal of the Rafflesia was also armed with 125 tentacle rods, each of which had a superheated chainsaw blade in its tip. All of these weapons made the Rafflesia a deadly weapon to use for both long-range strikes and anti-MS close combat.

The Rafflesia, being Carozzo's personal unit, was controlled by his brainwaves via a "neo-psycommu" system - an advancement on the classic psycommu technology. This system, which was composed of receptors in Iron Mask's helmet connected to the mobile armor via a great number of fiber optic cables, allowed Carozzo to completely control all aspects of his machine without the use of manual controls.

Stored aboard the flagship Zamouth Gar, the Rafflesia was only deployed once near the end of the initial conflicts during the Crossbone Vanguard invasion of March UC 0123. Carozzo took his mobile armor into battle to kill his rebellious daughter Berah Ronah, who was trying to stop his plan to kill all humans living on Earth with his Bug weapons. Though his Rafflesia would deliver serious damage to Berah's XM-07 Vigna Ghina, the mighty mobile armor would soon fall to Seabook Arno, who used some ingenious tricks taking advantage of the Gundam F91's abilities to cause the Rafflesia to destroy itself.

Miscellaneous Information

Pilot: Carozzo Ronah (aka Iron Mask)
Appearances: Mobile Suit Gundam F91
Original mechanical designer(s): Junya Ishigaki (principal design), Kunio Okawara (cleanup)

Lineart

Cockpit
Tentacle rod chainsaw tip