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DWM-02MS Schutzwald
Model number: DWM-02MS
After sinking considerable funding and effort into space exploration, for relatively unknown purposes, the Europe-based defense firm Dahlgren Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (Dahlgren Weapons and Munitions Factories) announced amid much fanfare that it was entering the mobile suit market in mid-UC 228. Although the rather conventional design of its mobile suits were never adopted in large numbers, as hoped, by the Earth Union's armed forces, DWM was able to pitch the design to other world military forces and armed organizations who needed a reliable but economical multi-role combat unit. However, rumors have persisted about DWM's mobile suit designs and their allegedly "superficial" resemblance to alien technology utilized by the Gun Saints during the pre-Interregnum period. The DWM-02MS Schutzwald ("Walled Forest") is a derivative of the original Gespenst mobile suit, specifically optimized for maximum firepower and other functions as a support unit. The body and frame are heavily reinforced, lending to a much "chunkier" appearance than the Gespenst. Likewise, significant thruster power has been sacrificed to improve armor protection and reduce overheating problems, leading to an overall drop in performance. To increase the Schutzwald's survivability in spite of the reduction in speed and maneuverability, DWM was successful - at great cost - in miniaturizing an anti-beam barrier generator to a size capable of being installed in a mobile suit. The resultant power demands of the Schutzwald tripled over the Gespenst, necessitating the installation of a much more powerful reactor. While the Schutzwald is capable of utilizing most handheld Gespenst weapons, its primary armament is the battery of new offensive systems fixed to the mobile suit's frame. The prime weapon of the Schutzwald are the twin beam cannons mounted over its shoulders, providing it with excellent mid-range support capability. The cannons can be salvo-fired, and are even independently-targetable if the pilot has enough skill to track two targets simultaneously. Due to their power requirements, the Schutzwald has to remain relatively stationary during firing. A half-dozen heavy machine cannons are evenly divided in the Schutzwald's arms, allowing it to direct an impressive amount of firepower while on the move, and two "Gundam-style" vulcan guns in the mobile suit's head provide for local defense. The Gespenst's beam saber has been retained, though relocated to a new position on the inside of the wrist. Compared to the Gespenst, the Schutzwald has not been nearly as widely-produed due to its staggeringly higher production cost. The cramming necessary to fit the beam barrier, high-output reactor, additional weapons and thick armor plating has also made the Schutzwald a "hangar queen", and its internals are notoriously finicky. While DWM has stressed the old maxim "you get what you pay for" in regards to the Schutzwald's price tag (and the cost of spare parts), the mobile suit's tendency to only appear among the most well-financed organizations should speak for itself.
Beam saber Cannon detail Cockpit M13 shotgun M89 beam rifle M950 machine gun Rear view Rear view (with cannons) |
