"Oowashi" sky pack:
- 2 x Type-73F modified high-energy beam cannon
- "Shiranui" space pack:
- 7 x guided mobile beam turret system:
- M531R remote control unit (beam cannon; 2 x beam gun; beam shield emitter)
- Type-72D5 "Hyakurai" beam rifle
Technology & Combat Characteristics
When not using any of its backpacks, the Akatsuki Gundamis equipped
with a Type 73J2 prototype twin beam saber (also called a beam naginata)
for close combat, the standard head-mounted CIWS, a arm-mounted shield
for defense and a Type 72D5 "Hyakurai" beam rifle, comparable to other
models of beam rifles. The beam naginata is capable of being mounted as a
bayonet on the beam rifle.
It appears to be derived from the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, which Orb engineers had copious opportunity to study, with additional firepower and uses a Striker Pack-inspired support system.
Perhaps its most remarkable feature is its gold frame, known as the Yata-no-Kagami.
In reality, the gold plating of the mobile suit is actually made up of
millions of mirrors with a special beam-deflecting coating, making the
mobile suit virtually impervious to beam attacks. Despite this, its
vulnerability to melee and physical weapons remained equal to that of
any other mobile suit.
"Oowashi" Sky Pack
On Earth, the Akatsuki Gundam can be equipped with an aerial backpack known as Oowashi,
granting the Akatsuki flight capabilities. This backpack mounts two
Type 73F modified high-energy beam cannons. Similar to the Justice's Fatum-00, the Oowashi sky pack is capable of separating from the mobile suit and transforming into a separate fighter aircraft.
"Shiranui" Space Pack
Should it needed to be brought in space, the Akatsuki Gundam can be
equipped with the "Shiranui" backpack, which is equipped with a system
similar to the DRAGOON system;
the Shiranui contains seven remote beam turrets, which each mount a
beam cannon as well as beam shield emitters that can provide full
defense in a limited area, of around 1-2 ships' size.
Armaments
- Guided Mobile Beam Turret System
- M531R remote control unit
- Mounted on the "Shiranui" Space Pack are seven remote weapons
each equipped with a beam cannon, two beam guns and a beam shield
emitter.
-
-
- A head-mounted weapon system designed for missile interception and suppressive fire.
- Type-72D5 "Hyakurai" Beam Rifle
- Type-73J2 Prototype Twin Beam Saber
- A double bladed beam saber similar to the sabers form when the Freedom combines its sabres.
- Type 73F modified high-energy beam cannon
- Two beam cannons mounted on the "Oowashi" Sky Pack
System Features
-
- The Akatsuki utilizes a customised version of the General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver operating system, the operating system used on the GAT-X series. This operating system was created by Kira Yamato
when the Archangel landed to Orb after its defection from the Earth
Alliance. He devised this system to make Natural pilots combat well
using a mobile suit, making them fare well against Coordinator pilots.
- "Yata-no-Kagami" Anti-Beam Reflection System
- While mostly similar to other mobile suits, the Akatsuki Gundam
nevertheless features a unique piece of technology. The entire body of
the suit (and its backpacks) is covered with a specialized mirror
coating called "Yata no Kagami", which is capable of deflecting beam
fire or reflecting shots back to their source. Due to this coating, it
is able to block beam weapons and is even able to block shots fired from
a Positron Blaster Cannon. Despite this strength, the armor provides no protection against attacks from a beam saber, since Shinn Asuka was able to cut off one of the Akatsuki's arms with his beam boomerang.
- In episode 50 of Gundam Seed Destiny, Mu also used Akatsuki's "Yata-no-Kagami" Anti-Beam Reflection to penetrate Requiem's Positron Deflector to destroy Requiem in order to prevent the destruction of Orb.
History
Construction
Before his death, fearing that the Orb Union will face another war, Uzumi Nara Athha
commissioned the creation of the ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam. Its existence
remained a secret as per Uzumi's orders, only to be used as the nation's
last line of defense, or if Cagalli is in dire need of additional power
(though according to his voice-recorded will, Uzumi hoped that the day
that the mobile suit's hangar will be opened would never come).
