The MS-07 Gouf: A Formidable Foe in the One Year War
The Principality of Zeon’s mobile suit production during the One Year War led to the creation of the MS-07 Gouf, a high-performance replacement for the MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type. This powerful mobile suit first appeared when Ramba Ral arrived on Earth to avenge the death of Garma Zabi.
A Notable Debut
Ramba Ral and the Gouf proved to be a formidable foe for the White Base crew, outperforming the Zakus they had been fighting up until that point. The Gouf’s impressive arsenal included a 75 mm machine gun hand, a “heat rod” that could be used as a superheated slicing weapon or as a grappling weapon with a powerful electric shock effect, and a powerful heat sword.
Variations and Upgrades
Despite its initial success, the Gouf’s production was halted in favor of the MS-09 Dom, preventing it from reaching the same level of distribution among Zeon troops as the Zaku II or Dom. However, research into the Gouf’s basic design continued, leading to the development of several improved models that saw limited production. These variations included the MS-07A Gouf, MS-07B Gouf, and MS-07D Desert Gouf, among others.
Legacy and Impact
Although the Gouf did not see development in the United Maintenance Plan, nor was a spaceworthy version created, its influence on mobile suit design is undeniable. The Gouf’s legacy can be seen in its various iterations and upgrades, which continued to play a significant role in the One Year War.
Interesting Facts
- The Gouf’s name was used as the basis for the official English language Gundam site’s short-lived Gundam Official User Forum (GOUF).
- September 2nd is officially recognized as “Gouf Day” due to the numbers 9 and 2 sounding like “グ” and “フ” respectively in Japanese.
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