User blog:Freighttrain, The/After Colony Mobile Weapon Classification System

( Updated as of 23/04/2019 )

Hello Gundam and hard science fiction fans, I am known as Freighttrain and in this blog post I have categorised most of the mobile suits and armours from After Colony in accordance with contemporary military classification using adjusted and/or improvised terminology, as no nation or other military force has such vehicles in their arsenal... yet.

A primary focal point of this classification system is on how contemporary militaries would classify a vehicle such as a mobile suit, I propose the term SHMV (Super-heavy Humanoid Military Vehicle) or 'Shumvee' as when using a size/chassis/battlespace format, that is the most succinct, comprehensive and appropriately ambiguous designation that I have been able to derive from contemporary military classification thus far and I am particularly interested in comments regarding that.


 * 1. Size / 2. Chassis type / 3. Primary battlespace


 * 1) Super-heavy: As all mobile suits/armours are at least slightly larger than tanks from WWII and afterwards that were classed as super-heavy, it is the best existing size indication terminology I am aware of.
 * 2) Humanoid: The most descriptive and succinct word that would describe the chassis layout.
 * 3) Military Vehicle: A military vehicle is a type of vehicle that includes all land combat and transportation vehicles, which are designed for or are significantly used by military forces which could also feasibly include humanoid military vehicles designed primarily for ground warfare.

I have listed most of the mobile suits and armours featured in media from After Colony with the exception of certain obscurities that either lack sufficient information and/or have designs or capabilities that are exotic beyond what I would call hard science fiction. Though it is possible I may add such examples later.

I may also create later blog posts that categorise mobile suits and armours from elsewhere in the Gundam franchise.

And on related developments I have also made similar blog posts on the Zoids and Alien franchises featuring definitive classification systems.

I am particularly interested in comments regarding the comprehensiveness, accuracy or terminology of my classification system as well as the battlespace viability and distinctive equipment of any vehicles.

 Notes :
 * Unlisted mobile weapons:
 * (All gunpla variants derived from After Colony mobile weapons)

 Blog post contents :
 * Key
 * Acronyms/Initialisms
 * Terminology
 * Notes
 * Questions from the author
 * Abridged contents
 * Comprehensive contents
 * (Vehicle listings in full)

Key :

Acronyms/Initialisms:


 * CQC = Close Quarters Combat


 * AI = (Piloted by an) Artificial Intelligence (Mobile Doll system)
 * (AI) = Prefix denoting that a vehicle is capable of having both human and AI pilots.
 * AIC = AI Coordinator (ZERO System variant used by Dorothy Catalonia and the T'ien-Lung Gundam T'ien-Lung Gundam)
 * AAIW = Anti-AI Electronic Warfare


 * OoaK = One of a Kind (chassis)
 * LPC = Limited Production Chassis
 * MPC = Mass Production Chassis


 * BEJ = Bipedal Exoskeleton Jettisonable
 * SPACS = Self-Propelled Air-Cushion Sled
 * MFFM = Mobile Force Field Mantlet (Planet Defensors)
 * (Stealth-)AC = Active Camouflage
 * PPC = Prism Particle Coating
 * KP (System) = Kinesiological Predictive System (Fighting Sight)
 * NIS = Neural Interface System (ZERO System)
 * ACX = Air-Cushion Xerocolous
 * AMR = Aerial Mobility Retrofit
 * SMR = Space Mobility Retrofit
 * OLV = Orbital Launch Vehicle


 * DCMC = Dynamic Coterminous Modular Configuration
 * DCBC = Dynamic Coterminous Bimodular Configuration
 * DCTC = Dynamic Coterminous Trimodular Configuration


 * SHMV = Super-heavy Humanoid Military Vehicle
 * SHSPG = Super-heavy Humanoid Self-Propelled Gun
 * SHXMV = Super-heavy Humanoid Xerocolous Military Vehicle
 * SHMA = Super-heavy Humanoid Military Aircraft
 * SHMAS = Super-heavy Humanoid Military Aerospacecraft
 * SHMS = Super-heavy Humanoid Military Spacecraft
 * SHCV = Super-heavy Humanoid Command Vehicle
 * SHXCV = Super-heavy Humanoid Xerocolous Command Vehicle
 * STHMV = Super-heavy Tetrabrachio-chelate Humanoid Military Vehicle
 * SBWP = Super-heavy Bipedal Weapons Platform
 * SHAS = Super-heavy Humanoid Attack Submarine
 * SCCAS = Super-heavy Chelate Cephalothoracic Attack Submarine
 * SCMS = Super-heavy Cephalothoracic Military Spaceceaft
 * TCAE = Tridactylochelate Cephalobrachial Armoured Exoskeleton
 * BCAE = Brachiochelate Armoured Exoskeleton
 * CCAE = Chelate Cephalobrachial Armoured Exoskeleton


