Underrated GM Custom wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 3:34 pm
True the AEUG was definitely resource constrained and Luna Titanium is extremely expensive (plus replacement armor!). But it is used by their Ace Pilot so you'd think they would want the best protection possible. Mafty's point makes a lot of sense though, since the AEUG rarely ever got a break during Zeta they probably didn't have time to do a full strip down and replacement since MK-II was always on combat alert.
Well, if we are only talking about armour, then I don't think we need a full strip down.
EFF designs are focused on ease of maintenance(compared to Zeon designs) and exchanged mass performance with easily changeable armour.
Although I do wonder, perhaps they did replace the armor, either piece by piece or after it suffers extensive damage and since it happens off screen its not mentioned. Perhaps a bit far-fetched since kit manuals are detailed enough I'd be surprised they would leave that off. I wonder if any other manuals for the Super Gundam specifically cal out that the MK-II is still using Ti-Ceramic composite, if so that would certainly disapprove that theory.
I'd say if we look at RoJR, AE likely just produced whatever material they see fit and easy to obtain when they produced new armour for the Mk-II. Just like the Gelgoogs with newest armour material(likely referring to Gundarium gamma)
However, during the Gryps war, Karmille almost have the Mk-II undamaged, so I doubt it got any armour upgrade.(internal parts, maybe)
The Japanese wikipedia claims the in MS Graphica, they listed the armour material as "Titanium alloy ceramic composite(Luna Titanium Alloy)" (Also notice this is the first time a "4th unit" appeared, so maybe the 4th unit armour is different)
I guess they didn't bother too much about the Mk-II because its main problem isn't the armour, since Lunar Titanium(Gundarium alpha) isn't that much stronger than the composite(the foam metal only give it an extra hit according to the PG Gundam manual) It is about the movable frame not being made with Gundarium gamma, and while it gave it good performance, the weakness in the frame rendered it impossible to have better performance. In the dawning age of beam weaponry where they can come up with a concept to reduce armour to obtain higher evasion rate even for a Gundarium gamma armour MS(Hyakushiki), I doubt you really want to just replace the amour of Mk-II.
Y'know I completely forgot they shoved Yazan into a MK-II. I'll have to reread RoJR sometime, I'm currently in the middle of Sentinel so I'll probably hit that one next, well unless another issue of 0083 Rebellion releases :D .
Yazan's Mk-II is relatively new in the manga, so just reread from vol. 17 or so.
Oh man, I just love how Yazan reacted when he knew they gave him a Gundam(and ironically a Mk-II, I mean, they also have a RX-78 derivative for Johnny-ko[Ingrid], which will definitely be less offensive to Yazan) One of the arc performance of Ark Performance