Metal Gear GANDER

Metal Gear GANDER was a nuclear-capable bipedal armored vehicle created as part of the U.S. Army's "Project Babel", based on data procured by the U.S. Government from the salvaged remains of the original TX-55 prototype in Outer Heaven.

Overview

GANDER's armament consisted of two nuclear warhead-launching rail guns, two Vulcan cannons, six guided missile pods, two automated flying attack pods, a pair of spread fire cannons, and a close-range flamethrower. However, its secret weapon and true purpose of its design was its satellite-based data link system that allowed it to launch nuclear missiles anywhere in the world from seven nuclear-armed satellites. The rail guns were merely an extra and a decoy; they consumed too much power and required an entire power plant to function properly. Like the TX-55 Metal Gear, its feet were its weak point.

History

Created by Ramdyne Systems, a contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense, Metal Gear GANDER was set to be field tested in South America in 2002. However, the C-5 Galaxy plane transporting GANDER and its development team was hijacked by the Gindra Liberation Front and taken to their fortress of Galuade (formerly known as Outer Heaven), Gindra in Central Africa. The separatist group allegedly planned to use GANDER to win the on-going Gindran civil war they were engaged in.

Former FOXHOUND operative Solid Snake was sent to infiltrate Galuade in order to destroy GANDER and rescue its development team. After disabling its legs using explosives, Snake found out that the tank, despite being immobilized, could still be effectively operated as a stationary weapons platform, which necessitated the destruction of all its armaments before it could be finally be disabled for good. GANDER was ultimately destroyed by Snake, although it is unknown what became of its wreckage following the conclusion of the Galuade Incident.

Behind the scenes

Metal Gear GANDER (メタルギアガンダー,Metaru Gia Gandā^?) appears in the spin-off game Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, released for Game Boy Color. The name "GANDER" is not used in the game itself, and the Metal Gear unit is only identified as such on the official website.^[1] Its design is based on one of Yoji Shinkawa's unused concepts for Metal Gear Solid.^[2]

As alluded to in the game, GANDER was not the first attempt by the United States to create their own Metal Gear based on the TX-55. Another Metal Gear was created by the United States, possibly in South America, where it was stolen by an unidentified terrorist group. This Metal Gear was destroyed by Black Chamber in 2000, which ultimately resulted in the elimination of the special forces unit by "Anonymous".

GANDER competed for fan votes against Cocoon in the Versus Battle feature on the official website. GANDER's appearance section lists it as appearing in Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection.

See also

• Metal Gear: Ghost Babel walkthrough

Notes and references