Model number(s): RMS-099; MSA-099
Code name:Â Rick Dias
Unit type:Â mass production attack use heavy mobile suit
Manufacturer:Â Anaheim Electronics
Operator(s):Â AEUG (Anti-Earth Union Group); Earth Federation Forces
Rollout:Â 2 March UC 0087
First deployment:Â 2 March UC 0087
Accommodation:Â pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in head
Dimensions:Â overall height 18.7 meters; head height 18.0 meters
Weight:Â empty 32.2 metric tons; max gross 54.7 metric tons; mass ratio 1.43
Armor materials:Â Gundarium alloy
Powerplant:Â Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,833 kW
Propulsion:Â rocket thrusters: 74,800 kg total (2 x 37,400 kg); vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 7
Equipment and design features:Â sensors, range 11,500 meters; 2 x “random binder” ejectable external propellant tank, mounted on backpack; birdlime launchers in hands; flare launchers in hands
Fixed armaments:Â 2-barrel 55mm vulcan phalanx anti-missile gun system, mounted in head; beam saber, power rated at 0.4 MW, stored in recharge rack in backpack, hand-carried in use
Optional hand armaments: 2 x beam pistol, power rated at 2.2 MW, powered by rechargeable energy cap, can be stored in backpack storage racks; clay bazooka, clip-fed, 7 rounds per clip plus 1 round in chamber; beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap
When the underground organization known as the Anti-Earth Union Group began organizing to fight the ever-corrupt Titans, it commissioned one of its supporters, Anaheim Electronics, to develop a new mass production mobile suit for their use. Although commonly known as the RMS-099 (an alternate model number used to cover the fact that this mobile suit was not being developed for the Earth Federation Forces’ use), the MSA-099 was designed mostly by former Zeon mobile suit manufacturer employees who had gone on to work for Anaheim after the One Year War. Originally intended to be called the “Gundam γ” (γ being the Greek symbol “gamma”), the MSA-099 sported a more Zeonic look, so it was named Rick Dias instead (Rick was derived from remake, and was a term first used on the MS-09R Rick Dom to distinguish it as a space use remake of the MS-09 Dom; Dias was the name of the discoverer of the Cape of Good Hope on Earth).
The Rick Dias was the first mobile suit to use the new Gundarium γ armor developed by Axis, thus making it lighter and able to accommodate greater fuel capacity, particularly in the random binder external propellant tanks mounted on its backpack. The Rick Dias was also armed with a variety of weapons, such as beam pistols, a clay bazooka (which fired adhesive pellets designed to disable enemy mobile suits), beam sabers and vulcan phalanx guns. All of these factors made the Rick Dias an all-around excellent mobile suit, and it was fielded quite commonly among the AEUG forces during the Gryps War. AEUG pilot Gabriel Zola, a former Zeon soldier, received a special upgraded variant from Anaheim, the Rick-Dias “Stutzer”. Anaheim also later created the upgraded MSA-099-2 Rick Dias II for the AEUG, along with the RMS-099B Schuzrum Dias, which it supplied to Neo Zeon during the First Neo Zeon War. Unfortunately for the AEUG, the organization suffered devastating losses at the end of the Gryps War in early UC 0088, and none of their Rick Dias suits (or pilots) survived the war.
Pilot(s):Â Quattro Bajeena (aka Char Aznable), Apolly Bay, Roberto, Kamille Bidan, Emma Sheen, Amuro Ray, Franklin Bidan, Botty, Batch, Tripper, Hodge, Asuna Elmarit, Jack Bayard, Souichi Obino
First appearance: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Original mechanical designer: Mamoru Nagano
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