Mobile Suit Model Numbers
Two decades ago, the original Mobile Suit Gundam television series identified the title robot by the goofy codename "Gundar X." Over the years, the assignment of mobile suit model numbers has become considerably more sophisticated. For your amusement and edification, here's an overview of what these cryptic code numbers really mean.
Anatomy of a Mobile Suit Designation
For this analysis, we'll borrow the vocabulary of U.S. military aircraft, the apparent inspiration for the Gundam saga's alphanumeric labels. In this terminology, the complete string of letters and numbers is referred to as the mobile suit's designation. The designation can be broken down into the following parts...
Type
Code
Model
Number
Variant
Code
Block
Number
MS
-
06
R
-
1
In the above example, we consider the Principality of Zeon's Zaku II High Mobility Type. Its type code and model number indicate that it's a general-purpose mobile suit, the sixth in its series - in short, the MS-06 Zaku II. The variant code and block number further identify this as the first version of the R type Zaku II. Such variant codes are often used to identify variations and customizations - such as "D" for desert, "K" for cannon, "M" for marine and so forth - but they're not always used consistently.
While most of the Gundam saga's organizations use designations similar to the above example, each uses its own characteristic type codes and numbering system. We'll discuss each in turn, below.
Earth Federal Forces
Federal Forces designations consist of a type code, model number, variant code, and block number. For mobile weapons, the type code begins with the letter "R," and the model number is the UC year in which development began. Fighter craft type codes begin with the letter "F," and the model number is simply a sequential number. Here are the known type codes, their apparent meanings, and examples.
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
RX
Experimental mobile suit
RX-78 Gundam
RB
Mobile pod
RB-79 Ball
RGC
Mass-produced Guncannon
RGC-80 GM Cannon
RGM
Mass-produced Gundam
RGM-79 GM
RGZ
Mass-produced Zeta Gundam
RGZ-91 Re-GZ
RMS
Mass-produced mobile suit
RMS-106 Hizack
RMV
Mass-produced Guntank
RMV-1 Guntank II
FA
Full armor type
FA-78 Gundam Full Armor Type
FF
Fighter
FF-X7 Core Fighter
In Zeta Gundam and ZZ Gundam - circa UC 0087 to UC 0089 - the Federal Forces briefly adopt a different model number scheme. In this system, the first two digits of the model number indicate where the mobile suit was developed, while the third digit indicates the sequential order. Thus, the RMS-106 Hizack is the sixth mobile suit type developed at Granada. Here are the available development codes...
Model Number
Development Location
Example
10*
Granada
RMS-106 Hizack
11*
Luna II
RMS-117 Galbaldy Beta
12*
Konpei Island
13*
Gate of Sedan
RX-139 Hambrabi
14*
Pezun
RMS-142 Xeku Eins
15*
New Guinea
RMS-154 Barzam
16*
Kilimanjaro
RX-160 Byarlant
17*
Gryps
RX-178 Gundam Mark II
18*
19*
Jaburo
RMS-188MD Zaku Diver
RMS-192M Zaku Mariner
Anaheim Electronics
Anaheim Electronics, though a contractor for many Federal Forces mobile suits, uses its own designation system for the mobile suits it constructs for the AEUG resistance group. The type codes of its mobile suits begin with "MS," followed by either the default "A" for "Anaheim," or the initial of a project or project supervisor. The model numbers indicate the order in which they were developed.
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
MSA
Anaheim design
MSA-003 Nemo
MSF
Kazumi Fujita design
MSF-007 Gundam Mark III
MSK
Kalaba design
MSK-008 Dijeh
MSN
Mamoru Nagano design
MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki
MSZ
Project Zeta design
MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam
FXA
Auxiliary vehicle
FXA-05D G-Defenser
Newtype Labs
Mobile suits and mobile armors developed by the Earth Federation's newtype labs use a modified form of the RX type code, followed by a model number. It's implied that the artificial newtypes produced by these organizations are also catalogued in this fashion - at one point, artificial newtype Four Murasame is referred to by the designation MRX-004.