 * NBMV = Nonspecialised Battlespace Military Vehicles
 * XMV = Xerocolous Military Vehicles

Terminology:
 * Battlespace = The environment in which a vehicle is designed to be able to engage in combat effectively.
 * Multirole = In this classification system 'multirole' is used to describe a vehicle that is capable in both ranged and close quarters combat.
 * Gunship = In this classification system 'gunship' is used to describe a vehicle with a large variety of ranged weapons that can attack not only surface targets but also aerospace targets.
 * Special weapons = In this classification system 'special weapons' is used to describe vehicles with nonstandard or exotic weapons (usually CQC).
 * Xerocolous = Adapted for desert conditions.
 * Cephalothoracic = Cephalo (cephalic/cephalon) thoracic (torso/thorax) = 'of the head and torso'
 * Chelobrachial = Chelo (chelate) brachial (arms) = 'having arms with pincers'
 * Tetrabrachio-chelate = Tetra (four) brachio (brachial, of the arms) chelate (having pincers) = 'having four arms and pincers (the hyphen between Tetrabrachio and chelate means that only two arms are chelate)'
 * Tridactylochelate = Tri (three) dactylo (dactyl, the movable claw of a chela) chelate (having pincers) = 'having two 3-clawed pincers'

Notes :


 * I have not included 'Gunpla' derived from any of the After Colony vehicles in this blog post.
 * The 'H' ('Humanoid') in the acronym SHMV and it's derivatives implies; among other things; that all such vehicles are capable of traversing a solid surface under Earth; or Earth-like; gravity, despite some of those acronym derivatives classifying vehicles as submarines, aircraft, aerospacecraft or spacecraft.
 * The first 'D' ('Dynamic') in the initialism DCMC and it's derivatives means that the vehicle is capable of quickly altering it's configuration in the field under it's own power.
 * Vehicles that have 'Modular configuration' in their classfication have a particularly modular chassis but require an appropriately equipped hangar bay for equipment/chassis modification in contrast to vehicles designated as DCMC etc.
 * The description of each vehicle is seperated into segments defined by the use of a capital letter as emphasized in the following example:
 * Gundam Epyon — OoaK CQC Special weapons DCBC-SHMV
 * Gundam Epyon — OoaK ——— CQC ——— Special weapons ——— DCBC-SHMV
 *  —  ———  ———  ——— 
 * Mass production vehicles are not indicated as such in their description whilst all other production types are noted at the beginning of the description for vehicles other than mass production chassis.
 * Some vehicles are listed in more than one category:
 * Gundam Sandrock Custom — NBNV / XMV
 * Gundam Sandleon — NBNV / XMV
 * Gundam Sandleon Custom — NBNV / XMV

Questions from the author :
 * Is the Hovercraft Propulsion System used by the Gundam Sandrock and the Maganac and it's variants essentially a jettisonable system that looks similar to the bulky legs of the Olifant's Hovercraft Propulsion System?
 * Is the Gundam Sandrock Custom capable of atmospheric flight?
 * Is the Hydra Gundam's high mobility mode also capable of atmospheric flight?
 * What are the capabilities and performance increases of the Scorpio's mobile armour mode?
 * Is the Gundam Aesculapius capable of atmospheric flight?
 * What is the armour material(s) and battlespace capabilities of the Leo-N, Leo-R and Leo-S mobile suits?

Abridged contents :

1. Nonspecialised Battlespace Military Vehicles


 * Multirole


 * Ranged combat


 * CQC


 * Support


 * Technology Demonstration

2. Military Vehicles (ground warfare)


 * Ranged combat


 * CQC

3. Xerocolous Military Vehicles (desert warfare adapted)


 * Multirole


 * Ranged combat


 * CQC

4. Amphibious Military Vehicles


 * Ranged combat

5. Warships


 * Multirole

6. Military Aircraft


 * Ranged combat

7. Military Aerospacecraft


 * Multirole

8. Military Spacecraft


 * Multirole


 * Ranged combat


 * CQC

Comprehensive contents :

