Wing Gundam

The XXXG-01W Wing Gundam (also referred to as Gundam Zero-One) is one of the fictional Gundam mobile suits appearing in the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime series. The original Wing Gundam was designed in 1995 by Kunio Okawara, along with many of the other mobile suits in the anime. The five 'second-stage' Gundams were later redesigned by Hajime Katoki for the 1997 OVA Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. As the new designs became canonical, Katoki also created retcon designs for the original five Gundams, which were published in Newtype magazine.

Design
Wing Gundam is one of the five Gundam mobile suits that were based on the design from the Wing Gundam Zero, with both suits created by Doctor J. Out of the five original Gundams of the series, Wing Gundam bears the closest resemblance to Wing Zero and its weapons and capabilities are also very similar to its ancestor's. It's main armaments include a buster rifle capable of firing very powerful blasts of energy that can destroy multiple targets in a single shot, including mobile suits. The drawback is that the ammunition of this weapon is limited to three shots. Next is its shield, which can withstand a great deal of damage. Though not a weapon the shield's sharp, pointy front has been shown to be able to cut through an Aries mobile suit's armor plating. It also has small vulcan guns on its head, machine guns on its shoulders and a beam saber stored inside its shield. Wing Gundam is also capable of flight; transforming into a fighter aircraft (called "Bird Mode"), though it's flight abilities are only useable as long as it's within Earth's atmosphere, meaning it can't travel in space on its own.

Role in plot

Wing Gundam is one of the five mobile suits sent to Earth as part of Operation Meteor; a plan whereby rebels would be able to weaken the controlling influence the United Earth Sphere Alliance and the Organization of the Zodiac (OZ) held over the orbital colonies. Wing Gundam is launched from the cluster of orbital colonies located at the , and is piloted by the series' main character Heero Yuy.

In the first episode, Heero is intercepted by Zechs Merquise during his descent to Earth. Despite Wing Gundam's incredible abilites, Zechs manages to grapple with it in his Leo mobile suit and causes Wing Gundam crash land into the Pacific Ocean, forcing Heero to abandon it. When Zechs later sends a search party to acquire the sunken Wing Gundam, it is saved by Duo Maxwell and is given back to its pilot. Heero later repairs his Gundam with parts from Duo's Gundam Deathscythe, much to Duo's chargin. Heero then uses Wing Gundam in many successful missions, destroying OZ bases and mobile suit factories, though one of their more infamous victories is when they destroy the shuttle transporting Alliance peace ambassadors at the New Edwards base, which was because Heero was tricked into believing they were top OZ leaders. Later on, when Heero arrives at OZ's Siberian base to prevent the transfer of new Taurus mobile dolls, he is confronted by Zechs and his new Tallgeese mobile suit. During their duel, Lady Une allerts the Gundam pilots that unless they surrender, the colonies will be destroyed. Then Heero, under orders from Doctor J, activates his suit's self destruct device, destroying Wing Gundam and nearly killing himself Zechs however, has the suit repaired and returned to Heero so they can have a rematch, though Heero uses Trowa Barton's Gundam Heavyarms for the duel instead. Later, when the Gundam pilots return to space, Heero leaves Wing Gundam behind on Earth, due to its inability for space combat. Sally Po later locates Wing Gundam and has it sent to the Sanc Kingdom, where Heero eventually arrves at and retrieves his Gundam. Heero then starts using Wing Gundam for defending the Sanc Kingdom from OZ, but some time later, when Heero uses it to defend the Luxembourg base from OZ's new Virgo mobile dolls, Wing Gundam is disabled, following a heavy battle. Heero then abandons his Gundam for the final time and he eventually acquires the more powerful Wing Zero. OZ later recovers the abandoned suit, has it repaired and also equips it with boosters, enabling it for space travel. Wing Gundam's final appearance is when Lady Une uses it to save Treize Khushrenada in where it is destroyed for the second and final time by Battleship Libra's main cannon fire.

Wing Gundam's role is slightly different in the Gundam Wing manga; for example Heero actually pilots it during his duel with Zechs in Antarctica, instead of Heavyarms and Heero doesn't abandon it at Luxembourg as the battle there doesn't take place in the manga, though after the Sanc Kingdom is invaded, Heero does leave without Wing Gundam. It is then recovered by OZ, just like in the series, but when Lady Une uses it to save Treize, Wing Gundam only loses its legs to the Libra's main cannon, thus it is not completely destroyed, though it isn't seen again in the manga afterwards.

Appearances outside Gundam Wing
Wing Gundam and its pilot, Heero, along with five other notable mecha and pilots from the various Gundam series, were recognized in the second set of "Anime Heroes and Heroines" stamps, released in Japan in 2005. Gundam was the second of only four franchises to be given the honor; the others were Pocket Monsters, Galaxy Express 999, and Detective Conan.

Wing Gundam was first seen on-screen not in its titular show, but in G-Gundam, being one of many mobile suits that appeared as cameo appearances in the final battle against the Devil Gundam Colony.

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See Also

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