Type Code
Manufacturer
Example
MRX
Murasame Labs
MRX-009 Psyco Gundam
NRX
Unidentified newtype labs
NRX-044 Asshimar
ORX
Augusta Labs
ORX-005 Gaplant
Paptimus Scirocco
The handmade mobile suits created by doublecrossing genius Paptimus Scirocco - a major character in Zeta Gundam - use the type code PMX, followed by a sequential model number. Curiously, the model numbers begin with zero, as Scirocco's first creation is the PMX-000 Messala.
Principality of Zeon
Zeon mobile weapons are identified by a type code, model number, variant code, and block number. As in the modern-day U.S. air force, prototype versions are designated with the status prefix "Y"; for example, the prototype version of the MS-14 Gelgoog is the YMS-14. Here are the observed type codes...
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
MS
General-purpose mobile suit
MS-06F Zaku II
MSM
Amphibious mobile suit
MSM-03 Gogg
MSN
Newtype mobile suit
MSN-02 Zeong
MA
General-purpose mobile armor
MA-05 Bigro
MAM
Amphibious mobile armor
MAM-07 Grabro
MAN
Newtype mobile armor
MAN-08 Elmeth
Neo Zeon
The Axis (later known as Neo Zeon) forces in Zeta Gundam and Gundam ZZ use type codes beginning with "AM," followed by a sequential model number and optional variant code. Many of these model numbers are three-digit numbers that begin with a "1," which apparently indicates that they were created by a second design team. Thus, the AMX-003 Gaza C and AMX-103 Hamma Hamma are each the third product of their respective design teams. The second Neo Zeon movement featured in Char's Counterattack uses the same system, with the exception of the MSN-03 Jagd Doga and MSN-04 Sazabi, which continue the tradition of the Principality of Zeon's MSN-02 Zeong. Here are the known type codes...
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
AMX
Axis mobile weapon
AMX-003 Gaza C
AMX-101 Galluss J
AMS
Axis mobile suit
AMS-119 Geara Doga
AMA
Axis mobile armor
AMA-01X Jamru Fin
NZ
Unknown
NZ-000 Quin Mantha
NZ-333 Alpha Azieru
Crossbone Vanguard
Gundam F91's Crossbone Vanguard use the type codes "XM" for mobile suits and "XMA" for mobile armors, followed by a sequential model number. For examples, see the XM-01 Den'an Zon and XMA-01 Rafflesia.
SNRI
The Earth Fderation's Strategic Naval Research Institute, or SNRI, uses a unique scheme for its Formula Project. Here, the first digit indicates the function of the mobile suit, and the second digit indicates the order of development.
Prefix
Function
Example
F7*
Long-range support type
F71 G-Cannon
F8*
General-purpose type
F9*
Advanced fighter type
F91 Gundam
Jupiter Empire
The Jupiter Empire of Crossbone Gundam uses the prefixes "EMS" for mobile suits and "EMA" for mobile armors, where the "E" stands for Empire. Thus, the Jupiter Empire's standard mobile suit is the EMS-06 Batara, and among their mobile armor lineup is the EMA-04 Elefante.
League Militaire
Victory Gundam's League Militaire uses an unusual, and rather complex, designation system. A series of digits tally the number of parts the mobile suit separates into, how many generators it has, and the number of main thruster systems. After this comes a letter-and-digit combination that represents the mobile suit type, and finally a variant number. Here's the LM312V06 Victory Gundam Hexa, as an example...
Component
Count
Generator
Count
Thruster
Count
Type
Code
Variant
Number
LM
3
1
2
V0
6
A separate system is used for support devices, of which the only example is the Victory-Dash Gundam's overhang pack. Its designation is SD-VB03A, which indicates that it's a support device, specifically the third booster developed for the Victory type, and that its function is Attack.
