The BuCUE TMF/A-802 is a Mobile Suit featured in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED .

Features

Developed by the Asimov Design Bureau, which was responsible for developing ZAFT's ground combat units, the BuCUE features a unique four-legged, beast-like form inspired by tanks and helicopters. The BuCUE's legs are equipped with tracks, allowing it to transform between two modes of movement: quadruped mode for traversing terrain with many obstacles, and cruise mode (also known as tank mode). It can quickly traverse flat terrain and is particularly effective in areas unsuitable for walking, such as deserts and snowy plains. Additionally, thrusters on its wings allow it to turn quickly. Due to its superior mobility, the BuCUE's combat capability far surpassed its opponent - the OMNI Enforcer's linear tank, with a single BuCUE capable of competing with a platoon of tanks. The model's prefix "TMF/A" stands for "Terrestrial Maneuver Fighter/Attacker".

As the BuCUE's armor is concentrated in the frontal direction, its abdominal armor is relatively weaker, and a single hit in this area can cause critical damage. However, the cruise mode, in which all four of the BuCUE's legs are folded, can be used to protect the abdomen from attacks by infantry, etc. Although the BuCUE is not equipped with fixed weapons, its rear turret is capable of mounting several types of armaments, including a pair of 450 mm cannons for engaging tanks or a 13-tube missile pod for anti-fortification attacks. However, it was not designed for close-quarters combat, and its form factor is ill-suited for close-quarters combat with enemy MSs. Therefore, following the capture of Heliopolis' G-weapons, late-production BuCUEs are equipped with the front beam sabers of other mobile suits.

Armaments

• Twin 450mm Railgun: One of two weapons that can be mounted on the turret at the rear of the machine, this dual-barreled cannon uses electricity to accelerate projectiles. The projectiles are equipped with plasma warheads that can destroy a linear tank in a single shot. Thanks to the BuCUE's quadrupedal design, it is able to fire the cannon continuously, without fear of recoil.
• 13-tube 400mm Missile Pod: The other weapon that can be mounted on the turret at the rear of the machine, since the turret is a rotating type, the missile launcher can be aimed in all directions. A sensor is installed at the end of the warheads to automatically recognize and track enemy targets.
• Twin Beam Saber: Mounted in the head of the late-production BuCUE, these beam sabers are based on those used by G-weapons as well as data collected from YFX-200 CGUE DEEP Arms. The BuCUE was given priority for deployment of these beam weapons, as its form factor and equipment means it suffers in close combat against MS.

History

ZAFT enlists Winslet World Konzern of the neutral Kingdom of Scandinavia for the development and testing of the BuCUE, ensuring that the mobile suit can function even in arctic environments. The BuCUE is finally unveiled by ZAFT on March 15, CE 70, just as Operation Uroboros is approved by the PLANT Supreme Council, and will become one of the primary MSs for the operation. The BuCUE makes its combat debut on May 30, during the Battle of Suez, when it devastates the Eurasian Federation's massive linear tank corps at El Alamein thanks to the cunning tactics of Commander Andrew Warthfeld.

In CE 71, following ZAFT's theft of the four Project G MSs, the latest production BuCUE equipped with a dual-beam saber began to deploy. On February 15, CE 71, the Archangel, after descending to Earth and landing in Africa, was attacked by the Warthfeld Corps, including five BuCUEs. Initially, the BuCUEs had the upper hand over the Archangel MS, Launcher Strike Gundam, which was not yet adapted to the desert environment. However, the pilot of the Strike, Kira Yamato quickly rewrote his programs to adapt to the new terrain and destroyed two BUCUEs in combat. The other three BuCUEs were then lured into a trap by the Desert Dawn resistance group and destroyed.

After the Warthfeld Corps' first engagement with the Archangel, Andrew sent three BuCUEs to set the Desert Dawn village ablaze during the attack on Tassil. The next morning, as these BuCUEs were on their way back to their base, they were attacked by members of the Desert Dawn who wanted revenge for the attack on their village. Although determined, most of the group was quickly killed by the BuCUEs, with the rest only surviving thanks to the intervention of Kira's GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam. During the battle, Andrew personally piloted a BuCUE and led the attack against Kira. However, after entering SEED, Kira was able to destroy one of the BuCUEs and damage Andrew's, causing the ZAFT forces to retreat.

Andrew deploys his five remaining BuCUEs (all late production types) during the Battle of Talbadiya, while piloting his TMF/A-803 LaGOWE. However, all BuCUEs in the battle are destroyed by the Aile Strike Gundam.

BuCUEs are deployed in large numbers during Operation Spitbreak, the attack on the Earth Alliance headquarters JOSH-A. Most of these units are destroyed when the base's Cyclops system is activated.

Shortly after the end of the First Alliance-PLANT War, and before the outbreak of the Second Alliance-PLANT War in CE 73, ZAFT developed an improved model of the BuCUE, the TMF/A-802W2 Kerberos BuCUE Hound. However, the BuCUE remained in service, with a large number of units participating in various battles of the Second World War, including the attack on Gulnahan Ravine, the battle against the GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundam during the Battle of Berlin and Operation Angel Down.

During the ZAFT coup in CE75, the BuCUE are deployed by loyalist forces under the command of Andrew Warthfeld to regain control of PLANT.