XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock (also referred to as Gundam Zero-Four) is one of the five fictional Gundam mobile suits appearing in the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime and derivative works. During the course of the anime series, Sandrock piloted by Quatre Raberba Winner, and is upgraded to a new form: XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Kai.

The Sandrock suits were designed in 1995 by Kunio Okawara, along with many of the other mobile suits appearing in the anime. Sandrock Kai, along with the other four 'second-stage' Gundams, were later redesigned by Hajime Katoki for the 1997 OVA Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. The new design is now canonical. Retcon designs for Sandrock, along with the other four original Gundams were also created, which were published in Newtype magazine.

Role in plot

Gundam Sandrock is one of the five mobile suits sent to Earth as part of Operation Meteor; a plan whereby rebels would be able to weaken the controlling influence the United Earth Sphere Alliance and the Organization of the Zodiac (OZ) held over the orbital colonies. Sandrock was designed by Instructor H, and was launched from the cluster of orbital colonies located at the L4 Lagrange point.

Sandrock was piloted by Quatre from episode 1 until episode 17, where Sandrock is destroyed, allowing all five Gundam pilots to launch into space. The remains of Sandrock are retrieved in episode 20 by Sally Po and the Maganac Corps, the latter wishing to rebuild the Gundam for when they next meet Quatre. Quatre learns of the rebuilt Sandrock in episode 35, and retrieves it before travelling back into space in the next episode. In Episode 40 Sandrock is upgraded to Sandrock Kai to make it suitable for space combat. It should be noted both versions of the Sandrock feature the 'Cross-Crusher' weapon system, essentially a device in the shield which can mount both shotels in a pincer weapon. This feature is not seen in the Sandrock's Endless Waltz counterpart.

Sandrock Kai is used until the end of the series, and at one point is temporarily upgraded with the ZERO System. The suit appears in Endless Waltz, and in the various intermediary manga. Sandrock Kai is to be sent into the sun on a disposal satellite, but is retrieved by Quatre, along with three other Gundams. Sandrock Kai fights against the Mariemeia Army in Brussels, and is self-detonated at the end of the anime.

Variants

Sandrock Kai

The XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Kai, also referred to as the Sandrock Custom, is activated in episode 41 of the series. The suit, which has been modifed for space combat, is provided with a beam machinegun for additional long-range weaponry. In Endless Waltz, the suit is recoloured, the heat shotels are dramatically increased in size, and the machinegun is dropped.

Notes

• Sandrock goes under several names throughout its involvement in the Gundam Wing associated works. Sandrock is the name of the original Gundam in the anime, while Gundam Zero-Four is the designation given to the Gundam by its opponents. Sandrock Kai is the name of the upgraded Gundam in the anime, with the Japanese "Kai" meaning "Modified" in English. Sandrock Custom refers to the Gundam seen in Endless Waltz. No set name is used for the original retcon design, although Sandrock Ver. Ka. is used (Sandrock Version Katoki).
• The name Sandrock may be a reference to RX 78-6 Gundam Mudrock, which much like the five AC Gundams, spawned from a common base design, in Mudrock's case RX 78-1 Gundam, in Sandrock's case Wing Gundam Zero.

References

Technical data taken from

• Gundam Official - Sandrock. GundamOfficial.com. Bandai America. Retrieved on 2007-02-12..
• Mecha Anime HQ - Sandrock Kai (Anime version). Retrieved on 2007-02-12..
• Mecha Anime HQ - Sandrock Custom (OVA version). Retrieved on 2007-02-12..