The TMF/A-802W2 Kerberos BuCUE Hound is a variant of the TMF/A-802
BuCUE introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED CE 73: STARGAZER.
Features
The Kerberos BuCUE Hound is the latest variant of the BuCUE. It is created to extend the life of the BuCUE series and to complement the "New Millennium" series of MS. The main modification made to the suit is the addition of a turret attachment piece on the back, allowing it to use the
ZAFT Armed Keeper of Unity Wizard System. This also improves suit versatility, weapon selection, and simplifies equipment maintenance and procurement. However, most of the Wizard System's weapon packs are designed for humanoid mobile suits, making it difficult for a beast-like quadruple mobile suit to utilize them to their full potential. To address this issue, the Kerberos Wizard was developed.
To complement the Kerberos Wizard, which is designed specifically for close-range combat, the BuCUE's head has been redesigned and equipped with a Beam Fang system that emits short-beam blades. This weapon system is also installed in the Kerberos Wizard's two "heads", which also contain a pair of beam cannons. As each of these "heads" is equipped with its own tracking and target acquisition system, they are able to attack from different directions simultaneously. The Kerberos Wizard also includes additional thrusters to improve mobility, allowing the BuCUE Kerberos Hound to get closer and attack enemy units more easily. The Kerberos Wizard can be equipped with a ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior, creating the ZGMF-1000 Kerberos ZAKU Warrior, but the Kerberos Wizard's unique structure and programming have made it most effective when used in the form of the Kerberos BuCUE Hound.
Armaments
- Beam Fang System: The Kerberos BuCUE Hound's close combat system, it is mounted on the main head and the Kerberos Wizard's "heads". The beam attachment system in the main head can emit 5 short blades, 1 from the "mouth" and 4 from the sides of the mono-eye sensor, with 2 blades pointing forward and 2 blades pointing down. The system in the Kerberos Wizard's "heads" is mounted on the horns and only emits 2 beam blades, one pointing forward and one pointing to the side. When the Kerberos Wizard is mounted on the ZAKU Warrior/ZAKU Phantom, the horns can be removed and used as a handheld beam blade. In this form, the horns can be combined, forming a dual beam blade.
- Beam Cannon: A pair of beam cannons located in the "mouth" of each Kerberos Wizard's "head". As the Kerberos Wizard is mounted on a rotating turret, the pair of cannons have a wide firing radius. Due to the design of the aiming system on the "heads", the effective range of the cannons is shortened but in return they gain a higher rate of fire which is useful for restricting the enemy during close combat.
Variants
TMF/A-802W2 Blaze BuCUE Hound
History
Created after the end of the First Alliance-PLANT War, the Kerberos BuCUE Hound is an upgraded variant of the original BuCUE. The name of this BuCUE variant is derived from the three heads (one on the body and two on the Kerberos Wizard), which are similar to those of the mythical Cerberus (Kerberos).
During the Second Alliance-PLANT War, a team of Kerberos BuCUE Hounds are part of a strike force ZAFT who attacked the Earth Alliance's Hannibal-class starship Bonaparte. Working together, the team takes down the GAT-X1022 Blu Duel Gundam, killing its pilot Mudie Holcroft. The team is then destroyed by Sven Cal Bayang in his GAT-X105E Strike Black Gundam.
A custom colored Kerberos BuCUE Hound is used by the ZAFT driver Isaac Mau, who joined the crew of the Mars ship Acidalium. Using the machine, he and the Acidalium pilots fought against the Earth Alliance several times. The first fight took place during an encounter between the Mars pilot Ergnes Brahe and members of Phantom Pain, whose sole interest is to gain information from Ergnes on the mysterious ZAFT superweapon used during the Battle of Aprilius One. Later, Phantom Pain collaborates with the Orb Union to destroy the Mars ship, leading to a battle between the Acidalium and a joint Phantom Pain-Orb attack force using GAT-01A2R105 Slaughter Daggers. In this battle, Isaac is able to destroy the Missile Launcher and Lightning 105 Slaughter Daggers, which bombard the ship from afar.
Another custom Kerberos BuCUE Hound owned by the ZAFT pilot Alec Lad, assigned to the Republic of East Asia. In addition to using the usual Kerberos wizard, he also uses the Blaze Wizard.
Did you know?
- The Kerberos BuCUE Hound holds the honor of being the first mass-produced Mobile Suit to defeat a Gundam-type unit in the Cosmic Era timeline.
- Kerberos is another name for Cerberus, a three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hell in Greek mythology.
- The Gundam SEED DESTINY MS encyclopedic book states that the Kerberos BuCUE Hound is equipped with Phase Shift armor, but this claim is not corroborated by other books or sources.