GAT-X102 Duel Gundam

Model number: GAT-X102
Code name: Duel Gundam
Unit type: prototype close combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Morgenroete, Inc
Operator(s): Earth Alliance; ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty)
First deployment: 25 January C.E. 71
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.50 meters
Weight: max gross weight 69.1 metric tons (normal mode), 103.47 metric tons (Assault Shroud mode)
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; PS (Phase Shift) armor; optional ejectable external Assault Shroud armor
Fixed armaments: 2 x “Igelstellung'”75mm multi-barrel CIWS, mounted on head; 2 x beam saber, mounted in recharge racks behind shoulders; “Shiva” 115mm railgun, mounted on right shoulder (Assault Shroud mode only); 220 mm 5-barrel missile pod, mounted on left shoulder (Assault Shroud mode only)
Optional hand armaments: 57mm high-energy beam rifle, features 175mm grenade launcher; hyper bazooka; shield, mounted on left forearm

With the outbreak of the Bloody Valentine War, the Earth Alliance’s Atlantic Federation began a secret project to develop mobile suits to counter ZAFT’s mass produced ZGMF-1017 GINN as well as operate free of interference from the N-Jammers. One of the first five prototype mobile suits was the GAT-X102 Duel Gundam, which served as a testbed for the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam, GAT-X105 Strike Gundam and GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam. As a basic mobile suit, the Duel Gundam was designed for close combat. Its armament consisted of two beam sabers, two “Igelstellung” vulcan guns and a combination high-energy beam rifle/grenade launcher. Like the other prototype Gundams, the Duel Gundam was equipped with the new Phase Shift (PS) armor technology. When in Phase Shift mode, the Duel Gundam was nearly impervious to attacks from shell-firing artillery or melee weapons. However, use of Phase Shift for extended periods of time was a massive drain on the battery.

On January 25, C.E. 71, the Duel Gundam was stolen by ZAFT pilot Yzak Joule during ZAFT’s assault on the neutral Orb Union colony Heliopolis. Following the escape of the Earth Alliance battleship Archangel, Yzak and his Duel Gundam continued to harass the Archangel‘s crew during the later period of the war. During one battle with Kira Yamato’s Strike Gundam, the Duel Gundam was heavily damaged and Yzak’s face was scarred. Afterward, ZAFT upgraded the Duel Gundam to the Assault Shroud configuration. With this upgrade, extra armor plates were fitted over the main body, along with several new weapons. These weapons included a 5-barrel missile pod launcher on the left shoulder, as well as a 115mm “Shiva” railgun on the right shoulder. Although ZAFT developed the Assault Shroud upgrade themselves, the Earth Alliance copied and incorporated it into two limited production versions of the Duel Gundam: the GAT-01D Long Dagger and GAT-01D1 Duel Dagger. With his upgraded mobile suit, Yzak vowed to get revenge on Kira for the scar he received. However, at the war’s end on September 26, C.E. 71, Yzak assisted the Three Ships Alliance in defending the PLANTs. After the war, another Duel Gundam unit piloted by Mudie Holcroft was upgraded to the GAT-X1022 Blu Duel Gundam. By C.E. 75, the original Duel Gundam unit stolen by ZAFT was upgraded and redesignated as the ZGMF-1027M Duel Blitz Gundam.

Pilot(s): Yzak Joule, Mudie Holcroft
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Original mechanical designer(s): Junichi Akutsu (principal design), Kunio Okawara (cleanup)

57mm high-energy beam rifle

Cockpit

Cockpit hatch

Head

Rear view (Standard version)

Rear view (Equipped with Assault Shroud)

Shield

Torso