Zanscare Empire
Victory Gundam's Zanscare Empire uses a slightly less complex scheme for its own mobile weapons. In addition to a type code and model number, the designation includes an optional status code ("T" for prototype "Test" versions) and ends with a one-letter code indicating the environment for which the mobile weapon was designed - "S" for "Space," "M" for "Marine," or "G" for "Ground." As an example, here's the ZMT-S12G Shokew.
Status
Code
Type
Code
Model
Number
Environment
Code
ZM
T
-
S
12
G
And here are the type codes used by the Zanscare Empire...
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
S
Mobile suit
ZM-S09G Tomliatt
A
Mobile armor
ZM-A05G Recarl
D
"Dual" or transformable type
ZMT-D11S Abigor
G Gundam
In the alternate universe of G Gundam, the model numbers of the Gundam mobile fighters indicate the number of the current Gundam Fight, the country the Gundam in question represents, and how that country ranked in the last Gundam Fight. As an example, here's Neo Japan's GF13-017NJ Shining Gundam..
Gundam Fight
Number
Previous
Ranking
Nationality
GF13
-
017
NJ
Other designations are used for regular mobile weapons, but these schemes vary from nation to nation. Neo Japan uses the type codes JMF, JMF, and JMA for mobile fighters, mobile suits, and mobile armors respectively; for example, the Neo Japanese military's standard mobile suit is the JMS60 Busshi.
Gundam Wing
In the alternate universe of Gundam Wing, the majority of the mobile suits used by the Earth Alliance and the various factions which conspire to overthrow it are developed by OZ, a subsidiary of the powerful Romefeller Syndicate. All the mobile suits used by the Alliance and its treacherous allies bear the name OZ in their designations, followed by a sequential model number and a type code. As an example, consider the space mobile suit OZ-12SMS Taurus...
Model
Number
Type
Code
OZ
-
12
SMS
And here are the type codes used by OZ.
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
MS
Mobile suit
OZ-06MS Leo
AMS
Aerial mobile suit
OZ-07AMS Aries
MMS
Marine mobile suit
OZ-09MMS Pisces
SMS
Space mobile suit
OZ-12SMS Taurus
MD
Mobile doll
OZ-02MD Virgo
The Gundams used by the protagonists all use the designation "XXXG-01", with a one- or two-letter variant code tacked on the end. For example, the Wing Gundam's model number is XXXG-01W. The ancestor of all the Gundams is the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero.
There are a few mobile suits that aren't designed by either OZ or the Gundam-creating mad scientists. Among these holdouts are the WMS-03 Maganac, and the MMS-01 Serpent used by the Mariemaia Army in the Endless Waltz video series.
Gundam X
In the alternate universe of Gundam X, the mobile suits used by the now-defunct Earth Federation during the Seventh Space War have a two- or three-letter prefix followed by a four-digit model number. Prefixes for the Gundam series of mobile suits begin with "G", i.e. the GX-9900 Gundam X. The Federation's mass-produced mobile suits have prefixes beginning with "D" - for example, the Ball-like DT-6600 Dautap, the GM-like DT-6800 Daughtress, and the amphibious DTM-7000 Daughseat.
The reborn New Federation uses type codes that begin with "NR", followed by a sequential model number...
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
NRX
Experimental mobile suit
NRX-0013 Gundam Vasargo
NR
Mass-produced mobile suit
NR-001 Valient
NRMA
Mass-produced mobile armor
NRMA-006 Gadeel
The Space Revolutionary Army uses a similar sort of naming scheme to the One Year War-era Principality of Zeon...
Type Code
Apparent Meaning
Example
RMS
General-purpose mobile suit
RMS-006 Jenice
RMSN
Newtype mobile suit
RMSN-008 Bertigo
MA
General-purpose mobile armor
MA-06 Grandine
MAN
Newtype mobile armor
MAN-003 Patulia
Turn A Gundam
The antagonists of Turn A Gundam, the lunar Moonrace, use a variety of seemingly inconsistent designations. In general, mobile suits like the MRC-F20 Sumo and FLAT-L06D Flat seem to follow a pattern of type code, function code, model number, and variant code, but for the time being we lack concrete information about the meaning of these designations
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