Technology & Combat Characteristics
Proposed by Zimmad as one of the competing designs for Zeon's next generation space-use mobile suit in the middle stage of the One Year War, the MS-09R was a variant of the ground-use MS-09 Dom. The MS-09 was chosen as the developmental base due to its good basic design. Its block structure was a major factor that enabled its specifications to be easily changed without modifications to its basic frame.
The MS-09R removed the ground-use equipment of its predecessor and replaced them with space-use equipment, increasing its propellant capacity and its vernier thruster output. The thermonuclear jet engines on its feet were replaced with thermonuclear rocket engines. Its backpack thrusters adopted the Saturn Engine, a type of thermonuclear rocket engine that used heavy elements as propellant, granting it higher thrust than those that used lighter elements. Its total spec, including cost and ease of manufacture, surpassed that of the MS-06R-2 Zaku II High Mobility Type, the most advanced mobile suit at the time. Like the Dom, the Rick Dom was heavily protected for defense, adopting a unique "skirt armor" design to protect weak points in the back such as thrusters, and the suit was mockingly called by Federation pilots as a result.
In addition to retaining the Dom's armaments, including its signature Giant Bazooka, some units under Dozle Zabi were said to be equipped with the experimental Beam Bazooka. Though the Rick Dom's generator output was insufficient to use beam weapons, the Beam Bazooka did not require energy from the mobile suit to be used. However, the weapon never reached mass production due to frequent explosions, though it was rumored that an improved variant of the Rick Dom capable of using the Beam Bazooka safely existed.
History
In September, U.C. 0079, Zeon began planning the development of its next generation space combat mobile suit. Four designs were submitted: the MS-06R-2 Zaku II High Mobility Type, the MS-09R Rick Dom, the MS-15 Gyan and the MS-11 Gelgoog. It is said that the military favored the Gelgoog from the start, while the other choices were nothing but fillers.
A different account stated that the plan to modify the MS-09 for space combat existed more than one month before it entered mass production, as part of a top-secret collaboration between Zeonic and Zimmad led by the military. The result being a MS-06R series unit with its lower body replaced with that of a MS-09.
Regardless of its developmental history, the Rick Dom acted as the Zeon's primary space-use mobile suit until the mass production of the MS-14A Gelgoog began. The Rick Dom was produced from Side 3 and Granada, and Dom production lines could easily be converted to produce Rick Doms. It encountered the Camel Patrol Fleet led by Lieutenant Dren, which consisted of three Musai-class cruisers and six Rick Doms. However, they were all destroyed by the White Base team with relative ease. Later, while the White Base was leaving Side 6, the Conscon Mobile Fleet engaged it with twelve Rick Doms. However, the White Base team destroyed all twelve units within three minutes, nine of which were shot down by Amuro Ray in the RX-78-2 Gundam. Numerous Rick Doms later participated in the Battle of Solomon and the Battle of A Baoa Qu