Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Gaza A was also produced and deployed by Zeon Mars—the Zeon remnants of the Kycilia faction—which cooperated with Axis in the control and development of Mars. It was used primarily in the construction of the Martian spaceport and the military fortification of bases. While the basic design remained the same as its Axis counterpart, internal components were modified to better suit the environmental conditions on Mars.
One notable derivative is the AMX-003M Gaza-M, an underwater-use variant developed from surplus Gaza A units. This machine was specifically manufactured for infiltration missions targeting ReZeon’s underground glacier base, where the Inle was under reconstruction. Optimized for underwater combat, the Gaza-M does not feature a transformation mechanism and is restricted to MA mode only—though it retains limited mobility on land using its claw arms as legs.
The Gaza-M preserves the dual shoulder drum frame structure, allowing for flexible movement, and replaces its arms with those of the AMX-006 Gaza-D. Its shoulder binders are also based on the Gaza D’s but have been upgraded to house large missile pods and underwater thrusters. The head unit's sensors have been re-tuned for aquatic operations, and a quadruple missile launcher—originally an optional weapon for the EMS-05 Agg—is installed on the lower center of the fuselage. (This same launcher is also seen on the right arm of the GM Quel equipped with the Zssa Booster.)
In combat, the Gaza-M employs tactics similar to the MA-05 Bigro and its underwater derivative, the MAM-07 Grublo: it closes in at high speed and delivers a hit-and-run assault with its claws. Thanks to its drum frame, the general-purpose Gaza A can be easily adapted for various missions, including underwater warfare. Some units have even been outfitted with large cranes, while others were armed and repurposed as mobile artillery turrets.
History
The Oggo's fuselage structure, which served as a reference in the design of the Gaza A, featured a shape with excellent pressure resistance and airtightness, making it well-suited for conversion into an underwater-use machine. In fact, during the One Year War, there were underwater-spec mobile pods based on the Oggo that were deployed for aquatic construction and maintenance tasks alongside the Zaku Marine Type.
Both the Gaza M and the AMX-008M Ga-Zowmn Marine Type inherited and adapted these qualities, utilizing Gaza A fuselage parts to maintain structural integrity and airtightness under water. The commander unit, piloted by Colt, received additional upgrades. Its fuselage adopted the shape and sealing principles of the Z'Gok, a dedicated amphibious MS, to further enhance water pressure resistance.
During Operation Shining Star in U.C.0091, a coordinated assault was launched on ReZeon's underground glacier base. The Ga-Zowmn Marine Type squad, specializing in close-quarters combat, made landfall on a riverside iceberg and advanced overland. Simultaneously, the Helios Mariner and Gaza M units, accompanied by the Hoshimaru and Colt squads, infiltrated from beneath the surface. These teams navigated along pipelines, while surface units advanced above them, converging on the floodgate of the power generation facility located deep within the underground base. Even further inside was the nearly completed Inle, hidden at the heart of ReZeon’s secret base.