Metal Gear D was a nuclear-armed bipedal tank, redesigned from the original TX-55 Metal Gear prototype,[1] featuring a more streamlined design and improved weaponry.
Information
Metal Gear D's standard arsenal was comprised of a 60mm rotary cannon, a 5.56mm machinegun and a six-missile pod that could be armed with several different types of warhead.[2] While its main purpose was to serve as a mobile launch platform for short-to-medium range nuclear warheads, it could also function as a weapon of conventional warfare.
It also carried a sensor system that consisted of the main camera, laser sights, an image sensor, and an infrared sensor.
One of its flaws was the method of transport: As it weighed over 60 metric tons, and its overall size was around 6 meters even if it is compacted, it was incapable of being transported by any existing cargo planes such as the C130 Hercules.
Because of its immense size, a new helicopter, the Gigant, was developed to transport Metal Gear D. D would be airlifted to an area 25-30 kilometers from its target destination and then proceed on its own at a maximum speed of 45km/h.[2]
Standard armament variations
|
Standard Armament | |
|
60 mm rotary cannon |
Multiple barrel types (3) |
|
5.56 mm machine gun |
Shell types:
|
|
Missile pod (holds 6 missiles) |
Warhead types:
|
History
Origins
Metal Gear D was developed by Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar for Zanzibar Land in 1998,[2] much like the prototype TX-55 was for Outer Heaven, three years prior. However, unlike its predecessor, Madnar designed D of his own free will.
Zanzibar Land had intended to mass-produce Metal Gear D, with a total of 21 units serving within the country's Tactical Army, divided among 3 Special Task Forces.[2] A small-scaled version, known as Metal Gear G (codenamed "Gustav") was also to have undergone mass-production.[2] However, neither of these plans would ultimately be realized.
Zanzibar Land Disturbance
- Main article: Zanzibar Land Disturbance
Metal Gear D's visual sensors.
Metal Gear D was used during Zanzibar Land's raid of nuclear disposal sites. Gray Fox later used D's missiles to destroy Zanzibar Land's Bridge of Sorrow, preventing his former comrade, Solid Snake, from rescuing kidnapped biologist, Dr. Kio Marv.
After Snake reached Zanzibar Land's detention camp via an alternative route, Fox piloted Metal Gear D in battle with him, in an underground complex beneath the facility. Snake exploited the Metal Gear's weakpoint, attacking its legs with fragmentation grenades, and was ultimately successful in destroying it. Fox survived the ensuing explosion, though Snake lost all his equipment in the fire.
Behind the scenes
Metal Gear G
The mecha design of Metal Gear D was chosen through an internal contest between Konami's artists, with the primary criteria being realism. The final design is credited to Tomohiro Nishio.[2] The BGM track "Mechanic" is used as the battle theme for both Metal Gear D and the Hind D.
Metal Gear D made cameo appearances in both Metal Gear Solid 3 and Metal Gear Solid 4, as an obscure blueprint among Dr. Granin's Metal Gear designs,[3] and as a still image during Big Mama's reminiscence, respectively. The former has caused some fans to speculate that Granin may have designed Metal Gear D, though there is no official confirmation that this cameo appearance was anything but an in-game Easter egg (unlike Metal Gear REX, whose likeness later appears in succeeding prequel games). It should be noted, however, that the director's commentary indicated that the "D" like blueprint was actually intended to be one of Metal Gear RAY.[4]
Concept artwork in the Peace Walker Official Art Works book had a design resembling Metal Gear D, and was in fact called a similar name, implying that Metal Gear D was considered to appear in some fashion in Peace Walker.
Metal Gear D also appeared in the Versus Battle section of the series official site.
- "STRENGTHS: Rotary Cannon, Missiles, Packs a Nuke
WEAKNESSES: Tough to Transport, Bipedal Only
FEATURED FACT: METAL GEAR D’s development was based on the TX-55, but with enhanced design, functionality & componentry, including improved weaponry
FEATURED GAME: METAL GEAR SOLID: THE LEGACY COLLECTION" - -Metal Gear D on Versus Battle.
Appearances
- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (cameo)
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (cameo)
References
- ^ Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1990).
Drago Pettrovich Madnar: ...The one you destroyed [TX-55 Metal Gear] three years ago [sic] was only a prototype... The new, improved Metal Gear [D] is many, many times more powerful! - ^ a b c d e f Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - User's Manual, Konami Corporation (1990). Translated version courtesy of G&T Soft.
- ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, (2004).
A design for a D-like Metal Gear can be seen in Granin's office, when the player is given a second opportunity to view his blueprints, using the R1 button. They are situated to the right of the Metal Gear REX designs. - ^ http://muni_shinobu.webs.com/mgs3/commentary.html
Gallery
| Metal Gears |
|---|
| Walking vehicles (nuclear strategy) |
| Metal Gear RAXA — Intercontinental Ballistic Metal Gear Peace Walker (Basilisk) — Metal Gear ZEKE Metal Gear Sahelanthropus TX-55 Metal Gear — Metal Gear D — Metal Gear REX |
| Related weapons |
| Shagohod — AI weapons (Pupa, Chrysalis, Cocoon) Walker Gear — Battle Gear — Metal Gear G (Gustav) Arsenal Gear — Outer Haven — Gekko — Metal Gear Mk. II / III Metal Gear EXCELSUS |
| Non-canon Metal Gears |
| Metal Gear 1 / VRC-4 (Supercomputer) — Metal Gear 2 — Metal Gear GANDER Metal Gear (Eldera) — Metal Gear KODOQUE — Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh |