Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Big Ruf is a modified Bigro unit designed to strike at enemy vanguard fleets. The Big Ruf is equipped with a very powerful fusion reactor to power a Minovsky particle scattering system that jams warship and MS sensors. Propulsion includes a pair of nuclear powered rocket engines and an extra pair of boosters, giving it a powerful thrust. Armaments include a pair of large claw arms with limited AMBAC ability, a mega-particle cannon in the nose, two 4-tube missile launchers, and two 6-tube Missile Launchers on the extra pair of boosters. Mounted underneath the Big Ruf is an anti-ship missile with a total length of approximately 100 meters, which is the same type that was used by space fortresses.
History
At A Baoa Qu in early December of U.C. 0079, three MA-05 Bigro units were converted into MA-05R Big Ruf's. During testing, one of the MA-05R Big Ruf units was assigned to Colonel Robert Gilliam and painted in his blue personal colors, but apparently somebody else piloted it during the Battle of A Baoa Qu. All three Big Ruf units were reported lost during the final battle of the One Year War.
One heavily modified unit was used by the Republic of Zeon in U.C. 0096. On December 8, when Riddhe Marcenas broke into Republic of Zeon territory in his ReZEL Type-C (Defenser a-Unit) (GR), this unit engaged Riddhe, firing its mega particle cannon at him. Though initially at a disadvantage, Riddhe was able to destroy the Big Ruf's booster with his hyper beam saber. The Big Ruf's main unit survived intact, but was forced to stop its pursuit, since it was nearing the restricted area around the Magallanica.