Second Battle of Orb
The Akatsuki Gundam is first piloted by Cagalli Yula Athha. Using the Oowashi pack, she piloted this mobile suit to defend Orb against a ZAFT attack in CE 74, after being informed of its existence by Ledonir Kisaka.
Cagalli assumes command of the Orb military, and uses the Akatsuki
Gundam to try and defend Orb against ZAFT's forces, but was soon
confronted by ZAFT's top ace, ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam pilot Shinn Asuka.
While Shinn's beam attacks only backfire, he easily outperforms her by
using melee attacks, giving minor damage to the gold mobile suit. When
the battle headed to space, the Akatsuki Gundam is repaired and with
Cagalli's orders, she lent to Mu La Flaga, while Cagalli remained behind
in Orb to take charge of her country. While the mobile suit is in his
possession, La Flaga used the Shiranui pack for the remaining moments of the war.
Intervention at Copernicus
While the Archangel is docked at the lunar city of Copernicus, Mu La Flaga uses the Oowashi Akatsuki to intervene in the defense of several crew members while they are trying to rescue Meer Campbell. Despite Akatsuki Gundam's presence, Meer is hit by a bullet intended for Lacus Clyne and is killed.
The Final Battle
The Akatsuki Gundam plays a major role in ending the Second Bloody Valentine War by defending the Archangel and the Eternal, as well as aiding in the destruction of the Requiem superweapon.
Trivia
- The name Akatsuki means "dawn" in Japanese; it also bears the
meaning of "beginning". Morgenroete, the company that built Akatsuki,
means "dawn" in German. The kanji of "Akatsuki" is engraved on the right
shoulder of ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam as well. "ORB-01 ALBA" is also
engraved on the left side of the Akatsuki's head. Alba means "dawn" in
Italian, in reference to the unit's name.
- "Yata no Kagami" is named for a legendary mirror that is one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan.
- Cagalli's insert song for Phases 24 of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED was Akatsuki no Kuruma, or Wheels of Dawn.
- Cagalli's insert song for Phase 40 of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny was Honoo no Tobira, or Doors of Flames, possibly in reference to Cagalli's name of kagaribi, a watch fire or a bon fire.
- The beam naginata does not actually function like a true Japanese [[1]] weapon; the name only refers to the shape of the weapon and it is a reference to a similar weapon used by the MS-14 Gelgoog in Mobile Suit Gundam.
- It is speculated by some fans that the Akatsuki Gundam is
equiped with a Neutron Jammer Cancellor, as the Shiranui Pack uses what
can be considered a full fledged DRAGOON System.
The power requirements of the system would mean that a nucluear power
source was needed to keep the suit and the pods from running out of
energy quickly during combat.
- The Akatsuki Gundam is reminiscent of the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam,
which also had a reflective gold coloration related to beam-resistant
armor. The Akatsuki Gundam (with the Shiranui backpack system) is also
reminiscent of the RX-93 Nu Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack,
which had fin funnels which could be used as a beam shield. The
armaments of the two are also similar. The Hyaku Shiki also however,
sported vertically pointed wing binder's very reminicent of Akatsuki
Gundam Shiranui.
- Cagalli gave the Akatsuki Gundam to Mu La Flaga after using it
for a single battle, making it the fastest handed-down Gundam mobile
suit ever. In Super Robot Wars K and Super Robot Wars L, Cagalli even directly hand it over to Mu La Flaga in the same scenario in which she rode it for the first time.
- In Super Robot Wars K and Super Robot Wars L,
Akatsuki Gundam will automatically wear its designated striker packs
depends on the terrain of the current scenario. In atmosphere based
scenario, it will use the Oowashi pack; while in space based scenario,
it will use the Shiranui pack.
Gallery
Akatsuki Gundam with Oowashi sky pack
Akatsuki Gundam with Shiranui space pack
Akatsuki Gundam MS Girl by Komatsu Eiji
DRAGOON Beam Shield
Gundam War - Akatsuki Gundam Shiranui
Gundam War - Akatsuki Gundam Oowashi
Gundam War- Akatsuki Gundam
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