MS-14A Gelgoog Classic

While the MS-06F Zaku II was the mainstay of the Principality of Zeon's mobile suit forces at the start of the One-Year-War, the Principality was still advancing its mobile suit research. A new, high-performance mobile suit, dubbed the MS-11 Gelgoog, was already in development and slated to replace the aging Zaku II when, seemingly from nowhere, the RX-78-2 Gundam appeared on the scene. Its speed, agility, armor, and weaponry outclassed everything the Principality had at the time, and this triggered a rapid increase in the principality's mobile suit research and development. The MS-11 project was cancelled in favor of more powerful machines.

In the later months of the One-Year-War, Zeon returned to the concept of the MS-11 Gelgoog as a chance to produce a new mobile suit that could go toe-to-toe with the Gundam. The project was relabeled MS-14 (as the MS-11 designation had since been taken by another mobile suit program), and the Gelgoog began to take shape.

To counter (and hopefully defeat) the Gundam, the Gelgoog needed to be at least as fast and as strong as it was. A new reactor, rated at 1440 kW, was designed to give the Gelgoog the power it needed to wield beam weaponry (something it would need to be a match for the Gundam, which had a monopoly on energy-based weapons up until then). It mounts a total of 7 large thrusters, all clustered beneath the flares on its skirt and leg armor.

In terms of weaponry, the Gelgoog is incredibly well-armed. A powerful, long-range beam rifle serves as its primary weapon, and can destroy most other mobile suits with a single shot. For close-range combat, the Gelgoog has a long-handled beam sword, which can switch between a standard single-bladed mode and a dangerous double-bladed mode that can be used to slice enemies or absorb incoming fire when spun at high speed. This is usually unnecessary, as the Gelgoog also carries a large shield (similar in concept to the Gundam's shield, albeit slightly larger and oval-shaped), which it can carry either on its back or by hand.

The first Gelgoogs produced were designated MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type. A total of 30 MS-14S's were built, and they were then given to hand-selected ace pilots for field testing. One of these was given to the infamous Char Aznable. After field testing was completed, Zeonic company moved into mass-production of the MS-14A Gelgoog--essentially identical to the MS-14S, but painted in gray and olive for the regular forces. Despite the Gelgoog's obvious power, it was introduced too late to turn the war in the Principality's favor. Ace pilots were few and far between, and most Gelgoog pilots were not skilled enough to bring out the machine's full potential. The MS-14A survived the war, and served in the remainder forces for many years to come.