1. Nonspecialised Battlespace Military Vehicles


 * Multirole
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Tallgeese — Prototype Multirole SHMV
 * Tallgeese II — OoaK Multirole SHMV
 * Tallgeese III — OoaK Multirole SHMV
 * Leo — Multirole (AI)SHMV
 * Leo-R — Custom Multirole SHMV
 * Leo-S — Custom Multirole SHCV
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Wing Gundam — OoaK Multirole DCBC-SHMV
 * Wing Gundam Zero — Prototype Multirole DCBC-SHMV
 * Wing Gundam Seraphim — Multirole SHMV
 * Gundam Sandrock Custom — OoaK Multirole SHXMV
 * Hydra Gundam — Prototype Multirole DCBC-STHMV
 * Gundam Deathscythe Guilty Custom — Custom Multirole Stealth-AC Special weapons STHMV
 * Gundam Griepe — Prototype Multirole DCTC-SHMV
 * Virgo III — Multirole AI-SHMV
 * Gundanium alloy, Luna Ceramic and Fine Kevlar armour
 * Gundam Geminass 01 — Prototype Multirole SHMV
 * Gundam Geminass 02 — Prototype Multirole SHMV
 * Gundam L.O. Booster — Prototype Multirole DCBC-SHMV


 * Ranged combat
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Heavyarms Custom — OoaK SHMV gunship
 * Vayeate — Prototype Ranged combat (AI)SHMV
 * Vayeate Suivant — Prototype Ranged combat SHMV
 * Virgo — Ranged combat AI-SHMV
 * Neo-Titanium alloy armour
 * Serpent — SHMV gunship


 * CQC
 * Titanium alloy and Ceramic composite armour
 * Capricorn — Prototype CQC AI-SHMV
 * Gundanium alloy and Titanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Aesculapius — Prototype CQC DCBC-SHMV
 * Gundam Burnlapius — Prototype CQC Special weapons DCBC-SHMV
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Sandleon — CQC SHXMV
 * Gundam Sandleon Custom — CQC SHXMV
 * Gundam Deathscythe Hell — OoaK CQC Stealth-AC SHMV
 * Gundam Deathscythe Guilty — CQC Stealth-AC SHMV
 * Altron Gundam — OoaK CQC Special weapons SHMV
 * Gundam Epyon — OoaK CQC Special weapons DCBC-SHMV
 * Mercurius — Prototype CQC (AI)SHMV
 * Mercurius Suivant — Prototype CQC SHMV


 * Support
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Aquarius — OoaK Multirole AAIEW-SHMV


 * Technology Demonstration
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Lucifer — Prototype SHMV

2. Military Vehicles (ground warfare)


 * Ranged combat
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Heavyarms — OoaK SHMV gunship
 * Gundam Derringer Arms — SHMV gunship


 * CQC
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Leo-N — Custom CQC SHMV
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Deathscythe — OoaK CQC Stealth SHMV
 * Shenlong Gundam — OoaK CQC Special weapons SHMV

3. Xerocolous Military Vehicles (desert warfare adapted)


 * Multirole
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Maganac — Multirole SHXMV w/ ACX-BEJ
 * Maganac Abdul Custom — Custom Multirole SHXMV w/ ACX-BEJ
 * Maganac Ahmad Custom — Custom Multirole SHXMV w/ ACX-BEJ
 * Maganac Auda Custom — Custom Multirole SHXMV w/ ACX-BEJ
 * Maganac Rashid Kurama Custom — Custom Multirole SHXCV w/ ACX-BEJ
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Sandrock — OoaK Multirole SHXMV w/ ACX-BEJ
 * Gundam Sandrock Custom — OoaK Multirole SHXMV


 * Ranged combat
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Olifant — ACX-SBWP


 * CQC
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Gundam Sandleon — CQC SHXMV
 * Gundam Sandleon Custom — Custom CQC SHXMV

4. Amphibious Military Vehicles


 * Ranged combat
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Tragos — SHSPG w/ SPACS

5. Warships


 * Multirole
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Pisces — Multirole DCBC-SHAS
 * Cancer — Multirole DCBC-SCCAS

6. Military Aircraft


 * Ranged combat
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Aries — Ranged combat DCBC-SHMA

7. Military Aerospacecraft


 * Multirole
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Taurus (SK-12SMS) — Multirole DCBC-SHMAS

8. Military Spacecraft


 * Multirole
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Tallgeese Flugel — OoaK Multirole SHMS
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * Virgo II — Multirole Space superiority AI-SHMS
 * Scorpio — Prototype Multirole DCBC-(AI)SHMS


 * Ranged combat
 * Titanium alloy armour
 * Taurus (OZ-12SMS) — Ranged combat Space superiority DCBC-(AI)SHMS
 * Taurus (WF-12SMS) — Ranged combat Space superiority DCBC-SHMS
 *  — Ranged combat AI-SCMS


 * CQC
 * Gundanium alloy armour
 * T'ien-Lung Gundam — CQC Special weapons AIC-SHMS