MAN-03 Braw-Bro

Model number: MAN-03
Code name: Braw-Bro
Unit type: prototype Newtype use mobile armor
Manufacturer: Flanagan Institute
Operator: Principality of Zeon
Rollout: 16 November UC 0079
First deployment: 28 December UC 0079
Accommodation: one pilot and unknown number of operators, in standard cockpit in main body
Dimensions: overall height 60.2 meters; overall length 62.4 meters
Weight: empty 1,735.5 metric tons; max gross 2,602.6 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 74,000 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 1,760,000 kg total
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 156,000 meters; modular separating body, 3 independent components; psycommu system
Fixed armaments: 4 x wire-guided mega particle cannon, mounted on main body

With the discovery of Newtypes among the human population, the Principality of Zeon saw the potential of using these Newtypes – many of them possessing precognition, enhanced intuition, and lightning-fast reflexes – as tools in their war against the Earth Federation Forces. The Flanagan Institute was charged with the study of Newtype candidates and the development of new weapons capable of making use of Newtypes’ abilities. Their first weapon was the MAN-03 Braw-Bro, a large space-going vehicle the size of a small battleship. Equipped with a psycommu (psychic communicator) system that allowed a Newtype pilot control of the unit with their thoughts alone, the Braw-Bro was armed with four wire-guided, remotely-controlled mega particle gun units. Since Minovsky particle interference didn’t interfere in the transmission of Newtypes’ brainwaves, the psycommu system allowed the pilot to conduct all-range attacks, hitting a target from different directions with the remote-controlled weapons, regardless of distance or Minovsky interference.

As the Braw-Bro was also the first mobile weapon built exclusively for Newtypes, its piloting and flight test data was of vast importance to the Flanagan Institute. Because of this, the Braw-Bro itself could separate into three separate, independently-operated component blocks, ensuring a greater chance of survival of the test data if one of the components were destroyed. Helium-3 energy transport ship captain Challia Bull, who had exhibited traits of Newtype abilities, was transferred to the Flanagan Institute and selected as the Braw-Bro’s test pilot. However, the Braw-Bro was destroyed when it fought against the EFF’s RX-78-2 Gundam mobile suit – also piloted by a Newtype, Amuro Ray. A second unit was destroyed in combat against Ford Romfellow’s RX-78-5 Gundam 5th.

Pilot(s): Challia Bull, Simus Al Bakharov, Lilia Flaubert, Huyman Carlyle, Gusta Piper
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam
Original mechanical designer(s): Kunio Okawara (Mobile Suit Gundam version), Yasuo Ohtagaki (Gundam Thunderbolt manga version)

Rear view (Version 1)